The 2006 ~FAST Tex projects
College of Engineering

Title:
Modification and Improvement of Steam Property Calculation Program

Faculty Client:
John Howell, jhowell@mail.utexas.edu

Student Developer:
Bhalchandra Agashe

Project Description:
The use of steam tables presents a difficult hurdle for solving useful problems in engineering thermodynamics. The presence of accurate computerized tables shortcuts these problems allowing students to concentrate on the content of homework and examples rather than the process. This project developed an online program that allows student to input any pair of independent thermodynamic state properties, and the program returns all other properties at that state. The student can then input a second pair, and the program will present all properties at the second state, as well as the differences in properties between the two specified states. A graphical output shows the locations of the chosen states on common thermodynamic state diagrams.  Originally developed in MS Basic, the program was recreated for use online with cosmetic improvements to make it more user-friendly for both faculty and students. Additional graphical output was developed along with augmented capability of comparing the results of two inputs.

Title:
Optimization methods for propeller design: Phase II

Faculty Client:
Spyros Kinnas , kinnas@mail.utexas.edu

Student Developers:
Adnan Zafar
Bharath Vasudevan

Project Description:
This project is a Java applet for users to design propeller blades for given conditions (e.g. ship speed and thrust) for optimum efficiency (i.e. least fuel consumption), and present the designed geometry, including unsteady cavitation if present, on the screen. The primary audience are Introductory Ocean Engineering CE358 students, and a secondary audience of propeller designers for the US military in that they will be able to use the product to design blades for modern propulsion systems for the Navy ships of the future.

Title:
Flash Animation and Power Point to Deliver a Course in Radiation Biology

Faculty Client:
Sheldon Landsberger, s.landsberger@mail.utexas.edu

Student Developer:
Andrea Rudd

Project Description:
A complete set of lecture materials including over twenty Flash animations were developed for a UT graduate course in radiation biology which is also taught from A&M as part of distance learning collaboration. The course was originally well received–however, it was clear that the format needed a lot of updating, which was completed this past ~FAST Tex season.

Title:
Non-Linear PowerPoint Presentations with Links to MATLAB Examples

Faculty Client:
Mia Markey, mia.markey@mail.utexas.edu

Student Developers:
James Byrne
Steven Ma

Project Description:
Through ~FAST Tex last year, traditional PowerPoint presentations on probability and statistics were converted to non-linear presentations with numerous hyperlinks between them to aid students in seeing the connections between the course topics in BME 335. While converting the presentations, the student developer, Seth Hays, who was also a former BME 335 student, suggested that strengthening the connection between the lectures and the computational labs would aid student learning. This year, the student’s suggestion was implemented: thus enhancing the non-linear PowerPoint presentations on probability and statistics by creating MATLAB®-based examples and then adding these links to the existing presentations.

Title:
A New Way of Teaching Probability to Undergraduates

Faculty Client:
Sriram Vishwanath, sriram@ece.utexas.edu

Student Developer:
Francisco Montanaro

Project Description:
EE 351K is a core course for all Electrical Engineering undergraduates that teaches probability, a highly abstract concept where it is often difficult for students to relate with chalk-board examples. Three real-time game-based probability simulations were developed in Flash to be used in and out of class: coin flip, dice roll, and probability graphing.

Title:
Development of a Web-Based Course on Micro-Nano Scale Biomedical Devices

Faculty Client:
Xiaojing Zhang, john.zhang@engr.utexas.edu

Student Developers:
Ryan Kerslake
Jonathan Ng

Project Description:
It is most challenging for students to mentally visualize the process of making 3-D structures at miniaturized scale. In this project, 3-D animations with text-based content were created to enhance the learning of micro-nano fabrication processes, scaling phenomena, types of microsensors and nanodevices, and microfluidics in channels thinner than human hair for an undergraduate level course in micro- and nano- scale biomedical devices