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THE OPEN UNIVERSITY OF SRI LANKA DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING DIPLOMA IN TECHNOLOGY - LEVEL 03

MEX 3174 – Principles of Design ACADEMIC YEAR – 2011/2012

Assignment # 2 INSTRUCTIONS

1. This Assignment is based on course material in Book 01 and 02. 2. Answer all questions. 3. Write your registration number clearly on your answer script. 4. Send your answer scripts under registered cover to the address given below or put it into

the assignment box available at the Mechanical Engineering Research Laboratory (New Science and Technology building).

THE COURSE COORDINATOR – MEX3174 DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING THE OPEN UNIVERSITY OF SRI LANKA. P.O.BOX 21, NAWALA, NUGEGODA.

5. Last date of submission : October 21, 2011 6. No late submission will be accepted.

Question 01

a. Evolution of design procedure dates back to several centuries. For our ancestors,

design and manufacturing were a part and parcel of their life. But as time went on the

design was divorced from manufacturing.

Explain the above paragraph, stating clearly the reasons for such an evolution.

Distinguish between the methods adopted in the past and that at present in designing

and manufacturing artifacts.

b. People have always designed artifacts, and even animals make essential bits and pieces

to fulfill basic needs. Distinguish design by humans and design by animals in the

context of evolution and development of the design process. You may quote

appropriate examples to support your answer.

Question 02

a. Creative design methods attempt to promote the flow of ideas. Brainstorming is the

most widely known method to promote creativity. Explain what Brainstorming is.

Note: Your answer should clearly explain the role and the responsibilities of the leader

and the other members in a brainstorming session.

b. Following methods used to overcome difficulties in design problems. Describe each of

them and clearly state the instances they used.

i. Literature searching, ii. Checklists, iii. Questionnaires

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Question 03

a. Why economic considerations are important in an engineering design and how the

economic considerations can change the engineering design process?

b. Technology can change the society. Explain your opinion using appropriate examples.

c. Explain clearly a “well-defined problem” and an “ill defined problem”.

Note: Your answer should address the respective characteristics in each problem.

d. Elaborate the role of an Engineering Designer.

Question 04

The black box representation of functional analysis method is shown in Fig.Q4,

where black box represents the overall function of the design.

INPUTS OUTPUTS

Fig.Q4

a. Why is it necessary to define it as broad as possible in initial stages of a design?

b. What are the actions that designer can implement in order to widen the design

boundaries?

c. What are the consequences if the system boundary is too narrow?

Question 05

a. The way and approach of the scientists and engineers solving a problem is different.

Do you agree to this statement? Justify your answer.

b. Given below are several phases of engineering design. They are not arranged in the

proper sequence.

Evaluation

Synthesis

Definition of the Problem

Presentation Recognition of need

Analysis

Optimization

Arrange these phases in sequential manner and draw a suitable flow chart

incorporating these phases with their interrelationship to show that (using an

appropriate example) when the flow chart is followed, the design process would result

a successful design.

BLACK BOX