1. BOTTLE ROCKETS AND PARAMETRIC DESIGN IN A CONVERGING-DIVERGING DESIGN STRATEGY
Paris R. von Lockette, Mechanical Eng.
Dominic Acciani, Civil and Environmental Eng.
Jennifer Courtney, Writing Arts
Kevin Dahm, Chemical Eng.
Chenguang Diao, Mechanical Eng.
Roberta Harvey, Writing Arts
Bernard Pietrucha, Electrical and Computer Eng.
Will Riddell, Civil and Environmental Eng.

2. What is Design and what is Designing?
Generating solutions to problems
Making decisions and assessing the outcomes
Creating products, devices, processes, or systems
To formalize our approach, we develop a framework.

3. Dym’s Dichotomous Learning Models
Engineering Science vs. Design
Engineering science places emphasis on the ability to apply mathematics and physical laws to the analysis and solution of problems.
Engineering design emphasizes the ability to generate ideas that satisfy requirements and conform to constraints.

4. Where Do They Meet? What Happens if They Do Not Meet?
Physics
Design Ideas
Chemistry
Design Solution
Math
Analyzing how well the design meets the criteria?
What Happens if They Do Not Meet?
Students remain "unaffected by their education”

5. A Framework for Decision Making
Converging-Diverging Thought Framework
Converging: decisions that move toward a solution within the design space
Diverging: decisions that broaden our design space

6. Convergent vs. Divergent Thinking
Convergent thinking
(a) the generation of constructive design ideas
(b) analysis and problem solving that assesses a particular design’s efficacy.
Divergent thinking
ideas that do not have to lead directly to the best solution or fall within the constraints.

7. Teaching Design: Our Take on the Converging-Diverging Framework
Convergent Thinking
Divergent Thinking
Problem Solving x m F
& =
Volume Water
Distance
Analysis
Design

8. The Divergent Arena Initial Choices Redirection Expanding Design Space
Fin Shapes
Amount of Water
Amount of Playdoh
Redirection
Expanding Design Space
Convergent Thinking
Analysis
Design
Problem Solving x m F
& =
Divergent Thinking

9. The Convergent Arena C. Problem Solving C. Analysis C. Design
Rocket Equations
C. Analysis
Experimentation
C. Design
Choices: H2O, Fins, Clay
Modifications ?
Convergent Thinking
Divergent Thinking
Analysis
Design
Problem Solving x m F
& =

10. Convergent Analysis: Parametric Design
Formalize the link between C. Analysis & Problem Solving and C. Design
Systematic testing of independent variables
Results of analyses influence future designs
Convergent Thinking
Divergent Thinking
Analysis
Design
Problem Solving x m F
& =

11. Convergent Analysis: Parametric Design with Limited Design Space
Volume Water
Distance
Water Volume
Playdoh Mass
Wing Aspect Ratio
Design Parameters
Length
Height
Distance
Volume Water
Fin Aspect Ratio

12. Design Space Variable 2 Variable 1
Possible outcomes given available parameters
Local Maxima
Limit of variable 2
Variable 2
Limit of variable 1
Restricted search
Variable 1

13. Food for Thought
1. Identify what aspects of the project require/use convergent thinking. Make further delineations between which are convergent problem solving and which are convergent design? Identify and categorize as many as you can.
Hint: Generate a list of the decisions that you made and the thought processes that led to those decisions then work from that list.
2. Using the aspects of the project you have already identified above, discuss why you would consider the first day convergent or divergent thinking?

14. Food for Thought
3. Does the statement below describe a convergent experiment? Why or why not?
“While keeping the fins and the clay the same, vary the amount of water in the rocket, then re-test. Continue until you have several data points.”
4. Assign at least one team member to take notes on the behavior of all the rockets during the launch off paying specific attention to the key parameters discussed above. Do you notice any trends or similarities in rockets that are successful (or unsuccessful)? If so what are they? If not, why do you think you do not see any trends?