Teaching multibody dynamics to freshman students using a design project: the race party challenge

[Excerpt] The main objective of this study is to present a simple, practical, and comprehensive approach for teaching the dynamics of mechanical systems to first-year engineering students. For this purpose, the dragster car challenge is utilized as a hands-on application in which students must design, model, and analyze the dynamic performance of a minicar propelled by a tension helical spring. The dragster car challenge engages students in a fairly complete project, as it incorporates several key topics related to teaching multibody dynamics, including the development of free-body diagrams, the application of Newton’s laws of motion, the solution of equations of motion, and the identification of dominant and secondary variables affecting the minicar’s dynamic performance. Overall, the project has presented a significant challenge and has proven highly successful for both the students and the instructors. The methodology presented can also be applied to analyze and discuss a variety of mechanical systems, including different types of machines and mechanisms. Moreover, the use of commercial software as an alternative for modeling and analyzing complex systems is considered within the scope of the present study, particularly in applications to industrial problems. [...]