Dr H. C. Watson, Mr W. W. S. Charters, Mr E. E. Milkins, Dr V. R. Megler and invited lecturers.
First Semester — 15 lectures and 15 practical/tutorial classes.
Second Semester — 15 lectures and 15 practical/tutorial classes.
SYLLABUS
The syllabus would normally contain topics in each of the following sections.
1. Resources: A study of available energy resources, levels of extraction and technically feasible extraction.
2. Conversion: Review of current conversion systems; thermal, solar, nuclear, wind and tidal. Alternative fuels and their potential conversion efficiencies including advanced systems, eg. solar-hydrogen economy.
3. Utilization: Efficiencies of conversion systems in current use in transporta- tion, manufacturing processes and heating. Matching of energy sources to application. Hybrid and stored energy systems.
4 . Environmental Impact: Aspects of air and thermal pollution and waste disposal problems arising from conversion systems.
ASSESSMENT
The assessment for pass and final honours will be based on performance throughout the year in tests, practical work and seminars.
436-432 PHILOSOPHY OF TECHNOLOGY
Dr R Milner
First Semester — 15 lectures and 15 tutorials.
Second Semester — 15 lectures and 15 tutorials.
SYLLABUS
A further study of the determinants and the consequences of technological change:
(a) The nature of science: The search for system and truth, the status of hypothesis, law and theory. Observation, measurement and experiment.
Explanation and prediction. Science as a microsociety.
(b) The nature of technology: Acts, technical acts and action; the mind/body problem. Ethics and values. Rules and their grounding in science. Forecasting and prediction.
(c) Change and its consequences: Technological change; forecasting and assessment.
ASSESSMENT
The assessment for pass and final honours will be based on a written report of study on a selected topic.
436-433 HISTORY OF TECHNOLOGY
Dr R Milner
First Semester — 13 lectures and 18 hours of laboratory/field work.
Second Semester — 12 lectures and 17 hours of laboratory/field work.
SYLLABUS
Studies in the history of technology, selected from the following related topics:
1. Ancient technology: The mathematics and technology of Neolithic stone rings, surveying and building dams, irrigation canals. Windpower in middle Asia. Naturally occurring metals, the Bronze Age, the discovery of iron, the development of tools and weaponry.
2. Technology in classical times: Early mechanisms and machine elements.
Greek catapults, automata. Large scale civil engineering in Roman times.
3. Technology in medieval times: Fortifications, mortars and cannon, the manufacture of armour. Wind and water power in Western Europe. Th?
cathedral builders. The clock and other mechanisms. Records of mining anrl metallurgical practices.
4 . Mechanicians and engineers of the Renaissance: Leonardo, his prede- cessors and successors, "the Machine Books" and their authors. The canal builders.
5. Engineering formalized during the 18th and 19th centuries: Steam power and the Industrial Revolution. Coke iron, developments in machine tools, and the early railways. A new style of agriculture. Flour milling technology.
6. 19th century technology: The development of engineering education and the engineering institutions. The great British civil engineers — bridges, drainage, canals and water supply. Bessemer steel and its consequences.
Railways. New machines for textiles and agriculture. Large ships and their influence upon the trade and economy of England. New sources of power — electric dynamos and generators, water turbines, steam turbines and the internal combustion engine. Steps towards realising the dream of human flight.
7. Early 20th century technology: Professional institutions and the growing role of research in science and technology. The transport revolution: the motor car, jet engines, aircraft, nuclear power.
8. Australian Technology: Agricultural machinery, mining and heavy engi- neering. Australian inventors.
ASSESSMENT
The assessment for pass and final honours will be based on performance throughout the year in field work, assignments and seminars.
436-434 ADVANCED DESIGN METHODS IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
Dr Lewis, Dr Samuel
First Semester — 18 lectures and 12 tutorials and case study discussions.
Second Semester — 18 lectures and 12 tutorials and case study discussions.
SYLLABUS
A selection from the following topics with examination of applications in mechanical engineering.
1. Creativity. Psychology of creativity and intelligence. Social and environ- mental factors. Invention and innovation.
2. Design decisions. Multiple criteria, optimization. Strategies, information flows. Uncertainty and risk.
3. Design for production. Capability of common manufacturing processes.
Matching process capability to design requirements. Effect of uncertainties in manufacture on product design, tolerances, and costs.
4 . Design for reliability. Statistical theory. Renewal of components and maintenance policies. Fault-failure analysis.
5. Computer aids to design. Man-computer communication. Component design, shafts, bearings, power transmitting devices. Design and layout of industrial plant.
ASSESSMENT
One 3-hour paper. Contributions to case study discussions and work on class assignments during the year will be given weight in assessing the standard of candidates. (Pass and final honours.)
436-436 MECHANICAL ENGINEERING ROBOTICS — THEORY AND APPLICATION
Dr A. E. Samuel
First Semester — 15 lectures and 15 practice classes.
Second Semester — 15 lectures and 15 practice classes.
SYLLABUS
1. Overview and Classification of Robot Systems; pick and place devices, continuous path manipulators, telechirs, wabots, articulated grippers, load capacities, working volume and limits to accuracy of performance characteris- tics, robot vision, voice actuators, obstacle avoidance, movement strategies, specific examples of robot applications and limitations to performance.
2. Programming and response; point to point programming, higher level lan- guages, teach mode programming, space and tool coordinates, computer off- line programming, programming for flexible manufacture, human factors in the management of robot systems.
3. Kinematics of robot arms; kinematic description of multi-degree-of-freedom manipulators, joint coordinates, task coordinates, transformation of coordinate systems, kinematic models, industrial task description and translation to robot requirements.
4. Dynamics; dynamical equations for six degree-of-freedom robot arms, Langrangian and Newton-Euler viewpoints, non linear systems of equations with time varying coefficients, real time dynamics and associated problems, dynamic models, predicted limits to performance in industrial tasks.
5. Control; motion resolvers, passive compliant devices, positive feed forward techniques in obstacle avoidance control, force feedback for gripper and arm control, vision control for location in automated assembly.
ASSESSMENT
One 3-hour examination (open book type) for pass and honours. Project work throughout the course will be given weight in final assessment.
436-445 FABRICATION TECHNOLOGY
Dr P. J . Bunyan
First Semester — 12 lectures and 18 hours of laboratory work.
Second Semester — 12 lectures and 18 hours of laboratory work.
SYLLABUS
1. Welding: Processes and their selection, including fusion and solid state welding, brazing and soldering. Weld structures, defects and properties. The meaning, measurement and significance of weldability. Calculation of preheat, post-welding treatments. Surfacing processes, repair techniques. Weld speci- fication and testing, mechanical and non-destructive test methods. Alterna- tives to welding.
2. Mechanical Working: Process optimization. Cost control — equipment loads, energy consumption, operation limits, processing speeds, tool costs, handling costs. Shape and dimensional control — shaping paths, thermal and mechanical deflections, tool wear. Property control — structural changes, surface changes, residual stresses, defects.
PRACTICAL WORK
Microscopical and non-destructive examination of welds. Specification testing.
Assessment of materials, measurement of process limits and determination of geometrical and frictional effects in selected working processes including rolling, drawing and extrusion.
Plant visits.
ASSESSMENT
One 3-hour paper and assessment of practical assignments for pass and final honours. Exempting assignments may be set.