Integrating Problem Based Learning into the Classroom via a Real-Time Ship Engineering Problem

March 29, 2007An actual engineering problem encountered during the annual 2006 summer Training Cruise at Maine Maritime Academy was brought into several courses and used as a vehicle for student learning while simultaneously providing a viable student-designed solution to the problem. During the Training Cruise, a request was made to re-design and machine a new trolley hoist bar to allow for additional clearance for easier access to work on the ship???s engines. A midshipman took the existing hoisting bar, which has a 2-ton lifting capacity, and machined a replacement that included a significant change to the geometry. This replacement part was not used during cruise. After cruise, preliminary stress analyses showed a significant deficiency in the part and the instructor of the instructor of the Strength of Materials course decided to allow the students in the Fall to analyze and compare the original and replacement bar for load and stresses. The final ???mini-capstone??? project for this course was for student teams to analyze the original and midshipman design, and to come up with a new, more robust design. Concurrent with this class, students in the Fall Welding class investigated welding concerns with a suggested ???fix??? to the re-design. This hoist bar project is being carried on to the Spring Materials Engineering classes as well. Material samples will be tested to failure and the processing of the steel will be addressed. The Spring Welding class will also be given a revised assignment of the problem including a ???fix??? from the Materials course to see if a different problem format will give better results. Finally, the Spring Computer Applications class for Engineers will model this bar using a CAD program and upload the drawings into a finite element modeling program to check for stresses and deflections. Time permitting, potential re-designs will be computer-modeled as well.Engineering Department, Maine Maritime Academ