Technology Advancement Progression and Engineering Education through Vehicles

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The Discipline of Mechanical Engineering seized the opportunity to represent UKZN when it displayed two of its vehicles at the 40^th annual Cars in the Park event, hosted by the Pietermaritzburg Vintage Sports Car Club on 17 May 2015. The event showcased over 1 200 exhibits to more than 12 000 attendees on the day. Exhibitors set up displays of vintage cars, exotic cars, motorcycles and machinery such as steam engines and tractors. The Academic Leader of Mechanical Engineering, Professor Glen Bright, appointed a team consisting of academic and support staff to work on the full restoration of a 1926 Ford Model T in December last year. The restoration involved an overhaul of the engine valves and cylinder head as well as the complete stripping, preparation and spraying of the vehicle’s body panels.

The convertible roof and floorboards were also restored. The vehicle was displayed at the event alongside the University’s Solar Car which was developed in 2012. The aim of the display was to highlight the contrast in the technology used to design and produce vintage vehicles with the highly computerised design methods currently available to the final-year students in Mechanical Engineering at UKZN. The advancement of the technologies used in the development of the vehicles was taught to students during their four-year degree. Such technologies included the use of 3D simulation, CNC manufacturing and the use of modern materials for high strength and low-weight applications.

Professor Bright and the academic representative, Mr Shaniel Davrajh, praised the efforts of the technicians involved namely, Strinivasen Govender, Yushan Reddy, Danesh Singh, T Chander and Nkululeko Mazibuko (all of whom are pictured below).

Mr Shaniel Davrajh.