Introduction to Engineering

Introduction to Engineering Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University EGR 101 9th Edition i Table of Contents Page Preface iii PART I – Succeeding as an Engineering Student Chapter 1 Transition from High School to College 1 M. Towhidnejad, Ph.D. Professor, ECSSE Department Chapter 2 Time Management 6 S. Lehr, M.S. Chapter 3 Communication Skills 16 T. Yang, Ph.D. Professor, ECSSE Department L. Davids, M.S., E.I. Professor, Engineering Fundamentals Department Chapter 4 Critical Thinking and Problem Solving 24 C. Eastlake, M.S., P.E. Professor Emeritus, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Chapter 5 Math Essentials 29 L. Davids, M.S., E.I. Professor, Engineering Fundamentals Department T. Yang, Ph.D. Professor, ECSSE Department Chapter 6 Excel 60 L. Davids, M.S., E.I. Professor, Engineering Fundamentals Department S. Lehr, M.S. Chapter 7 Engineering Measurement 71 L. Davids, M.S., E.I. Professor, Engineering Fundamentals Department i PART II – Engineering, Professionalism and the Industry Chapter 8 Project Management and Teamwork 79 H. Steinhauer, Ph.D. Professor and Chair, Engineering Fundamentals Department M. Towhidnejad, Ph.D. Professor, ECSSE Department Chapter 9 Ethics and Professional Responsibility 92 J. Weavil, M.S., P.E. Chapter 10 Professional Preparation 107 S. Lehr, M.S. Chapter 11 Engineering Disciplines at ERAU 116 PART III – Design Projects Chapter 12 The Engineering Design Process 133 L. Davids, M.S., E.I Professor, Engineering Fundamentals Department Chapter 13 Class Team Design Projects Satellite System Design 139 J. Ladesic, Ph.D., P.E. T. Wilson, Ph.D. Launch Vehicle Design 157 Launch Vehicle: C. Eastlake, M.S., P.E. and L. Davids, M.S, E.I. Appendix I: M. Hirsh, M.S. Appendix II and III: L. Davids, M.S, E.I. Appendix V: M. Fugler, Ph.D., P.E. Aircraft Design 207 C. Eastlake, M.S., P.E. Edited by: L. Davids, Professor, Engineering Fundamentals G. Cullum, Former Assistant Professor, Aerospace Career Academy ii Preface “Introduction to Engineering” is about making our students at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University successful in academia and responsible engineering professionals. The collective knowledge of several authors representing all departments within the College of Engineering went into its making. Topics were chosen especially for students in the engineering programs at ERAU to specifically address their needs and tailored to assure their success. Your path to a career in engineering begins now. Whether you succeed or not, is up to you. One of the most important philosophies that you can adopt that will make you successful in your academic years and professional career is to take responsibility for your own learning. Knowledge is expanding rapidly. Learning must be a lifelong goal of all in the engineering profession. The hard work and dedication of the authors of this text is for naught if it is not read. If this book helps you to achieve your goal of becoming an engineer, then that will be the greatest reward you can give the authors. iii Chapter 1 Transition from High School to College M. Towhidnejad, Ph.D. Professor, Electrical, Computer, Software and Systems Engineering Department After years of hard work (or maybe not) you are finally in college and out of your parents’ house. All your hard work now seems well worth it. The decisions you make during the next couple of months may have a long lasting effect in your future. These decisions fall into a number of categories such as life style, academics, health, etc. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) provides a variety of services which you can use in order to help you with these decisions. As part of your orientation activities and during the course of this semester, you will be introduced to a number of services. We suggest you take advantage of them and if you have any questions, please contact one of your advisors, instructors, or mentors in order to find answers to your questions. The concept is simple; the services are provided to you as part of your tuition fees. You have already paid for them, so why not take advantage of them? It is like going to a car dealership, paying $40,000 for a fully loaded vehicle, only to get a plain factory model instead. Wouldn’t you ask where all the extras you paid for went? Likewise, take advantage of all the services available to you. Trust us, you will not regret it. The additional services that you find at ERAU are some of the many differences between high school and college. The remainder of this chapter discusses some of these differences. In general, high school is a TEACHING ENVIRONMENT where you acquire facts and skills, which you will use to solve simple problems. College is a LEARNING ENVIRONMENT in which you take responsibility for thinking through and applying what you have learned throughout your education. This means that you will need to demonstrate mastery in all the skills you learned from elementary school all the way up to the university level in order to solve complex problems. As you get closer to your graduation, these problems will become more complex, and you will be expected to solve more difficult problems with less direction. For example, it is not unusual to get a simple, yet vague, problem statement at the beginning of your senior design project requiring you to solve the problem for the rest of the semester or two with almost minimal guidance from your instructor. The main reason behind this is that we are preparing you for the job you hope to acquire post-graduation and that is how it works out there. For example, no one would hire an engineer right out of the college with his/her bachelor degree and pay them a fifty or sixty thousand dollar salary knowing they will have to spend a lot of time teaching them how to solve a problem. It is expected that you can find a logical, working solution on your own. Don’t get scared. This does not mean from here on out you are on your own. What it means is that in order to get you ready for your job, or graduate work, we have to teach you differently when compared to what you have become used to in high school. Understanding some of these important differences between high school and college may help you achieve a smoother transition, and make you more successful at the university level. But, always remember, as we mentioned earlier, there are plenty of services that are available for you, for which you have already paid, so make sure you take advantage of them! 1 Point-by-Point Comparison between High School and College1 Table 1.1a Personal Freedom in High School vs. Personal Freedom in College High school is mandatory & free (unless College is voluntary and expensive. you choose other options). Your time is usually structured by others. You manage your own time. You are not responsible for knowing what Graduation requirements are complex, and differ from year to it takes to graduate. year. You are expected to know those that apply to you. You will usually be told what to do and You are expected to take responsibility for what you do and corrected if your behavior is out of line. don't do, as well as for the consequences of your decisions You're old enough to take responsibility for what you do and You can count on parents and teachers to don't do, as well as for the consequences of your decisions. remind you of your responsibilities and to You will face moral and ethical decisions you have never guide you in setting priorities. faced before. Students’ values are often strongly Students have opportunities to question previously held values influenced by parents, teachers, peers and and to develop their own perspectives, opinions, and values. the community. Since a student’s environment is often More choices are available to students and the students control controlled by parents and teachers, whether or not these choices become distractions. Managing distractions and choices are usually kept time and setting priorities are left completely to the individual in check. student. Most of your classes are arranged for you. You arrange your own schedule in consultation with your advisor. Schedules tend to look lighter than they really are. Each day you proceed from one class You often have hours between classes; class times vary directly to another, spending 6 hours each throughout the day and evening and you spend only 12 to 16 day--30 hours a week--in class. hours each week in class You need permission to participate in You decide whether or not to participate in extracurricular extracurricular activities activities. You need money for special purchases or You need money to meet basic necessities events. Motivation to complete work and succeed Students must find motivation within themselves to become often comes from teachers and parents. involved in the university life and to excel academically. Table 1.1b High School Classes vs. University Classes The school year is 36 weeks long; some The academic year is divided into two separate 15-week classes extend over both semesters and semesters, plus a week after each semester for exams some don't Classes generally have no more than 35 Classes may number 100 students or more (although rare at students. ERAU) You may study outside class as little as 0 You need to study at least 2 to 3 hours outside of class for to 2 hours a week, and this may be mostly each hour in class. last-minute test preparation. You seldom need to read anything more than once, and sometimes listening in You need to review class notes and text material regularly.

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