Experiential Material Determination Station
W. Huisman (TU Delft - Industrial Design Engineering)
E. Tempelman – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Emerging Materials)
A Kooijman – Mentor (TU Delft - Technical Support)
Bas Flipsen – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Design for Sustainability)
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Abstract
This thesis presents the design and validation of a low-cost, classroom-ready testing setup developed for the Understanding Product Engineering (UPE) course at TU Delft. While the course introduces first-year design students to material properties, limited access to hands-on testing has left key concepts like stiffness abstract and difficult to grasp. The project responds to this gap by creating a dual-purpose setup that supports both intuitive material exploration and structured mechanical testing.
Through iterative research and prototyping, a final design was developed: a compact three-point bending device with integrated force and deflection measurement, complemented by tactile tools for informal property investigation. Educational alignment was achieved by incorporating principles of Productive Failure and experiential learning, allowing students to confront their assumptions and engage with real-world variation in material behavior.
User testing showed increased student confidence and understanding of material stiffness, while mechanical evaluation confirmed measurement repeatability within a ±11.3% error margin and ~6% standard deviation across trials. The setup is now ready for integration into the UPE course and demonstrates potential for broader application in design education.