Apply your learning through project based learning, where you'll have both individual work and group work where you'll be in a multidisciplinary range of students from the engineering group. This module is designed to provide you with a basic understanding of design and manufacturing processes, from the in-class theoretical briefings to hands on practical activities. You will gain insight on the need of selecting the most appropriate materials and manufacturing processes, designing and building of basic mechanical products. You'll be introduced to modern equipment such as CNC machines, 3D printers and 3D modelling. The behaviour and properties of a range of materials will also be introduced. You will learn how to conform to the regulations relating to safe workshop practices and applying your materials and structural knowledge for their design and prototypes.
View the full module definitionDevelop the underpinning engineering mathematical skills needed to solve technical and applied problems. The mathematical skills are essential for the successful completion of your project and knowledge-based modules. The module will focus on teaching mathematics while solving applied engineering problems, formulas, and expressions. Algebraic skills will also be extensively developed to carry out mathematical analyses and solve engineering problems. The module will include algebraic skills, trigonometry, vectors, geometry, basic calculus, and their application to solving practical engineering problems. The teaching of this module includes introducing external self-learning and assessment tools in mathematics, allowing flexible and independent learning. The module will be assessed with reference to the application of mathematics in engineering problems.
View the full module definitionStart your journey to becoming a professional engineer and discover the wide range of applications and disciplines related to engineering. By gaining insight into career opportunities at this early stage in the course you can follow your interests throughout your study. You'll learn about the role of engineering in society, including environmental issues, and sustainability, looking at ethical issues in engineering and the importance of marketing, commercial understanding, engineering standards, and legal aspects of pursuing a career in engineering. You will cover the history of engineering, motivating you with inspiring successes that have changed human life forever, as well as critically learning lessons from failures. Through this module you may get the opportunity to visit manufacturing and engineering companies and to start to think and critically analyse as an engineer, discovering how to break down complex systems into parts and subparts in engineering terms so that you can simplify complex systems. Visits by guest lecturers from industry and/or appropriate professional bodies will also be encouraged, as will a visit to an engineering company. You'll be encouraged to join your appropriate professional bodies and use the advantages from this throughout your course.
View the full module definitionThe module is about static structural mechanics, which is also known as statics. It is a branch of mechanics that analyses forces and their effects on rigid bodies at rest or in equilibrium. It focuses on studying structures and systems under static loads, where the forces acting on the object are balanced and do not cause motion. Static structural mechanics is an essential engineering discipline used in various engineering fields, including civil engineering and mechanical engineering. It is used to design and analyse structures, machines, and systems; thus, the principle is used to analyse the forces acting on structures such as bridges, buildings, and trusses. In this module, you will learn about structures' support and internal reactions to ensure systems are balanced and in equilibrium, which helps designing safe and stable structures.
View the full module definitionGain knowledge and fundamental understanding of vector mathematics and its application to particle and rigid body dynamics. You'll start by learning the terminologies, definitions, and applications of the machine dynamic. The module covers kinematics in one and two dimensions, including the relations between displacement, velocity, and acceleration of an object. As a student, you can apply these principles to many design process applications, including machine and mechanism designs. You will learn the basic principles of cams and gear dynamics and will solve practical examples related to the design of mechanisms. The module also includes the linear single degree of freedom vibration with and without damper and/or external force.
View the full module definitionApply your learning through project based learning, where you'll have both individual work and group work where you will be in a multidisciplinary range of students from the engineering group. This module is designed to provide you with a basic understanding of electrical and electronic engineering, from the in-class theoretical briefings to hands on practical activities. You'll gain insight on the need of selecting the most appropriate electronic components, designing and building of basic mechatronic products. You'll be introduced to modern programming software and simulation packages.
View the full module definitionEntering third level education is exciting; but it can also be a daunting experience. At ARU, we want all students to make the most of the opportunities Higher Education provides, so they reach their potential, become lifelong learners and find fulfilling careers. However, we appreciate that the shift from secondary education, or a return to formal education is, in itself, quite a journey. This module is designed to ease that transition. You'll be enrolled on it as soon as you receive an offer from ARU so you can begin to learn about university life before your course starts. Through Into ARU, you'll explore a virtual land modelled around ARU values: Courage, Innovation, Community, Integrity, Responsibility, and Ambition. This innovative module is designed as a game, where you collect knowledge and various complete mini tasks. You'll proceed at your own pace, though we expect all students to have completed their Into ARU exploration by week 6. Students who, for whatever reason, are unable to complete by that date, will be signposted to existing services so that we can be confident that they are supported.
View the full module definitionThis project-based module follows the theme of improving the design of an existing mechanical appliance/product using the design and analysis concepts for enhanced performance metrics. This module has been designed to give you the opportunity to work in groups in the multidisciplinary area of mechanical engineering to achieve a common goal. You’ll use specialised engineering software packages, e.g., Autodesk Inventor, to design, analyse, and optimise a product and/or its components. You’ll be introduced to the concepts of structural design, solid mechanics, mechanical design, mechanical vibration, mechanical integrity, materials science, and their importance while designing a product. You’ll learn about failure analysis of mechanical parts and components along with stress, strain, and vibration analysis. This module will help you to understand and apply theoretical concepts related mechanical design and materials science in design, analysis, and development of products.
View the full module definitionThis project-based module carries you throughout the entire design process: from identifying a need to ensuring quality in a mass-produced product. Working in groups, you will identify a user-need, conduct market research, and develop and evaluate multiple design ideas which meet this user-need. You will then create (if feasible) a prototype of your chosen design and use Project Evaluation and Review Techniques to evaluate your product. You will also learn about patents and other legal issues. Having created your design prototype, you will then learn how to optimise your design based on DfMA (Design for Manufacture and Assembly). This streamlining is essential to mass-producing your product. You will also learn about how Statistics and Process Quality Assurance is used to ensure the quality of the mass-produced parts remains high. To help you efficiently and effectively achieve these aims, you will learn valuable Project Management skills throughout the module. These skills include how to create and use Gantt charts, SWOT, Risk Management, Critical Pathways, and Change Management.
View the full module definitionGain the foundations in the theoretical and applied aspects of fluid mechanics and heat transfer, allowing you to be able to identify and analyse engineering problems that include air and water flow combined with heat transfer. The subject has a wide range of applications such as wind turbines, heating and air-conditioning, aerodynamics, heat exchanges and heat recovery systems. The fluid mechanics will cover fluid static, conservation of mass and momentum leading to Bernoulli’s equation, fluid flow classification and regimes, dimensional analysis, and fluid forces. The heat transfer will include combined conduction, convection, and radiation one-dimension with extendibility to more complex problems. In this module, you will develop your learning, using applied and real-world problems complemented by laboratory activities to ensure consistent and deep learning.
View the full module definitionApplying and building upon the mathematical techniques learnt in ‘Mathematics for Technology 2’, this module will enable you to use mathematical modeling techniques to analyse and improve engineering systems. We’ll introduce vector analysis, and use Laplace transforms to solve first and second order differential equations. You’ll also learn the Fourier series; the mathematical basis for analysing periodical functions as encountered in any area of physics where wave theory is important. Your learning will be assessed using a one-hour in-class test, two-hour examination and a coursework assignment.
View the full module definitionThermodynamics is about the analysis of real-world systems in terms of mass, energy, and entropy exchange. The thermodynamic analysis will enable you to calculate and optimise the efficiency of various products such as car engines, jet engines, power plants, compressors, gas and steam turbines, boilers, condensers, and refrigerators. Engineering thermodynamics helps to save energy and therefore plays a critical role in energy sustainability and net-zero engineering. The engineering thermodynamics module covers an understanding of mechanical work and heat energy used in conjunction with the first and second laws of thermodynamics and applied for products and systems that include ideal gases such as gas turbines or include multi-phase water and vapour such as condensers and steam turbines. You will also be learning about different thermodynamic cycles such as the reciprocating air standard cycle used in an internal combustion engine. The module includes an introduction to combustion that enables you to establish the analysis of exhaust gases from combustion phenomena. In this module, you will develop your learning, using applied and real-world problems complemented by laboratory activities to ensure consistent and deep learning.
View the full module definitionRuskin Modules are designed to prepare our students for a complex, challenging and changing future. These interdisciplinary modules provide the opportunity to further broaden your perspectives, develop your intellectual flexibility and creativity. You will work with others from different disciplines to enable you to reflect critically on the limitations of a single discipline to solve wider societal concerns. You will be supported to create meaningful connections across disciplines to apply new knowledge to tackle complex problems and key challenges. Ruskin Modules are designed to grow your confidence, seek and maximise opportunities to realise your potential to give you a distinctive edge and enhance your success in the workplace.
This project-based module will help you to prepare for real scale industrial projects involving practical activities with wide versatility. In groups of 3-4 people, you will be expected to perform a team work study looking at feasibility, create/source the required CAD files, and perform FE and CFD analysis to design a scaled-down product that works under specified and realistic specifications. The product will need to be optimised by consistent iterations within FEA and CFD and the finalised proposal will be prototyped. Once the product is manufactured you’ll need to perform experiments and use the test data compare to the ones from the numerical analysis, giving a report to demonstrate your achievements.
View the full module definitionThis module emphasises the underlying unity of apparently different physical systems (electrical, thermal, mechanical, fluid, chemical, biological etc.) by developing the concept of the system model and using the method of analogy. The module is focussed on simple 'lumped parameter' models with particular reference to instrumentation and control systems. The module starts by contrasting signal types and discusses methods of characterisation. The module concentrates on linear systems, developing the use of the Laplace transform, system block diagrams and the system transfer function as key tools. The difference between static and dynamic system models is explored and practical dynamic models are developed. The use of computer tools and packages is integral to the module. This module introduces the principles and practices of modern control systems. Although a basic grounding in maths is required, the approach of the course will be that certain mathematical skills are essential tools for the analysis and design of instrumentation and control systems, hence the module will emphasise the ability to use the tools effectively rather than treat them with mathematical rigour. The problems of instability in feedback and control systems are evaluated with a mixture of case studies and methods for determining the absolute and relative limits of stability in practical systems. The module will cover the specification of the complete system in terms of performance criteria. It will then consider a variety of design approaches both analytical and heuristic.
View the full module definitionThis module enables students to conduct an individual research project in the corresponding (for example, Mechanical, Mechatronics, Robotics, Electronics, Electrical, Medical, Pharmaceutical, etc) Engineering subject area. Students must identify a problem, break it into more manageable components, and critically analyse it. Students will conduct a literature review (review of the current knowledge in the field of choice), formulate research questions, and collect primary data via experimentation, numerical analysis, case study, interviews or questionnaires to perform a qualitative or quantitative analysis. The dissertation must be 8500 words and an oral presentation. The focus will be on critical thinking and organising a significant research thesis/volume with an introduction, methodology, results, discussion, and conclusion. Students will have guest lectures from industry professionals to acknowledge the industry requirements and the latest trends in the engineering enterprise, reaching out to professional bodies such as the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) and the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). An academic staff member (chosen by students or the module leader) will supervise students. It will be throughout the student's journey working on the dissertation and provide support, advice and recommendations as required. Students will prepare a research proposal (1000-1500 words) that includes the following information: Title, Research Overview, Objectives, Research Context, Research Question, Research Methods, Research Significance and References. Students must also submit the ethics form, CV, and Gantt chart with a detailed explanation of the research development plan and an exit plan focusing on enhancing employability.
View the full module definitionThis module aims to develop your knowledge and skills in analysing complex engineering problems using various approaches with an emphasis on finite element and plasticity analysis, which are at the forefront of design and engineering disciplines. You will investigate the advanced mechanics of material, the linear and non-linear behaviour of structures, and how to design structures and engineering components to avoid failure, when subjected to various loadings. A variety of analysis tools including Finite Element and MatLab can be applied to the analysis of simple and complex structures. The module will introduce methods of how to analyse the dynamic response of structures. In addition, you will learn how to convey challenging concepts and complex information effectively to technical and non-technical audiences.
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