Building Virtual Laboratory with Simulations

This paper describes an innovative approach to modernizing a sophomore mechanical engineering materials course by employing simulations. The three-credit course includes a lecture and a lab. In the lecture, students learn about theories of material formation and material properties, and in the lab, experiments are conducted to test the strength of materials in response to mechanical forces. A new module comprising simulation assignments has recently been integrated into the course. Having added this module, it is now feasible to simultaneously harness the power of simulations for predicting results of material testing, and provide a virtual lab that can be easily deployed when necessary. The main goal is to assist students with the learning process. Students gain a deeper understanding of the material properties and the changes resulting from various testing procedures by simulating the influence of relevant parameters and using visualizations. The other goal is to familiarize students with modern computational tools for solving engineering problems. The significance of this approach is in using industrial software early in the curriculum, and helping fulfill the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology Criterion 3 outcomes 1, 3, and 6. Students are also required to compare their simulation results with the experimental data and discuss the potential sources of variations. The objective is to improve students' critical skills and decision making in design problems.