Engineering encompasses a broad range of disciplines from design to manufacturing. This free course, Introducing engineering, introduces a number of key themes that explore how engineering is undertaken in our modern world. These themes include engineering design, rules that govern engineers, manufacturing for products and electricity generation using solar energy.
Overview
Syllabus
- Introduction
- Learning outcomes
- 1 Engineering beginnings
- 1 Engineering beginnings
- 1.1 What is engineering?
- 1.2 Some case studies
- 1.2.1 The Pont du Gard: one of a kind
- 1.2.2 Disposable pens and mass production
- 1.2.3 Muskets and mass production
- 1.2.4 Ammonia synthesis by bulk production
- 1.3 Standards
- 1.4 Additional thoughts
- 2 Engineering by design
- 2 Engineering by design
- 2.1 Taking an engineering design to production
- 2.2 Folding bicycles
- 2.3 Prototyping and improving
- 2.3.1 The second prototype (P2)
- 2.4 Bicycle structures
- 2.5 Brompton production
- 2.5.1 Brompton production 2012
- 2.6 The context of design and innovation
- 2.6.1 Innovation
- 2.6.2 Uncertainty
- 2.6.3 Industrial design
- 3 Engineering to rule
- 3 Engineering to rule
- 3.1 Problems in collieries
- 3.2 Lighting inventions
- 3.3 New materials
- 3.3.1 What is an 'invention'?
- 3.3.2 Innovation in processing
- 3.4 Limitations of new materials
- 3.5 Why have standards?
- 3.6 Developing standards
- 3.7 Looking at a standard: eye protectors
- 3.8 Engineering risk
- 3.9 Risk management
- 4 Engineering for products
- 4 Engineering for products
- 4.1 What is manufacturing?
- 4.2 Manufacturing processes: making things
- 4.2.1 Process
- 4.2.2 Properties and internal materials structures
- 4.2.3 Classifying shapes
- 4.3 Joining
- 4.4 Mechanical joining
- 4.5 Adhesive joints – gluing
- 4.6 Welding
- 4.6.1 Solid-state welding
- 4.6.2 Fusion welding
- 4.7 Joining our gearwheel
- 4.8 Additive manufacturing
- 4.9 Fundamentals of additive manufacturing
- 4.9.1 Creating shapes
- 4.9.2 Processes and materials
- 4.10 Capabilities and potential of additive manufacturing
- 4.11 3D printing our gearwheel
- 5 Engineering: pushing back the boundaries
- 5 Engineering: pushing back the boundaries
- 5.1 Electrical beginnings
- 5.1.1 Luigi Galvani (1737–98)
- 5.1.2 Alessandro Volta (1745–1827)
- 5.1.3 Galvani versus Volta
- 5.2 Simple electrochemical cells: invention or discovery?
- 5.3 An inventive step – a 'battery' of cells
- 5.4 Batteries, chemistry and corrosion
- 5.5 Electricity from sunlight
- 5.6 Photovoltaics in the context of renewable energy
- 5.7 Types of renewable energy
- 5.8 Why renewables?
- 5.9 Why photovoltaics?
- 5.10 PV terminology
- 5.11 Economics, environmental impact and integration
- 5.12 Economics and implementation
- 5.13 Large-scale implementation
- 5.14 Environmental impact
- 5.15.1 Materials and pollution
- 5.15.2 Embodied energy and a bit more pollution
- 5.15.3 Availability of raw materials
- 5.16 Summary
- Conclusion
- Appendix: British Standard Personal eye-protection – Specifications
- References
- Acknowledgements
