Subject details

At the completion of this subject students will be able to:

  1. apply an appropriate design methodology and discuss the legal implications of the design process
  2. select appropriate materials to satisfy design requirements
  3. explain material behaviour and simply failure mechanisms and design for these situations
  4. design mechanical components for strength and deflection with regard to safety standards
  5. correctly select standard components from manufacturer's catalogues.

  • Topics

    • Introduction to mechanical design
    • Static design
    • Linear actuators and Springs
    • Eccentrically-loaded, bolted and welded connections
    • Rotating shafts
    • Rolling element bearings
    • Plane and hydrodynamic bearings
    • Design for fatigue
    • Fatigue of bolted joints
    • Brittle fracture and fracture mechanics
    • Design of spur gears
    • Belt, chain and wire rope drives
    • Clutches and brakes

  • Study resources

    • Instructional Methods

      • Audio/Video conferencing
      • Blog
      • Disscusion forum/Discussion Board
      • E-Portfolios
      • Embedded Multimedia
      • Online Quizzes/Tests
      • Online assignment submission
      • Podcasting/Leacture capture
      • Standard Media
      • Streaming Multimedia
      • Virtual Classroom
      • Web links
      • Wikis

    • Online Materials

      • Online Assessment
      • Resources and Links
      • Audio-Video streaming
      • Quizzes

Entry Requirements

You must either have successfully completed the following subject(s) before starting this subject, or currently be enrolled in the following subject(s) in a prior study period; or enrol in the following subject(s) to study prior to this subject:

Please note that your enrolment in this subject is conditional on successful completion of these prerequisite subject(s). If you study the prerequisite subject(s) in the study period immediately prior to studying this subject, your result for the prerequisite subject(s) will not be finalised prior to the close of enrolment. In this situation, should you not complete your prerequisite subject(s) successfully you should not continue with your enrolment in this subject. If you are currently enrolled in the prerequisite subject(s) and believe you may not complete these all successfully, it is your responsibility to reschedule your study of this subject to give you time to re-attempt the prerequisite subject(s)

Special requirements

  • EquipmentDetails - Audio headset with microphone are required to access weekly consultation and help desk facilities.

The subject aims to engender enthusiasm for design and to provide the basis of sound design methodology, together with fundamental material selection and component design. Design methodology includes decision making, proper recording of design calculations and decisions in design reports, accountability and legal aspects of design calculations. Factors of safety are emphasised with balanced design of simple components.

Considerations of static failure design for bending and torsions, stress analysis, along with linear actuators and springs, eccentrically loaded bolted and welded connections, cyclic loads, stress raisers and design of shafts to AS1403. Other design methods include fracture mechanics, fatigue, design of spur gears for bending, strength and surface durability and disc brake and multi-plate clutches.

  • Assignment 1 - 40 pages (20%)
  • Assignment 2 - 40 pages (20%)
  • Assignment 3 - 3 hours (50%)
  • Assignment 4 - Weekly (10%)

Textbooks are subject to change within the academic year. Students are advised to purchase their books no earlier than one to two months before the start of a subject.

View textbooks

Related degrees

Undergraduate

Associate Degree in Engineering