CP5065-2021S1-2A01-Group2

For Practical 2, we have been tasked to complete the air pump challenge at home due to COVID-19. Background information An air lift pump is used to lift water from one location to another using compressed air. Liquid enters from one end of the pump (inlet), while a mixture of air and water discharges from the other end (outlet). The compressed air is mixed with water. Since the density of air is lower than that of water, the air will quickly rise to the top. As the water mixes with air, the density of water decreases, as the density of the air and water mixture is lower than the density of pure water. Thus, as the vapour bubbles rise, they carry along some liquid upward due to fluid pressure. Materials and Experimental Setup Figure 1. Materials used 1. Water container 2. U-tube 3. Measuring jug 4. Connecting tube 5. Air-lift pump Figure 2. Experimental Setup Experiment 1 Constant: Height of U-tube to base of Jug (b = 10cm) Independent Variable: Length of tubing inside U-tube (a) De...

During W6, we learnt more about the Product Life Cycle and Cradle to Cradle design. Product Life Cycle It is crucial for us to understand more about the product life cycle as we factor in the environmental sustainability of a product. Sustainable design is the approach to creating products and services that have considered the environmental, social and economic impacts from the initial phase through to the end of life. Some examples of sustainable design strategies include using non-toxic, sustainably produced or recycled materials, as well as using energy efficient processes. Sustainable designs also aim to allow the product to last longer and it is designed such that it is able to be reused and recycled. The product life cycle consists of six stages: Raw materials, manufacturing, packaging, distribution, use and disposal. We were given the example of the life cycle of paper to help us to better understand a product’s life cycle. 1. Raw Materials/Extraction This is the first stage of ...

During this week's lesson, we continued to explore the inter-relationship between materials and design. We also learnt about design for materials. Design for materials is changing the design of a product so that a particular material can be used to make that product. We were also required to fill up a worksheet, which required us to discuss together how a certain material could be used to directly replace another material in an existing product without making any significant changes to the product design. We also had to figure out how this material could be used to enhance the functionality of another existing product by making some changes to the product design. The material we chose is nylon, chemical name being polyamide plastic. It is a thermoplastic silky material, first used commercially in a nylon-bristled toothbrush in 1938, followed more famously by women’s stockings in 1940. It is made of polyamide (PA) and was the first commercially successful synthetic polymer. Nylon wa...

The week 4 lesson is asynchronous, and we were given time to revisit a module that we had taken in our first year: Materials for Design. In Materials for Design, we learned how to classify materials into different categories based on their physical and chemical properties, and select the most suitable material for a product based on the given product function, taking into account the functional, aesthetic and ecological requirements. The design process of a product involves selecting a material, specifying the shape of the product, and choosing a manufacturing process. For the asynchronous assignment in week 4, we have been tasked to select materials for a reusable face-shield for medical workers to protect them against the COVID-19 virus. Our scope involves the transparent sheet and the support for the forehead. 1. Define the product function Figure 1. Function of a face shield The reusable face-shield protects wearers and the people they interact with against accidental fluid  sp...

During the ICPD tutorial in Week 3, we learnt how to use SCAMPER to narrow down our ideas and choose one that is able to fit the purpose best. SCAMPER is an acronym, and each letter represents a different idea that we can use to modify and improve existing products. S stands for Substitute , in which we can remove undesirable parts of an item and replace it with a better alternative. C stands for Combine , in which we can merge the positive aspects of two or more ideas together to achieve a different product or process that is multipurpose. A stands for Adapt , where we adapt the purpose of the product to serve another purpose. M stands for Modify , where we can change part of the product or distort it in an unusual way to better suit our current needs. P stands for Put to Another Use , in which we put our current solution to serve other purposes. E stands for Eliminate , in which we remove certain parts of the product to simplify it. R stands for Reverse , in which a product works in ...

For the 2nd week of the ICPD lessons, we learnt about how to do a literature review and how to evaluate research. Literature Review Literature review is an analysis of sources (e.g. books, articles, write-ups, reports) that aid in the discussion of the important issues and concepts relevant to the research area. It aims to provide a critical evaluation and summary of these sources. It allows us to identify knowledge gaps, show the limitations of theories and points of view, formulate areas that require further study and review areas of controversy. Literature review is done so that a researcher will have a better understanding of the research topic, and how we should have a good feel for the direction for any research that will take place. The team will also be able to identify experts in the research topic that we can consult when in doubt, and this will help us clear up any doubts that we have. Literature review also allows us to identify any gaps in the current knowledge that requir...