Southern Polytechnic State University

Mechanical Engineering
ME 4141 (3-0-3)
Machine Design I
Summer 2013 8:00 9:50 Monday (HYBRID)
Professor:
Office:
Email:

David R. Veazie, Ph.d, P.E.

Bldg: Q-129
dveazie@spsu.edu

Cell Phone: (404) 441-1346

Office Hours: HYBRID
Website: http://fac-web.spsu.edu/met/dveazie/

Course Text
Shigley's Mechanical Engineering Design, 9th Edition, by Richard Budynas and Keith Nisbett:
(McGraw-Hill) ISBN-10: 0073529281 | ISBN-13: 978-0073529288.
PREREQUISITES: ENGR 3131
Course Goals
To provide a broad understanding of the fundamentals of mechanical engineering design to analyze,
design and/or select components which are commonly used in the design of complete mechanical
systems for structural integrity, reliability, and economy. Students are expected to understand the key
concepts and principles in mechanical elements and systems, and be able to use these concepts in
machine design practice.
2010-2011 Catalog Description:
The design of machines and machine elements, and cost considerations. The course focuses on power
transmission in machines including gears, belts, pulleys, bearings, lubrication, clutches, brakes, chains,
power screws, and gear trains. Stress calculations and material selection are discussed.
Instructor Expectations
Students are expected to complete the discussion assignments and/or several homework problems per
chapter as assigned. The discussion assignments listed at the end of each module are primarily
intended to ensure that the students actually review the multimedia content and provide feedback to
the instructor about how informative and comprehensible the module was for the student. Students
may work together on discussion assignments, but they MUST submit their work individually, as it is
also graded. Within each assignment, the discussion assignment grade depends only on the quality of
the topics understood and muddiest topics posted. In working homework problems, students are
expected to do the following:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

State any assumptions

List any equations used
Show all work (including FBD, Shear Force & Bending Moment) used to obtain the solution
Write legibly
Upload text, attach scanned PDF files, or both via GaView D2L

The student is also expected to perform satisfactorily the two exams, and a final exam. None of the
three exams are comprehensive. Each one is made up of a combination of true/false, short answer,
and/or multiple choice questions, and problems. Students are expected to complete each exam within
the allotted time periods for each of the exams.
Help resources, backup procedures and strategies to cover unexpected events, including PowerPoint
presentations of the modules, are included in GaView D2L under Course Resources. Posted help
resources for students with technical issues are available on campus, online, and most hours.

Learning Objectives and Course Outline

The overall goal for the course is for the student to demonstrate the knowledge of mechanics principles,
including stresses, strains and deformation, as well as demonstrate knowledge of static loading (failure
theories for steady loading) and an introduction to linear elastic fracture mechanics. Students shall be
able to describe techniques and knowledge of fatigue failure (cyclic and variable loading) as well as
completely reversed loading and fluctuating stresses using the modified Goodman criteria. Students
completing this course shall be able to solve problems involving analysis and design of columns and
cylinders, shafts and axles, and rolling-element bearings, as well as identify and solve general gear and
gear train problems, brakes and clutches, and power screws used in mechanical engineering. Students
shall be able to describe and solve engineering problems for the design of nonpermanent and
permanent joints and demonstrate knowledge of mechanical springs and flexible mechanical elements
(chains, pulleys, cables, belts, etc.) Finally, students completing this course shall be able to solve
engineering textbook problems using scientific/engineering problem solving methods, and apply the
engineering design process.
In general, the students completing this course will be able to achieve an understanding and
solve problems in these topics:
Course Outline (Chapter Topics/Modules Covered)
Module 1 - Review of Mechanics (Review of Strength of Materials)
The student shall demonstrate the knowledge of mechanics principles, including stresses,
strains and deformation Stresses and Strains
Module 2 - Static Loading
The student shall demonstrate knowledge of static loading (failure theories for steady loading)
and an introduction to linear elastic fracture mechanics.
Module 3 - Fatigue Failure (Cyclic and Variable Loading)
Students shall be able to describe techniques and knowledge of fatigue failure (cyclic and
variable loading) as well as completely reversed loading and fluctuating stresses using the
modified Goodman criteria.
Module 4 - Columns and Cylinders
Students completing this course shall be able to solve problems involving analysis and design
of columns and cylinders used in mechanical engineering.
~EXAM #1~
Module 5 - Shafts and Axles
Students completing this course shall be able to solve problems involving analysis and design
of shafts and axles used in mechanical engineering.
Module 6 - Rolling-Element Bearings
Students completing this course shall be able to solve problems involving analysis and design
of rolling-element bearings used in mechanical engineering.
Module 7 - Mechanical Springs
Students shall be able to demonstrate knowledge of mechanical springs.
~EXAM #2~

Module 8 - Fasteners (Design of Nonpermanent Joints)

Students shall be able to describe and solve engineering problems for the design of
nonpermanent joints and power screws used in mechanical engineering.
Module 9 - Fasteners (Design of Permanent Joints)
Students shall be able to describe and solve engineering problems for the design of permanent
joints.
Module 10 - Brakes and Clutches
Students completing this course shall be able to solve problems involving analysis and design
of brakes and clutches.
Module 11 - Flexible Mechanical Elements
Students shall be able to describe and solve engineering problems for the design of flexible
mechanical elements (chains, pulleys, cables, belts, etc.).
Module 12 - General Gears and Gear Trains
Students completing this course shall be able to identify and solve general gear and gear train
problems used in mechanical engineering.
~FINAL EXAM~
Course Procedures
This course is taught HYBRID! The subject areas will mostly be covered through online lectures,
reading assignments, and videos on GaView D2L. Students are required to follow each topic by
accessing the online lecture via GaView D2L. It is your responsibility to get the assignments and
have them completed on time. Late assignments will NOT be accepted. A short
welcome/introduction video is provided with instructions on communicating via GaView D2L. The
two exams and the final exam will be proctored and held in Room Q-315 from 8:00 - 9:50 on the
specified dates. The student must attend every exam at the scheduled time and date. Absence from
any exam without prior approval results in a zero for that exam. Make-up exams will NOT be given.
NOTE: There is no curving of final grades! Your textbook should be purchased and used for
reading assignments and homework. DO NOT WRITE ON THE BACK OF SHEETS (Points will
be taken off the assignment for this).
Communication Policy
All communication for the course (assignments, homework, questions, discussions, email, etc.) should
be done via GaView D2L. Students are encouraged to discuss the course material, as well as to ask for
and receive assistance in understanding course materials via the ONLINE discussion and chat sections.
My goal is to respond to your communication (if done via GaView D2L) within 48 hours. For extreme
communication circumstances (response needed ASAP), contact me via SPSU Email or by cell phone
(Info on page 1 of syllabus).
Homework Policy
You must be able to scan your homework to a viewable PDF or JPEG type file (or do your homework
in MS Word, MS EXCEL or MS PowerPoint, etchowever, this may be difficult because of the many
equations necessary to complete homework in this course) and upload via GaView D2L. Use PDF if
the file size is large (i.e., >2MB). Under no circumstances should an assignment be turned in late! If
so, there will be a penalty of 20 points assessed against your score for each late day.

Grading Rubrics
Discussion Assignments
The discussion assignment grade depends only on the quality of the topics understood and muddiest
topics posted. When grading a discussion assignment on a 10-point scale, the following breakdown is
used:
A-level work (superior)
B-level work (average for undergraduate students)
C-level work (poor)

10 Points
7 Points
5 Points

Homework
In working homework problems, students are expected to state any assumptions, list any equations
used, show all work (including Free Body Diagrams, Shear Force & Bending Moment Diagrams, etc.)
used to obtain the solution, write legibly, and upload text, attach files, or both via GaView D2L. When
grading a homework assignment on a 100-point scale, the following breakdown is used:
Assumptions
Equations Used
Solution Procedure
Write Legibly

10 Points
30 Points
50 Points
10 Points

Grading
Your course grade will be determined as follows:
2 Examinations and/or Quiz
Homework/Reports/Assignments
Final Examination
Total

55 %
15 %
30 %
100 %

[90 - 100% = A, 80 - 89% = B 70 - 79% = C 60 - 69% = D Below 60% = F]

ADA/504 Compliance
Students with disabilities who believe that they may need accommodations in this class are encouraged
to contact the ATTIC counselor working with disabilities at (678) 915-7361, Building A, Suite 160 as
soon as possible to better ensue that such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion.
Accommodations are best implemented at the beginning of the semester.
Student Conduct
A display of academic dishonesty, as defined in the general catalog, will result in the most severe
punishment permissible. This includes, but is not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, and disorderly
conduct. Please refer to the Undergraduate Catalog sections Disruptive Behavior and Academic
Dishonesty and Student Life Regulations for further information.
Reference Books and Other Sources:
1. Hamrock, B.J., Fundamentals of Machine Elements, McGraw-Hill
2. J.M. Gere, Mechanics of Materials, Brooks/Cole
3. Additional Handouts, Library and Internet research
Pet-Peeve!
Under no circumstances should an assignment, quiz or exam be turned in with writing on the back of
any sheet. If so, there will be a penalty of 10 points assessed against your score for each incident. For
example, if you write on the back of 2 sheets of an exam, you will lose 20 points!

Disclaimer:
To the question which one may ask in the distance future, Is there anything I can do to improve my grade or
pass this class? I answer today, Work like you already have an F!. Everyone starts from a grade of zero
and works toward a passing grade. In that spirit, paying tuition, attending class, working hard and participating
in class are necessary but not sufficient conditions to ensure a passing grade for the course. One will only pass
this course by demonstrating a fundamental understanding of Machine Elements and such understanding must
manifest itself on homework, quizzes, projects and exams! To the best of my ability, I will present you with the
tools necessary to demonstrate such breadth and depth of knowledge of the subject matter. I AM HERE TO
SERVE YOU, that's my responsibility. You must understand that it is your responsibility to master and
demonstrate a working knowledge of the subject matter!