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Unit of study_
MECH9460: Mechanical Systems Design 2
2025 unit information
This unit aims to apply some newly acquired skills to begin to understand how stress and strain are distributed in the more common categories of machine parts. Reducing the loads in standard parts to just the most significant, leads to a range of relatively simple analyses. By using different degrees of simplification and a proportional amount of effort, the examination of components can provide results of corresponding accuracy. To lead the student to utilise and be aware of modern computer methods, to be aware of past methods and be prepared of future developments. Not all the analysis of mechanical components are covered in the course but the ones that are deal with exemplify principles that can be applied to novel items that our graduates may encounter in their professional life. At the end of this unit students will be able to: apply fatigue life prediction in general to any component; design a bolted joint to carry tensile and or shear loads: use a numerical solver to arrive at the optimal dimensions of a component, given its loads and sufficient boundary conditions; design shafts to carry specified steady and alternating bending moments and torques; design and construct a space frame, such as that for a dune buggy, to meet requirements of strength and rigidity; be able to arrive at the principle parameters of a pair of matched spur gears, and to be able to extend this to helical gears. Course content will include: stress and strain in engineering materials; yield and ultimate fail conditions in malleable and brittle materials; spatial, 3D frameworks; deflections due to forces, moments and torques.
Unit details and rules
Managing faculty or University school:
Engineering
| Study level | Postgraduate |
|---|---|
| Academic unit | Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic |
| Credit points | 6 |
|
Prerequisites:
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AMME9301 and MECH9400 |
|---|---|
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Corequisites:
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None |
| Prohibitions:
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MECH3460 |
| Assumed knowledge:
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None |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. Be able to combine a Computer-Aided Design (CAD) with Finite Element Analysis (FEA) as a tool in the design process.
- LO2. Be able to design a basic space frame to meet requirements such as strength and rigidity.
- LO3. Be able to design a bolted joint to carry loads using analytical methods.
- LO4. Be able to calculate the size of a welded joint to carry loads using analytical methods.
- LO5. Be able to design for fatigue life prediction for a designed component using analytical methods.
- LO6. Be able to design rotating power shafts to carry specified steady and alternating bending moments and torques using reference equations.
- LO7. Gain skills in the use of a numerical solver to arrive at the optimal dimensions of a component, given its loads and sufficient boundary conditions.
- LO8. Be able to optimise a spring design by varying spring design parameters using numerical methods.
- LO9. Be able to use a System Engineering approach to a complex analysis-focused group Project.
- LO10. Become familiar with a kinematic and dynamic component machine element (e.g. a cam) and be able to incorporate it into a mechanical design paradigm.
- LO11. Be able to design gears for strength within the learning framework of AGMA.
Unit availability
This section lists the session, attendance modes and locations the unit is available in. There is a unit outline for each of the unit availabilities, which gives you information about the unit including assessment details and a schedule of weekly activities.
The outline is published 2 weeks before the first day of teaching. You can look at previous outlines for a guide to the details of a unit.
| Session | MoA ? | Location | Outline ? |
|---|---|---|---|
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Semester 2 2025
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Normal day | Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney |
Outline unavailable
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Modes of attendance (MoA)
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