Paula Stocco

Summary of Completed Undergraduate Courses

Signal Processing
Lecture:
1. Review of Harmonic signals, Fourier series, continuous time systems and Laplace transforms
2. Systems frequency response, Fourier transform, analog filters
3. Impulse response and convolution for continuous time systems
4. Sampling theory and introduction to aliasing, anti-aliasing filters
5. Signal conversion techniques (A/D, D/A), signal reconstruction
6. Discrete time Fourier transform
7. Discrete Fourier transform, windowing
8. Discrete time systems and Z-transforms, response to periodic signals
9. Introduction to analog filter design
10. Introduction to digital filter design
11. Introduction to feedback control system, loop stability and PID control
12. Introduction to control system implementation
13. Instrumentation amplifiers and transducer signal conditioning, grounding and shielding techniques
14. Transducers (strain gages, accelerometers (piezoelectric and piezoresistive), load cells, pressure
sensors, thermocouples, RTD's, etc.)
Actuators [electric motors (DC, AC, stepper), pneumatic, hydraulic]
Laboratory:
1. Introduction to Laboratory Instruments
2. Signal Conditioning and A/D Conversion Issues
3. Interference, Instrumentation Amps and Strain Gage Measurements
4. Modeling and Identification of an Electric Motor
5. Dynamic Signal Analyzer
6. Speed Control of a DC Electric Motor
7. PID Control of a Hydraulic Cylinder
Power Circuits and Electromechanics
Lecture:
Complex and reactive power in single- and three-phase circuits
Magnetic circuits and transformers
Energy conversion principles
Electromechanical systems
Synchronous machines
Induction machines
DC and single-phase machines

Paula Stocco
Summary of Completed Undergraduate Courses
Engineering Materials
Lecture:
1. Mechanics of materials: properties of materials (mechanical, thermal, optical, electrical); bonding,
properties and classification of materials, crystallography; dislocations and vacancies; work hardening
and plasticity; forming processes (wire drawing, rolling, forging, annealing, recrystallization, grain
growth)
2. Polyphase materials: phase diagrams, strengthening mechanisms, nucleation, diffusion and growth,
heat treatment processes (solution, quenching and heat transfer, aging, IT and CCT diagrams, commercial
processes)
3. Solidification: cast micro- and macrostructures, solidification processing (casting, solidification time,
stresses of solidification), welding and joining processes
4. Polymers: polymer structure (Tg, crystallization, morphology, etc.), polymer processing (molding,
extrusion), effect on structure
5. Composites: high performance fibers (glass, carbon, aramid), matrix materials and the role of the
matrix, stiffness and strength estimates?aligned continuous fibers, fiber orientation and length effects,
other composites, composites processing
6. Ceramics: ceramic microstructures, ceramics processing (particulate, slip casting, sintering, glass
processing)
Laboratory:
1. Hardness, strength and compression
2. Tensile stress-strain relations
3. Cold work and Annealing
4. Phase diagrams and Casting
5. Heat Treatment of Steel
6. Hardenability of Steels
7. Toughness and Impact
8. Welding and Allied Processes
9. Polymer and Composite Materials
10. Corrosion
Analog Signal Processing
Lecture:
1. Signals and signal processing in analog linear time-invariant (LTI) circuits and systems
2. Review of DC circuit analysis: KCL, KVL, dependent sources
3. Capacitors and inductors as circuit elements, op amps
4. Characterization and solution of LTI systems via linear, constant-coefficient differential equations
5. Complex numbers and functions of a complex variable, impedance, phasors, and sinusoidal steadystate
6. Frequency response and multi-frequency circuits, Fourier series and transforms, AM radio
7. Convolution, impulse and impulse response, sampling theorem and system stability
8. Laplace transform and transfer function, Laplace transform solution of differential equations
9. General form of solution to a differential equation, design of active filters
Laboratory:
1. Op-amp amplifiers, mixers, and filters
2. Building superhetrodyne AM receiver

Paula Stocco
Summary of Completed Undergraduate Courses
Design for Manufacturability
Class lectures covered:
1. Product Design Specification
2. Design for assembly (DFA)
3. Design for Economic Manufacture (material removal, casting, forming, & shaping)
4. Designing with plastics (snap-fits, integral hinges, etc.)
5. Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T)
6. Selection of materials (life-cycle economics)
Laboratory:
1. Injection Molding
2. CNC Machining
3. Sand Casting
4. Rapid Prototyping (Objet, SLS, SLA, FDM)
5. Design of Experiments
6. Inspection/metrology (CMM/GD&T)
In addition, a semester long prototyping project with periodic design presentations and final paper
explaining design in terms of manufacturing, market, engineering choices and compromises including
DOE and DFA analysis.
Dynamics of Mechanical Systems
Lecture:
1. Laplace transformation: properties, inverse transformation, solutions of differential equations by
Laplace transform, transfer functions - poles and zeroes.
2. Modeling of dynamic systems: principles of conservation - mass, energy, fluid flow, heat transfer,
mechanical/electromechanical systems, state(phase) space representation.
3. Dynamic system classification, linearization of nonlinear systems, dynamic simulation.
4. Time domain analysis of linear time invariant systems: first and second order systems, time constant,
damping ratio and natural frequency, impulse response and convolution integral.
5. Frequency domain analysis: frequency response, application to vibration isolation, base excitation,
measurement systems, Fourier series analysis.
6. Multi-degree-of-freedom systems: natural frequencies and normal modes, applications to beat
generation and vibration absorbers.
Laboratory:
1. First-Order Response: e.g. Thermal-Fluid System; Free response (time constant), step response,
linearization
2. Second-Order Response: Spring-Mass-Damper System; Free response (natural frequency, damping
ratio, logarithmic decrement) impulse response, step response (over-shoot, settling time), harmonic
response (resonance), arbitrary input response
3. Coupled System Response: Interconnected Fluid Systems; Free and step response of interacting
nonloading dynamic systems, superposition of outputs
4. Multi Degree-of-Freedom (MDOF) Response I: Lumped parameter system (spring-mass-damper); free
response (natural frequencies, mode shapes), interacting loading system
5. MDOF Response II: Lumped parameter system (spring-mass-damper); Harmonic response (resonance),
vibration absorber
6. MDOF Response III: Distributed parameter system (cantilever beam); Harmonic and impulse response,
finite element modeling
7. System Identification: Frequency domain single-input-single-output system identification, Bode
diagram, transfer function

Paula Stocco
Summary of Completed Undergraduate Courses
Mechanical Design I
Lecture:
1. Planar Kinematics (Kinematic fundamentals; Graphical linkage synthesis; Position, velocity and
acceleration analysis; and Cam design)
2. Machine Dynamics (Linkage dynamics: motion input; Virtual work approach; Flywheels; Balancing;
Engine dynamics; and Impact dynamics)
3. Structural Design (Matrix/finite element method for assemblies of springs and frame structures)
Group Projects:
1. Fourbar designed for coupler path shape
2. Motor powered water pump
Electronic Circuits/Electronic Circuits Laboratory
Lecture:
1. Basic circuit analysis
2. Diodes
3. Transistors
4. Logic circuits
5. Amplifier circuits
Class Projects:
1. Simulate using HSPICE CMOS inverter, document and explain the affects to match voltage and time
delay caused by manipulating inverter characteristics.
2. Design using HSPICE NMOS amplifier meeting bandwidth, power, and amplification magnitude
specifications.
Lab:
1.Electric circuit analysis
2.Diodes, rectifier and regulator
3.MOS transistors
4.MOS logic circuits
5.MOS amplifier circuits
6.Current source
7.Differential amplifier
8.Active load
9.Output stage
10.Operational amplifiers

Paula Stocco
Summary of Completed Undergraduate Courses
Fundamentals of Fluid Dynamics
Lecture:
1. Fluid kinematics
2. Hydrostatics, including nanometers, Bourdon gauges and pressure transducers
3. Control volume equations for continuity, linear momentum, angular momentum, and energy;
Bernoulli's equation; includes pitot tubes, Venturi meters, orifice meters and hot wire anenometers
4. Differential continuity and momentum equations
5. Dimensional similitude and model testing
6. Viscous flows, pipe flows
7. Boundary layers, lift and drag
8. Potential flow, superposition, numerical solutions
9. Compressible flow
Laboratory:
1. Fluid properties
2. Centrifugal pump characterization
3. Free air jet
4. Pipe flow
5. Design project: fountain meeting distance and height specifications
6. Cylinder in cross flow
Thermodynamics
Lecture:
1. Definitions, properties, equations of state, state postulate, compressibility charts
2. Work, heat transfer, first law of thermodynamics for a control mass (closed system)
3. First law of thermodynamics for a control volume (open system), steady state and unsteady analysis
4. Entropy, second law of thermodynamics, component efficiency, cycle efficiency (examples of power
and refrigeration cycles)
5. Reversible work, availability, irreversibility
6. Properties and thermodynamics of ideal gas mixtures