CHATTANOOGA ENGINEERS CLUB

www.ChattanoogaEngineersClub.org

P.O. Box 4031, Chattanooga, TN 37405

NEXT MEETING - Oct. 30, 2006 -

Material Selection in Engineering Design

Ron Goulet, PhD, PE, Associate Professor
College of Engineering and Computer Science, UT Chattanooga

Materials Selection: Engineering design is a complex decision-making process driven by one or more objectives to maximize performance or to minimize cost or to maximize aesthetic appeal to consumer or to minimize environmental burden. Selection of best material from over 60 thousand alternatives is a daunting challenge that requires a systematic and comprehensive decision making process.  Too often, however, the objectives are compromised by material-selections based on the designer's experience, expertise and familiarity. In this presentation, Dr. Goulet will describe a systematic and comprehensive approach to materials selection using the CES Selector by Mike Ashby, Cambridge University and Granta Ltd.

Ron Goulet, Ph.D., P.E. holds engineering degrees from Northwestern University, Evanston IL and the University of New Hampshire. He is a faculty member of the UTC College of Engineering and Computer Science where he teaches engineering mechanics and design. His research efforts include a nine year collaboration in experimental orthopaedic biomechanics with the UT College of Medicine, Chattanooga Unit, experimental biomechanics, and engineering education. Goulet is a Registered Professional Engineer, Chair of the Chattanooga Chapter of ASME and faculty advisor to the UTC Student Section of ASME.

Location: The Tallan Cellar Restaurant, basement of Regions Bank at 200 West Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd Chattanooga, TN 37402.

Parking: Parking is available on the 10th street side of the building, or you may park at the Days Inn Hotel across Carter Street (leave a dashboard note saying “Chatta. Engrs. Club”).

Lunch will be available for $11 beginning at 11:30 am and will be buffet style including meatloaf, fried okra, collard greens, cucumber salad, chocolate cake, roll and a drink

BUSINESS

The CEC Executive Committee will meet from 6 to 7 pm on Monday, October 30, at the Boat House Rotisserie & Raw Bar, 1101 Riverside Drive. Members are also welcomed to attend. Please call Judy Driggans at 751-7616 if you plan to attend.

A CEC dinner meeting is being planned for either Dec. 5 or 12 at the Chattanooga Golf and Country Club. Details will be announced next week.

FUTURE MEETINGS

Nov. 6 Speaker TBA; report from Nominating Committee

Nov. 13 Speaker TBA.

Nov. 20 "Structural Geology of the Chattanooga Area" Dr. Jonathan W. Mies, UTC

Nov. 27 - Speaker TBA; vote on club officers for 2007.

ADDITIONAL ITEMS OF INTEREST

Come witness an informal First Lego League Competition PRACTICE session. Nov. 11 (Saturday), 11 AM - 2 PM EST

At Enterprise South Park hosted by eSpin Technologies, a manufacturer of nano-fiber and nano-fiber products. This will be a very informal session where teams can practice the 150 second "ordeal" of a competition round several times. They will also meet and speak with a host that reflects this year's theme. There will be time for competition, some research, and some socializing with other teams. This session is NOT an attempt to be just like the Cookeville competition. It is intended to encourage and strengthen the team spirit while giving them a "taste" of the competitive pressure. Mock presentations are not expected, but any team that wishes to may make a "trial run" at the presentation aspect of the competition.

LAST MEETING - "Biomicroreactors: The Future of Chemical Processing" Stephanie Wilson, UTC Senior

What device could potentially remedy the nation’s energy crisis, lower the cost of pharmaceutical drug production, and treat liver failure? The biomicroreactor with its microscale dimensions and enzyme coated walls is unmatched in production efficiency while requiring no separatory processes. Biomicroreactor design variations aimed at improving micromixing and conversion levels have given insight into the understanding of the fundamentals of microscale fluid flows as well as the optimization of certain processes. She described her study by simulating the addition of 1 to 3 small triagles of enzyme materials intended to mix the fluid as it flows through the small channel. Care must be taken as flow rates are increased to keep pressures low enough not to damage cell structure of the biological materials in the process. Addition of small enzyme structures in the tubes increases the efficiency of the catalytic process. Wilson stated that the shape and placement of these enzyme structures can be optimized analytically for certain processes, probably speading the production of biodiesel fuel will be the first application.

Stephanie Wilson is a senior chemical engineering student at UTC conducting research for a departmental honors project on a microbioreactor. With the financial support of the Engineer's Club she will enter a national undergraduate research poster contest at AIChE's national convention in San Francisco in November 2006.

QUESTIONS, SUGGESTIONS? If you have any questions or suggestions about program items please contact Stephen Smith at 423-843-1815 or by email at srsmith@coalsmith.com. You can find membership application forms, references to future programs, historical data, and other Chattanooga Engineers Club info at our web site: www.ChattanoogaEngineersClub.org. To receive future meeting announcements by email, join the Cha. Technology Organization mailing list at http://mail.chattanooga.net/mailman/listinfo/chatech. Professional Development units (PDUs) are available for most technical programs.