README.md

# Introduction to Sensors and Data Analysis
## ME 3263 Fall 2018

[ME 3263 Lab Report Rubric](./ME3263-grading_rubric.pdf)

Labs 0 and 1 have a 3-page limit and 2-figure limit. Labs 2-6 have a 5-page
limit and 4-figure limit. You can add additional pages and figures in an
Appendix. The Appendix will not be formally graded, but you can use it to refer
to data, methods, or diagrams that are relevant. 

The report is scored 0-100. Over 70 is passing. Late submissions receive 10
point penalty per day. 

Part of your "writing assignments" grade is based upon the reports that you make
the final edits and improve the flow. The first author listed will get credit
for the writing assignment portions. Take turns as first author and co-author.
The group shares the pass/fail grade for the "lab report" grade.


# Repository for laboratory notebooks
*To access notebooks and interactive lab material, sign into github.uconn.edu,
then follow the link to the class server.*

# [ugmelab.uconn.edu](https://ugmelab.uconn.edu) 

# ME 3263 Introduction to Sensors and Data Analysis (Fall 2018)

## Lab #3 Measuring Natural Frequencies

### What are natural frequencies

In free vibration (i.e., no external forcing), structural components
oscillate at specified frequencies or combinations of frequencies. Since
these vibrations are unforced, the associated frequencies are referred
to as natural frequencies; it's how the system vibrates if left to
behave on its own. In contrast, driven linear systems vibrate at the
driving frequency. An amplification of the response (called resonance)
occurs when the driving frequency coincides with one of the natural
frequencies. In short, the system is driven at a frequency at which it
likes to vibrate. Large amplitude oscillations are the result. So it is
important to know what the natural frequencies are *a priori* so you can
avoid driving the system into resonance.

[Lab 3 github files](https://github.uconn.edu/rcc02007/ME3263-Lab_03.git)

# Lab #2 - Static beam deflections with strain gage

## What is a Strain Gage?

A strain gage consists of a looped wire that is embedded in a thin backing. Two
copper coated tabs serve as solder points for the leads. See Figure 1a. The
strain gage is mounted to the structure, whose deformation is to be measured. As
the structure deforms, the wire stretches (increasing its net length ) and its
electrical resistance changes: $R=\rho L/A$, where $\rho$ is the material
resistivity, $L$ is the total length of the wire, and $A$ is the cross sectional
area of the wire.  Note that as $L$ increases, the cross sectional area changes
as
well due to the Poisson contraction; the resistivity also changes.

![Figure 1: a) A typical strain gage. b) One common setup: the gage is
mounted to measure the x-direction strain on the top surface. It's
engaged in a quarter bridge configuration of the Wheatstone bridge
circuit.](./figure_01.png)

*Figure 1: a) A typical strain gage. b) One common setup: the gage is
mounted to measure the x-direction strain on the top surface. It's
engaged in a quarter bridge configuration of the Wheatstone bridge
circuit.*


# Lab #1 - Measurements of machining precision and accuracy

[Lab 1 github files](https://github.uconn.edu/rcc02007/ME3263_Lab-01.git)

**Outline and figures due in week 4 at beginning of lab**

**Final report due day before lab by 11:59pm**

**How can you measure something?** 

All measurements have traceable standards. There are seven base units in SI -
meter (length), second (time), Mole (amount of substance), Ampere (electric
current), Kelvin (temperature), Candela (Luminous intensity), and kilogram
(mass) 1. Any measurement you make should have some method to check against a
reference. In this lab, we will use calipers that measure dimensions i.e.
meter 1E-3 (length). Calipers can always be verified to work with gage
blocks.

**Sources of measurement variations**

No measurement is exact. No surface is compeletely flat. Every measurement you
make has two types of uncertainties, systematic and random. Systematic
uncertainties come from faults in your assumptions or equipment. 

# Lab #0 - Introduction to the Student t-test

**Outline and figures due Wed 9/5 by 5pm**

**Final report due Thu 9/13 by 5pm**

[Lab 0 interactive notebook in ipynb jupyter
notebook](https://mybinder.org/v2/git/https%3A%2F%2Fgithub.uconn.edu%2Frcc02007%2FME3263_Lab-0.git/f25072f2e708c231ea05040cab6aae2699a7be6f)

We use statistics to draw conclusions from limited data. No measurement is
exact. Every measurement you make has two types of uncertainties, *systematic*
and *random*. *Systematic* uncertainties come from faults in your assumptions or
equipment. 
*Random* uncertainties are associated with unpredictable (or unforeseen at the
time) experimental conditions. These can also be due to simplifications of your
model. Here are some examples for caliper measurements:

In theory, all uncertainies could be accounted for by factoring in all physics
in your readings. In reality, there is a diminishing return on investment
for this practice. So we use some statistical insights to draw conclusions.