Engi 7928: Computer-Aided Engineering
Design and Analysis of Experiments
Dr. Leonard Lye
llye@mun.ca
Course Overview
This module deals with the design, conduct, and analysis of engineering and scientific experiments.
The module will examine the proper and scientific approach to design experiments, carry them out,
and analyze the data they yield. Various designs are discussed and their respective advantages and
disadvantages are noted. Factorial designs will be studied in detail because of its considerable record
of success in various industries over the last 50 years. The techniques discussed can also be used for
efficient conduct of experiments for sensitivity analysis, and for simplification of complex equations
and models. Use of Design-Expert software by Statease, Inc. for designing and analyzing experiments
will also be used. In addition, participants will have the opportunity to design and conduct
experiments, and analyze the data collected from these experiments, using several simulation tools.
Some knowledge of basic statistics is assumed. Knowledge of proper design of experiments is one of
the key components of Six-Sigma and is one of the attributes that a graduate engineer should possess
in the new outcome-based Canadian engineering accreditation system. This module is essential to all
engineers and scientists who conduct experiments involving many factors and multiple objectives.
Module Outline:
Week 1: May 28, 30, 31 (Lab), June 1
1.
Strategies for experimentation and DOE principles
2.
Factorial vs. one-factor-at-a-time (OFAT) experiments
3.
2-level factorial experiments for 2 or more factors
4.
Computer Lab: Introduction to Design-Expert software and Simulation Applets
Week 2: June 11, 13, 14 (Lab), 15
5.
Blocking and concepts of confounding
6.
Fractional factorial design and analysis for large number of factors
7.
Fold-over designs
8.
Computer Lab: Fractional factorial design and analysis.
Week 3: June 25, 27, 28 (Lab), 29
9.
Response Surface Methodology (RSM)
10.
Multiple-objective optimization
11.
Summary and concluding remarks
12.
Computer Lab: RSM designs and multiple objective optimization
Evaluation:
Assignments (2)
Group Project
= 5%
=10%
Instructor:
Dr. Leonard M. Lye, PhD, PEng, FCSCE, FEC.
Dr. Lye holds a first-class honours degree in civil engineering and a PhD specializing in the areas of
statistical and stochastic hydrology. Dr. Lye is Associate Dean (Graduate Studies) in the Faculty of
Engineering and Applied Science, and Professor of Civil Engineering, Memorial University of
Newfoundland, Canada. He has over 100 publications in the areas of hydrology, statistics, and design
of experiments. In addition to academic research, Dr. Lye is a consultant to several companies in the
areas of flood risk analysis, environmental sampling designs, design of experiments, and statistical
analysis for environmental effects monitoring. He is an Associate Editor of the Canadian Water
Resources Journal and the Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering. Dr. Lye is the inventor of the DOEGolferTM, the “golfing” toy for teaching design of experiments principles, and several simulation
software for conducting experiments. The golfing toy is now used by major international companies
including Bell Canada, John-Deere, ABB, Eastman Chemicals, Ingersoll-Rand, Fairchild
Semiconductor, Sanofi-Pasteur, Cummins, Pratt-Whitney, and many others. Dr. Lye is a highly rated
and entertaining teacher and has received excellent reviews from participants of this course in the past.
He was winner of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Newfoundland award
for excellence in teaching for 2001, and winner of the President’s Award for Distinguished Teaching in
2003.