Date of Award
5-2016
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Legacy Department
Mechanical Engineering
Committee Member
Gregory M. Mocko, Committee Chair
Committee Member
Joshua Summers
Committee Member
Taufiguar Khan
Abstract
The objective of this research is to provide guidebook that approaches the design of a human powered vehicle (HPV) from a systematic view for an ASME competition. The guidebook introduces students to design and enhances their current understanding related to design, general engineering principals, and engineering principals specific to HPVs. In terms of the design process a combination between the traditional design process and the systems engineering design process is discussed. From here the design process in broken into six main sections for the guidebook, and an evaluation section used to emphasis the usefulness of the guidebook. First an overall view of the traditional and system engineering design processes are given, along with an overview of the human powered vehicle competition (HPVC). This is followed by details of project planning and problem development. Next the conceptual stage is introduced where concept generation and evaluation methods and examples are discussed. Embodiment design is given in the following section, where solution variants are modeled in a preliminary layout. Next, methods of how to create a more defined preliminary layout are given in the detail design section were a definitive layout is established. Finally prototyping, testing, redesigns, and final design recommendations are outlined in the last section. In addition, the guidebook provided is meant to serve as a method that can be used to mentor students in the design process of an HPV. As such, the guidebook has been developed through a literature review of design theories, managerial, organizational, and engineering practices that have had beneficial impacts, and past experiences with designing HPVs. In terms of past experiences, the interactions with students involved in a creative inquiry at Clemson University have used as a subjective means to outline some of the important design considerations needed to be discussed. Additionally, Clemson's HPVs have primarily consisted of tadpole tricycles and as such, a more in depth analysis is included for this particular HPV style.
Recommended Citation
Whitman, Alexander S., "A Systematic Approach to Human Powered Vehicle Design with an Emphasis on Providing Guidelines for Mentoring Students" (2016). All Theses. 2379.
https://open.clemson.edu/all_theses/2379