Excellent — here are five sample engineering/scientific tutorials, each with its
own focus area and learning goal. They’re written in a clear teaching format (intro →
theory → method → example → takeaway).
Tutorial 1: Shaft Stress Analysis under Combined Loading
Objective: Understand how to calculate normal, shear, and torsional stresses in a
rotating shaft.
Theory:
• Bending stress: ( \sigma_b = \frac{M y}{I} )
• Torsional shear stress: ( \tau_t = \frac{T r}{J} )
• Transverse shear stress: ( \tau_v = \frac{VQ}{Ib} )
Procedure:
1. Draw a free-body diagram of the shaft.
2. Compute internal bending moment (M), shear force (V), and torque (T).
3. Determine stresses at the outer radius.
4. Combine them using von Mises criterion:
[
\sigma_{vm} = \sqrt{\sigma_b^2 + 3(\tau_t^2 + \tau_v^2)}
]
Example:
For a solid circular shaft of radius (r = 25 \text{ mm}), (M = 120 \text{ N·m}), (T = 50
\text{ N·m}):
[
\sigma_b = \frac{M r}{I}, \quad \tau_t = \frac{T r}{J}
]
Takeaway:
Always check combined stress using von Mises criterion, not individual components.
Tutorial 2: Determining Natural Frequency of a Beam
Objective: Estimate the first natural frequency of a simply supported beam.
Theory:
[
f_n = \frac{1}{2\pi} \sqrt{\frac{k_{eq}}{m_{eq}}}
]
For a simply supported uniform beam:
[
f_1 = \frac{1.875^2}{2\pi L^2} \sqrt{\frac{EI}{\rho A}}
]
Steps:
1. Measure beam geometry and material properties.
2. Compute (I = \frac{bh^3}{12}).
3. Substitute into the frequency formula.
Example:
A 1 m aluminum beam, (E=70 \text{GPa}), (ρ=2700 \text{kg/m}^3), (b=30 \text{mm}),
(h=10 \text{mm}) → (f_1 ≈ 170 \text{Hz}).
Takeaway:
Frequency increases with stiffness (E) and thickness, and decreases with mass density
(ρ).
Tutorial 3: Measuring Strain Using a Wheatstone Bridge
Objective: Learn how a strain gauge bridge circuit converts strain into voltage.
Concept:
For small strains:
[
\frac{\Delta R}{R} = k \epsilon
]
Bridge output voltage:
[
V_o = \frac{V_{in}}{4} k \epsilon
]
Steps:
1. Wire the strain gauges into a Wheatstone bridge.
2. Apply excitation voltage (V_{in}).
3. Measure (V_o) using a differential amplifier.
4. Compute strain (ε = \frac{4V_o}{kV_{in}}).
Example:
For (V_{in}=5 \text{V}), (k=2), and (V_o=2.5 \text{mV}), strain (ε = 1.0×10^{-3}).
Takeaway:
Bridge circuits provide precise, temperature-compensated strain measurements.
Tutorial 4: Thermal Stress in a Restrained Bar
Objective: Determine stress due to thermal expansion when deformation is prevented.
Formula:
[
\sigma = E \alpha \Delta T
]
Steps:
1. Identify if the bar is fully restrained (no expansion allowed).
2. Compute the free thermal strain (ε_t = \alpha \Delta T).
3. If restrained, stress (σ = E ε_t).
Example:
Steel rod: (E = 200 \text{GPa}), (\alpha = 12×10^{-6}/°C), (\Delta T = 50°C)
→ (σ = 120 \text{MPa}).
Takeaway:
Even without external loads, temperature changes can induce significant stresses.
Tutorial 5: Sensor Calibration and Accuracy
Objective: Understand how to calibrate a sensor and quantify its accuracy.
Definitions:
• Accuracy: closeness to true value.
• Nonlinearity: deviation from best-fit straight line.
• Sensitivity: slope of calibration curve.
Steps:
1. Apply known input values (e.g., temperature).
2. Record sensor output.
3. Plot calibration curve and fit a line.
4. Determine:
o Sensitivity = Δoutput/Δinput
o Accuracy = max(|error|)
o Nonlinearity = deviation from linear fit.
Example:
If a temperature sensor shows ±2°C deviation across range → accuracy = ±2°C.
Takeaway:
Calibration ensures reliability; always record accuracy and nonlinearity in
specifications.
Would you like me to package these five tutorials as separate .docx or .pdf files
(each formatted nicely with headers, equations, and step-by-step structure)?
