EML 4906L Mechanical Engineering Lab

Fall 2010 (U02)

Dennis Fan
Office: EC 3466
Phone: 3053484027
email: dfan@fiu.edu
Class Schedule: 10:00 AM12:50 PM, Room EC 3410 (Lab), Lecture EC 3327 (MME
conference room)
Office Hours: 3:005:00 PM, Monday and Wednesday, or by appointment
TA: To be announced
TA Office hour: To be announced
E-mail: To be announced

A. Summary
This lab course focuses on experiments illustrating the principles of basic heat transfer, transient
heat transfer, heat exchangers and extended surfaces. It is also designed for the student to
develop the capability to conduct data analysis needed to complete an experimental objective
related to a particular heat transfer problem. Students work in small teams, which work
collectively to reach the objectives of each student in the team and the overall team objectives.
B. OBJECTIVES
1. To expose students to the process of designing an experiment for the purpose of obtaining
data related to a topic in heat transfer, and analyzing and reporting the data.
2. To develop the student's interpersonal skills through team-oriented activities and
responsibilities.
3. To develop the student's technical communication skills.
4. To expose the student to the process of referred technical publication through a professional
organization to cultivate life-long learning and professional responsibility.
C. Lab Policies
1. Students must participate in all team activities when scheduled and must participate for the
entire laboratory period for total credit. Partial participation will result in an appropriate
penalty on the participation grade for that activity.
2. Missed laboratory activities for excusable absences will not be penalized in the final grade,
with work made-up at the discretion of the instructor. However, advanced notice to the
instructor is required at least 3 days prior to the dead line for any excusable absence.
3. Missed laboratory activities for unexcused absences will receive zero credit for that lab. No
make-up laboratory activity is provided for any unexcused absence.

4. Each lab report must be completed within 7 days with correct format. If experiment is done
on Monday, the due day is on next Monday. Ill collect the report at the beginning of the lab
course. Failure to submit any lab report on-time results in a penalty according to the
following schedule: 10% penalty if one-day late; 20% penalty if two-day late; 30%
penalty if three-day late. No report will be collected three days passing the due date. Also,
the reports with incorrect format will be sent back for correction with five (5) point penalty.
No exceptions.
5. All lab reports, including figures, tables, and spreadsheet solutions are to be the independent
and original work of each group. Work that is substantially plagiarized will not be accepted
and the student will receive zero credit and be charged with Academic Misconduct.
University Dishonesty Policies will be enforced.
6. The lab reports with sections copied from the lab manuals and textbooks will NOT be
graded and returned for revision with a 10% penalty.
D. Student Activities
1. Students will be given various experimental objectives related to a specific topic in heat
transfer along with an overview of the features of a specific laboratory apparatus. They will
then work in a small team to develop an experimental matrix, which will allow them to
obtain sufficient data to reach their experimental objectives.
2. Short introductory lectures will be given on various topics in heat transfer and on particular
analysis methods, which will be used in the data reduction process. Students will research
relevant theory and empirical correlations related to their experimental project and
determine how to best use the available experimental apparatus in the teaching laboratory to
reach their objectives.
3. Students will make extensive use of computers to document and present content in the
course, and in developing a data analysis scheme for their experimental project.
E. Lab Report Policies
Lab reports which do not follow the following policies will not be accepted and returned with
no credit:
1. The Lab reports will be formatted as specified in the Lab manual.
2. All lab reports and data analysis must be created using a computer, i.e. a word processor and
a spreadsheet program. Lab reports are to be written and submitted in MS Word (.doc) files.
Spreadsheet analysis is to be performed and submitted in MS Excel (.xls) files.
3. All plots, graphs and tables must be computer generated and embedded into the lab reports
electronic file.
4. It is the student's responsibility to learn how to use MS Word and SigmaPlot/MS Excel
sufficiently to produce documents, embedded graphics, spreadsheet tables and solutions, and
X-Y scatter charts (plots) of data with appropriate legend, symbols, and axis labels.
Students should seek assistance with these skills as early as possible and/or purchase selfhelp manuals if necessary.

5. Regarding the contents of lab reports, please refer to the handout Writing Lab Report.
F. Grading Policies
Course-Work Evaluation
Lab reports
Final exam
TOTAL

80%
20%
100%

No participation credit will be issued for lab exercises without submitting a final report.
Grade Scale:
GRADE
A
A
B+
B
B

SCORE RANGE
88 % & up
84 % & up
80 % & up
76 % & up
72 % & up

GRADE
C+
C
C
D
F

Course Web: http://web.eng.fiu.edu/~dfan/EML4906L/Home.htm

SCORE RANGE
68 % & up
64 % & up
60 % & up
55 % & up
Below 55 %