[Objectives / Required Materials / Instructor / Grading / Topics]

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Syllabus: Lectures A, B, &C
59:005 Engineering Problem Solving I
Fall Semester 2008
Lectures Tuesdays and Thursdays in 1505 SC:
9:30-10:20 am (Section A)
11:30-12:20 am (Section B)
1:30-2:20 pm (Section C)

Course Objectives

Course Learning Goals (Specific Objectives for each Module are described in the last section of this Syllabus)

1. Students will develop an  understanding of the multifaceted and generic nature of modern and sustainable engineering problem solving and design.
2. The students will learn how to apply a structured engineering problem solving and design process consisting of several steps.
3. Students will gain proficiency in using selected elements and skills common to engineering problem solving and design.
4. Students will improve their communication skills through oral and written reports.
5. Students will solve open-ended problems working in teams.
6. Students will learn to use several engineering software "tools" useful in problem solving.
7. The student will be able identify and describe selected engineering systems and subsystems, and apply the appropriate fundamentals and unifying concepts to solve problems.
8. The student will learn basic elements of acceptable graphical presentation and analysis of data.
9. Students will recognize the importance of economic considerations in the design process and will be able to apply basic economic relationships in making decisions.
10. Students will become aware of the role of life-cycle engineering as part of a design process.

Required Materials

• Engineering Fundamentals and Problem Solving 5th Edition by Eide, Jenison, Mashaw, and Northup. McGraw-Hill 2007.  Text is available in the University Bookstore (temporarily relocated in the Old Capitol Mall).

• An NCEES-approved non-programmable calculator.  See http://www.ncees.org/exams/calculators/#approved

• Additional reference materials, including lecture notes, are found on the ICON site for this course.

Instructors

Prof. Allen Bradley
e-mail: allen-bradley@uiowa.edu
Office Hours (in 4115 SC): Tu/Th 10:30-11:15 am, 12:30-1:15 pm, and by appointment

Prof. Gene Parkin
e-mail: gene-parkin@uiowa.edu
Office Hours (in 4106 SC): M/Tu/W/Th 3:00-5:00 pm, and by appointment

Teaching Assistants
TA Office Hours: Schedule (TA Office Hours begin September 2rd). All held in 3258 SC.
Mondays 6-8 pm
Tuesday 8-9:30 am
Tuesday 6-8 pm
Wednesdays 6-8 pm
Thursdays 8-9:30 am

Grading

50% of total course grade is from Lecture Sections, 50% is from Project Sections.  Please see Project Leaders for grading and other policies for the Project Sections.

Current scores/grades will be posted on the password protected web site.

Policies

1. Homework assignments are due in class at the beginning of class on the due date.  Homework is counted late if received later than the first five minutes of the registered lecture section and will only receive 75% of the graded credit.  Homework received after 4:30 pm on the due date will not receive credit.  Any assignments submitted outside of class must be delivered to the CEE departmental secretary (Judy Holland in 4105 SC).  Homework cannot be left in a mailbox because the time will not be recorded and the homework will be counted late or not receive credit.  Electronic submission of homework assignments (by email) will not be accepted for credit.

2. Each student's lowest homework score will be dropped and not included in the final grade calculation.  Make-up homework assignments for missed or late submissions are not permitted.  A student must contact the instructor if extraordinary circumstances result in an extended absence from class to assure that homework assignments can be submitted in a timely manner for credit.

3. Makeup tests must be arranged ahead of time for non-medical conflicts.  Prearrangement of a makeup exam requires official explanation (a letter and authorized signature from a coach, etc.) and the professor's approval.  If illness prevents a student from completing an exam, the student must provide medical documentation (e.g., from a physician or the student health clinic).  Arrangements for makeup must be completed within 24 hours of the missed exam.

4. The course grade will consist of the Lecture scores and the Project scores.  Final course grades will be assembled and reported by the project section instructors. The course is not curved and scores can be interpreted as: A; B; C; D; F for 90%; 80%; 70%; 60%.  Below 60% is an F.  Details of minus and plus grades will be described in class.

5. It generally benefits students to work together outside class.  Discussion of homework and use of study groups are encouraged; however, homework submissions must represent a student's independent effort.  Copying someone's homework, sharing copies of figures or tables or spreadsheets with others, and giving (or receiving) a copy of someone's homework, are all examples of cheating.  On exams and quizzes, copying from others or working together are cheating. Students who cheat will fail the course and may be dismissed from the College of Engineering (http://www.engineering.uiowa.edu/current-students/academic-misconduct.php). Plagiarism is the use of others' work represented as your own and is considered cheating.  Don't risk it.

6. Students show respect to their classmates and instructor by dedicating class time to learning. Use of cell phones, wireless devices, and portable audio devices (e.g., MP3 players) is NOT permitted in class. Use of laptop computers is NOT permitted in class (except in limited circumstances with prior approval from the instructor). Avoid behavior that is distracting or interferes with the learning of others (e.g., talking loudly at inappropriate times).  Do everyone a favor and turn cell phones off during class time.

7. Exam Calculator Policy:  This course will follow the policy of the  National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES).  Only NCEES-approved calculators can be used during an exam in this course.  See the NCEES list and the explanation for this policy at: http://www.ncees.org/exams/calculators/#approved.

8. Exam Policy:  Use of a cell phone, programmable calculators, computers, or other devices to communicate with others or to retrieve text during an exam is cheating. If a student is found using such a device, he/she will be asked to leave the exam immediately. Penalties may include any or all of the following: a letter explaining the incident added to the student's academic file; failing the exam; failing the course; expulsion from the College of Engineering.

If you have any condition that could affect your performance in this class or that requires an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the instructor as soon as possible so that appropriate arrangements may be made.

Topics

Module 1: Engineering Design and Engineering Problem Solving

Topics:

• Engineering as a profession
• Overview of the Engineering Design Paradigm ("The Big Picture")
• Engineering problem solving format

Learning Objectives:

• List attributes that define "engineering"
• Identify and prioritize canons of engineering ethics
• List and explain the six components of the engineering design process
• Prepare homework assignments using the engineering problem solving format
• Apply rules to report answers with correct significant figures
• Manipulate units in engineering calculations

Module 2: Organizing Principles, System Description, Identification and Solutions (Mass Balance)

Topics:

• Introduction to organizing principles and problem identification
• Generic system consideration: boundaries, transients and steady-state
• Use of multiple systems and subsystems: Mass balances
• Generating simultaneous equations using balances
• Introduction to Excel and MATLAB for matrix solving

Learning Objectives:

• Define organizing principles for engineering problem solving
• List common organizing principles used in engineering disciplines
• Analyze systems using a conservation of mass organizing principle
• Distinguish between batch and rate-flow processes
• Describe common simplifying assumptions made in material balance problems
• Apply a general (systematic) approach to solve material balance problems
• Represent sets of mass balance equations in matrix notation
• Solve simultaneous equations in matrix form using Excel and MATLAB

Module 3: Organizing Principles, System Description, Identification and Solutions (Energy Balances)

Topics:

• Energy usage, generation, and consumption
• Energy balances

Learning Objectives:

• Define energy and work
• List and describe common forms of energy
• Explain why it takes more energy to produce fuels than can be retrieved
• Define energy ratio and evaluate the ratio for different systems
• Explain why there are differences in the energy ratios as viewed from the perspective of different professionals (e.g., plant engineers, environmentalists, etc.)

Module 4: Technical Representation, Presentation, and Analysis of Data

Topics:

• Acceptable practices, and conventions in graphical presentation
• Transformation of equations and parameter estimation.
• Parameter estimation methods: Method of selected points and least-squares regression
• Application of graphing and data analysis
• Non-linear analysis, curve fitting

Learning Objectives:

• Use linear, semi-log, and log-log paper for graphing relationships
• Apply elements of style to make acceptable presentation graphics
• Define simple models and relationships used in engineering
• Linearize simple models for graphical presentation
• Estimate parameters of simple mathematical models using the method of selected points
• Estimate parameters of simple mathematical models using linear regression
• Infer the mathematical model form for transformed variables plotted on rectilinear paper
• Determine model parameters for the original (untransformed) model from a linear relationship for transformed variables on rectilinear paper

Module 5: Engineering Economics: Economic Decision Making

Topics:

• Engineering economics
• Comparison of alternatives
• Application of spreadsheet "Goal Seek" function

Learning Objectives:

• Define basic terms in engineering economics
• Represent transactions using a cash-flow diagram
• Evaluate present and future worth using simple or compound interest
• Differentiate between sinking funding and installment loan annuities
• Evaluate present and future worth of annuities payments
• Solve an equation by trial and error using a spreadsheet
• Represent costs and incomes for a project alternative using a cash-flow diagram
• Evaluate the present worth, future worth, or equivalent annual cost of project alternatives
• Apply an equal comparison cost analysis to compare alternatives
• Account for unequal design lives in a present worth cost comparison of alternatives