Experimental Technique - Laboratory Report Writing

EXPERIMENTAL EXPERIMENTAL TECHNIQUES TECHNIQUES Prepared by: MR. RICHARD FOO JIN HOE Department of Production & Industry 07-5534680 [email protected] Website: www.fkm.utm.my/~jinhoe 1 CHAPTER 1: ENGI NEERI NG EXPERI MENT Problem Solving Theoretical Experimental Problem solving in engineering can be solved by generally two method. Theoretician is analyzing or predict results based on analytical model. Experimentalist is running experiment based on theory. Research is the bridge to join both theory and experiment together. 2 CATEGORI ES OF EXPERI MENT Experiment used in engineering can be categorized as shown below: Determine material characteristics and object dimension. Determine parameters, variable, and component performance indexes. Determine parameters, variable, and performance indexes system. Valuation and Improving theory model. Product and process improvement through testing. Pioneering Experiments. Acceptance Experiments. Usage of physical and analogue model. Teaching/Study through experiments. It doesn’t matter if it’s a student or some experience researcher, scientific method used are normally; Change only one variable at a time. Examine on one experimental method to verify it is usable. Examine the believability of experiment with the ability to repeat. 3 TEACHI NG/ STUDY EXPERI MENTS This module allows you to carry out guided or original experiment. Guided experiment contain instructions for student to carry out. It helps in, Conveying basic concepts through practical application. Teaches the procedures, usage and limitation of the measuring equipment. Implant good practices in data taking and magnitude level. Teaches communication manners With own self – inserting records into log book. With others – technical report writing. Teaches experimental techniques Build-up student’s potential to analyze and evaluate experimental result critically. 4 TEACHI NG/ STUDY EXPERI MENTS ( CON ’T) In the end of your study in UTM, you should be able to; Choose one suitable problem with the existing facilities in the allocated time. Plan overall method to solve the selected problem. Design the measuring system required. Develop the experimental equipment. Make proper adjustment on equipment and measuring system. Carry out experiment. Date gathering and processing. Result analysis. Prepare and presenting verbal/written report. 5 STAGES OF AN EXPERI MENT In order to carry out an experiment systematically, it has to be divided into various stages, Clearly stated the experiment objective. Proper planning. Proper Preparation. Preliminary experiment. Experiment and measurement execution. Repeatability and repetition of experiment. Data Analysis. Report writing. 6 EXPERI MENTAL RECORD AND LOG BOOK Every experiment will have slight variation, thus, students or researcher must have a proper, organized recording method for further analysis purposes. Some experiment might take minutes, hours, days, weeks or even months, and each and every new experiment taken place might be an improved version from the previous one with the intention of getting better result. Thus, keeping track of all the activities happened since the beginning until the end is essential in order to avoid data lost, or mess up! If it is being done the proper way, then it will ease the report writing and presentation process. 7 EXPERI MENTAL RECORD AND LOG BOOK ( CON ’T) LOG BOOK Log book, or laboratory Journal, is a record book used to note down the experiment processes, activities, remarks, results of experiment and etc during or after the experiment. It also has the role of, As a record for patent law. Keeping accurate and complete record for experiment progress. Organized recording for new finding, information hard to obtain elsewhere, new finding, etc. As a tool for arranging, and to concentrate during report writing. 8 EXPERI MENTAL RECORD AND LOG BOOK ( CON ’T) LOG BOOK Information recorded in the log book must at least contain information such as, Designing concept, date, name. Initial sketches/drawing. Initial written explanation. Information about first announcement to outsider. Initial designing experiment. Always remember to use binded, with book cover’s type of log book. Making sure that each pages is numbers properly, and lose pages is strongly not recommended. 9 LOG BOOK FOR ENGI NEERI NG STUDENT It is very hard just to depend on memory to remember all the data obtained from experiment, because some data might take days, weeks or months to gather from the experiment. Thus, organized entry of data into the log book is essential. An engineering student normally would do experiment for, To To To To justify some theory in the textbook. perform standard experiments. determine the performance of some machine. determine some physical constant. in order to train student in a practical way about the techniques required to carry out engineering experiment. 10 LOG BOOK FOR ENGI NEERI NG STUDENT ( CON ’T) Log book of a student should at least include, Record for the experiment date. Objective of the experiment. List of apparatus prepared and notes on how to use those tools. Also record down the apparatus setup and arrangement, and if there is any difficulties in using it. List and make proper table to record down results obtained. Record all the required information so to obtain the overall experimental errors. Obtain sufficient results to evaluate the effectiveness and level of success for the experiment. Gives commentary regarding the experiment and discuss the critical result obtained. 11 Summery The design of experiment can be summarized as follow, Objective. Planning. Method Valuation. Uncertainty analysis. Cost. Calibration. Data gathering. Data reduction. 12 EXPERIMENTAL EXPERIMENTAL TECHNIQUES TECHNIQUES Prepared by: MR. RICHARD FOO JIN HOE Department of Production & Industry 07-5534680 [email protected] Website: www.fkm.utm.my/~jinhoe 1 23 PRESENTATION AND TECHNICAL REPORT WRITING CHAPTER 6 6.0 – Introduction • Report writing is an essential skill for engineering students. • Engineering reports analyze data, present results and conclusions, and make recommendations in a logical, precise and accessible manner. • The technical information are presented and convey through combination usage of numbers, symbols, tables, graphs, diagrams and words. • Report writing process typically consist of planning, writing and revising stages that need to be repeated to achieve a quality document. • A reports must be presented in a well structured and visually attractive manner; the competent use of technical language, and accurate referencing of all sources is also a requirement. 6.1 – Technical report layout • All experiment reports should be written in A4 size papers and bind with the provided front cover. • Students should be aware about the target group to whom the report will be read: – • Supervisor, Lecturer or project assessor • To logically structure a report, students should understand the purpose of each component. • A report include: – Project Title – An Abstract: which summarizes the purpose, methods, results and conclusions of the project. – The Introduction: which provides the background, objective(s), approach, scope and limitations of the report. • The main sections of the report include the work or research undertaken and the associated information. • This must be arranged logically with headings to guide the reader. • Visual aids such as figures and tables can assist with the clear communication of material. • The Conclusion summarizes and identifies the important findings, placing them in context. • Recommendations may be included indicating future directions. • A report ends with a list of references, and any required appendices. The layout of complete report 1. Title 2. Abstract 3. Preliminary pages a) b) c) d) Content List of Diagram List of Tables Symbol 4. Introduction 5. Theory 6. Experimental procedures a) b) c) d) Equipments Methods Observations and results Experimental error assessment 7. Discussion 8. Conclusion 9. References 10. Appendices 6.2 – What to report? • Engineering students will be required to write a variety of reports while at university, such as: – – – – laboratory / practical reports field reports industrial experience vacation reports. • Postgraduate students will also have to produce a thesis. • Generally, there is no fix number of pages one is required to write a quality report. • It is all depend on the content of the report. • Short and precise report is much preferred than a long and less precise one. • Typically for a long formal report, the number of pages are not more than 15 pages and for the short report not more than 7 pages • Report Title or heading – The report title or heading should at least contain: • Experiment title • Names of student or reporter • The date of experiment. – Note that: • Experiment title should be brief but informative. • Abstract – The abstract is also known as an overview, synopsis or summary. – The abstract is often written last as its purpose is to provide a summary of the report’s essential information. – All material in the abstract will also be in the report, particularly the Introduction. – The abstract should appear on a separate page after the title page, and it is usually about 100– 200 words in length. – The abstract should include the following elements: – • why? background problem and purpose of the report – • how? brief details of the approach / procedure / methods – • what? – • so what? important results / findings major conclusion(s) and recommendation(s) • • Preliminary pages Contents – The heading for the list of contents is Contents. The list should clearly include: • • all major section / subdivision headings; numbered and worded exactly as in the text of the report (minor headings are optional) page numbers for each section/subsection – – – – Some students choose to include the preliminary pages on the contents list. However the title page should be excluded. The contents page may be set out with each level of subheading indented by a tab space. This allows the reader to understand at a glance the structure of the report, and to differentiate between important and less significant information. Figure below gives a possible format for a contents list. • Figures – The heading for the list of figures is Figures. – The list is only necessary if more than a few figures appear in the main text of the report. – The list includes the figure number, caption, and page number, ordered as in the text. • Tables – The heading for the list of tables is Tables. – The list is only necessary if more than a few tables appear in the main text of the report. – The list includes the table number, caption, and page number, ordered as in the text. • Symbols – Where symbols are used extensively (typically more than 10 symbols are used), a list of definitions should appear at the beginning of the report. – If there is no list, symbols should be defined in the text when first used. – The heading for the list is Symbols. – The list of symbols should include appropriate information such as the symbol, definition, quantity to which the symbol refers, and the unit of measurement. – Use an appropriate number of significant figures or level of accuracy when presenting measurements. • The symbols are normally group and arrange in the following order: – Roman alphabets – Greek alphabets – Subscripts • All units of measurement should be in the metric form given by the International System of Units (SI: Système International d’Unités). • If you are using another system of units, convert these into SI units. • Base SI units • Introduction • The Introduction gives the reader the necessary background information. • It can include: – a description of purpose(s) and objective(s) / topic(s) – a statement of the problem(s) – a survey of background information – a review of previous work/research and the relationship to the current project the method(s) of approach – an indication of the scope and limitations of study – an outline of material presented in the rest of the report • Theory – A theory written in a report can be quickly understood when it is written using a set of familiar symbols used in corresponding field of study. – In every engineering field there will be a set of symbols that is used to describe theories. – The usage of symbols in the theory must be consistent to avoid confusion and wrong interpretation. • In a mathematical analysis, all equations must be written clearly and on separate line and numbered. P = ρgHQ (6.1) • In the report the equation is referred to by the number given to it e.g. “Equation (6.1) is used………” • Theories are inherently speculative and approximate and experiments are not done to validate anything that is well established, understood and proven beyond any doubt it is correct. • Assumptions made in the theories must be firstly questioned if the experimental did not confirm the predicted results • Any conclusion resulted from that assumption must be reexamined in detail. • For presentation purposes, the main theory statement must be highlighted but the detail mathematical development is better to be placed in appendices. • Experiment procedure and Result – Students must describe and explain clearly and detail all the experimental procedure to the extend that a reader can repeat the experiment without requiring further study. – The experiment apparatuses have to be describe clearly its principle operation. It is recommended that when describing an apparatus it is better to include a clear diagram or photograph of it. (as the saying: a picture worth a thousand words) • e.g. (describing an apparatus) – “Diagram 5.8 shows the principle operation of Doppler ultrasonic flow meter. It consist of a piezoelectric transmitter A and a piezoelectric receiver B. Transmitter A transmit a small vibration on to a block of wage E ……” – Do not describe an apparatus by merely giving the physical appearances/dimensions such as: “ …… 18 mm diameter relieve valve is placed at the outlet of a 3.5 m3 capacity tank….” • Simple and well known laboratory apparatus do not need further description such as stop watch, mercury thermometer etc. • For a special function apparatus, a special subsection describing the functionality of the apparatus can be written. – E.g. ……… 5.1 Apparatus ……… 5.1.1 Doppler Ultrasonic Flow Meter ……… – If an apparatus description is too long, it can be placed in an appendix. • Experiment procedure – All experimental steps and procedure must be describe clearly and arrange in a logical order. – Any precautionary step taken has to be describe clearly and give the reason on why it is necessary. • Observation and Result – Experimental observation means: • Recording data such as: pressure, Temperature, Speed etc. • The difficulty in operating the apparatus – All generic result and raw data must be neatly arranged in table. – Each measurement dimension must be stated clearly and the layout of the table should relay the differences between generic result and raw data. – All table must be labeled and numbered. – A sample of specific calculation must be written in the report. – A typical calculation carried out during reducing the raw data into generic result such as averaging and calculating dimensionless parameter should be written in log book only. – If for some reason the author compel to show the calculation in detail, it can be referred from the main text through appendix the contain the calculation in great detail. • Assessing the experimental error. – All experimental results should include the range of accuracy they are subjected to. – The accuracy given should corresponded with the accuracy of the apparatus etc. • Discussion – All results/finding are explained typically through graphs, diagrams etc. – Consideration should be given as to whether the data is better communicated to the reader by a table or a figure. – Using tables or bulleted lists will focus the reader on relevant and needed information. – This technique is easier for the reader than reading another paragraph. – For example, write an introductory comment and then list advantages and disadvantages of two types of dwellings in a table. – Also consider that sometimes a figure will demonstrate a numerical trend more effectively than a table. – In the following example, the significance of the data in Table 4 may be more clearly presented in the form of a graph, as can be seen in Figures 5 and 6. – If the raw data have intrinsic significant on the experiment other than their influence on the calculated result then two graphs; one for raw data and the other for the calculated result, should be presented. – Do not include any graph without giving any explanation or describing its trend. – All result must be discussed in detail and interpreted with the aids of existing relevant theory. • Conclusion – The conclusion(s) of a report must be related to, and resulting from, the material which appears in the report. – The content of the Conclusion will be linked to the Introduction. – The Conclusion places findings in perspective without introducing any new material, and it may include: • a clear and concise summary of the main points • the context and significance of the information • a reference to the original aim(s) / purpose(s) of the report • the application(s) of the results • the limitations and advantages of the findings • the student’s judgment/evaluation • Recommendations – Not all reports include recommendations, but if they are required recommendations should emerge from the conclusions of the report. – This section is important to those who must act on the findings. – Student may include a brief, persuasive statement before presenting the recommendations clearly listed in numbered or bullet points. – A series of recommendations may be worded in instructional language; for example, each beginning with a verb. – Recommendations may involve: • strategies, procedures or techniques for solving the problem(s) • an indication of further work which needs to be completed • References – A reference list (not to be confused with a bibliography) must appear at the end of a report, listing all sources that have been referred to in the text. – The heading for this list will be References. (Students should ensure that all sources are referenced in the text as well as in the reference list at the end of the report.) – The format of the reference list will depend on the system of referencing chosen for the report. – There are two different types of reference lists used in engineering: • alphabetical reference list according to author – used with the author-date (Harvard) system • numbered reference list in order of their appearance in the text – used with the numerical (endnote) system • The reference list only includes the sources referred to in the report. • A bibliography is a wider list of all texts that have been read in preparation for writing. • A bibliography is not usually included in an engineering report