HANDS-ON STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING EXPERIENCES WITH THE “AN/EX”
MINI-LABORATORY
by
Dr. Richard
Behr
Department Head
Department of Architectural
Engineering
Pennsylvania State
University
Students learn
effectively from hands-on, active participation in engineering activities.
Guided by this premise, a new laboratory teaching method has been developed.
Funded by a series of grants from the National Science Foundation, the cost
effective and compact “AN/EX” (short for ANalysis and EXperiment)
mini-laboratory combines the use of sophisticated computer analysis with the
gathering of precise experimental data on small-scale structural models.
Students are then challenged to compare, contrast, and interpret these
analytical and experimental results. Rich learning experiences can result.
This seminar will
introduce AN/EX, describe ways in which it has been incorporated into
undergraduate curricula, and provide a brief demonstration of an AN/EX station
in operation.