This course is a post-undergraduate course which presents techniques and devices for measurements in mechanical systems of solids and fluids. Lectures will cover error and uncertainty analysis; the selection and application of transducers; the dynamic response of measurement systems; signal processing; analog and digital transducers; different methods for measuring various physical quantities (pressure, temperature, force and power and torque) and the different roles of measurements in engineering practice. The laboratory will provide hands-on experience with signal processing circuits as well as practical measurements of pressure, temperature, strain, position and velocity. In general, the course hopes to provide an overall understanding of the elements and processes, including

• Sources of errors, involved in obtaining electrical analog measurements and digitally acquiring these measurements.

The course specific objectives are to develop an understanding of:

• voltage, current, resistance, capacitance, and inductance;
• voltage and current supplies, resistors, capacitors, inductors and diodes;
• techniques for analyzing simple circuits when driven by initial conditions or direct or alternating power sources;
• important basic circuit concepts such as transfer function, loading effects and frequency response;
• operational amplifiers and circuits using operational amplifiers;
• filters, transducers and D/A and A/D converters;
• Measurement, methods and applications

Lectures, regular laboratory work and periodic assignments are used to pursue the course objectives