Nidal Al-Masoud

Senior Capstone Design Project for Aerospace Specialization and Student-Faculty Research on Propulsion

In Fall 2010 Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) Engineering Department offered Mechanical Engineering (ME) students a new senior capstone design project, oriented towards the Aerospace specialization of the ME program. The main goal of the project was to perform research on the combustion of non-conventional fuels using a smallscale hybrid propellant rocket engine (HPRE), test fixture, and advanced instrumentation system. Paraffin was utilized as the fuel for the first set of tests, which provided verification of the operation of the HPRE. During the 2010/11 – 2011/12 academic years, the CCSU student teams designed and built a small-scale HPRE, test fixture, and instrumentation system for the study of the combustion of non-conventional fuels and the investigation of fuels regression rates. The first sets of research data on the regression rates of paraffin with oxygen were obtained and compared with existing data in 2011/12. The design of the test facility and results of preliminary tests were presented at 50 th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit. This paper illustrates problems the student team was faced with during testing, describes the improvements of the test fixture and instrumentation system, and demonstrates first research results of the tests and numerical analysis. The multidisciplinary nature of the project provided ME students with an excellent opportunity to apply their knowledge, skills, and experience from a variety of courses such as Propulsion Systems, Engineering Thermodynamics, Heat Transfer, Fluid Mechanics, Instrumentation, and Machine Design to the real-life design and research.

NASA Project in ME Senior Capstone Design Class: Experience and Pedagogical Issues

A significant way to attract engineering students to the space issues is to implement exciting NASA student programs into the senior-year capstone design experience. In spring semester 2008 Central Connecticut State University Department of Engineering offered new project, named “Lunar Rover Vehicle”, as senior capstone design project. The project requires human powered vehicle design, fabrication and participation, on a competitive basis, in NASA’s program “The Great Moonbuggy Race”. This initiative has demonstrated that such programs are very suitable in offering senior Engineering Technology students unique opportunities to improve their analytical skills, develop design skills, gain experience in working in multi-disciplinary teams, solve cuttingedge engineering problems, and familiarize themselves with aerospace future challenges. These measurable outcomes are in-line with the competencies required by the accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology(ABET)

CCSU Moonbuggy Vehicle Design, Building and Competition

In Spring 2008 Central Connecticut State University Department of Engineering offered a new project, named “Lunar Rover Vehicle”, as a senior capstone design project. Main goals of the project were to attract engineering students to aerospace related applications and implement existing NASA educational programs in a senior capstone real-world design challenge. In Spring 2008 engineering technology student team developed conceptual schematics of Moonbuggy vehicle, calculated and optimized several parameters of the frame, suspension system, and transmission mechanism. Many components of Moonbuggy frame, suspension and transmission were designed. In fall 2008, the new mechanical engineering major student team continued working on the existing vehicle. The initial findings were presented at the 47 AIAA Aerospace Science Meeting (Orlando, FL, January 5-8, 2009). In spring 2009 Mechanical Engineering students completed the design and fabrication of Moonbuggy vehicle and participated in 16 NASA Great Moonbuggy Races. Three semesters of experience with the project demonstrated that it is very suitable for offering engineering students unique opportunities to improve their analytical abilities, develop design, organizational and project management skills, gain experience in working in multidisciplinary teams, solve cutting-edge engineering problems, and familiarize themselves with aerospace challenges which will positively impact and enhance their chances of success as practicing engineers.

CCSU Moonbuggy-2 Senior Capstone Design Project, as a Road Map to the Successful Engineering Career and Effective Assessment

The goals of this paper are to: relate the experience of Central Connecticut State University’s (CCSU) 3rd year of using the NASA Great Moonbuggy Race Program as a capstone design project, describe the key steps of the project accomplishment, illuminate its

CCSU Moonbuggy-3 Senior Capstone Design Project: Design, Competition and Project Assessment

2010/11 academic year was the third year of the offer of moonbuggy senior capstone design project for Central Connecticut State University Mechanical Engineering (ME) students. The first offer of this project as a senior capstone design project was in 2008. During three years student teams designed, fabricated, assembled, and tested on the grounds of NASA Marshall Space Flight Center two moonbuggy vehicles. Findings from 2008/09 and 2009/10 academic years were presented at the 48 and 49 AIAA Aerospace Science Meetings (Orlando, FL). During 2010/11 academic year ME senior students improved CCSU Moonbuggy–2 vehicle and successfully participated in the 18 Annual NASA Great Moonbuggy Race. The third academic year experience confirmed again that moonbuggy project is very popular among ME students since work on the moonbuggy enhances their skills in the design, and manufacturing, requires application of their knowledge from ME core classes, solution of cutting-edge real-world engineering design challengers, and dramatically improves their communicational, organizational, and managerial skills.