(mI-PIV): Hands-on Flow Visualization and Experimentation for Improved Student Interest and Technical Capacity in Navy-releavant Engineering Careers
Abstract
This exploratory design and development project will realize, implement, and disseminate curricular materials for a low-cost, mobile flow visualization and measurement tool for Navy-relevant engineering and computer science education called mobile Instructional Particle Image Velocimetry (mI-PIV pronounced "my-P-eye-V"). mI-PIV will integrate a state of the art optical flow visualization and measurement technique called Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) with technologically advanced and accessible mobile hardware to provide diverse science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learners the 21st century capability to visualize and experiment with authentic, planar flow fields in real-time.The Technical objectives of the project are to (1) develop and benchmark a mobile PIV learning tool consisting of a downloadable mobile application with user interface and a handheld LED laser light sheet generator, (2) develop supporting curricular materials suitable for use in high school outreach programs and undergraduate engineering courses through in situ mI-PIV implementation within existing educational systems and iterative refinement based upon data collected during mI-PIV implementation, and (3) broadly disseminate the mI-PIV tool and curricular materials within physical and virtual communities of practice related to Navy STEM, engineering education, and fluids engineering.This project will be conducted over three years. During Year 1, the research team will develop the mI-PIV learning tool and benchmark its output against a state of the art PIV system within an established fluid dynamics laboratory. Concurrently, the team will develop Navy-relevant fluids engineering experiments for in situ implementation within existing high school STEM outreach programs for underrepresented youth and undergraduate engineering courses during Years 2 and 3. Quantitative and qualitative data will be gathered during field-testing to inform iterative improvement of the mI-PIV tool as well as development and refinement of curricular materials. Broad dissemination of the mI-PIV tool and curricular materials during Year 3 will enable sustained and wide-ranging impacts of project activities. Mutually supportive project activities will result in novel capacity for existing educational systems to provide scalable, low cost, active learning experiences within scientific areas that underpin Naval Science and Technology (S&T) workforce needs in naval and ocean engineering and computer science. As a result, mI-PIV will provide new capabilities for positively affecting student interest and technical capacity for Navy engineering and computer science careers.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Sep 04, 2018
- Source ID
- N000141812770
Entities
People
- Angela Minichiello
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- Utah State University