Modernizing the thermal fluid sciences curriculum: Implementation of a hands-on lab course in mechanical engineering

As engineering education increasingly emphasizes hands-on, real-world applications, the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department at North Carolina State University has restructured MAE 306 - Thermal Fluid Sciences Labs. This undergraduate course is designed to strengthen students’ practical skills in thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer. It also prepares them for senior design projects and professional engineering practice. The course consists of two main sections: fluid mechanics and heat transfer. The fluid mechanics labs include major and minor losses, pump performance, air speed measurement, and drag. The heat transfer labs cover conduction, convection, and radiation. Each lab is structured to reinforce theoretical concepts through experiments that utilize industry-relevant tools, including Pitot-static tubes, wind tunnels, thermocouples, and data acquisition systems. In addition to technical knowledge, the labs emphasize essential engineering skills, including data collection, analysis, and the use of numerical methods. This paper describes the development and implementation of the fluid mechanics section. It highlights instructional strategies and evaluat