MEC8029 : Design of Mechanical Power Transmissions
- Offered for Year: 2023/24
- Module Leader(s): Professor Brian Shaw
- Other Staff: Mr Reece Chohan, Mr Robert Lambert, Mr Tom Reavie
- Owning School: Engineering
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
Aims
To teach how to design, manufacture and use mechanical power transmission systems and equipment, especially rotary drive systems. The module aims to enable students to specify / select / design / manufacture drive systems for a wide variety of driven loads to a given performance specification. It also aims to teach the design, manufacturing and quality assurance of selected power transmission components, equipment and systems in detail and to apply the knowledge gained to the design of a mechanical power transmission.
Outline Of Syllabus
Drive systems are integral to most machines and products. This course deals with the systems and the detail engineering to design successful transmissions:
- Introduction to drive systems and components.
- Principles of drive system and component design/selection.
- Design of power transmission shaft/bearing/housing assemblies for ease of manufacture and assembly.
- Gear drives, gear types, main characteristics, geometry and manufacturing routes.
- Design and analysis of spur and helical gears.
- Design and selection of shafts, splines and couplings.
- Understanding and selection of bearings.
- Material selection, manufacturing routes and impact on failure modes.
- Detail design of typical mechanical power transmissions.
- Includes an assignment to design/specify mechanical power transmissions in detail.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 13 | 1:00 | 13:00 | PiP Teaching lectures and syllabus content. |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 4 | 0:30 | 2:00 | in-class formative on-line Canvas Quizzes |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 2:30 | 2:30 | Inspera closed-book invigilated exam to be taken in computer cluster (PiP). |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 2 | 1:00 | 2:00 | PiP / Synchronous Industry Lectures supporting syllabus content |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 30 | 1:00 | 30:00 | Preparation/completion of Assignment |
| Structured Guided Learning | Lecture materials | 12 | 1:00 | 12:00 | Non-synchronous teaching lectures and syllabus content. |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Practical | 3 | 2:00 | 6:00 | "PiP Touring tranmissions systems research facilities Gearbox layouts and cross-sections etc |
| Guided Independent Study | Skills practice | 10 | 1:00 | 10:00 | Software use for gear design assignment |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Drop-in/surgery | 10 | 1:00 | 10:00 | Synchronous reviews of course activity |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 20 | 1:00 | 20:00 | Self study and revision for formative quizzes and summative assessments |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 91 | 1:00 | 91:00 | Recomend regular personal study throughout teaching period to follow up taught classes and tutorials |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Module talk | 1 | 1:30 | 1:30 | PiP Introduction to module. |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
The PiP, synchronous and non-synchronous lectures and course material introduce the topics and provide a firm foundation for the subject.
The PiP practicals give a facility tour, demonstrations and exercises that allow students to examine many types of drive system designs and component types, experience several drive systems operating and understand failure processes.
The gear software skills learned during the course represent the industry standard transmission design software and allows selection of optimal gear designs required in the gearbox assignment.
The on-line tutorial classes held as a synchronous activity allows students to consolidate learning.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exams
| Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Digital Examination | 150 | 1 | A | 70 | Inspera invigilated closed-book Exam (PiP). |
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | 1 | M | 30 | Gearbox assignment - max 10 pages. |
Formative Assessments
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer assessment | 1 | M | Online quizzes to check module knowledge/practice exam format - Online Quizzes |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The gearbox assignment, backed up by on-line sessions, applies the taught material and leads the students to a greater depth of understanding of the detail design of components and/or selection & matching of drive systems. The output of the gearbox assignment includes appropriate designs / system diagrams, calculations and evidence of appropriate decision making, all presented in a final report.
The in-class quizzes are designed to support and consolidate learning including formative feedback.
The Inspera closed-book, online computer based assessment tests understanding of the taught material using a mix on question types including multi-choice, calculations and essay.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- MEC8029's Timetable