Addition of Lab Experiences to a Course in Dynamic Systems with Vibrations

At Kettering University, all mechanical engineering students take a two-course sequence in Dynamic Systems; the first course is Dynamic Systems with Vibrations, and the second is Dynamic Systems with Controls. In the past, the first course has been purely a lecture class, while the second has included both lecture and lab time. Both courses were modified, as a result of student experiences and feedback from industry partners, with the lab redesigned for Dynamic Systems with Controls and a lab component involving Matlab/Simulink modeling and simulations added to Dynamic Systems with Vibrations. This paper will focus on the lab addition to the first course, Dynamic Systems with Vibrations. This paper will first present the background of the course and reasons for the addition of the lab, including the desired student outcomes. Next, it will discuss the initial design of the labs and the evolution to the current set of lab experiences. This discussion will include the key topics covered, the learning objectives of the labs, and the practical challenges in implementation. Finally, data from student instructor/course surveys will be presented, and future goals for the lab component of the class will be discussed.