| Summary: |
The importance of an experimental component in structural mechanics courses is generally acknowledged. This has motivated the development at FEUP of a didactic test frame prototype, which has been used both for practical student assignments in the laboratory and for supporting lecture presentations in the classroom.
The first objective of this proposal is to provide the test frame equipment with voice and video communication facilities, using technologies readily available at present, such as Skype® and an IP network camera, with the purpose of remote access for demonstration, connecting the classroom to the structural laboratory.
The test frame accessories comprise several support types, a set of weights and various metallic beams, with which simple structural configurations can be set up and loaded in order to compare the reaction forces and the beam deflections with the theoretical values. This is helpful for the introduction of the principal concepts and methods of structural analysis, combining the theory with the visualization of the physical phenomena. The second objective of this proposal is to introduce additional sensorization into the test frame for a better exploration of the structural behaviour.
In view of the large target group (400 Civil plus 320 Mechanical Engineering undergraduates) it was deemed convenient to produce a virtual reality tool to complement and further enhance the didactic test frame prototype. Such development is the third objective of this proposal.
The primary goal of the virtual reality tool is to provide students with easy access to the main features of the didactic test frame in order to facilitate the preparation of individual assignments.
To this end the virtual tool should reproduce the test frame with a high degree of realism, offering a friendly user interface.
This virtual system is intended as a very handy and convenient teaching/learning tool that circumvents some limitations associated with the availability of  |
Summary
The importance of an experimental component in structural mechanics courses is generally acknowledged. This has motivated the development at FEUP of a didactic test frame prototype, which has been used both for practical student assignments in the laboratory and for supporting lecture presentations in the classroom.
The first objective of this proposal is to provide the test frame equipment with voice and video communication facilities, using technologies readily available at present, such as Skype® and an IP network camera, with the purpose of remote access for demonstration, connecting the classroom to the structural laboratory.
The test frame accessories comprise several support types, a set of weights and various metallic beams, with which simple structural configurations can be set up and loaded in order to compare the reaction forces and the beam deflections with the theoretical values. This is helpful for the introduction of the principal concepts and methods of structural analysis, combining the theory with the visualization of the physical phenomena. The second objective of this proposal is to introduce additional sensorization into the test frame for a better exploration of the structural behaviour.
In view of the large target group (400 Civil plus 320 Mechanical Engineering undergraduates) it was deemed convenient to produce a virtual reality tool to complement and further enhance the didactic test frame prototype. Such development is the third objective of this proposal.
The primary goal of the virtual reality tool is to provide students with easy access to the main features of the didactic test frame in order to facilitate the preparation of individual assignments.
To this end the virtual tool should reproduce the test frame with a high degree of realism, offering a friendly user interface.
This virtual system is intended as a very handy and convenient teaching/learning tool that circumvents some limitations associated with the availability of the real didactic test frame.
A preliminary version of this virtual system has been prepared with the involvement of two of the students. |