Integrating the methods of mathematical modelling and engineering design in projects

In this paper, we show how an integration of the engineering design method and the mathematical modelling method can be applied in engineering. This is exemplified through two student projects in the first-year modules ‘Dynamics and Vibrations’ and ‘Models, Mechanics and Materials’, which are compulsory in the Sustainable Design engineering programme at Aalborg University, Denmark.
We first describe and discuss the definitions of the two methods and argue that they have many similarities and that the differences appear to vanish once they are combined in an introductory engineering project. We argue that when students experience how the two methods are applied in a project, they may develop a better holistic understanding of the problems they may encounter as
future engineers. They are thus better equipped to solve future real-life problems by having applied mathematics and engineering sciences as integrated activities.