Module content and teaching

Principal aims

The module aims to deliver an overview of important techniques of engineering dynamics, and providing insight into advanced knowledge in kinematics, kinetics, and vibrations.

The dynamics of engineering systems important to modern engineering applications such as spatial mechanisms and robots are examined. The complexities of kinematic and kinetic analysis of fully 3D motion will provide an appropriate challenge for the fourth year Master's level course.

Principal learning outcomes

By the end of the module the student should be able to...

•  Autonomously evaluate mobility characteristics of 3D mechanical systems.
• Perform advanced kinematic analysis on spatial mechanisms and robots using vector and matrix representations.
• Evaluate complex mechanisms sensitivity to design parameters, and interpret usability.
• Apply a systematic approach to the approximations of complex engineering problems to enable efficient analysis with acceptable predictive accuracy and so apply a practical treatment to engineering uncertainty.
• Use either Newtonian method or virtual work principle to evaluate the motions produces by driving forces, or the reaction forces and driving forces necessary to generate specific motions of 3D mechanical systems, e.g, robotic mechanisms.
• Predict forces and motions of important special cases of general motion such as gyroscopes.