Projects
Tools for Open-Ended Engineering
Professor Louis L. Bucciarelli
Two tools will be demonstrated:
The first tools are interactive simulations which illustrate force
and moment equilibrium - principles fundamental to the analysis
and design of structures. Used in subject 1.050, they enable
students to quickly explore varieties of possible 2-dimensional
truss and frame structure designs in real time. The tools
are used in the open-ended, design type exercises assigned
throughout the semester.
The second technology was designed to enhance learning in
a frosh seminar exploring the performance and design of
photovoltaic (PV) solar energy systems. Data from a PV unit
installed atop building 1 which measures PV module output,
module temperature, battery voltage, as well as ambient temperature,
wind speed and direction, is accessible in realtime on the
web at http://pvbase.mit.edu . The site, which has been running
since fall 2001, includes a simulation which uses archived
data for sizing PV
stand-alone systems for the Boston area.
