This work aims to study the contribution of 3D printing technologies as collaborative resource in higher education teaching. The study reports two years of observations of the behavior and experience, in the classroom, of student groups in classes of the 2nd year of an industrial design degree, when placed in contact with artefacts obtained by 3D printing which are used for an experimental test in the class. This was conducted in the course “Physics of materials”, in which we analyzed the contribution of practical experience in the learning process. The study aims to assess the degree of interest, motivation and understanding by students on academic content, which is often abstract, and of which practical demonstrations with resources prepared by 3D printing can become a learning facilitator. To this end, the learning styles of students were determined through the Honey-Alonso Learning Styles Questionnaire (CHAEA). This questionnaire allows teachers and students to know the learning styles and how each student interacts and relates in group activities. It includes a section on practical experience, motivation and the acquisition of knowledge of the students, who were unanimous in ranking high the importance of 3D printing technology in teaching activities in the classroom. As a collaborative learning resource, it is concluded that 3D printing can positively help teachers establish an improved teaching environment for students by including different methodological styles in the learning process. This is particularly effective in courses with a significant theoretical content. The increasing availability of 3D printing combined with the motivational aspect of its usage as a learning facilitator establish a revolutionary and powerful resource for active learning.

This paper analyses the characteristics and human factors of older drivers and how those can influence the driving experience. This research analyses recent studies in ergonomics, interaction and influence of the technologies applied to design of the physical interfaces and their respective in-vehicle devices, with the aim of identifying improvement opportunities in enabling usability design for on-board tasks. The research methodology is descriptive with a collection of baseline studies within the auto industry, ergonomics, health and the mobility and behaviour of older drivers. It is concluded that even the latest car models do not fully provide the highest levels of safety and comfort that could be achieved, with some manufacturers opting to include extra resources to mitigate the changes that result from ageing and driving. It is suggested to create automotive interior design recommendations in a way that improves the safety, comfort and inclusion of older drivers.

Fiber reinforced composites are widely used in the production of parts for load bearing structures. It is generally recognized that composites can be affected both by monotonic and cyclic loading. For assembly purposes, drilling is needed, but holes can act as stress concentration notches, leading to damage propagation and failure. In this work, a batch of carbon/epoxy plates is drilled by different drill geometries, while thrust force is monitored and the hole’s surrounding region is inspected. Based on radiographic images, the area and other features of the damaged region are computed for damage assessment. Finally, the specimens are subjected to Bearing Fatigue tests. Cyclic loading causes ovality of the holes and the loss of nearly 10% of the bearing net strength. These results can help to establish an association between the damaged region and the material’s fatigue resistance, as larger damage extension and deformation by cyclic stress contribute to the loss of load carrying capacity of parts.

This work presents radial basis function collocation methods in pseudospectral form for forecasting the static deformations and free vibration characteristics of thin and thick cross-ply laminated shells. This method utilizes an innovative layerwise shallow shell theory that integrates both translational and rotational degrees of freedom. A collection of numerical examples illustrates the precision and efficacy of the suggested numerical method, highlighting its capability in resolving static and vibrational issues.