MEL 705 Experimental Methods

II Semester 2022-2023
Course Outline
Course Coordinator: Prof. Sangeeta Kohli (III 340) Tel: (2659)1243

Module Description Lectures

1 Purpose and methodology of experimental work. Planning and 3
professional practices in experimental work; documentation, reporting,
and presenting experimental work
2 Instruments: specifications and characteristics; range, resolution, 6
accuracy, precision, calibration traceability, time/frequency response.
Selection of instruments for measurements of physical quantities such
as temperature, pressure, flow rate. Sources of error.
Basics of digital data acquisition
3 Introduction to Design of Experiments (DOE): concepts, methodology, 3
examples.
4 Uncertainty Analysis: Types of errors and uncertainties, statistical basis 5
of uncertainty, propagation of uncertainties. Codes for
uncertainty analysis by ASME, ISO, NASA etc.

5 Data acquisition and signal processing: Basics of digital data. analog 10

to digital conversion, number of bits, sampling, sampling rate,
conversion rate, single and multiple channels. Fourier series, fourier
transform. convolution, filtering, aliasing, Nyquist sampling theorem,
amplifier, signal-to-noise ratio. Cross-correlation, autocorrelation.

6 Statistics and data interpretation: Population and samples, mean and 7

standard deviation, standard deviation of mean. Estimators of
population mean and standard deviation. Normal distribution,
Student's t-distribution, Chi-squared distribution. Confidence levels
and sample size selection. Outlier treatment. Regression analysis.

7 Introduction to optical diagnostics. Image analysis and its 3

applications in particle tracking techniques.

8 Detailed discussion on a few Case Studies 5

42

Suggested Books/References:
1. Doeblin, E.O., Measurement Systems-Application and Design, Tata McGraw Hill, New Delhi,
2004.
2. Bahga, S.S., Experimental uncertainty analysis, White Falcon Publishing, 2021.
3. Holman, J.P. Experimental methods for engineers, McGraw Hill-7th ed., 2017.
4. Dally, J.W., Riley, W.F. and McConnell, K.G., Instrumentation for Engineering Measurements,
John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2003.
5. Montgomery, D.C., Design and Analysis of Experiments, John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New
York
6. Coleman, H.W. and Steele, W.G., Experimentation, Validation, and Uncertainty Analysis for
Engineers, John Wiley and Sons, 2009.
7. Kale, S.R., Notes on Introductory Statistics: Statistics applications for uncertainty analysis i
experiments, IIT Delhi, New Delhi, 2017
8. Kale, S.R., Notes on Uncertainty Analysis Part I to VI, IIT Delhi, New Delhi, 2017
9. Osgood, B., The Fourier Transform and its Applications, Stanford University, Stanford, 2007
10. ASME, Test Uncertainty, PTC 19.1, ASME, New York, 2005
11. ISO, Guide to Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement, 2008
12. NASA Handbook: Measurement Uncertainty Analysis Principles and Methods, Washington
DC, 2010.

Evaluation:
Minor –1 10
Minor –2 15
Major 20
Quizzes 10
Laboratory (work, viva, reports) 35
Lab Exam & Quiz (before Major Exam) 10
Total 100

Attendance Policy:

Lectures:
The students having less than 75% attendance in the lectures will get a grade, which shall be one
less than what they deserve based on marks in the various components above. Attendance in the
period of add-drop will also be counted. So, out of 42 lectures, if any student misses more than
ten lectures, his/her grade will be lowered by one. So, those who have not attended the three
lectures in the first one week, must be careful

Lab Classes:
Every laboratory will have a weightage in the final lab evaluation. In general, no compensation
will be allowed for the lab classes missed. If the lab is missed due to genuine reasons (as
ascertained by concerned faculty), compensation will be allowed for at most one missed turn. In
case, a student is ill or is not able to attend class due to an emergency, he/she must send a
message to the lab instructor by email before the lab class.

Audit Pass criterion: Min 75% attendance in lectures and lab classes separately & 40% marks
in aggregate.