MEMS 1028

Mechanical Design I (Fall 2017)

Guidelines for the Preparation of Homework and Exam Solutions

The presentation of solutions is a form of engineering communication. Strong presentation skills are essential
to the learning process and your development towards professional practice. The use of a consistent
approach to problem solving provides a basic structure for creating organized, legible, and professional
looking solutions that will serve as valuable reference material for you in the future. The intent of guidelines
presented is to shift your focus towards thinking about the process of problem solving while clearly illustrating
the integration of basic concepts, assumptions and theory into the solution.

If I had an hour to solve a problem, I'd spend 55 minutes thinking about the problem and 5 minutes thinking
about solutions. Albert Einstein

Work that does not meet these guidelines may have points deducted regardless of solution outcome. Work
that is unreadable or prepared in an unorganized manner may be returned without a grade.

General
Use only 8.5 x 11 paper with the following formats: engineering graph paper, quadrille grid paper, and
college-ruled paper. Paper ripped out of a notebook will not be accepted.
All materials turned in must be stapled in the upper left corner. Do not use paper clips, folds or tears.
Make each problem self-contained. Start each problem on a new page. If a problem is continued on the
next page, please provided a note at the bottom of the page.
For homework, label each page with the following information: name, date, course number, homework set
number and page number.
Do not cross out errors; erase them. During a quiz or exam, you may cross out an error only if clearly
marked as not to be graded.

Presentation
Your work product is an engineering communication. Your goal should be to clearly illustrate your
approach, assumptions, supporting analysis, results and conclusions.
Uses headings to clearly mark distinct sections of your analysis. Suggested headings may include:
assumptions, free body diagram, reactions, stress analysis, failure prediction, or fatigue life.
Each problem must contain a free body diagram. Clearly label all significant elements of the diagram.
All significant intermediate calculations must be underlined. Example Underline the magnitude of a
moment computed for later use in a stress calculation.
Report all final answers using appropriate significant figures. Refer to Shigley 1-19.
All final answers must be boxed.
Final answers must consist of a symbol, value and appropriate units.
Include units where appropriate in all intermediate calculations.

Units
Units used through out the problem must be consistent. Refer to Shigley 1-18.
Pressure and stress must be reported in terms of psi, kpsi, MPa or Pa.
Format Homework Challenge Problems

Use the following headings for structuring solutions to homework challenge problems.
Problem
Restate the problem. List of the known conditions (loading, geometry and material properties).
Develop a sketch clearly illustrating the problem.

Objective
Briefly and concisely state the objective of the problem.
For design problems, clearly state the anticipated mode of failure and material assumptions.

Solution
Include a free body diagram illustrating the condition of equilibrium.
List all assumed material properties, loading conditions or dimensions. Reference the sources used
(e.g. Shigley Table 3-2, Shigley Appendix B, www.engineeringtoolbox.com)
For stress driven problems, identify all applicable states of stress.

Discussion/Conclusion
Comment on the solution. Is the solution reasonable?
Is the solution consistent with the assumptions made at the start of the analysis?
What is the sensitivity of the solution with respect to assumed properties?