PROJECTS ON MODELLING AND ANALYSIS OF REAL COMPONENTS AS TEACHING METHODOLOGY IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING DEGREE

Teaching innovation plays a relevant role in the adaptation of the subjects of Mechanical Engineering Degree inside the framework of the European Space of Superior Education (ESSE) to develop the appropriate competencies and knowledge in the students [1]. Novel teaching methodologies are being implanted in the Area of Mechanical Engineering of the University of Jaén because it is considered that it is very important in the learning and education of the students. Thus, some of these methodologies include the development of projects about modelling and analysis of real mechanical components from which student can put into practice the acquired knowledge during the degree and at the same time they can acquire own skills before moving to the working world.
In the current work the behaviour of the frame of a real caravan has been analysed. For that, the frame geometry of the caravan has been modelled, making later its study analytical and numerical by employing three different methods: the continuous beam method, the matrix method and the finite element method. For the modelling of the frame and the living module of the caravan, the CAD software SolidWorks has been employed. In addition, for the analysis of the frame using the three methods above indicated, the main crossbars have been modelled as continuous beams because the real crossbars have a variable height and shape and their analysis using the continuous and matrix methods are very complex. Thus, six loading conditions have been analysed for the three used methods in order to check that the component meets the strength criteria. Before starting the strength analysis of the frame in study, the load sharing is calculated in the different methods, calculating later the stress in the different elements of the frame. Finally, the safety factor in each of the loading conditions is calculated for the final checking of the strength of the frame.

REFERENCES
[1] Espinosa J. K, Jiménez J., Olabe M., y Basogain X. (2006). Innovación Docente para el desarrollo de competencias en el EEES. Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería de Bilbao.