Emerging Technologies in Engineering Mechanics Education

Abstract

Engineering mechanics is a fundamental part of many undergraduate programs, but it can also be one of the biggest hurdles at the beginning. This is due to the difficult content but also due to the challenge of conveying the practical relevance to students. The further development of the introductory courses in engineering mechanics has two objectives. The first objective is to offer students a more motivating approach to this challenging subject. This involves working on more practical examples by leaving the classroom and conducting experiments or shifting the focus from tedious calculations with pen and paper to experimenting with solutions. The second objective is to prepare students for the future. Aspects of programming and AI can be covered in separate courses in higher semesters. However, it is more efficient and sustainable to achieve this goal if these topics are already covered in introductory courses like mechanics from the first year onwards. This allows students to become true digital natives over the course of their undergraduate program. This publication takes a closer look at three technologies: virtual reality (VR) applications, the use of smartphones as measuring devices, and the use of numerical algorithms and the Julia programming language in the age of GenAI-Tools. It shows how these three technologies can contribute to the above-mentioned objectives in courses on engineering mechanics.