Learning objectives
Design:
Knowledge and understanding:
Upon completion of the course, students will have acquired fundamental knowledge relating to the mechanics of elastically deformable bodies, with specific attention to beam theory.
Expertise:
Students will be capable of designing and performing structural verification of simple elements, with specific emphasis on mechanical components.
Independent interpretation:
Students will have the skills to critically evaluate the stress state of simple mechanical components and therefore to assess their suitability for meeting specific load requirements during use.
Communication skills:
Students will have the ability to clearly present technical reports relating to dimensioning of simple structural elements.
Interpretation capacity:
Students will be capable of assessing the adequacy, or lack thereof, of component geometry and materials in meeting load requirements during use. Students will also be able to identify alternatives in terms of geometry and/or materials to satisfy structural requirements in working conditions.
Drawing: knowledge and understanding: Capacity to precisely interpret technical drawings, including symbols relating to mechanical machining operations. Knowledge of the main types of connections and transmissions.
Expertise: Ability to draft, freehand or with the use of set squares, technical drawings of mechanical components based on elevations or isometric drawings. Ability to assign tolerances and surface finish requirements based on the necessary component functionality.
Independent interpretation: Development of an adequate autonomy in the analysis of mechanical systems so as to correctly represent their individual components.
Communication skills: Further to production of correct and complete graphical representations necessary for conveying the form of simple mechanical components, students will acquire specific vocabulary inherent to mechanical drawing through frontal lessons and provided teaching material.
Interpretation capacity: Ability to interpret technical drawings and extract complex solid three-dimensional forms from them. Capacity to apply related knowledge where necessary (e.g. relationship between component functionality, design and production method).
Prerequisites
Important prerequisites for this course are knowledge of mathematical analysis, linear algebra and physics.
Course unit content
Concerning the Design of Industrial Components, this course provides students with the fundamentals of mechanical component design and construction. Initially the course reviews the most important mechanical properties of materials commonly utilised in the industrial sector. Subsequently, resolution of isostatic beams will be covered. Definition of internal loads will then be presented, together with area geometry. These two themes will provide preparation for the subsequent phase in which internal stresses in beams will be calculated.
Topics covered up to this point will be exploited to perform verifications of simple mechanical components through definition of strength requirements and the safety factor.
Concerning the Drawings of Industrial Components, this course provides students with the fundamentals of industrial technical drawing. Initially the course covers the bases of mechanical drawing, orthogonal projections of simple and complex bodies, sections and axonometric projections. Subsequently, more specific topics will be covered including interpretation and arrangement of geometric dimensioning, surface finish and dimensional and geometric tolerances required for component functionality. Finally, the main types of permanent and releasable connections will be covered with particular attention to threaded connections, welded joints and mechanical transmissions. Practical exercises will be given during lessons throughout the entire course, covering all of the treated topics.
Full programme
The course program is as follows:
Design:
P1. Fundamental principles of mechanics. Static equilibrium equations. Introduction to the most commonly used industrial materials. Linear-elastic behaviour.
P2. Constraints, free-body diagrams, calculation of constraint reaction forces for bodies comprising several elements.
P3. Characteristic stress diagrams for thin beams.
P4. Area geometry
P5. Internal stresses
P6. Stress state and strength criteria for ductile and fragile materials.
P7. Component verification methods.
Drawing:
D1. Introduction to technical drawing
D2. Orthogonal and isometric projections
D3. Sections
D4. Dimensioning
D5. Dimensional tolerances
D6. Surface Roughness and geometric tolerances
D7. Fastened Connections
D8. Mechanical Transmissions
D9. Welded Joints
The applied aspect of these themes will be covered through introduction of a large number of examples and exercises to be resolved in class.
Bibliography
Slides used throughout the course will be available to students in PDF format via the Elly online platform, together with all teaching material and practical exercises covered during lessons. To download this material, students must log on to Elly and register for PROGETTAZIONE E DISEGNO DI COMPONENTI INDUSTRIALI.
Further to material provided within the course, students can expand upon covered topics by studying from the following texts (in Italian):
Design:
1. C. Comi, L. Corradi Dell’Acqua – Introduzione alla Meccanica strutturale – McGraw Hill
2. F.P. Beer, E.R. Johnston, J.T. De Wolf, D.F. Mazurek – Meccanica dei Solidi – McGraw Hill
Drawing:
1. M. Carfagni, R. Furferi, L. Governi, Y. Volpe - Esercizi di disegno meccanico. Zanichelli 2. Manfè, Pozza, Scarato. Disegno meccanico. (3 volumi), Principato.
3. Caligaris, Fava, Tomasello, "Dal progetto al prodotto", (3 volumi), Paravia
Teaching methods
Teaching activities will be conducted in the form of frontal lessons followed by tutorials. Themes covered in the course will be presented during lessons, both from a theoretical point of view and through practical examples. Refinement of the presented topics will be provided during subsequent tutorials, where students will resolve practical exercises. Where there is insufficient time for completion of exercises within the allocated tutorials, students will be required to complete them a home.
Assessment methods and criteria
The written exam will comprise the following:
- Task 1: preparation of a technical drawing of two components based on a small assembly drawing. Further to simple graphical representation with orthogonal projections, it is necessary to indicate dimensions, surface finish and tolerances necessary for complete component functionality.
- Task 2: exercise based on a mechanical design problem where verification of structural integrity is required, together with calculation of the safety factor.
- Task 3: response to a question relating to part of the theory covered during the course.
Written exams are assigned grades from 0 to 30, with the three tasks weighted 0.46, 0.36 and 0.18, respectively (tasks 1, 2 and 3).
Written exam results are published on esse3, usually within 3/5 days of the exam date. All students that do not achieve a pass grade can view their marked exam through appointment with the course coordinator.
Where a grade equal or greater than 18/30 is achieved, the exam is considered passed and the grade can be directly confirmed and reported.
Where a grade equal or greater than 16/30 is achieved, it is possible to undertake an oral exam with the possibility of increasing or decreasing the grade achieved in the written exam.
The written exam only gives access to the oral exam immediately following. The oral exam can only be undertaken within the date indicated on esse3 and cannot be postponed to a later date.
Other information
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2030 agenda goals for sustainable development
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