Introduction to Engineering Experimentation

Wheeler and Ganji introduce many topics that engineers need to master in order to plan, design and document a successful experiment or measurement system. The text offers thorough discussions of topics often ignored or merely touched upon by other texts, including modern computerized data acquisition systems, electrical output measuring devices, and in-depth coverage of experimental uncertainty analysis.

Based on the authors' industrial and academic experience, this book has been developed for an undergraduate course in engineering experimentation at the junior or senior level. The book can also be a useful reference for practicing engineers. The material covers the most common elements necessary to design, execute, analyze, and document an engineering experiment or to specify instrumentation for a production process.

• Introduction of the common nomenclature for measuring devices and presentation of the standard method to calibrate instruments
• Characteristics of signal conditioners, including amplifiers and filters
• Description of computerized data acquisition systems
• Detailed discussion of the sampling rate theorem and signal analysis using Fourier series and Fourier transforms
• Detailed coverage of the most common statistical techniques and probability distributions
• Detailed coverage of the most recent standard for uncertainty analysis
• Descriptions of the most common engineering measuring devices
• Detailed coverage of the dynamic characteristics of measuring systems with practical applications
• Common techniques for planning and documenting experiments
• Extensive end-of-chapter problems based on realistic industrial practice

In addition to descriptions of common instruments, the book also includes common statistical techniques, data acquisition systems, and aspects of discrete sampling.