Challenges and Countermeasures in the Teaching of Engineering Mechanics in Vocational Colleges

Engineering mechanics is as a basic course,and the learning effect of this course directly affects the learning of subsequent professional courses.However,the teaching quality of engineering mechanics in vocational colleges has been subpar for a long time.In this study,we explored the teaching situation of engineering mechanics by using questionnaires,pointing out the challenges faced in the teaching of engineering mechanics and putting forward four targeted suggestions,which include stimulating students’interest and increasing the investment in laboratory equipment,to improve the teaching quality.The findings of this study may provide some reference for the teaching reform of engineering mechanics.

Microstructure and mechanical properties stability of pre-hardening treatment in Al-Cu alloys for pre-hardening forming process

The stability of the microstructure and mechanical properties of the pre-hardened sheets during the pre-hardening forming(PHF)process directly determines the quality of the formed components.The microstructure stability of the pre-hardened sheets was in-vestigated by differential scanning calorimetry(DSC),transmission electron microscopy(TEM),and small angle X-ray scattering(SAXS),while the mechanical properties and formability were analyzed through uniaxial tensile tests and formability tests.The results in-dicate that the mechanical properties of the pre-hardened alloys exhibited negligible changes after experiencing 1-month natural aging(NA).The deviations of ultimate tensile strength(UTS),yield strength(YS),and sheet formability(Erichsen value)are all less than 2%.Also,after different NA time(from 48 h to 1 month)is applied to alloys before pre-hardening treatment,the pre-hardened alloys possess stable microstructure and mechanical properties as well.Interestingly,with the extension of NA time before pre-hardening treatment from 48 h to 1 month,the contribution of NA to the pre-hardening treatment is limited.Only a yield strength increment of 20 MPa is achieved,with no loss in elongation.The limited enhancement is mainly attributed to the fact that only a limited number of clusters are transformed into Guinier-Preston(GP)zones at the early stage of pre-hardening treatment,and the formation ofθ''phase inhibits the nucleation and growth of GP zones as the precipitated phase evolves.

Dynamic performance and parameter optimization of a half-vehicle system coupled with an inerter-based X-structure nonlinear energy sink

Inspired by the demand of improving the riding comfort and meeting the lightweight design of the vehicle, an inerter-based X-structure nonlinear energy sink(IXNES) is proposed and applied in the half-vehicle system to enhance the dynamic performance. The X-structure is used as a mechanism to realize the nonlinear stiffness characteristic of the NES, which can realize the flexibility, adjustability, high efficiency, and easy operation of nonlinear stiffness, and is convenient to apply in the vehicle suspension, and the inerter is applied to replacing the mass of the NES based on the mass amplification characteristic. The dynamic model of the half-vehicle system coupled with the IX-NES is established with the Lagrange theory, and the harmonic balance method(HBM) and the pseudo-arc-length method(PALM) are used to obtain the dynamic response under road harmonic excitation. The corresponding dynamic performance under road harmonic and random excitation is evaluated by six performance indices, and compared with that of the original half-vehicle system to show the benefits of the IX-NES. Furthermore, the structural parameters of the IX-NES are optimized with the genetic algorithm. The results show that for road harmonic and random excitation, using the IX-NES can greatly reduce the resonance peaks and root mean square(RMS) values of the front and rear suspension deflections and the front and rear dynamic tire loads, while the resonance peaks and RMS values of the vehicle body vertical and pitching accelerations are slightly larger.When the structural parameters of the IX-NES are optimized, the vehicle body vertical and pitching accelerations of the half-vehicle system could reduce by 2.41% and 1.16%,respectively, and the other dynamic performance indices are within the reasonable ranges.Thus, the IX-NES combines the advantages of the inerter, X-structure, and NES, which improves the dynamic performance of the half-vehicle system and provides an effective option for vibration attenuation in the vehicle engineering.

The effects of inner electrode shape on the performance of dielectric barrier discharge reactor for oxidative removal of NO and SO_(2)

Seagoing vessels are responsible for more than 90%of global freight traffic,but meanwhile,emission pollutants(NO_(x)and SO_(x))of seagoing vessels also cause serious air pollution.Nonthermal plasma(NTP)combined with wet scrubbing technology is considered to be a promising technology.In order to improve the oxidation efficiency and energy efficiency of the NTP reactor,the screw and rod inner electrodes of dielectric barrier discharge(DBD)reactor were investigated.To analyze the mechanism,the optical emission spectra(OES)of NTP were measured and numerical calculation was applied.The experiment results show that the NO oxidation removal efficiency of screw electrode is lower than that of rod electrode.However,the SO_(2)removal efficiency of screw electrode is higher.According to the OES experiment and numerical calculation,the electric field intensity of the screw electrode surface is much higher than that of the rod electrode surface,and it is easier to generate N radicals to form NO.For the same energy density condition,the OH radical generation efficiency of the screw electrode reactor is similar to that of the rod electrode,but the gas temperature in the discharge gap is higher.Therefore,the SO2 oxidation efficiency of the thread electrode is higher.This study provides guidance for the optimization of oxidation efficiency and energy consumption of DBD reactor.

Comparison of Combustion Characteristics of Tars Produced with Tobacco Stem Biomass Gasification

In order to study the combustion characteristics of tar in biomass gasifier inner wall and gasification gas,“tobacco stem semi-tar inside furnace”,“tobacco stem tar inside furnace”and“tobacco stem tar out-of-furnace”were subjected to thermogravimetric experiments,and the combustion characteristics and kinetic characteristics were analyzed.The result shows that“tobacco stem semi-tar inside furnace”has the highest value and“tobacco stem tar out-of-furnace”is has the lowest value on ignition characteristics,combustion characteristics and combustible stability;“tobacco stem semi-tar inside furnace”has the lowest value and“tobacco stem tar outside furnace”has the highest value on burnout characteristics;“tobacco stem tar outside furnace”has the highest value and“tobacco stem tar inside furnace”has the lowest value on integrated combustion characteristics.

Challenges and Teaching Reform Strategies in Vocational College Engineering Training Courses

With the rapid development of vocational education,engineering training has become a crucial course for cultivating highly skilled technical professionals,highlighting its importance.However,vocational college engineering training courses still face numerous challenges during the actual teaching process,which affect the effectiveness of course teaching and the enhancement of students’engineering competence.This article thoroughly analyzes the main problems existing in current engineering training course teaching,focusing on four aspects:students’cognitive differences,inadequate course development,poor course adaptability,and limited teaching resources.Based on this analysis and previous research findings,targeted strategies are proposed,including enhancing students’course cognition,clarifying course positioning,improving course adaptability,and optimizing the allocation of teaching resources.Furthermore,this article preliminarily verifies the effectiveness of some reform strategies through a small-scale teaching experiment.This study aims to provide theoretical guidance and practical reference for enhancing the teaching quality of vocational college engineering training courses.

Teaching Experiment in Engineering Mechanics Based on Simulation Technology:A Case Study

This paper explores the integration of simulation technology in Engineering Mechanics(EM)teaching in vocational colleges.A case study was conducted using the tensile test as an example,and digital resources,such as colored Mises stress nephograms,were obtained.These resources were integrated into the original curriculum to conduct teaching experiments.The results show that the use of digital resources significantly improved the quality of teaching in EM.The integration of simulation technology in EM teaching provides a promising direction for the improvement of vocational education and the cultivation of high-quality skilled talents.The development and application of more simulation-based teaching cases should be studied by scholars.

Design and Development of Small Modular Courses for“Education-Training Integration”in Vocational Colleges:A Case Study

Vocational education plays a vital role in the development of skilled technical professionals and the advancement of the economy.However,the emphasis on campus education often neglects the importance of external training,hindering the overall development of vocational education.This study aims to address this issue by exploring the design and development of small modular courses that integrate training and education in vocational colleges,focusing on the mechanics course as a case study.The research methods employed in this study include an in-depth analysis of enterprise training needs,the development of digital teaching resources utilizing the finite element method(FEM),and the implementation of a small modular course integrating education and training.The data analysis reveals positive outcomes in terms of learners’comprehension and engagement with complex mechanics formulas through the use of stress nephograms and other digital resources.This research provides a new perspective on curriculum design and offers insights into the integration of training and education in vocational colleges.The findings underscore the significance of incorporating innovative teaching methodologies and digital resources in enhancing the quality and relevance of vocational education,ultimately contributing to the cultivation of skilled professionals and the growth of the vocational education sector.

Research on the Role of Guiding Students to Participate in Skills Competitions on the Development of Young Teachers in Vocational Colleges

This paper explores the role of guiding students to participate in skills competitions on the development of young teachers in vocational colleges.We investigate the impact of skills competitions on the consolidation of professional knowledge,development of innovation capabilities,improvement of hands-on abilities,and enhancement of communication skills with students.The results of this research demonstrate that skills competitions have a positive influence on the professional growth of young teachers.The consolidation of professional knowledge,development of innovation capabilities,improvement of hands-on abilities,and enhancement of communication skills collectively contribute to the effectiveness of young teachers in vocational colleges.It is recommended that vocational colleges prioritize and support the participation of young teachers in skills competitions to foster their professional development.

Optimal design and applicability of electric power steering system for automotive platform

The ongoing need for better fuel economy and lower exhaust pollution of vehicles has increased the employment of electric power steering(EPS)in automotives.Optimal design of EPS for a product family reduces the development and fabrication costs significantly.In this paper,the TOPSIS method along with the NSGA-Ⅱis employed to find an optimum family of EPS for an automotive platform.A multi-objective optimization problem is defined considering road feel,steering portability,RMS of Ackerman error,and product family penalty function(PFPF)as the conflicting objective functions.The results for the single objective optimization problems and the ones for the multi-objective optimization problem,as well as two suggested trade-off design points are presented,compared and discussed.For the two suggested points,performance at one objective function is deteriorated by about 1%,while the commonality is increased by 20%–40%,which shows the effectiveness of the proposed method in first finding the non-dominated design points and then selecting the trade-off among the obtained points.The results indicate that the obtained trade-off points have superior performance within the product family with maximum number of common parts.

Best compromising crashworthiness design of automotive S-rail using TOPSIS and modified NSGAⅡ

In order to reduce both the weight of vehicles and the damage of occupants in a crash event simultaneously, it is necessary to perform a multi-objective optimal design of the automotive energy absorbing components. Modified non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II(NSGA II) was used for multi-objective optimization of automotive S-rail considering absorbed energy(E), peak crushing force(Fmax) and mass of the structure(W) as three conflicting objective functions. In the multi-objective optimization problem(MOP), E and Fmax are defined by polynomial models extracted using the software GEvo M based on train and test data obtained from numerical simulation of quasi-static crushing of the S-rail using ABAQUS. Finally, the nearest to ideal point(NIP)method and technique for ordering preferences by similarity to ideal solution(TOPSIS) method are used to find the some trade-off optimum design points from all non-dominated optimum design points represented by the Pareto fronts. Results represent that the optimum design point obtained from TOPSIS method exhibits better trade-off in comparison with that of optimum design point obtained from NIP method.

Optimal design of automotive body B-pillar using simplified finite element model of body-in-prime combined with an optimization procedure

Optimization of an automotive body structure faces the difficulty of having too many design variables and a too large design search space. A simplified model of body-in-prime(BIP) can solve this difficulty by reducing the number of design variables. In this study, to achieve lighter weight and higher stiffness, the simplified model of BIP was developed and combined with an optimization procedure;consequently, optimal designs of automotive body B-pillar were produced. B-pillar was divided into four quarters and each quarter was modelled by one simplified beam. In the optimization procedure, depth, width, and thickness of the simplified beams were considered as the design variables.Weight, bending and torsional stiffness were also considered as objective functions. The optimization procedure is composed of six stages: designing the experiments, calculating grey relational grade, calculating signal-to noise ratio,finding an optimum design using Taguchi grey relational analysis, performing sensitivity analysis using analysis of variance(ANOVA) and performing non-dominated sorting and multi-criteria decision making. The results show that the width of lower B-pillar has the highest effect(about 55%) and the obtained optimum design point could reduce the weight of B-pillar by about 40% without reducing the BIP stiffness by more than 1.47%.

Research on friction stir welding of 5754 aluminum alloy with unequal thickness

A new structure of 1+2 was designed in friction stir welding(FSW)of Al alloy sheet with unequal thickness:a specific sheet with similar composition of base metals(BMs)was placed under the thinner sheet as the supporting sheet so that the BM surfaces could be on a plane.The BMs can also be fully penetrated weld with a stirring pin longer than the thickness of the thin sheet.2 mm and 1.5 mm thick Al alloy sheets were welded by FSW,and parameters were optimized.The highest welding strength reached 96.07%of the thin base metal.Although a slight thinning phenomenon occurred at the edge of the nugget on the retreating side,the specimen still fractured in the heat-af-fected zone.

Teaching Mode Research of Ideological and Political Course in Vehicle Engineering Specialty

Under the situation of actively constructing the education pattern of ideological and political courses in our country,talents with excellent professional quality and excellent ideological and moral quality have become the training goal of current college education.However,what way should be adopted to better integrate ideological and political education with professional knowledge education will be the answer that colleges and universities need to constantly explore.This paper starts from the professional courses of vehicle engineering,combined with the current situation of China's automobile industry,to study practical reform methods,construct the pattern of whole curriculum education.

Exploration of Ideology and Politics Teaching in Vehicle Engineering Experiment Course

Under the background of"Outstanding Engineer Education and Training Program"and ideology and politics teaching in course,it has become a training goal for colleges and universities to cultivate an engineer with both political integrity and talent.However,it is necessary for colleges and universities to explore and practice how to combine the two skillfully without being abrupt and make students accept them.From the point of view of vehicle engineering experiment course and combining with the current situation of university teaching,this paper makes an in-depth exploration and practice on the ideological and political reform on vehicle engineering experiment course.

Teaching Reform of Vehicle Engineering Specialty based on Outcomes-based Education Concept

In view of the problem of the teaching effect of the vehicle specialty courses,this paper analyzes the training objectives of the courses,determines the teaching contents and relevant teaching methods,and provides specific teaching measures to improve the students'ability to solve practical problems and employment ability,so as to cultivate the application-oriented talents with innovation ability and practical ability that meet the needs of the society.

Progressive Failure Analysis of Composite/Aluminum Riveted Joints Subjected to Pull-Through Loading

Out-of-plane mechanical properties of the riveted joints restrict the performance of the wing box assembly of airplane.It is necessary to investigate the pull-through performance of the composite/metal riveted joints in order to guide the riveting design and ensure the safety of the wing box assembly.The progressive failure mechanism of composite/aluminum riveted joint subjected to pull-through loading was investigated by experiments and finite element method.A progressive damage model based on the Hashin-type criteria and zero-thickness cohesive zone method was developed by VUMAT subroutine,which was validated by both open-hole tensile test and three-point bending test.Predicted load-displacement response,failure modes and damage propagation were analysed and compared with the results of the pull-through tests.There are 4 obvious characteristic stages on the load-displacement curve of the pull-through test and that of the finite element model:first load take-up stage,damage stage,second load take-up stage and failure stage.Relative error of stiffness,first load peak and second load peak between finite element method and experiments were 8.1%,-3.3%and 10.6%,respectively.It was found that the specimen was mainly broken by rivet-penetration fracture and delamination of plies of the composite laminate.And the material within the scope of the rivet head is more dangerous with more serious tensile damages than other regions,especially for 90°plies.This study proposes a numerical method for damage prediction and reveals the progressive failure mechanism of the hybrid material riveted joints subjected to the pull-through loading.

The Teaching Reform of Engineering Mechanics in Higher Vocational Colleges

Engineering Mechanics is an important subject for science and engineering students in higher vocational colleges.The teaching quality of this course has a direct impact on subsequent professional courses.However,there has been a concern about the poor teaching effect of Engineering Mechanics in higher vocational colleges for a long time.In order to solve the problem and improve the teaching quality,this paper expounds some problems existing in the teaching of Engineering Mechanics in higher vocational colleges and proposes corresponding measures for these problems.Educators need to pay more attention to diversified assessment methods and the application of new technologies.Diversified examination methods can improve students’enthusiasm in learning,while new techniques,such as finite element simulation,generate digital materials,making it easier for students to understand abstract concepts.The suggested measures are worthy of reference and should be applied flexibly in the teaching of Engineering Mechanics.

Project-driven Teaching Method Reform and Practice of Automotive Theory

In recent years,with the rapid development of the automobile industry in China and even in the world,the demand for professional talents in automobile related enterprises is extremely urgent,and the requirements are also increasing,so the teaching reform highlights its importance at present."The car"teaching quality,directly affects the new vehicle engineering applied talents under the background of engineering training,this article analysis the automobile theory teaching present situation,according to arcane knowledge,practice limited conditions and the evaluation method is proposed combining theory with practice,the practice of the project to drive the teaching plan,at the same time,put forward to reduce examination of course evaluation.The aim is to stimulate students'subjective initiative in learning,cultivate students'hands-on and brain-using ability,and let students devote themselves to the class,so as to make the boring derivation of theoretical formulas vivid and improve the efficiency of teaching.

Effects of Electric and Magnetic Treatments on Microstructures of Solid Metals: A Review

An external electric or magnetic field can transfer high-intensity energy directly to the electronic scale of materials,and change the spin,energy level arrangement and trajectory of electrons.These changes produce tremendous and profound impacts on the microstructure and mechanical properties of metal materials,which may be impos-sible with traditional technologies.This paper reviews the effects of electric or magnetic field on the microstruc-tures of solid metals including phase transformation,precipitation,recrystallization,dislocations and so on.Based on the existing research results,the mechanisms of these effects have been discussed.Additionally,some typical applications of electric and magnetic treatments on solid metals have been described and the challenges in this field have also been discussed.