http://www.teachengineering.org/view_activity.php?url=collection/wpi_/activities/wpi_focus_on_fabrics/focus_on_fabrics.xmlactivitytext/xmlMaking the Connection, constructionengineering designfabricmaterialmaterials sciencesynthetic fibercelluloseregeneratednylonpolyesterrayon

Students come to understand the basics of engineering associated with the use, selection, and properties of fabrics. A wide variety of natural and synthetic fibers are used in our clothing, home furnishings and in our travel and sports equipment. The specific material chosen for each application depends on how closely the properties of the material match the design needs. This activity focuses on the different characteristics of fabrics and shows students how natural and synthetic fabrics differ from one another. Students weigh the advantages and disadvantages of fabrics when considering the appropriate fabric to be used.

As part of their designs, engineers and material scientists consider the type of material that will be used. They look at all aspects of the problem and choose materials that best meet the needs and wants of the client and/or application. Besides clothing, fabrics are designed for and used in furniture, medical devices, speakers, agriculture and an uncountable number of engineered products. Use engineering terms involving decisions related to advantages and disadvantages of process and products.Analyze a product to determine the need it was designed to meet and the customer(s) it was mean to attract.Invent a product to meet a need.Use science, math and engineering principles to design and optimize the product.5390TeachEngineering.orgM. CyrProject Funded by Lucent Technologies Foundationhttp://www.teachengineering.org/collection/wpi_/activities/wpi_focus_on_fabrics/wpi_focus_on_fabrics_worksheet_a.pdfhttp://www.teachengineering.org/collection/wpi_/activities/wpi_focus_on_fabrics/wpi_focus_on_fabrics_worksheet_b.pdfhttp://www.teachengineering.org/collection/wpi_/activities/wpi_focus_on_fabrics/wpi_focus_on_fabrics_worksheet_c.pdfhttp://www.fabrics.net/http://www.fabriclink.com/http://www.fibersource.com/Microsoft Encarta 98 Encyclopedia CD. Fiber, polyester, nylon.S101D432MassachusettsScience1.1 Given a design task, identify appropriate materials (e.g., wood, paper, plastic, aggregates, ceramics, metals, solvents, adhesives) based on specific properties and characteristics (e.g., weight, strength, hardness, and flexibility).68S1012153MassachusettsScience2.1 Identify and explain the steps of the engineering design process, i.e., identify the need or problem, research the problem, develop possible solutions, select the best possible solution(s), construct a prototype, test and evaluate, communicate the solution(s), and redesign.68United StatesCopyright 2012 - Making the Connection, Women in Engineering Programs and Advocates Network (WEPAN)http://www.teachengineering.org/policy_ipp.phphttp://www.teachengineering.org/2011-11-097Teacher