2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Oscillators for System ID and Inertia Measurement in Undergraduate Dynamics

Presented at Digital Methods in Mechanics: Teaching with Digital Tools

Oscillators are a very important topic in undergraduate Dynamics, both in a lab and lecture project setting. This paper shares our experience and lessons learned over many years using two systems: (1) a low-cost translational damped oscillator instrumented with an infrared proximity sensor, along with LabVIEW and the myDAQ from NI in lab for use in a system identification (ID) problem and (2) a cable-based rotational oscillator in lecture as an integrated theory-simulation-design-manufacturing-measurement final project that permits determination of the mass moment of inertia of a symmetric rigid body about a fixed axis. In each case, there is a spectrum of content, from mathematical modeling, to numerics and simulation using MATLAB/Simulink, practical realization in hardware along with either basic or more formal measurement. For the translational oscillator, the methodology for establishing system parameters based on iteration is surprisingly simple, very accurate, and has played especially well with students who lack a strong math background. Regarding the rotational oscillator, representative student work is presented and subsequently analyzed from different points of view, including percent measurement error when compared to a fiducial. Based in part from student feedback (such as through IDEA), we believe that this broad spectrum approach has wide appeal, in particular, use of the translational oscillator, as there is considerable variance in learning styles, areas of emphasis, and abilities within the mechanical engineering student population.

Authors

Dr. Michael P. Hennessey University of St. Thomas [biography]

Michael P. Hennessey (Mike) joined the full-time faculty at the University of St. Thomas as an Assistant Professor fall semester 2000 and was promoted in 2014 to Professor of Mechanical Engineering (tenured since 2006). He is an expert in kinematics, dynamics, and control of mechanical systems, along with related areas of applied mathematics, such as in automation and transportation. As of summer 2023, he has 54 publications, in journals (11), conferences (41), magazines (1), and patents (1). Mike gained 10 years of industrial and academic research lab experience at 3M, FMC, and the University of Minnesota prior to embarking on an academic career at Rochester Institute of Technology (3 years) and Minnesota State University, Mankato (2 years). Mike holds a Bachelor of Mathematics from the University of Minnesota (with distinction), an MS in Mechanical Engineering from MIT, and a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Minnesota. He is also a member of ASME, SIAM, and ASEE.
Amir Ahmad Naqwi University of St. Thomas [biography]

The author has an adjunct faculty appointment at the Mechanical Engineering Department of the University of St. Thomas (MN), where he has been involved in the development and instruction of laboratory courses in fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and heat transfer. He has a long-standing interest in air quality management and control. This course is a part of a package of electives including a course on water quality management and control offered by the Civil Engineering Department.

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