Teaching of Thermodynamics: Innovation in Design for ABET

In this paper the methodologies by which thermodynamic theory can be developed to permit design of experiments are discussed. This approach is both innovative in itself and pedagogically sound in that the student learns to design while learning the important theoretical topics. This technique uses mathematical as well as engineering concepts that are relatively simple and yet very educational. The equipment to be used and the details of the design then become the designer’s choice and are limited only by the person’s own imagination, creativity, and innovative thinking and the physical laboratory resources available at a given institution. This methodology shows what is to be measured and what kind of results are to be expected. Since design is incorporated into this thermodynamics course, then it can be assessed for its design content as well as engineering science coverage in the ABET 2000 evaluations.