32699 - Laboratory of Design

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student is able to independently manage small design projects according to an approach similar to that adopted in the industrial field. The course is an ideal link between the knowledge learned in the University classes and the skills that the industry and design offices require from Engineers.

Course contents

• General notes on the design techniques suitable for deploying the aeronautical and mechanical components' design.
  
• 3D CAD modelling of aeronautical and mechanical components.
• Introduction to structural analysis and basic use of FEM software package.
• Exercises in laboratory requiring the use of CAD and FEM packages.
• Introduction to additional tools useful in the design process, including cost analysis, sustainability assessment, assembly motion analysis, and rendering.
  

Readings/Bibliography

It is not necessary to purchase specific texts. Updated teaching material is provided in class and in the virtuale.unibo.it website as well.

For further reading:

• D.C.Montgomery, G.C.Runger, Applied Statistics and Probability for Engineers, John Wiley & Sons
• Dan Cuffaro, Isaac Zaksenberg, The Industrial Design Reference & Specification Book: Everything Industrial Designers Need to Know Every Day, ‎ Rockport Publishers; Illustrated edition (September 15, 2013)
• Filippo De Florio, Airworthiness: An Introduction to Aircraft Certification, Butterworth-Heinemann; 2nd edition (January 4, 2011)
• Marco Maccarelli, Regulation on machinery | Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 - Consolidated text, Ed. 2.0, Certifico S.r.l, 09 April 2025, ISBN: 978-88-98550-11-1
• Ulrich, Karl T., Eppinger, Steve D., and Yang, Maria C., Product Design and Development. 8th ed., McGraw-Hill Education, 2026.

Teaching methods

The course consists of 3CFU, corresponding to 30 hours, entirely devoted to CAD modeling, FEM analysis, introductory CFD concepts, and the use of tools that support conceptual and preliminary design activities.

Practical exercises are carried out in the IT laboratory where a PC is available for each student. The goal of practical lessons is to show how CAD, FEM, and CFD tools can be exploited during the design process to obtain data directly from simulations and thus reduce the number of experimental tests.

Each student develops a part of a design project (dealing with aerospace or mechanical engineering, depending on his/her background). At the end of the course, each student will present the part of the project where he/she contributed.

In consideration of the teaching methods adopted in this course unit, all the students must attend Modules 1 and 2 on Health and Safety (https://www.unibo.it/en/services-and-opportunities/health-and-assistance/health-and-safety/online-course-on-health-and-safety-in-study-and-internship-areas) in e-learning mode.

Assessment methods

The end-of-course exam evaluates the achievement of the following educational objectives:
- ability to manage the conceptual phase of simple design projects
- knowledge of how CAD, FEM, and CFD tools can support the design process.
- Knowledge of theoretical concepts is useful for tackling design problems.

At the beginning of the course, students are divided into small groups of approximately four to five members. Final assessment is based on the presentation of a small project relevant to either aerospace or mechanical engineering, depending on the degree programme attended. Successful completion of the project presentation is required to obtain the pass grade.

The use of AI tools during the exam is strictly prohibited in any form, including chatbots, text generators, advanced translators, content synthesizers, and tools integrated into devices. Any use of AI is considered a violation of the principles of honesty and integrity outlined in the Policy and may result in the exam being annulled by the instructor, who remains responsible for verifying the exam's validity.

Teaching tools

The teaching material presented in class will be made available to the student in electronic format via the Internet. To obtain the educational material, go and register on the virtuale.unibo.it website. Digital files are reserved for the students of the University of Bologna who include the course in the study plan and are for personal use only.

Office hours

See the website of Antonio Bacciaglia