Task 1

Modeling Mechanical Systems with Matlab

MATLAB, developed by MathWorks, is a popular software that is widely used in areas of engineering, science, education and finance. Simulink is an environment for multidomain simulation and Model-Based Design for dynamic and embedded system. It offers tight integration with the rest of the MATLAB environment and can either drive MATLAB or be scripted from it. A number of MathWorks and third-party hardware and software products - add-on products are available for use with Simulink. This further strengthens and widens the functionality and applicability of Matlab products.

In this task you will explore the functionalities of Matlab and add-on products such as Simscape, SimMechanics to complete your project. Here is a list of the topics you may choose:

1. Modeling a simple car suspension system
2. Modeling a four bar mechanism
3. Modeling a conveyor belt loading mechanism

You are expected to work on just one of the topics, then go through key aspects including Design, Modeling, Simulation and Analysis of your mechanical system. The details of your work shall be presented in a research report form such that

• use formal report structure and layout and academic writing
• include a title, main text, conclusion, also references to which you refer
• appropriate diagrams, plots and tables to enhance discussion and explanation
• be word processed and word counted.

*An example for Modeling a Four-Bar Mechanism is provided in the appendix as a benchmark requirement.

Task 2.

Materials science is an interdisciplinary field involving the properties of matter and its applications to various areas of science and engineering. It investigates the relationship between the structure of materials at atomic or molecular scales and their macroscopic properties. Engineering materials covers various aspects of materials that are applied in engineering field. Examples are metals, polymers & composites, fibres & textiles etc. With the development of Nanoscience, nano materials are playing a more and more important role.

Materials exhibit different properties, of which mechanical properties, such as strength, hardness, elasticity, plasticity and ductility, as well as microstructure, are important to understand. In this task you are required to investigate BOTH following topics:

1. The hardness test for steel samples. This includes the test machine (for example, a Vicker Hardness Tester), the principles associated, and test result it may provide.

2. The facilities that can be used to examine the microstructure of an etched sample.