Abu Dhabi University

College of Engineering
MEC 420 Heat Transfer
Course Syllabus
Fall Semester 2016-17
Course Code:
Section:
Course Pre-requisites:
Course Co-requisites:
Credit hours:
Instructors Name:
Telephone: Class
Location: Office
Location:

MEC 420
2
MEC 320, MEC 350
XXX
3
Mohammad S. Khan
02 5015357
E-mail: mohammad.khan@adu.ac.ae
AD-B-2F28
Class Time: Mon & Wed 3:00-4:30 PM
D2F235
Office Hours: Sun & Tue 9:00-10:30AM, 12:15-2:00PM

1. Course Description
This course aims at providing students with essential concepts of Heat Transfer. Topics covered
include: Steady and transient heat conduction, forced and natural convection, internal and external
flows, principles of engineering thermal radiation, heat exchanger, boiling and condensation. The
course also aims at inspiring the student as well as at enhancing his/her entrepreneurial skills, as related
to the field of heat transfer.
2. Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
understand various modes of heat transfer and the associated mathematical models
understand and apply the basic concepts of conservation of energy and heat transfer to
engineering applications
solve conduction and convection heat transfer problems involving differential equations
apply various tools and techniques to solve heat transfer problems
Expected Learning Outcomes and Associated Measures
Course Learning Outcome
understand various modes of heat
transfer and the associated
mathematical models
understand and apply the basic
concepts of conservation of energy
and heat transfer to engineering
applications

Relevant Program
Learning Outcome

Assessment Tool(s)*

a2

Mid-Test, Quiz 1

a3,c1

Quiz 2, Mid Test

formulate/solve conduction and

convection heat transfer problems
involving differential equations

e1

Mid test, Quiz 4, Final

Exam

apply various tools and techniques

to solve heat transfer problems

k1

HWs

*Please note that the assessment tool(s) are to be used in assessing the course learning outcomes.

a.2: Apply principles of physics and chemistry to solve mechanical engineering problems.
a.3: Make use of engineering principles to solve practical problems
c.1: Design a system or process to meet desired needs with constraints
e.1: Identify, formulate and model engineering problems
k.1: Use of modern engineering software to aid in solving practical problems.
3. Lecture/Weekly Outline (tentative)
Given below is the breakdown of the lecture course delivery.
Students should be aware that for each hour of in-class time, a further two to three hours (on average)
of independent study (out-of-class time) is required.
Lecture
#

Topic

Reading
Textbook

Basics of heat transfer

Chapter 1

2-4
5-8
9-11
12
13-14

Heat Conduction Equation Quiz 1 from Chapter 1 in lecture 3

Steady Heat Conduction
Transient Heat Conduction Quiz 2 from Chapters 2 and 3 in lecture 9
Numerical Methods in heat conduction: Introduction
Introduction to Convection Mid Test from Chapters 1 to 5 in lecture 13

Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6

15-16
17-18
19
20
21-22
23
24-25
26

External Forced Convection

Internal Forced Convection Quiz 3 from Chapters 6 and 7 in lecture 17
Natural Convection
Boiling and Condensation
Heat Exchangers Quiz 4 from Chapters 8, 9 and 10 in lecture 21
Fundamentals of Thermal Radiation
Radiation Heat Transfer Quiz 5 from Chapter 11 and 12 in lecture 25
Mass transfer

Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14

4. Pedagogy Learning Process

The instructors will not expect students to be passive recipients of information. They will expect
students to participate actively in their own learning. Learning activities will include lectures, computer
exercises, project and laboratory sessions. Both group and individual work will be expected. Students
may also be expected to participate in student-instructor conferences, small group discussions, audio
visual aid presentations, classroom experiments and in other methods of presenting and analyzing
information. Students will also be expected to read the textbooks or other assigned reading outside of
class and to participate in the critical evaluation of the material through small-group and class discussion
and individual writing.

5. Textbooks and Learning Material

Textbook:

Y. Cengel and F. Ghajar (2001), Heat and Mass Transfer, Fundamentals &
Applications, 4th Ed., SI Units McGraw Hill.
References: Y. Cengel and J. M Cimbala (2006), Fluid Mechanics: Fundamentals and
Applications, McGraw Hill

6. Assessment of Student Learning

Homework:
Quizzes:
Projects:
Mid Test:
Final Exam:

13% (assigned from each chapter but assessed on submitted basis)

20% (5 Quizzes)
7% (5% Project report and design etc., 2% Presentation)
20% (one mid exam)
40% (Comprehensive Final Exam)

7. Grading Key
Grade
A
B+
B
C+
C
D+
D
F
I

Percentage
90-100
85-89
80-84
75-79
70-74
65-69
60-64
Less than 60
N/A

Grade Point
4
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.0
0.0

8. Attendance
For all students, absence is marked at a maximum of 30% of total class time. Final dismissals (WA)
will be posted on the students academic record. The calculation of the absence percentage is based on
the total number of class meetings, regardless of the length of the meetings. For example, if a class
meets once a week for 15 weeks, then a student would need 5 absences to reach the 30% threshold.
Students will be considered absent if they do not arrive on time for a lesson. Taking attendance will
start on the first day of classes and will continue until the last day of classes in the semester.
Final Dismissal will not be waived under any circumstances. The Registrar's Office will accept excuses
only from students missing an exam/major assignment due to absence. Students will be permitted to
take a make-up exam, if its weight is at least 10% of the course total mark upon approval of a legitimate
excuse.
Exams/Tests will be repeated when serious reasons similar to the following take place and documented
evidence are submitted to the Office of the Registrar on the day student returns to class.
Hospitalization,
Contagious Disease,
Death, may God forbid, of an immediate family member (father, mother, sibling, husband,
son, daughter, grandparent),
Car Accident,
Job Requirement (special assignment), with prior written approval from the Office of the
Registrar
Al Haj
3

Al Umra
Al Umra trips are not valid excuses for students to be absent.
In the case of excused absence for a final exam, the student has to apply for an Incomplete (I) grade at
the Office of the Registrar within 48 hours of the exam.
9. Academic Integrity
The mission of ADU includes developing students sense of ethics, morality, and social responsibility.
Students at ADU have the fundamental obligation to conduct themselves with utmost integrity. To
ensure an education environment characterized with Academic integrity (AI), ADU has revised its
Academic Integrity Policy (AIP).
The revised Academic Integrity Policy (AIP) copies available on the intranet under the link of the
Office of Academic Integrity (OAI) has identified violations of AI punishable by serious penalties,
including dismissal from ADU. The types of violations identified in AIP, along with the description
and examples of each violation, are:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Cheating
Plagiarism
Fabrication of data
Presenting false credentials
Collusion
Free Riding

At the beginning of each semester, your instructor will review the essential elements of AIP in class
and will describe the intrinsic values of compliance, and the consequences of non-compliance (i.e.,
penalties) with the Policy. In addition, OAI undertakes a widespread AI Awareness Campaign at the
beginning of each semester to educate students about AI issues and the ways students can avoid
violations.
In view of resources provided by ADU in this regard, all students are expected to strictly comply with
the tenet of AIP and conduct themselves with highest degree of integrity and ethical conduct. Students
in need of additional information or assistance are requested to seek help from OAI.
Failure to comply with the provisions of AIP will have severe consequences, including dismissal
from ADU.
10. Miscellaneous

Mobile phones: A student whose mobile phone rings during class will be asked to leave the
classroom and will receive a half absence. Should this happen during an exam, the student will
not be allowed to retake the exam at another time, while at the same time receiving a full absence.
Eating/Drinking/Smoking: Students will be requested to refrain from engaging in these
activities while in class.
Only emails from university-provided email accounts will be recognized and used in this
course.
Students should be aware that for each hour of in-class time, a further two to three hours (on
average) of independent study (out-of-class time) is required.