2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Thermodynamics is often seen as one of the more challenging courses in Mechanical Engineering, sometimes even being referred to as a "gateway" course. This difficulty, in part, owes to many of the concepts being harder to visualize for students than in a typical solid mechanics course, where a solid body can be readily referred to. To try and combat this perception, Dunwoody College of Technology has worked for the past six offerings to incorporate the analysis of a model Stirling Engine into the curriculum as a multi-stage project. Aspects such as the history and development of the cycle, taking physical measurements and relating them to a p-V diagram, and building and testing a regenerator are incorporated into the project.

This paper reviews lessons learned from administering the project in its most recent offering, along with some reflection on prior offerings. The authors will also present guidance on implementing the project and tying it into a typical Thermodynamics semester-based schedule. An anonymous end of semester survey was administered asking for both qualitative and quantitative responses. Findings for student learning as a result of participating in the project will also be discussed.