Western Kentucky University
WKU Mechanical Engineering and Research
Institution
Western Kentucky University
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
Chris Byrne
Abstract
The program in Mechanical Engineering at WKU is based upon close interaction between students and faculty through a variety of professional activities. This interaction is intended to better prepare students for their careers while exposing them to a variety of activities beyond those offered in the curriculum. As an example of this effort, two activities will be described that share a common thread, but one is being conducted within the curriculum and the other outside of the curriculum. A funded program aimed at developing a patented composite materials technology is being conducted with the aid of paid undergraduate ME student research assistants. Some of the many extracurricular contributions of students Ryan Farris and Matthew Seibert in the process development and characterization of novel carbon-polymer composites are presented. This research activity has supported many ME students over the past 3 years, providing them an avenue for expanding their knowledge base past that contained in the curriculum, while exposing them to the nuances of research. This same program has been the springboard for the creation of a 2006-2007 ME senior design project. In that curricular activity, the same two students are tasked with the development, design, and verification of a highly controlled carbonization furnace suitable for production on an industrial level.
WKU Mechanical Engineering and Research
The program in Mechanical Engineering at WKU is based upon close interaction between students and faculty through a variety of professional activities. This interaction is intended to better prepare students for their careers while exposing them to a variety of activities beyond those offered in the curriculum. As an example of this effort, two activities will be described that share a common thread, but one is being conducted within the curriculum and the other outside of the curriculum. A funded program aimed at developing a patented composite materials technology is being conducted with the aid of paid undergraduate ME student research assistants. Some of the many extracurricular contributions of students Ryan Farris and Matthew Seibert in the process development and characterization of novel carbon-polymer composites are presented. This research activity has supported many ME students over the past 3 years, providing them an avenue for expanding their knowledge base past that contained in the curriculum, while exposing them to the nuances of research. This same program has been the springboard for the creation of a 2006-2007 ME senior design project. In that curricular activity, the same two students are tasked with the development, design, and verification of a highly controlled carbonization furnace suitable for production on an industrial level.