Design and evaluation of structural analysis model experiments using the tecquipment structures apparatus and software

• Main Authors: Castillo, Marcelo V., Jr., Mayo, Manuel Antonio F., III, Tangonan, Ailene P.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2010
• Subjects: Structural engineering; Structural analysis (Engineering); Civil Engineering
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/9089
• Institution: De La Salle University

Engineering education is an important phase of development for aspiring individuals who want to pursue engineering-related fields. In any of these fields, three important factors are needed for an optimized learning experience namely having a background and clear understanding of theories and concepts, using these concepts in computation, and lastly having a hands-on experience in laboratory classes. Laboratories require space, and when it comes to structural labs, a great deal of space is required. The civil engineering department of De La Salle University – Manila has recently acquired the TecQuipment Structures Apparatus and Software, which they believe will help complete the circle of optimizing knowledge in structural analysis. However, a clear instruction material which will help students and professors not only in using these equipments but also to learn from the concepts they represent is needed in order for the apparatus to be deemed usable. The researchers attempted to take this first step by making sure that the equipment will be accurate and free from any defects before any other person uses these delicate and sophisticated machines. This was further supplemented by the laboratory manual that the researchers have formulated through many repetitive experiments using the apparatus. Student evaluators who performed experiments using the manual contributed to the refining process of the manual. Although most of the factors causing errors in the experiments were eliminated, the researchers admit that the evaluation process they conducted is not enough to ensure that the lab manual is ready for use. Many more screening processes by the department and of other students and even the manufacturer of the apparatus can be conducted in order to judge whether or not the lab manual is indeed ready for use for future students and thus contribute to the optimization of learning of concepts in structural analysis.