Research Methods in Mechanical Engineering

ME 711
ME 711

Course Objectives and Outlines
Prof. Ahmed F. Elsafty
Mechanical Eng. Dept.
College of Engineering and Technology
Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport
elsafty@hotmail.com
 Course Objectives
Course Objectives
At th
At the end of this course, you should be able to:
d f thi h ld b bl t
• understand some basic concepts of research and its
methodologies
• identify appropriate research topics
• select and define appropriate research problem and
parameters
• prepare a project proposal (to undertake a project)
• organize and conduct research (advanced project) in a
i d d t h( d d j t) i
more appropriate manner
• write a research report and thesis
• write a research report and thesis
• write a research proposal (grants)
• Delivering a good presentation 
 Course Outline
Course Outline
[1] Overview of Research and its Methodologies
[1] O i fR h di M h d l i
[2] Engineering Ethics
[ ] i
[3] Literature review
i
[4] Selecting and defining a research problem
[5] Writing Research Proposals
[6] Experimentation in engineering
[7] Error Analysis [UNCERTAINTY]
[8] Technical Communication
[9] Writing Research Reports and Thesis
[10] Presentation Skills
 [1] Overview of Research and its 
Methodologies

1.
1 Concepts of research
Concepts of research
2. The need for research
3. Types of research
4. Steps in conducting 
research
 [2] E i
[2] Engineering Ethics
i Ethi

1. What is meant by “Ethics” in general
2. Why are ethics of special 
importance for the Engineering 
p g g
community ?
3 What are 
3. What are “Engineering
Engineering Ethics
Ethics” ??
4. Sample of Engineering Ethics codes
5. Case study
 [3] Literature review
[3] Literature review
1. What is literature review?
2. Why the need for literature review?
3. How to carry out a literature review?
 [4] Selecting and defining 
a research problem

1: Problem formulation –
why the need for this?
h h d f hi ?
2: What are the criteria for 
selecting a problem?
y g
3: Identifying variables
4: Evaluating problems
5: Functions of a hypothesis
5: Functions of a hypothesis
 [5] Writing Research Proposals
[5] Writing Research Proposals

1. Why do we need to write 
research proposals?
research proposals?
2. Research Grants
3. How to write Good Research 
Proposals?
4. Research Plan [Gantt Charts]
5 Case Study
5. Case Study
 [6] Experimentation in engineering
[6] Experimentation in engineering
1 Theory
1. Theory and experimentation in 
and experimentation in
engineering
2. Elementary applied statistics
3. Measurement system design and 
Measurement system design and
application
4 E
4. Experiment plans
i l
5. Project planning
j p g
6. Data analysis and interpretation
[7] Error Analysis [UNCERTAINTY]
[7] Error Analysis [UNCERTAINTY]
1. Types of error
2. Estimation of uncertainty
Estimation of uncertainty
3. Examples 
 [8] Technical Communication
[8] Technical Communication
1. Reports, papers, and d
articles
2. Principles of clear 
p
expression
3. Use of graphs, figures, 
and tables
and tables
4. Alternative forms of 
outlines for technical 
tli f t h i l
communications
[9] Writing Research Reports and 
Thesis

1. Why the need to write papers and reports?
2. Writing a research report
3. Contents of a thesis
4. Writing a technical paper
5
5. Referencing
6. Publishing 
 [10] Presentation Skills
[10] Presentation Skills

1. Presentation Planning 
2. Presentation Preparation
3 Presentation Delivery
3. Presentation Delivery