Integrating Advanced Simulations into Engineering Curricula: Helping Students to Approach Simulation like Experts

Cornell University, Ithaca NY

Investigators

Abstract

Engineering-Mechanical (56) This project develops learning materials and strategies that help engineering undergraduate students learn an "expert approach" in simulation. The project formalizes an expert approach for two simulation technologies: finite-element analysis (FEA) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The expert approach will be integrated into simulation exercises in three Mechanical Engineering courses at Cornell University, using the industry-standard software packages of ANSYS for FEA and FLUENT for CFD. The simulations follow a case study approach by applying the selected software to solve canonical problems in order to make explicit connections between fundamental concepts and the hands-on visual environment in the software. This enables a modular approach where individual modules can be inserted into courses as deemed appropriate by the instructor. In addition, the project includes developing tutorials and learning modules that will be available for free on the SimCafe wiki for other instructors to use or to customize.