TRIPLE-BENEFIT ENGINEERING EDUCATION: SOLVING REAL-WORLD DURABILITY ISSUES IN LIFTING MECHANISMS THROUGH MULTIDISCIPLINARY UNIVERSITY-INDUSTRY COLLABORATION

This technical paper discusses a collaborative research project involving three Brazilian universities and a company specializing in the manufacture of lifting and transport equipment. The company, with a long-standing presence in this specific market, was facing durability issues in one of its key products. In response, the company's management sought academic support to address the fatigue durability problem. Under the guidance of four professors from 3 different academic institutions (Escola Politécnica da Universidade de São Paulo, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria and Centro Universitário FEI) a Mechanical Engineering student from the latter institution was selected to participate in the research project. In an effort to solve the issue, concepts from Design Methodology, Machine Elements, Solid Mechanics, and the Finite Element Method were applied. These tools provided the foundation for diagnosing and eliminating the root causes of the durability problem. CAD and CAE software were employed for modelling, analysis, and structural optimization, leading to an effective solution that met the company's needs. Once the solution was implemented by the equipment manufacturer, as a secondary effect and a way to reinforce the learning experience for Mechanical Engineering students, the solved problem was integrated into the exercise list of the Machine Elements course. Students were then challenged to solve the problem and encouraged to fabricate scaled prototypes using additive manufacturing techniques, such as 3D printing. This approach enabled a deeper understanding of design concepts, enhancing spatial awareness and comprehension of three-dimensional vector phenomena, while promoting problem-based learning and the practical application of theoretical knowledge.