Projects
This section presents a collection of projects completed through my coursework and technical involvement at the University of South Florida. These projects reflect my academic development as a mechanical engineering student and highlight my hands-on experience in mechanical design, automotive systems, and thermal and structural analysis. The work shown here comes directly from classes and engineering organizations I am actively involved in, including Formula SAE and IEEE Electrathon. Through these experiences, I have applied core engineering principles to real systems—designing components, analyzing performance, interpreting data, and validating results through simulation and testing. Many of these projects required balancing performance, safety, and practicality while working within real constraints such as time, resources, and design requirements. Across these projects, I have developed experience using tools such as SolidWorks, ANSYS, MATLAB, Excel, and MoTeC data analysis to support design decisions and improve system performance. The projects span topics including mechanical design, thermal behavior, structural response, vehicle subsystems, and system-level problem solving, all grounded in the coursework I have completed as part of my mechanical engineering degree. Together, these projects represent my growth as an engineer—from applying foundational concepts learned in class to contributing meaningfully to team-based engineering efforts. They demonstrate my ability to translate theory into practice, learn quickly across disciplines, and approach engineering challenges with a focus on safety, performance, and data-driven decision making.
Lab Reports
This section contains laboratory reports completed as part of my mechanical engineering coursework at the University of South Florida. These labs were conducted alongside my core classes and are designed to reinforce fundamental engineering concepts through hands-on experimentation, data collection, and analysis. Each laboratory directly supports the material covered in lecture-based courses. For example, in materials-related labs, I performed mechanical testing such as tensile experiments to evaluate material properties and understand stress–strain behavior. In fluid mechanics labs, I worked with experimental setups that measured flow rate and analyzed the performance of various flow components, connecting theoretical equations to real physical systems. Similar labs across the curriculum required applying concepts from statics, dynamics, thermodynamics, and thermal systems using real instrumentation and controlled test procedures. These laboratory experiences strengthened my understanding of how engineering theory translates into practice. Rather than working only with equations, the labs emphasized the use of measurement tools, experimental methods, uncertainty awareness, and data interpretation to validate fundamental principles. Collecting experimental data, processing results, and comparing them to theoretical predictions helped build intuition for system behavior and highlighted the limitations and assumptions behind ideal models. Overall, these lab reports represent an essential part of my engineering education. They demonstrate my ability to apply classroom concepts using real equipment, analyze experimental results critically, and communicate technical findings clearly and professionally. Together, they reflect the practical foundation that supports my broader coursework and design-focused projects as a mechanical engineering student.
Resume
This resume reflects my personal and professional growth as a mechanical engineering student, shaped through coursework, hands-on experience, and continuous skill development. Each role and project listed represents a step forward in responsibility, technical ability, and engineering judgment as I’ve progressed through my academic journey. While my experience is still developing, this website serves as an extension of my resume—providing deeper context behind the projects, labs, and skills that cannot always be fully captured on a single page. Together, they present a clearer picture of my work ethic, learning mindset, and readiness to grow within real-world engineering environments.
Christian Arriaga-Franco 