Automotive Technology - MECH 330 - Assignments

1. Introduction
General information about what is expected in reports for various grades is given in the student handbook, sections 11.7 and 11.10. More specific guidance about reports from a design viewpoint is given in the module notes for DSGN 221 / DSGN 215. If you have not studied either of those modules you should read the sections on 'Reports' and 'Assessment'.
This assignment carries 50% of the total module marks and is 'worth' 10 credits. Consequently it is expected that each student will spend about 100 hours on attending classes, background research and appropriate reading and writing the report for this assignment.
Students taking this module will work alone and be given one of the following titles and are expected to produce a good quality report, typically about 3000 words long + sketches and appendices. Although the emphasis of assignments differs, all reports must include some coverage of:

  • applications, present and / or potential
  • design, including some analysis of loads and stresses
  • materials, manufacturing
  • economics / costings.

Reports should have the text word processed, but sketches and equations may be added by hand. You are advised to avoid trying to use CAD drawings, well labelled isometric sketches are almost invariably much more useful.

2. Assignments - students will be allocated one of the following titles:
2.1 The use of tailor welded blanks in cars.
2.2 The use of compacted graphite iron in automotive components.
2.3 The use of simple structural surfaces for vehicle analysis.
2.4 The use of magnesium and its alloys in automotive components.
2.5 The use of superplastic forming to produce automotive panels / parts.
2.6 The use of aluminium alloys for automotive castings.
2.7 Joining techniques used in automotive technology.
2.8 Quality issues, management and improvement in the automotive industry.

The report must be submitted by 4.00pm on Wednesday 13th April 2005.

3. Marking Scheme
Presentation 10%
Applications 20%
Design and analysis 40%
Materials and manufacture 30%

Automotive Technology - MECH 330 - Assignment Feedback - May 2003

1. Most reports were quite reasonable.
2. Most reports had a good introduction and provided appropriate background information, although in one or two cases some of the background was rather peripheral and could have been omitted without loss of marks.
3. In all reports the analysis could have been improved as it was somewhat lacking in detail.
4. Probably most marks were lost because some reports had failed to home in on one or two applications (or potential applications) and evaluate them in detail.

Return to module introduction.

David Grieve, 14th June 2004.