Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Hands-on Learning

Facilities and Equipment

Your course work is supported by modern equipment and the most relevant modern tools and techniques of engineering analysis, design, and production.Embry-Riddle College of Engineering's wind tunnel

Software:
Hands-on experience with industry-level solid modeling — Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and Computer-Aided Modeling (CAM) — finite elements, and computational fluid dynamics software

State-of-the-art lab facilities for coursework and special projects:

LB-182 Manufacturing and Stereolithography Lab
In this lab student’s preliminary and detail design are modeled and prototyped using either a CNC router or stereolithography (3-D printing) machine. Emphasis is placed upon understanding the importance of time, cost, fabrication methodology and material selection.

Utilization: Machines used:
Classes and clubs that utilize this lab:
Propulsion, Aeronautics, and Astronautics Design I & II.
Civil Engineering
Society of Automotive Engineers
Independent study projects
Master thesis projects		 Machines used:
Komo CNC Router
3D Systems Solid Object Printer
High Temperature Vacuum Furnace
Filament Winding System

LB-176 Wind tunnel Lab
This laboratory conducts of a series of aerodynamic experiments using the wind tunnel, manometer, and a strain gage force balance.

Experiments concerning closed duct flow include pitot-static air speed measurement and flow quality assessment.

Pressure measuring experiments consist of boundary layer velocity profiles, airfoil pressure coefficients, and momentum drag.

Tests using the force balance include plain and flapped wing performance and complete airplane model tests.

Currently, the lab is being used solely for the above experiments. There are no current projects being conducted in the wind tunnel lab.

2-D smoke tunnel and a 3-D smoke tunnel.


Manufacturing Lab

LB-180 Composite Lab
The composites lab is designed to provide students hands-on experience with fabricating aircraft composite structures, and provides research background for graduate students.

Undergraduate students
There are five projects that give opportunities to students how modern aircrafts are built with composite materials. Each project helps students to understand from the basic skill of fabrications to the methods that are currently being used.

Five Projects:

  1. Glass/epoxy wet lay up.
    (Skill that is used to make home-built airplanes)
  2. Hot-wired cutting of a foam airfoil.
    (Method that is used to build aircraft wing structures)
  3. Visual inspection of a thin laminate.
    (Basic defects detection technique of composites)
  4. Vacuum bagged and oven cured pre-preg sandwich panel.
    (Industrial fabrication method for modern aircrafts and space vehicles)
  5. Glass/epoxy wet lay up.
    (Test designed to compare theory and practice)

In addition to these composite projects, the lab also is used for the students who design and manufacture parts and components for coursework and projects.

LAB-178 Materials Testing Lab
The lab is used as a complement to reinforce concepts and theory given in the engineering science classes supporting the AE, CIV and ME degrees.

Most of the important testing experiments the students get involved with are the Tensile Test, Hardness Test, Mechanical Properties Alteration by Heat Treatment, Microstructure Evaluation, Torsion test, and Fracture test.

Current research in the lab involves the fabrication, and testing of both metal and fiber glass composites. The testing entails the compression and impact experiments.

Machine Shop:

LB-234 Electrical Engineering Labs
The electrical engineering lab is the primary classroom for all hands-on work performed in the introductory EE courses.

Students perform weekly experiments, starting with DC circuit theory and then moving into AC circuits and theory.

The scope of the labs ranges from basic measurement techniques to the verification of theories and calculations learned in the more traditional lectures that accompany this course.

Students in the EE lab will become familiar with the use of DC power supplies and multimeters, as well as wave generators and the new Tektronix digital oscilloscopes.

Computers at each station allow the use of software programs such as Electronics Workbench, where students can simulate their experiments for improved understanding and data verification.

LB-177 Thermal Sciences Lab
The Thermal Sciences Lab is used for education and research in Propulsion, mainly gas turbine engines and air breathing propulsion.

The lab houses a J34 Westinghouse single-spool (single-shaft) turbojet, 60 lbs/sec airflow and 3,000 lbs of thrust at sea level. (It is operational and has been run in our test cell)

The thermo Lab also houses a GE CF6-6 twin-spool high-bypass turbofan, 1300 lbs/sec and 42,000 lbs of thrust at sea level. It was used to power the DC-10 aircraft.

Students in AE, particularly in the Propulsion focus will benefit greatly from the engines in the Thermal Sciences Lab.