VTU PhD Entrance Test Mechatronics Syllabus 2021

Research Methodology

PART - I

UNIT - 1

Research Methodology:

Introduction, Meaning of Research, Objectives of Research, Types of Research, Research Approaches, Significance of Research, Research Methods versus Methodology, Research and Scientific Method, Research Process, Criteria of Good Research, Problems Encountered by Researchers in India. Defining the Research Problem: Research Problem, Selecting the Problem, Necessity of Defining the Problem, Technique Involved in Defining a Problem.

 

UNIT - 2

Reviewing the literature:

Place of the literature review in research, Bringing clarity and focus to research problem, Improving research methodology, Broadening knowledge base in research area, Enabling contextual findings, Review of the literature, searching the existing literature, reviewing the selected literature, Developing a theoretical framework, Developing a conceptual framework, Writing about the literature reviewed. Research Design: Meaning of Research Design, Need for Research Design, Features of a Good Design, Important Concepts Relating to Research Design, Different Research Designs, Basic Principles of Experimental Designs, Important Experimental Designs.

 

UNIT - 3

Design of Sample Surveys:

Design of Sampling: Introduction, Sample Design, Sampling and Non-sampling Errors, Sample Survey versus Census Survey, Types of Sampling Designs. Measurement and Scaling: Qualitative and Quantitative Data, Classifications of Measurement Scales, Goodness of Measurement Scales, Sources of Error in Measurement, Techniques of Developing Measurement Tools, Scaling, Scale Classification Bases, Scaling Technics, Multidimensional Scaling, Deciding the Scale. Data Collection: Introduction, Experimental and Surveys, Collection of Primary Data, Collection of Secondary Data, Selection of Appropriate Method for Data Collection, Case Study Method.

 

UNIT – 4

Data Preparation:

Data Preparation Process, Some Problems in Preparation Process, Missing Values and Outliers, Types of Analysis, Statistics in Research. Descriptive Statistics: Measures of Central Tendency, Measures of Dispersion, Measures of Skegness, Kurtosis, Measures of Relationship, Association in case of Attributes, Other Measures.

 

UNIT - 5

Sampling and Statistical Inference:

Parameters and Statistic, Sampling and Non- Sampling Errors, Sampling Distribution, Degree of Freedom, Standard Error, Central Limit Theorem, Finite Population Correction, Statistical Inference.

 

UNIT - 6

Testing of Hypotheses:

Hypothesis, Basic Concepts Concerning Testing of Hypotheses, Testing of Hypothesis, Test Statistics and Critical Region, Critical Value and Decision Rule, Procedure for Hypothesis Testing, Hypothesis Testing for Mean, Proportion, Variance, for Difference of Two Mean, for Difference of Two Proportions, for Difference of Two Variances, P-Value approach, Power of Test, Limitations of the Tests of Hypothesis. Chi-square Test: Test of Difference of more than Two Proportions, Test of Independence of Attributes, Test of Goodness of Fit, Caution in Using Chi Square Tests.

 

UNIT – 7

Analysis of Variance (ANOVA):

The ANOVA Technique, Basic Principle of ANOVA, One way ANOVA, Two way ANOVA, Latin – square Design, Analysis of Co- Variance, Assumptions in Co-Variance.

 

UNIT – 8

Linear Regression Analysis:

Dependent and Independent Variables, Simple Linear Regression Model, Multiple Linear Regression Model, Problem of Multicolinearity, Qualitative Explanatory Variables. Factor Analysis: The Mathematical Basis, Important Methods of Factor Analysis, Rotation in Factor Analysis, R – Type and Q – Type Factor Analysis, Merits and Demerits of Factor Analysis.

 

UNIT – 9

Probability:

Random Experiments, Sample Spaces, Events, The Concept of Probability, The Axiomsof Probability, Theorems on Probability, Assignment of Probabilities, Conditional Probability, Theorems on Conditional Probability, Independent Events, Bayes’Theorem. Random Variables, Discrete Probability Distributions, Distribution Functions for RandomVariables, Distribution Functions for Discrete Random Variables, Continuous Random Variables, Graphical Interpretations, Joint Distributions Independent Random Variables, Change of Variables, Probability Distributions of Functions of Random Variables, Convolutions, Conditional Distributions.

 

UNIT - 10

The Binomial Distribution, Properties of the Binomial Distribution, The Normal Distribution, Properties of the Normal Distribution, Relation Between Binomial and Normal Distributions, The Poisson Distribution, Properties of the Poisson Distribution, Relation Between the Binomial andPoisson Distributions, Relation Between the Poisson and Normal Distributions, The Hypergeometric Distribution.

 

Reference Books:

(1) Research Methodology Methods and Techniques, C.R. Kothari, Gaurav Garg, New Age International Publishers,4th Edition, 2019.

(2) Research Methodology a step-by-step guide for beginners, Ranjit Kumar, SAGE Publications Ltd, 3rd Edition, 2011. [For Unit -2, Reviewing the Literature]

(3)Probability and Statistics, Murray R. Spiegel, Schaum’s Outline Series, McGraw-Hill, 4th Edition, 2013.[For Unit -9 and Unit – 10]

Mechatronics

Part II

Unit 1

Mechanics of Materials:

Stress and strain, elastic constants, Poisson's ratio; Mohr’s circle for plane stress and plane strain; thin cylinders; shear force and bending moment diagrams; bending and shear stresses; deflection of beams; torsion of circular shafts; Euler’s theory of columns; energy methods; thermal stresses.

 

Unit 2

Theory of Machines:

Displacement, velocity and acceleration analysis of plane mechanisms; cams; gears and gear trains; flywheels and governors; balancing of reciprocating and rotating masses; gyroscope. Machine Design: Design for static and dynamic loading; failure theories; fatigue strength and the S-N diagram; principles of the design of machine elements such as bolted, riveted and welded joints; shafts, gears, rolling and sliding contact bearings, brakes and clutches, springs.

 

Unit 3

Fluid Mechanics and Fluid machines:

Fluid properties; fluid statics, manometry, buoyancy, stability of floating bodies; Bernoulli’s equation; Dimensional Analysis; Fluid Flow Measurements. Turbomachinery: Impulse and reaction principles, velocity diagrams, Pelton-wheel, Francis and Kaplan turbines; Steam Turbines Hydraulics and pneumatics: Hydraulic actuators and motors; control components in hydraulic systems; Hydraulic circuit design and analysis; safety circuit; structure of pneumatic control system; pneumatic control valves; signal processing elements; electro-pneumatic control

 

Unit 4

Heat Treating of metals:

TTT curves, Ferrous and non ferrous materials: Solidification and phase diagram: Mechanism of solidification, Homogenous and Heterogeneous nucleation. Cristal Growth, Cast metal strictures, Phase diagram. Solid solutions; Composite materials: Processing of FRP Composites: Metal Matrix Composites: Smart Materials: Piezoelectric Materials, Electrostrictive materials; Smart Sensor, Actuator and Transducer Technologies

 

Unit 5

Instrumentation and measurements:

Functional Elements of Instrument/ measurement system; Static and Dynamic Characteristics; Measurement of Displacement; Measurement of Level; Measurement of Strain; Measurement of resistance, induction and capacitance; Measurement of Force, Torque & Shaft Power: Temperature Measurement; Pressure Measurement; Flow Measurement

 

Unit 6

Metal working:

Casting, Forming and Joining Processes: Different types of castings, design of patterns, moulds and cores; solidification and cooling; riser and gating design. Introduction to metal working: Forging: Rolling: Drawing: Extrusion: Sheet & Metal Forming Advanced Welding processes Metal Arc welding (MAW), Flux Shielded Metal Arc Welding (FSMAW), Inert Gas Welding (TIG & MIG) Submerged Arc Welding (SAW) and Atomic Hydrogen Welding processes (AHW), Resistance welding, Non-traditional Machining Processes:, Electro Chemical Machining, Ultrasonic Machining, Abrasive Jet Machining, Water Jet Machining, Electron Beam Machining, Electron Discharge Machining and Plasma Arc Machining.

 

Unit 7

Control Systems:

Basic control system components; Feedback principle; Transfer function; Block diagram representation; Signal flow graph; Transient and steady-state analysis of LTI systems; Frequency response; Routh-Hurwitz and Nyquist stability criteria; Bode and root-locus plots; Lag, lead and lag-lead etc.

 

Unit 8

Analog & Digital Electronics :

Analog Circuits: Small signal equivalent circuits of diodes, BJTs and MOSFETs; Simple diode circuits: clipping, clamping and rectifiers; Single-stage BJT and MOSFET amplifiers: biasing, bias stability, mid-frequency small signal analysis etc. Digital Circuits: Number systems; Combinatorial circuits: Boolean algebra, minimization of functions using Boolean identities and Karnaugh map, logic gates and their static CMOS implementations, arithmetic circuits, code converters, multiplexers, decoders and PLAs; Sequential circuits: latches and flip flops etc.

 

Unit 9

Robotics and automation:

Types of robotics; Generations of robots; degrees of freedom; Asimov’s laws of robotics; dynamic stabilization of robots. Power Sources and Sensors; Hydraulic, pneumatic and electric drives variable speed arrangements ; path determination ; micro machines in robotics Manipulators, Actuators And Grippers; electronic and pneumatic manipulator control circuits Industrial Automation: Basic Devices in Automated Systems; Different Controllers Employed In Automated Systems. Safety in Industrial Automation Material handling and Identification Technologies Material Handling Systems, Principles and Design Consideration, Material Transport Systems, Storage Systems, Overview of Automatic Identification Methods.

 

Unit 10

Automotive electronics:

Automotive Fundamentals Overview: Four Stroke Cycle, Engine Control Ignition System, Spark plug, Spark pulse generation, Ignition Timing, Drive Train, Transmission, Brakes, Steering System, Battery, Starting System. Air and Fuel Systems; Sensors and Actuators; Automotive Instrumentation and Communication: Vehicle Motion Control: Cruise control, Automotive Diagnostics; Expert Systems. Introduction to Alternative Vehicles: Electric Vehicle, Hybrid Electric vehicle, Electric Hybrid Vehicle, Alternative Vehicle Architecture: Electric Vehicles, Hybrid Electric Vehicles, Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles, Power Train component Sizing, Mass Analysis & Packaging, Vehicle Simulation.