AOE 3054 Experimental Methods

Primary Learning Objectives

The student will be able to: 1. Write clear, concise and complete technical reports. 2. Explain a range of basic measurement techniques. 3. Apply many of those techniques. 4. Quantitatively evaluate experimental uncertainties. 5. Use standard electronic instrumentation to make measurements. 6. Effectively program and use a computer-based data acquisition system. 7. Use simple statistical and spectral techniques to analyze experimental measurements. 8. Organize the execution of a group experiment.

Detailed Learning Objectives

The student will be able to: 1. Explain the role of experimental work and testing in aerospace and ocean engineering. 2. Explain what a measurement system is. 3. Explain the purpose of calibration and the distinctions between accuracy, uncertainty, repeatability and accuracy. 4. Explain the significance of dynamic response in relation to measurement systems. 5. Define an uncertainty interval. 6. Identify/distinguish primary measurements and derived results in the context of uncertainty analysis. 7. Quantitatively estimate the uncertainty in any given measurement they have made. 8. Describe, and explain the advantages and disadvantages of, a range of flow visualization techniques, flow measurement techniques and flow measurement transducers. 9. Apply a subset of those techniques (smoke visualization, tuft flow visualization, Pitot static anemometry, surface pressure taps, manometers, laser Doppler anemometry (with assistance)) to a practical low speed wind or (as appropriate, water) tunnel problem. 10. Describe the various devices available for displacement and strain measurement in a structures/materials test. 11. Effectively use a subset of those devices (ruler, micrometer, caliper, strain gage system, extensometer, proximeter) in the execution of a structures/materials test. 12. Describe the actual appearance of certain phenomena in real life, and contrast them with their theoretical description or analysis, such as; the flow over a circular cylinder, the generation of lift and drag on a wing, the stall of an airfoil, the fracture of a metal coupon and the static and dynamic deflection of a beam. 13. Use a standard voltmeter, power supply, oscilloscope, counter and function generator to display or generate signals. 14. Use a LabView to program a simple data acquisition and analysis system.

15. Use that system to make a time series, statistical or spectral measurement and recognize the influence of limited range and resolution, aliasing and broadening on that measurement. 16. Employ simple statistical and spectral techniques (mean, standard deviation, linear regression, FFT) in the analysis of experimental measurements. 17. Keep accurate and complete notes of an experimental test (including multi-media items) in electronic form. 18. Organize material into the standard sections of a technical report (introduction, apparatus and instrumentation, results and discussion, conclusions). 19. Formulate meaningful objectives for an experimental test. 20. Distinguish and describe the important aspects of apparatus, instrumentation and results used in a test. 21. Discuss the significance of results at some level and formulate appropriate conclusions. 22. Do the above 3 items in the form of a complete written report. 23. Organize and collaborate with peers in the planning and execution of a test.