2026-2027 Academic Catalog

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Mechanical Engineering (ME)

ME 2004 - Engineering Analysis Using Numerical Methods (3 credits) 
Numerical methods applied to engineering analysis with a design/lab studio. Numerical techniques including root finding, linear algebra, integration, ordinary differential equations, curve fitting, discrete Fourier transforms, optimization. Structured programming and iterative problem-solving using a high-level environment such as Matlab. Design/Lab Studio.
Prerequisite(s): MATH 1226 and (MATH 2114 or MATH 2114H or MATH 2405H or MATH 2214 or MATH 2214H or MATH 2406H) 
Instructional Contact Hours: (2 Lec, 2 Lab, 3 Crd) 
ME 2114 - Introduction to Thermal and Fluid Engineering (2 credits) 
Introduction to thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer. Fluid and thermal properties of materials. Properties of liquids and vapors. Ideal gas equation of state. Force, work and heat transfer in thermal and fluid systems. Conservation of mass, momentum, and energy in systems and control volumes. Application of conservation equations and properties to analyze simple thermal and fluid systems.
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 2305 and MATH 1226 
Instructional Contact Hours: (2 Lec, 2 Crd) 
ME 2134 - Thermodynamics (4 credits) 
Classical (equilibrium) thermodynamics and its applications. Includes thermodynamic properties of pure substances: property diagrams, property tables, property software, equations of state; the first law of thermodynamics; the second law of thermodynamics; gas mixtures; combustion: atomic and energy balances; and power and refrigeration cycles.
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 2305 and (MATH 2204 or MATH 2204H or MATH 2406H) and CHEM 1035 
Corequisite(s): (MATH 2214 or MATH 2214H or MATH 2406H). 
Instructional Contact Hours: (4 Lec, 4 Crd) 
ME 2974 - Independent Study (1-19 credits) 
Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course 
ME 2974H - Independent Study (1-19 credits) 
Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course 
ME 2984 - Special Study (1-19 credits) 
Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course 
ME 2994 - Undergraduate Research (1-19 credits) 
Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course 
ME 2994H - Undergraduate Research (1-19 credits) 
Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course 
ME 3024 - Engineering Design and Economics (3 credits) 
Engineering design process; project management; product planning; customer needs, specifications, and Quality Function Deployment (QFD); benchmarking and intellectual property; concept generation, screening, scoring, and selection; design for assembly, product architecture, economic, and ethical considerations; concept testing. Written and oral communications of engineering design; computer aided design. Team-based term project with prototype fabrication of mechanical assembly manipulated by a microcontroller. For Pathways Advanced Discourse credit, must complete combination of ME 3024, ME 3034, and ME 4015-4016.
Prerequisite(s): ESM 2104 and ENGL 1106 
Pathway Concept Area(s): 1A Discourse Advanced, 10 Ethical Reasoning 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 3034 - Mechanical Engineering Discourse (1 credit) 
Principles and application of effective technical and professional communication in mechanical engineering; organizing, structuring, and developing effective written documents and oral presentations for a range of audiences, including technical reports, memorandums, laboratory reports, live and recorded presentations, and posters for public exhibition; use of effective language and style; development of effective visual aids; presentation delivery skills; acquiring new knowledge using appropriate learning strategies by finding, comprehending and evaluating information from a variety of sources; ethical and professional responsibilities in both identifying appropriate information and communicating technical results. For Pathways Advanced Discourse credit, must complete combination of ME 3024, ME 3034, and ME 4015-4016.
Prerequisite(s): ENGL 1106 
Pathway Concept Area(s): 1A Discourse Advanced, 10 Ethical Reasoning 
Instructional Contact Hours: (1 Lec, 1 Crd) 
ME 3124 - Thermodynamics (3 credits) 
Classical thermodynamics and its applications. Thermodynamic properties of pure substances: property tables, property software, equations of state. First law of thermodynamics. Second law of thermodynamics. Gas mixtures. Combustion: atom and energy balances. Power and refrigeration cycles.
Prerequisite(s): ME 2114 and CHEM 1035 and (MATH 2204 or MATH 2204H or MATH 2406H) 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 3194 - Technology, Innovation and Humanistic Engineering for a Sustainable Future (3 credits) 
Foundational understanding of converging, emerging and disruptive technologies. Pedagogical aspects of innovation, team dynamics and effective communication. Leadership Cube—Six principles of effective leadership. Humanistic engineering. Sustainable energy and sustainable water platforms. Smart device designs for disease diagnostics and mitigation. Pre: Junior standing.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 3304 - Heat and Mass Transfer (3 credits) 
Comprehensive basic course in heat and mass transfer for mechanical engineering students. Principles of conduction, convection, and radiation with applications to heat exchangers and other engineering systems.
Prerequisite(s): ME 2134 and ME 3414 and (MATH 2214 or MATH 2214H or MATH 2406H) and (MATH 2204 or MATH 2204H or MATH 2406H) 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 3404 - Fluid Mechanics (3 credits) 
Comprehensive first course in basic and applied fluid mechanics. Fluid properties, statics, kinematics, and dynamics. Eulers and Bernoullis equations. Hydrodynamics. Dimensional analysis and similitude. Real fluids, laminar and turbulent flows. Boundary layer model and approximate analysis. Compressible flow and propulsion devices. Flow measurement. Introduction to turbomachinery with applications.
Prerequisite(s): (ME 2124 and MATH 2214 and MATH 2204) or (ME 2124 and MATH 2214 and MATH 2204H) or (ME 2124 and MATH 2214 and MATH 2224) or (ME 2124 and MATH 2214 and MATH 2224H) or (ME 2124 and MATH 2214H and MATH 2204) or (ME 2124 and MATH 2214H and MATH 2204H) or (ME 2124 and MATH 2214H and MATH 2224) or (ME 2124 and MATH 2214H and MATH 2224H) or (ME 2124 and MATH 2405H and MATH 2406H) 
Instructional Contact Hours: (2 Lec, 1 Lab, 3 Crd) 
ME 3414 - Fluid Dynamics (4 credits) 
Comprehensive first course in fluid dynamics. Fluid properties. Hydrostatics. Mass, momentum,and energy conservation in control volumes. Elementary dynamics and Bernoullis equation.Dimensional analysis and similitude. Laminar and turbulent flows. Introduction to Eulers and Navier-Stokes equations. Pipe flows. External flows and boundary layers. Introduction to compressible flows. Includes laboratory experiments.
Prerequisite(s): ME 2004 and (MATH 2114 or MATH 2114H or MATH 2405H) and (MATH 2204 or MATH 2204H or MATH 2406H) and (MATH 2214 or MATH 2214H or MATH 2406H) 
Corequisite(s): ME 2134 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Lab, 4 Crd) 
ME 3504 - Dynamic Systems - Vibrations (3 credits) 
Principles of dynamic system modeling with emphasis on second order mechanical systems. Harmonic and nonharmonic vibrations of single and multi-degree of freedom systems. Applications of computer simulation and analysis techniques in vibrations.
Prerequisite(s): (ME 3514 and MATH 2214) or (ME 3514 and MATH 2214H) or (ME 3514 and MATH 2405H and MATH 2406H) 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 3524 - Mechanical Vibrations (4 credits) 
Development and application of mathematical methods, physical understanding, and computational tools for modeling, analysis, and design of vibrating systems. Free and forced vibration of single and multiple degree-of-freedom systems, particularly systems experiencing sinusoidal excitation. Distributed parameter systems. Practical engineering applications.
Prerequisite(s): ESM 2304 and (MATH 2114 or MATH 2114H or MATH 2405H) and (MATH 2214 or MATH 2214H or MATH 2406H) and ME 2004 
Instructional Contact Hours: (4 Lec, 4 Crd) 
ME 3534 - Controls Engineering I (4 credits) 
Fundamentals of feedback control theory, time-domain and frequency-domain analysis, automatic control system design synthesis to meet performance and stability requirements, numerical simulation and discrete real-time implementation on microcontrollers.
Prerequisite(s): ME 2004 and (MATH 2114 or MATH 2114H or MATH 2405H) and (MATH 2214 or MATH 2214H or MATH 2406H) and (MATH 2204 or MATH 2204H or MATH 2406H) and ESM 2104 and ESM 2304 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Lab, 4 Crd) 
ME 3604 - Kinematics and Dynamics of Machinery (3 credits) 
Kinematic analysis and design of cams, gears, and linkages, velocity, acceleration and force analysis, kinematic synthesis, balancing, kinematic and force analysis by complex numbers, computer-aided analysis, and synthesis of linkages.
Prerequisite(s): ESM 2304 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 3614 - Mechanical Design I (3 credits) 
Design of mechanical components subject to static and fatigue loads. Design using screws, fasteners, springs and bearings. Computer-aided design using transfer matrix and finite element methods.
Prerequisite(s): ESM 2204 and (MATH 2214 or MATH 2214H) and (MATH 2114 or MATH 2114H) 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 3624 - Mechanical Design (4 credits) 
Comprehensive first course in mechanical design. Extension of the use of free body diagrams, combined stresses, and failure theories. Development of failure theories for static, buckling, and fatigue applied to mechanical design. Fundamentals of designing mechanical components subjected to static and cyclic loading. Design elements for screws, fasteners, springs, and welds. Hands-on laboratory learning of concepts discussed in class. Course credit will not be awarded for both ME 3614 and ME 3624. Design lab studio.
Prerequisite(s): ME 2004 and ESM 2204 and (MATH 2214 or MATH 2214H or MATH 2406H) 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 2 Lab, 4 Crd) 
ME 3704 - Introduction to Mechatronics (3 credits) 
Introduction to electromechanical design. Fundamentals of electronics, including transistors, operational amplifiers, and digital signal processing; theory, analysis, design, and building of electronic circuits including interfaces and controllers; sensors and actuators; software development, microcontroller technology, and applications.
Prerequisite(s): ME 2004 and (ECE 2054 or ECE 2024 or ECE 3054) 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 3984 - Special Study (1-19 credits) 
Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course 
ME 4005 - Mechanical Engineering Lab (3 credits) 
Principles of measurement, measurement standards and accuracy, detectors and transducers, digital data acquisition principles, signal conditioning systems and readout devices statistical concepts in measurement, experimental investigation of engineering systems, technical report writing.
Prerequisite(s): (STAT 3704 or STAT 4604 or STAT 4705 or STAT 4714) and ME 3524 and ECE 2054 
Corequisite(s): ME 3534 
Instructional Contact Hours: (2 Lec, 3 Lab, 3 Crd) 
ME 4006 - Mechanical Engineering Lab (3 credits) 
Principles of measurement, measurement standards and accuracy, detectors and transducers, digital data acquisition principles, signal conditioning systems and readout devices statistical concepts in measurement, experimental investigation of engineering systems, technical report writing.
Prerequisite(s): ME 4005 and ECE 3254 
Instructional Contact Hours: (2 Lec, 3 Lab, 3 Crd) 
ME 4015 - Engineering Design and Project (3 credits) 
Team oriented, open-ended, multi-disciplinary design projects focused on industrially relevant problems. A specific, complex engineering design problem taken from problem definition to product realization and testing. Emphasis on documenting and reporting technical work. Making informed judgments which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts. 4015: Problem identification, including consideration of public health and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors and constraints; idea generation and concept selection; application of design, test, and analysis tools developed in previous courses; ethical and professional responsibilities; verification and validation; communication and working in teams. 4016: Project management; working on teams, analysis and optimization, fabrication and testing, and communicating technical ideas. For Pathways Advanced Discourse credit, must complete ME 4015-4016.
Prerequisite(s): ME 3024 and ME 3524 and ME 3534 and ME 3624 and ME 4005 and (ME 3304 or MSE 2034) and ME 3414 and ME 2134 
Pathway Concept Area(s): 1A Discourse Advanced, 10 Ethical Reasoning 
Instructional Contact Hours: (2 Lec, 3 Lab, 3 Crd) 
ME 4016 - Engineering Design and Project (3 credits) 
Team oriented, open-ended, multi-disciplinary design projects focused on industrially relevant problems. A specific, complex engineering design problem taken from problem definition to product realization and testing. Emphasis on documenting and reporting technical work. Making informed judgments which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts. 4015: Problem identification, including consideration of public health and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors and constraints; idea generation and concept selection; application of design, test, and analysis tools developed in previous courses; ethical and professional responsibilities; verification and validation; communication and working in teams. 4016: Project management; working on teams, analysis and optimization, fabrication and testing, and communicating technical ideas. For Pathways Advanced Discourse credit, must complete ME 4015-4016.
Prerequisite(s): ME 4015 
Pathway Concept Area(s): 1A Discourse Advanced, 10 Ethical Reasoning 
Instructional Contact Hours: (2 Lec, 3 Lab, 3 Crd) 
ME 4034 - Bio-Inspired Technology (3 credits) 
Introduction to engineering solutions inspired by biological systems. Overview over the approach of bio-inspired technology and the state of the art. Exploration of the relationship between engineered and natural biological systems. Explanation of concepts of biological systems, such as evolutionary optimization, sensing, actuation, control, system integration, assembly and materials in engineering terms. Practice of interdisciplinary analysis skills in technical report writing projects where man-made and biological systems are evaluated for parallels to engineering and their technological potential.
Prerequisite(s): (PHYS 2205 and PHYS 2206) or (PHYS 2305 and PHYS 2306) 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 4044 - Soft Robotics (3 credits) 
Introduction to robots made of soft materials with a low elastic modulus and high strain before failure. Assessment of soft actuation strategies including tendons and flexible pneumatics. Evaluation of responsive materials across different physical domains. Stiffening mechanism designs. Introduction to soft sensing and control. Fabrication and evaluation of soft robot prototypes for sophisticated manipulation or locomotion tasks.
Prerequisite(s): ESM 2204 and ME 3534 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 4124 - Computer Aided Design of Fluid-Thermal Systems (3 credits) 
Review of physical laws and engineering concepts introduced in thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer with applications. Emphasis on analysis, modeling, and design of engineering systems, components, and physical phenomena with state-of-the-art computer software such as Ansys CFX, Star CCM, Aspen Plus, and ProSimPlus.
Prerequisite(s): (ME 3124 or ME 2134) and (ME 3404 or ME 3414) and ME 3304 
Instructional Contact Hours: (2 Lec, 2 Lab, 3 Crd) 
ME 4134 - Cell Mechanobiology (3 credits) 
Plant and mammalian cellular mechanobiology, extracellular matrices, motor proteins, forces, cytoskeleton, focal adhesions, tissue engineering approaches, membrane trafficking, biochemistry, rules of life, ion channels, osmotic forces, nuclear dynamics.
Prerequisite(s): ESM 2204 and (ME 2134 or ME 3414 or ESM 3024 or ESM 3234) 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 4164 - Energy Systems for Buildings (3 credits) 
Application of the fundamental principles of thermodynamics, heat transfer, and fluid flow to analyze energy use for building environmental control. Exploration of approaches for configuring basic thermal-fluid engineering components (e.g. pumps, piping, fans, heat exchangers, refrigeration cycles, etc.) to yield systems that provide heating, cooling, and ventilation. Introduction to techniques and software tools for estimating energy use by these systems and the associated economic and environment impact. Examination of alternate technologies for meeting building energy needs including small scale combined heat and power systems and renewable energy systems.
Prerequisite(s): ME 2134 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 4174 - Spacecraft Propulsion (3 credits) 
Spacecraft propulsion systems and their applications in orbital, interplanetary, and interstellar flight. Rocket propulsion fundamentals; advanced mission analysis; physics and engineering of chemical rockets, electrical thrusters, and propellantless systems (tethers and sails); spacecraft integration issues.
Prerequisite(s): AOE 3164 or AOE 4234 or ME 4234 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
Course Crosslist: AOE 4174 
ME 4184 - Drone Technology and Flight Operations (3 credits) 
Basic aviation science, skills training in uncrewed flight operations, and knowledge of the regulatory environment that governs drone flight. Aerodynamics, propulsion, aircraft performance, sensing and control, meteorology, the Federal Aviation Regulations, safety and risk management. Flight management tools for conducting preflight inspections and approving flight missions. Pre: Students in Mechanical Engineering will be given preference, other programs and students eligible with permission.
Instructional Contact Hours: (2 Lec, 1 Lab, 3 Crd) 
ME 4194 - Sustainable Energy Solutions for a Global Society (3 credits) 
Addresses energy metrics, global and US energy supply and demand, transitional energy sources (natural gas, petroleum, coal, nuclear), sustainable/renewable source (solar, geothermal, hydro, tidal, wind, biofuels), and methods for increasing efficiencies (energy storage, batteries, green building, conservation). Options for transportation, electricity, lighting and heating needs of industry, agriculture, community, and citizens. Production, transmission, storage, and disposal issues considered in the context of global political, economic, and environmental impacts.
Prerequisite(s): (CHEM 1035 or CHEM 1055) and PHYS 2306 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
Course Crosslist: ESM 4194 
ME 4204 - Internal Combustion Engines (3 credits) 
Analysis and design of gasoline and diesel engines. Fundamental processes and their application in current technology. Thermodynamics: air standard and air-fuel cycles. Combustion: stoichiometry, fuels, chemical equilibrium, chemical kinetics, flame propagation, knock, pollutant formation and control. Flow processes: volumetric efficiency, intake and exhaust tuning, two-stroke scavenging, carburetion, fuel injection, super- and turbo-charging.
Prerequisite(s): ME 2134 and ME 3414 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 4224 - Gas Turbines for Power and Propulsion (3 credits) 
Introduction to various applications of gas turbines for land, sea and air. Aero-thermo-mechanical aspects of component performance and reliability. Operational characteristics, limitations and component matching. Industrial standards, development and certification requirements. Design of gas turbine engines and comparison of the predicted performance (specific fuel consumption) against the in-service operation.
Prerequisite(s): ME 2134 and ME 3414 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 4234 - Aerospace Propulsion Systems (3 credits) 
Design principles and performance analysis of atmospheric and space propulsion engines and systems. Application of thermodynamics, compressible fluid flow and combustion fundamentals to the design of gas turbine and rocket engines and components, including inlets, turbomachines, combustors, and nozzles. Matching of propulsion system to vehicle requirements. Must have a C- or better in pre-requisites ME 3404 and ME 3124 or AOE 3114 and AOE 3134.
Prerequisite(s): AOE 3114 and (AOE 3164 or AOE 3264) or ME 3414 and ME 2134 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
Course Crosslist: AOE 4234 
ME 4324 - Energy Systems: Theory and Applications (3 credits) 
Theory and applications of thermodynamic and fluid mechanics principles as applied to energy systems. Fundamental concepts on exergy, mixtures, psychrometry and thermochemistry. Analyses and applications include vapor and gas power systems, refrigeration, air conditioning, combustion processes and one-dimensional compressible flow.
Prerequisite(s): ME 2134 and ME 3414 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 4344 - Biological Transport Phenomena (3 credits) 
Engineering analysis and predictive modeling of heat and mass transport in biological systems (e.g., tissues, organs, organisms, and biomedical devices). Examination of processes that involve conduction, convection, diffusion, generation/consumption. Application of analytical and computational methods to solve differential equations that describe unsteady and/or multi-dimensional transport. Topics include oxygen transport, pharmacokinetic analysis, kidney function, blood perfusion, burns, and cryopreservation.
Prerequisite(s): (CHE 3114 and CHE 3154 and CHE 3144) or (ME 3304 and ME 3414) 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
Course Crosslist: CHE 4304 
ME 4454 - Engineering Leadership in Practice Managing the Technical Design Process (3 credits) 
Introduction to management and mentoring skills associated with the application of the engineering design process. Course covers skills necessary for leading diverse teams of people through a technical design project. Managing teams of local high school students through an authentic technical design experience associated with design competitions. Course addresses the practical applications of science, math and engineering, while building and managing teams of people to meet technical project goals. Prerequisite: ME 4015 or similar team-based design experience, or by permission of instructor.
Prerequisite(s): ME 4015 
Instructional Contact Hours: (2 Lec, 3 Lab, 3 Crd) 
Course Crosslist: EDCI 4454 
ME 4464 - Introduction to Compressible Flows (3 credits) 
Derivation of mass, momentum, and energy conservation equations for one dimensional (1-D), steady, inviscid, compressible gas flows of calorically perfect gases. Departure from incompressible flow theory. Importance of Mach number. Isentropic flows. Steady and unsteady 1-D normal shock flows. Oblique shock flows (with surface reflections) and/or Prandtl-Meyer expansion waves. Converging and converging-diverging quasi-1-D nozzle flows. Inviscid flows in straight ducts with heat addition; adiabatic flows in straight ducts with friction. Introduction to Newtonian hypersonic flow theory, high temperature effects, and rarefied gas principles.
Prerequisite(s): ME 2134 and ME 3414 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 4504 - Dynamic Systems - Controls Engineering I (3 credits) 
Fundamentals of feedback control theory, classical analysis and design techniques for automatic controls, introduction to modern control theory.
Prerequisite(s): (ME 3514 and MATH 2214) or (ME 3514 and MATH 2214H) or (ME 3514 and MATH 2405H and MATH 2406H) 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 4524 - Introduction to Robotics and Automation (3 credits) 
Automation, robot technology, kinematics, dynamics, trajectory planning, and control of two-dimensional and spatial robots; robot programming; design and simulation of robotic devices.
Prerequisite(s): ME 2004 and ME 3524 and ME 3534 
Corequisite(s): ME 4584 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 4534 - Land Vehicle Dynamics (3 credits) 
Analytical methods for land vehicle dynamics. Mechanics of pneumatic tires on pavement and steel wheels on rails. Vehicle stability, handling, response to random guideway and roadway irregularities, ride quality computation methods and standards, suspension design.
Prerequisite(s): ME 3524 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 4544 - Automotive Engineering (3 credits) 
Vehicle performance, drive train, suspension, steering, and brake systems. Steady state and transient conditions. Senior standing in Mechanical Engineering required.
Prerequisite(s): ME 3524 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 4554 - Advanced Technology for Motor Vehicles (3 credits) 
Energy use and environmental issues for motor vehicles: Emissions standards, fleet requirements, dynamometer testing, fuel economy, and vehicle performance. Alternative fuel vehicles: Characteristics and infrastructure of fuels, batteries, electric vehicles, and hybrid electric vehicles. Vehicle design: Modeling and simulation of vehicle energy use and performance, component sizing. Fuel cells for transportation. Heavy-duty vehicles and busses. Low mass vehicles and future vehicle technology.
Prerequisite(s): ME 2134 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 4564 - Vehicle Control (3 credits) 
Overview of vehicle control systems and control algorithms for anti-lock braking, stability, road holding, lane departure, traction control, and tire pressure monitoring. Advanced driver assist systems and intelligent tire technology. Hands-on experience with hardware-in-the- loop systems. Mathematical modeling and simulation of vehicle control.
Prerequisite(s): ME 3524 and ME 3534 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 4584 - Robotics Laboratory (1 credit) 
Develop, compile, and test algorithms for serial and mobile robots. Robot forward and inverse kinematics, task planning, velocity kinematics, force rendering, control, haptics, mapping and localization, computer vision and path planning.
Corequisite(s): ME 4524 or ECE 4704 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lab, 1 Crd) 
Course Crosslist: ECE 4584 
ME 4614 - Mechanical Design II (3 credits) 
Design of mechanical elements such as welded joints hydrodynamic bearings, spur gears, shafts, brakes. Alternative fatigue design methods, cumulative fatigue, mechanical design computer software.
Prerequisite(s): ME 3624 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 4624 - Finite Element Practice in Mechanical Design (3 credits) 
Application of the finite element method to stress analysis problems in mechanical design. Modeling techniques, proper use of existing computer programs, interpreting of results, application to design modification.
Prerequisite(s): ME 3624 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 4634 - Introduction to Computer-aided Design and Manufacturing (3 credits) 
Participants will study the computer-aided design and manufacturing of mechanical systems. A mechanical system will be designed including preliminary design, analysis, detail design, numerical control programming, and documentation. Applications programs will be written and interfaced to the CAD/CAM database. All assignments will be carried out on a CAD/CAM system.
Prerequisite(s): ME 3024 
Instructional Contact Hours: (2 Lec, 3 Lab, 3 Crd) 
ME 4644 - Introduction to Rapid Prototyping (3 credits) 
Participants will study topics fundamental to rapid prototyping and automated fabrication, including the generation of suitable CAD models, current rapid prototyping fabrication technologies, their underlying material science, the use of secondary processing, and the impact of these technologies on society. The rapid prototyping process will be illustrated by the actual design and fabrication of a part. Programming skills required.
Prerequisite(s): ME 3024 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 4654 - Optimization Techniques in Engineering (3 credits) 
Fundamental mathematical concepts for optimization and optimality conditions. Classification of optimization techniques/problems in engineering. Concepts of forward and inverse design. Linear programming. Step-size calculation methods. Search direction calculation methods. 1st and 2nd order gradient-based algorithms. Evolutionary strategies for optimization. Pattern search/genetic algorithm. Sensitivity analysis. Reliability-based and robustness-based optimization.
Prerequisite(s): ME 2004 or (AOE 2074 and CS 1044 and CS 1054 and CS 1064 and CS 1114 and CS 1124 and ECE 1574) 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 4664 - Introduction to Global Collegiate Engineering Design (3 credits) 
Participants will study topics fundamental to global collaborative engineering design, product data management, and collaborative product data management. These topics will be applied during a team project with team members located overseas, utilizing state-of-the-art collaborative engineering and product data management software and hardware technologies. Partially duplicates 5664. Credit may only be received for one course.
Prerequisite(s): ME 3024 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 4674 - Materials Selection in Mechanical Design (3 credits) 
Systematic approach to materials selection accounting for market need, functional requirements, shape, safety, cost and environmental issues. Overview of design process, material property charts, material indices, selection of materials with multiple constraints and/or conflicting objectives, shape factors, design considerations in hybrid materials, environmental issues as well as several case studies.
Prerequisite(s): ESM 2204 and MSE 2034 
Corequisite(s): ME 3624 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 4684 - Industrial Internet of Things (3 credits) 
Theory and applications of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). Industrial data flow, devices and network in manufacturing. Basics for IIoT architecture and implementation of IIoT solutions with cloud computing platforms and OEM IIoT platforms. Device connection, data transfer and application of diagnostics, maintenance, and predictive data analytics on IIoT platforms.
Prerequisite(s): ME 3534 or (CS 1044 or CS 1054 or CS 1064 or CS 1114) 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 4724 - Engineering Acoustics (3 credits) 
Basic acoustical theory and practice, acoustic terminology, measurement, transmission, and perception of sound, muffler design, noise control techniques.
Prerequisite(s): ME 3524 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 4734 - Robotics and Mechatronics Seminar (1 credit) 
Topics in robotics and mechatronics. Invited lectures from industry, government organizations and universities. Recent research results, developments and challenges, providing a global and social context for the topics.
Prerequisite(s): ME 3534 and (ECE 3254 or ME 3704) 
Instructional Contact Hours: (1 Lec, 1 Crd) 
ME 4744 - Mechatronics: Theory and Application (4 credits) 
Electromechanical design and control applications. Theory, modeling, simulation, analysis, design and building of electronic interfaces and controllers; sensors and actuators; software development, micro-controller technology, and applications. Design Lab/Studio.
Prerequisite(s): ME 3534 and ME 3704 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 2 Lab, 4 Crd) 
ME 4754 - Mechatronics: Advanced Topics and Application (3 credits) 
Electromechanical design and control applications. Design and building of electronic interfaces and controllers including sensors, actuators, signal acquisition, filtering, and conditioning for applications. Systems integration with wireless communication; image processing; embedded programs for data acquisition and feedback control applications.
Prerequisite(s): ME 4744 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 4764 - Audio Engineering Technology (3 credits) 
Principles and design in the field of audio engineering. Loudspeaker design and construction, microphone technology, digital audio acquisition, signal processing in audio engineering, human perception, technical acoustics, binuaral hearing, surround sound processing and production, theory, measurement, and reproduction of 3D surround sound, virtual instrument theory and practice, room acoustics and simulation, principles of audio effects (e.g., compression, reverberation, equalization), and acoustic materials engineering.
Prerequisite(s): ME 3524 and ME 3534 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 4824 - Introduction to Human-Robot Interaction (3 credits) 
Formalizing interaction between robots and humans. Developing learning and control algorithms that enable robots to seamlessly and intelligently collaborate with humans. Mathematical approaches to human-robot interaction, learning from demonstration, Bayesian inference, intent detection, safe and optimal control, assistive autonomy, and user study design. Review and present existing literature.
Prerequisite(s): ME 4524 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 4854 - Nano and Micromechanics of Materials (3 credits) 
Analysis of microstructural mechanics, crystal structures, defects, and dislocations. Mechanical behavior of crystalline materials at the microscale. Computational modeling of mechanical behavior in discrete atomistic and molecular systems, including molecular dynamics. Application of these methods to polymers and other soft materials, biological materials, carbon-based materials, and metallic alloys.
Prerequisite(s): ESM 2204 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 4864 - Micro/Nano-Robotics (3 credits) 
Overview of Micro/Nano-robotic systems. Physics of reduced length scales (scaling effects in the physical parameters, surface forces, contact mechanics, and Micro/Nano-scale dynamical phenomena), Basics of Micro/Nano-manufacturing, microfabrication and soft lithography, Biomimetic design strategies for mobile micro-robots, Principle of transduction, material properties and characteristics of Micro/Nano-actuators (piezoelectric, shape-memory alloy, and a variety of MEMS and polymer actuators), Control requirements and challenges of Micro/Nano-actuators, Micro/Nano sensors for mobile microrobotic applications, Micro/Nano-manipulation (scanning probe microscopy, operation principles, designing experiments for nanoscale mechanical characterization of desired samples).
Prerequisite(s): ME 3414 and ME 3624 and ME 3534 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 4974 - Independent Study (1-19 credits) 
Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course 
ME 4974H - Independent Study (1-19 credits) 
Honors
Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course 
ME 4984 - Special Study (1-19 credits) 
Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course 
ME 4984A - Special Study (1-19 credits) 
Pathway Concept Area(s): 1A Discourse Advanced 
Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course 
ME 4994 - Undergraduate Research (1-19 credits) 
Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course 
ME 4994H - Undergraduate Research (1-19 credits) 
Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course 
ME 5024 - Multiculturalism in Engineering (1 credit) 
In this course, students will gain a better understanding of how diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI), accessibility, and multiculturalism intersects with and informs engineering fields. Using VT’s Principles of Community along with VT’s DEI initiatives, students will engage with and respond to various scenarios, discussion prompts, and case studies about DEI in engineering. Students will develop strategies for identifying opportunities that will allow them to plan engineering designs with DEI initiatives in mind and will develop the language and consideration necessary to implement such designs. P/F only.
Instructional Contact Hours: (1 Lec, 1 Crd) 
ME 5034 - Bio-Inspired Technology (3 credits) 
Introduction to engineering solutions inspired by the functional mechanisms of biological systems. An overview of bio-inspired technology and the state of the art. Exploration of the relationship between engineered and natural biological systems. Concepts of biological systems, such as evolutionary optimization, sensing, actuation, control, system integration, assembly, and materials in engineering terms. State-of-the art of bio-inspired technology. Interdisciplinary analysis skills are practiced in projects where man-made and biological systems are evaluated for parallels and the technological potential of the biological systems. Prerequisite: Graduate Standing required.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 5044 - Soft Robotics (3 credits) 
Introduction to robots made of soft materials with a low elastic modulus and high strain before failure. Assessment of soft actuation strategies including tendons and flexible pneumatics. Evaluation of responsive materials across different physical domains. Stiffening mechanism designs. Introduction to soft sensing and control. Fabrication and evaluation of soft robot prototypes for sophisticated manipulation or locomotion tasks. Pre: Graduate standing
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 5054 - Experimental Methods and Data Analysis (3 credits) 
Overview of fundamental principles and advanced topics in experimental measurements, data acquisition, processing, uncertainty quantification, and validation. Systematic design and execution of experiments. Uncertainty quantification of systematic and random errors for single and multiple variables using both Taylor Series Method and the Monte Carlo Method. Introduction to advanced measurement techniques such as high-speed imaging and laser diagnostics. Introduction to the use of artificial intelligence in experimental measurements and data processing/filtering. Pre: Graduate standing.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 5064 - Research Writing for Engineers (3 credits) 
Identification and correction of writing errors common in engineering writing. Development of skills in document organization and structure. Use of AI as a supplemental writing tool. Examination of common genres in engineering writing, such as journal articles, literature reviews, job application documents, and posters/presentations. Creation and analysis of human- and AI-authored content. Production and revision of long-form research-writing deliverables (i.e., journal articles, literature reviews, technical reports, etc.) and presentation of research using visual aids (PowerPoint slides, engineering poster, etc.). Pre: This course requires a solid grounding and fluency in the English language.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 5074 - Mathematical Methods in Mechanical Engineering (3 credits) 
Mathematical methods relevant for modeling mechanical systems, including Fourier series and transform, vector calculus, variational calculus, complex variables, linear analysis, and ordinary and partial differential equations.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 5104 - Thermodynamics: Foundations and Applications (3 credits) 
Exposition of the basic concepts and principles of thermodynamics. Principles and results developed for both macroscopic and microscopic systems as well as equilibrium and non-equilibrium states. Definition of entropy for any state. The definition of temperature; pressure, total potential; heat; work; the fundamental Gibbs, Euler, Gibbs-Duhem, and Maxwell relations; characteristic functions; and the state principle. Definition and use of thermo-physical properties, charts, tables, and equations of state for pure as well as mixtures of ideal and real gases, liquids and solids. Second Law analysis, energy conversion, chemical reactions and chemical equilibrium, and introduction to the phenomenological laws of non-equilibrium thermodynamics. I.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 5125 - Introduction to Gas Power Engineering and Operations (3 credits) 
Two-semester introductory course in the design and operation of gas turbine power plants. 5125: Review power plant fundamentals. Review the Python programming language as it relates to complex data management and mathematics, controls and automation, and turbomachinery plant operations. Extend control concepts to apply to the analysis, control, and operation of gas turbines and turbine fleets. Apply thermodynamics and fluid dynamics to the design of turbomachinery for gas turbine power plants. 5126: Apply fundamentals of heat transfer, combustion, solid mechanics, mechanical design, and vibration analysis to the design and operation of a gas turbine power plant. Explore the operation of gas turbine accessory systems including generators and power electronics.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 5126 - Introduction to Gas Power Engineering and Operations (3 credits) 
Two-semester introductory course in the design and operation of gas turbine power plants. 5125: Review power plant fundamentals. Review the Python programming language as it relates to complex data management and mathematics, controls and automation, and turbomachinery plant operations. Extend control concepts to apply to the analysis, control, and operation of gas turbines and turbine fleets. Apply thermodynamics and fluid dynamics to the design of turbomachinery for gas turbine power plants. 5126: Apply fundamentals of heat transfer, combustion, solid mechanics, mechanical design, and vibration analysis to the design and operation of a gas turbine power plant. Explore the operation of gas turbine accessory systems including generators and power electronics.
Prerequisite(s): ME 5125 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 5134 - Cell Mechanobiology (3 credits) 
Plant and mammalian cellular mechanobiology, extracellular matrices, motor proteins, forces, cytoskeleton, focal adhesions, tissue engineering approaches, membrane trafficking, biochemistry, rules of life, ion channels, osmotic forces, nuclear dynamics. Pre: Knowledge of mechanics, biochemistry, biophysics, and thermal-fluid sciences. Basic computer programming knowledge.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 5174 - Biomechanics of Crash Injury Prevention (3 credits) 
Principles of design and analysis of crash injury prevention methods in vehicle crashes. The course encompasses three major focus areas for occupant protection in crashes: crash energy absorption in (1) the vehicle structure, (2) the occupant, and (3) the occupant restraints. Topics include the biomechanics of impact injury, analysis of occupant response in crash tests, vehicle crash kinematics, modeling of vehicle impact response, modeling of human impact response, and occupant restraint design. Pre: Graduate standing.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
Course Crosslist: BMES 5174 
ME 5184 - High Speed Propulsion (3 credits) 
Analysis of high-speed air breathing propulsion concepts for hypersonic flight. Aerodynamic inlet design and flow path integration. Cycle analyses, flight performance, and design limitations given a set of design requirements. Aerothermodynamic analysis of ramjets, scramjets, and detonation wave engines. Pre: Graduate standing.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
Course Crosslist: AOE 5184 
ME 5204 - Lab Techniques Injury Prev (4 credits) 
Human surrogate biomechanical impact testing. 3-D rigid-body kinematics, kinetics, properties of deformable materials, servosled testing. Injury prediction and mitigation for transport systems. Transportation restraint system design. Instrumentation, data acquisition, and signal processing techniques of impact biomechanics. Pre: Graduate standing.
Instructional Contact Hours: (4 Lec, 4 Crd) 
Course Crosslist: BMES 5204 
ME 5214 - Combustion (3 credits) 
Combustion science and its applications and introduction. Thermodynamics of gaseous mixtures, chemical kinetics of gases, transport properties of gaseous mixtures, chemical reactors and chemically reacting flows. Waves in chemically reacting flows, deflagrations and deformations. Laminar premixed flames, laminar diffusion flames. Liquid fuels combustion. Pollutants formation in combustion.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 5264 - Mechanics of Adhesive Bonding and Interfaces (3 credits) 
Principles of mechanics applied to adhesively bonded joints and interfaces, overview of adhesion technology, stress analysis of adhesive joints, stresses in bimaterial systems and interfaces, failure mechanisms and fracture, thermodynamic and observed toughnesses, time dependence and durability, design.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
Course Crosslist: ESM 5264 
ME 5274 - Advanced Laboratory Techniques in Injury Prevention (4 credits) 
Advanced biomechanical impact testing techniques and specialized measurement systems. Response corridors and injury risk functions. Advanced surrogate preparation techniques. High-speed 3D photogrammetry and spatial calibration. Motion analyses within multiple coordinate systems. High-Speed, biplane x-ray technique. Testing of hard biological materials. Fixture design and implementation. Data processing using global, local, and anatomical coordinate systems. Pre: Graduate standing.
Instructional Contact Hours: (4 Lec, 4 Crd) 
Course Crosslist: BMES 5274 
ME 5304 - Conduction and Radiation Heat Transfer (3 credits) 
Principles of conduction. Analysis of one-dimensional and multidimensional steady and transient, phase change and moving heat source problems are examined. A comprehensive treatment of numerical and analytical methods for solving heat conduction problems is presented.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 5314 - Convective Heat and Mass Transfer (3 credits) 
Principles of convection. Analysis of heat transfer for internal and external flows; laminar and turbulent boundary layer theories; forced and natural convection. Analysis using similarity transformations, integral solutions and numerical methods.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 5404 - Fluid Dynamics (3 credits) 
Fundamental fluid mechanics: kinematics and dynamics. Continuum fluid dynamics including hydrostatics, flow kinematics, the concept of stress, constitutive relations, the equations of motion and energy for compressible and incompressible viscous and inviscid flows. Incompressible Newtonian viscous flows, similitude and physical modeling, inviscid potential flows, inviscid flows with vorticity, boundary layers, and an introduction to turbulent flow. I.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 5414 - Nonlinear Systems (3 credits) 
Dynamics of conservative and nonconservative systems; phase planes; local and global stability; damping mechanisms; self-excited oscillators. Forced oscillations of one-degree-of-freedom systems; primary, secondary, and multiple resonances; period-multiplying bifurcations; strange attractors; chaos. Parametric excitations; Floquet theory; influence of damping and nonlinearity. Multi-degree-of-freedom systems; concepts of internal and external resonances; Hopf bifurcation. Applications to continuous systems; strings, beams, plates, and shells.
Prerequisite(s): ESM 5754 and ESM 5304 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
Course Crosslist: ESM 5414, MATH 5254 
ME 5424 - Turbomachinery (3 credits) 
Application of fluid mechanics and thermodynamics to turbomachinery, with emphasis on high speed machines. Review of basic concepts and ideal performance. Viscous effects - losses and stall. Three dimensional and secondary flow. Actual machine performance and design considerations. Selected topics including axial and centrifugal machines, transonic flow, transient behavior, and three-dimensional flow design. II
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 5434 - Advanced Introduction to Computational Fluid Dynamics (3 credits) 
Euler and Navier-Strokes equations governing the flow of gases and liquids. Mathematical character of partial differential equations. Discretization approaches with a focus on the finite difference method. Explicit and implicit solution techniques and their numerical stability. Introduction to verification, validation, and uncertainty quantification for computational fluid dynamics predictions. Pre: Graduate standing.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
Course Crosslist: AOE 5434G 
ME 5444 - Interfacial Fluid Mechanics (3 credits) 
Interfacial fluid systems involving surface tension, interfacial hydrodynamics, and phase-change heat transfer. Scaling analysis and non-dimensionalization will be used to mode a variety of interfacial phenomena relevant to fluid mechanics and phase-change heat transfer. Capillarity, surface wettability, hydrodynamics of interfaces, flow instabilities, long range forces, convective and diffusive boundary layers, homogeneous and heterogeneous nucleation, and multiphase flows. Pre: Graduating standing.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
Course Crosslist: ESM 5334 
ME 5454 - Interfacial Thermodynamics and Transport (3 credits) 
Intermolecular forces (covalent, van der Waals, and Coulombic forces) and their thermodynamic considerations. Molecular structure and thermodynamic properties of liquid-solid, liquid-vapor, and liquid-liquid interfaces. Thin films and wetting. Disjoining pressure (van der Waals, double layer, and solvation forces; non-classical forces). Transport phenomena driven by interfacial forces, including electrokinetic transport, diffusioosmosis, and diffusiophoresis. Pre: Graduate standing.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 5464 - Computational Methods in Fluid-Thermal Engineering (3 credits) 
Overview of numerical techniques used in the study of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and heat transfer. Spatio-temporal finite-difference, finite-volume discretizations, solution of linear systems, stability, algorithms for solving the Navier Stokes and energy equations, and turbulence modeling. Application to internal and external flows. Theory reinforced with programming assignments and application of commercial or open source CFD packages. Pre: Knowledge of fluid mechanics, heat transfer, thermodynamics, linear algebra, numerical methods, and programming..
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 5514 - Vibrations of Mechanical Systems (3 credits) 
Single degree-of-freedom systems, multiple-degree-of- freedom system and distributed parameter systems ending in dynamic finite element modeling. Numerical solutions, isolation, absorption, optimal design for vibration reduction, analytical modal methods, transfer function methods. Damping models and analysis.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 5524 - Bayesian Robotics (3 credits) 
Principles of autonomous robotics control for unstructured environments. Probability theory, numerical techniques for recursive Bayesian estimation and multi-sensor data fusion, simultaneous localization and mapping, quantification of belief, Bayesian control. Prerequisite: Graduate Standing required.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 5544 - Linear Systems Theory (3 credits) 
Advanced introduction to the theory of time-varying and time-invariant linear systems represented by state equations; solutions of linear systems, uniform stability and other stability criteria, uniform observability and controllability, state feedback and observers. Pre: Graduate standing.
Prerequisite(s): ECE 4405 or ECE 4624 or ECE 4634 or ME 4504 or AOE 4004 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
Course Crosslist: AOE 5744, ECE 5744, ISE 5744 
ME 5554 - Applied Linear Systems (3 credits) 
Develop an applied understanding of state-space representations for linear time invariant multi-input multi-output dynamic systems in both time domain and frequency domain. Introduction to modern state-space control methods; state feedback and output feedback. Realistic design problems with numerical simulations of practical implementations. Pre: Prior undergraduate course in controls suggested.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
Course Crosslist: AOE 5754, ECE 5754 
ME 5564 - Applied Linear Control (3 credits) 
Analysis and design of sampled-data systems, extraction of discrete-time dynamic models from experimental data, and implementation of dynamic compensators on digital processors. In-depth design experience with LQR optimal control and an introduction to Kalman filtering. Realistic design problems with numerical simulations of practical implementations.
Prerequisite(s): ECE 5744 or ECE 5754 or ME 5554 or ME 5544 or AOE 5744 or AOE 5754 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
Course Crosslist: AOE 5764, ECE 5764 
ME 5574 - Nonlinear Systems Theory (3 credits) 
Introduction to the theory of systems of coupled, nonlinear, time-varying ordinary differential equations: existence and uniqueness of solutions; continuous dependence on parameters; stability of equilibria and stability analysis techniques; input-to-state stability; input-output stability; nonlinear design techniques including input-state and input-output feedback linearization, backstepping, and sliding mode control. Pre: Graduate standing.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
Course Crosslist: AOE 5774, ECE 5774, ISE 5774 
ME 5584 - Convex Optimization (3 credits) 
Recognizing and solving convex optimization problems. Convex sets, functions and optimization problems. Least-squares, linear, and quadratic optimization. Geometric and semidefinite programming. Vector optimization. Duality theory. Convex relaxations. Approximation, fitting, and statistical estimation. Geometric problems. Control and trajectory planning. Pre: Graduate standing.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
Course Crosslist: AOE 5734, ECE 5734 
ME 5634 - Finite Elements in Machine Design (3 credits) 
Advanced analysis and design of machine components with emphasis on the finite element method of analysis using commercial software. Structural and continuum elements will be used for both the static and dynamic analysis and design of machine components. Practice oriented analysis techniques and design procedures employable through the finite element method will be developed. Design problems will constitute a significant part of the course. II.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 5644 - Rapid Prototyping (3 credits) 
Participants will study topics fundamental to rapid prototyping and automated fabrication, including the generation of suitable CAD models, current rapid prototyping fabrication technologies, their underlying material science, the use of secondary processing, and the impact of these technologies on society. The rapid prototyping process will be illustrated by the actual design and fabrication of a part. Partially duplicates ME 4644; credit may only be received for one course.
Corequisite(s): ME 4634 or equivalent background; programming skills. 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 5654 - Multibody Systems Dynamics (3 credits) 
Dynamic systems with planar and spatial rigid multibody models. Position and orientation of bodies in space. Holonomic and nonholonomic constraints. Planar and spatial joints. Derive driving constraints. Characterize the manifold using differential geometry. Singular configurations. Kinematics analysis. Equations of motion. Calculate the centroid, moments, and products of inertia. Formulate internal generalized forces. Multibody system dynamics in the ordinary differential equations (ODE) and differential algebraic equations (DAE) formulations. Tangent space ODE and tangent space index 0 formulations for holonomic systems; implement and solve the kinematic and dynamics of rigid multibody systems using numerical methods. Pre: Graduate standing.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 5664 - Global Collaborative Product Development (3 credits) 
Participants will study topics fundamental to global collaborative product development, project data management, and collaborative product data management. These topics will be applied during a team project with team members located overseas, utilizing state-of-the-art collaborative engineering and product data management software and hardware technologies. Partially duplicates 4664; credit may only be received for one course. Graduate standing required.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 5674 - Tire Mechanics (3 credits) 
Introduction to tire mechanics with emphasis on tire modeling for vehicle dynamic simulation. Tire mechanics explained from several view points: engineering mechanics, system dynamics, and empirical procedures. Vehicle dynamic modeling including suspension and steering systems covered providing details on the effect of tire dynamics on vehicle behavior. Real tire data provided to be used for vehicle dynamics simulation.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 5694 - Advanced Design Project (1-6 credits) 
Teams solve complex engineering problems, typically originating for industry, with emphasis on new product development, using the engineering design process. Emphasis on project management, engineering economics, and professional skills in presentation of a proposed business plan and technical solution. Intended for students in the Virginia Tech - Technische Universitat Darmstadt dual Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree program. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credits, but then in different fields of mechanical engineering. Variable credit of 1-6 hours
Instructional Contact Hours: (1-6 Lec, 1-6 Crd) 
Repeatability: up to 6 credit hours 
ME 5704 - Robotics and Automation (3 credits) 
Automation, mechatronics, robot technology, kinematics, dynamics, trajectory planning, and control of two-dimensional and spatial robots; robot programming; design and simulation of robotic devices. Laboratories associated with robot forward/inverse kinematics, task planning, velocity kinematics, force rendering, control, haptics, mobile robotics, mapping/localization, computer vision and path planning. Pre: Graduate standing.
Instructional Contact Hours: (2 Lec, 3 Lab, 3 Crd) 
Course Crosslist: ECE 5704 
ME 5714 - Digital Signal Processing for Mechanical Measurements (3 credits) 
The fundamentals of digital signal processing of data experimentally obtained from mechanical systems will be covered. Attention will be given to the data acquisition, A/D conversion, aliasing, anti-aliasing filtering, sampling rates, valid frequency ranges, windowing functions, leakage, and various transform methods. Special attention will be given to random, transient, and harmonic function data processing. Various methods of estimation of the frequency response function (FRF) will be explored. The estimation methods will be assessed as to their impact on FRF estimation errors. I.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
Course Crosslist: BMES 5514 
ME 5724 - Advanced Instrumentaion and Signal Processing (3 credits) 
Advanced techniques in instrumentation using state-of-the- art transducers, techniques in data acquisition and signal processing. Techniques for estimating errors and optimizing data quality.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 5734 - Advanced Engineering Acoustics (3 credits) 
The fundamental principles underlying the generation, transmission, and reception of acoustic waves will be presented. Methods for analytically investigating various acoustic and structural acoustic situations encountered in practice will be developed. The application of these methods to typical engineering acoustical problems with physical interpretation of the results will be demonstrated.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 5735G - Advanced Mechatronics (3 credits) 
Electromechanical design and control applications. Design and building of electronic interfaces and controllers for mechanical devices, sensors, signal acquisition, filtering, and conditioning. Microcontroller-based closed-loop control and device communications. Sensor and actuator selection, installation, and application strategies.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 5754 - Data-driven Science in Mechanical Engineering (3 credits) 
Modern mechanical engineering increasingly relies on data to model, analyze, and improve complex physical systems. This course introduces data-driven methods that are essential for interpreting experimental and simulation results, identifying dominant physical behavior, and developing efficient, reduced-order models. Emphasizing techniques relevant to mechanical systems, the course covers foundational topics including Singular Value Decomposition (SVD), Fourier and Wavelet Transforms, Sparsity and Compressed Sensing, Regression and Model Selection, and Clustering and Classification. These tools enable students to extract patterns from high-dimensional data, inform modeling and design decisions, and bridge physical intuition with modern computational techniques.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 5764 - Modeling MEMS and NEMS (3 credits) 
Modeling MEMS and NEMS is about the construction, analysis, and interpretation of mathematical and computational models of microelectromechanical and nanoelectromechanical systems (MEMS and NEMS). A goal throughout the course will be to develop a physical intuition for the fundamental phenomena at these small scales. The material covered will be broad and multidisciplinary including: dimensional analysis and scaling; a review of continuum mechanics; fluid dynamics, elasticity, thermal transport, and electromagnetism at the micro and nanoscales; the modeling of a variety of new MEMS/NEMS devices; and approaches beyond the continuum theory including stochastic and deterministic methods. Graduate standing required.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
Course Crosslist: BMES 5764 
ME 5774 - Machine Learning for Mechanical Engineers (3 credits) 
Introduction to machine learning fundamentals with applications to mechanical engineering. Topics include supervised and unsupervised learning, neural networks, and probabilistic models. Students will implement ML algorithms, evaluate model performance, and apply methods to real-world datasets in mechanical systems and materials. Emphasis on theory, programming, and independent project work. Pre: Undergraduate-level background knowledge in mechanical engineering, linear algebra, probability theory, and optimization and graduate standing.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 5794 - Optimization Techniques in Engineering (3 credits) 
Fundamental mathematical concepts for optimization and optimality conditions. Classification of optimization techniques/problems in engineering. Concepts of forward and inverse design. Linear programming, 1st and 2nd order gradient-based algorithms. Evolutionary strategies for optimization. Sensitivity analysis. Reliability-based and robustness-based optimization. Pre: Graduate standing.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 5804 - Active Material Systems and Smart Structures - I (3 credits) 
Behavior and physics associated with ceramic and polymeric active materials; constitutive models of piezoelectric and electrostrictive ceramics and polymers derived from thermodynamic relationships; development of static and dynamic models of systems that incorporate active materials derived using variational mechanics. Piezoelectric and electrostrictive ceramics and polymers, ionomeric polymers, conductive polymers, and carbon nanotubes will be studied. Applied topics in structural health monitoring, motion control, vibration control, and sensing will be studied. Pre: Prior undergraduate course on vibrations or controls suggested.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 5824 - Algorithmic Human-Robot Interaction (3 credits) 
Formalizing interaction between robots and humans. Developing learning and control algorithms that enable robots to seamlessly and intelligently collaborate with humans. Mathematical approaches to human-robot interaction, learning from demonstration, Bayesian inference, intent detection, safe and optimal control, assistive autonomy, and user study design. Students review and present existing literature, conduct a research project. Pre: Graduate Standing.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
Course Crosslist: CS 5844 
ME 5844 - Learning Theory for Control Systems (3 credits) 
This course explores nonparametric control using modern statistical and machine learning methods. Topics include robust, adaptive, and optimal control in continuous and discrete time, emphasizing approximation techniques for control synthesis. Students learn system approximation using reproducing kernel Hilbert spaces (RKHS and vRKHS), Bayesian estimation, Gaussian processes, and greedy algorithms. Applications include robust backstepping under functional uncertainty, adaptive learning laws for performance guarantees, and optimal control via Hamilton-Jacobi equation approximation and reinforcement learning. Pre: Knowledge of mathematics, statistics, and controls suggested.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 5864G - Advanced Micro/Nano-Robotics (3 credits) 
Overview of micro/nano-robotic systems, physics of reduced length scales (scaling effects in the physical parameters, surface forces, contact mechanics, and micro/nano-scale dynamical phenomena), basics of micro/nano manufacturing, microfabrication and soft lithography, biomimetic design strategies for mobile micro-robots, principle of transduction, material properties and characteristics of micro/nano-actuators (piezoelectric, shape memory alloy, and a variety of MEMS and polymer actuators), control requirements and challenges of micro/nano-actuators, micro/nano sensors for mobile microrobotic applications, micro/nano-manipulation (scanning probe microscopy, operation principles, designing experiments for nanoscale mechanical characterization of desired samples). Pre-requisite: Graduate Standing required
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 5904 - Project and Report (1-19 credits) 
Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course 
ME 5924 - Vibration of Continuous Systems (3 credits) 
An introduction to basic and advanced methods of solving vibration problems associated with continuous systems using Newton's law, D'Alembert's principle, Hamilton's principle, and Lagrange's equations. Derivation of equations of motion and associated boundary conditions for transverse and longitudinal vibration of bars, torsional vibration of circular shafts, transverse vibration of beams, and transverse vibration of membranes using the formulation of boundary value problems (Newtonian and Lagrangian). Introduction to exact solutions (free vibration and differential eigenvalue problem, forced vibration) and approximate methods (Rayleigh‐Ritz method, assumed‐modes method). Introduction to experimental modal analysis. Knowledge of discrete vibrating systems at an advanced undergraduate level is recommended. Pre: Graduate Standing.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 5944 - ME Graduate Seminar (1 credit) 
This course will consist of a series of 50-minute lectures given by invited guests from industry, government organizations, and other universities as well as ME Ph.D students. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credits. Graduate standing required.
Instructional Contact Hours: (1 Lec, 1 Crd) 
Repeatability: up to 6 credit hours 
ME 5974 - Independent Study (1-19 credits) 
Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course 
ME 5984 - Special Study (1-19 credits) 
Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course 
ME 5994 - Research and Thesis (1-19 credits) 
Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course 
ME 6104 - Advanced Topics in Thermodynamics (3 credits) 
Exposition of the basic concepts and principles of statistical thermodynamics including statistical mechanics, probability theory, quantum mechanics, kinetic theory, and thermo-physical and transport properties. Presentation of the basic concepts and principles of gas dynamics for compressible flow within normal temperature ranges (i.e. excluding the very high temperatures at which plasmas form). A more in depth look at chemical thermodynamics including chemical equilibrium and chemical kinetics. II.
Prerequisite(s): ME 5104 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 6204 - Adv Vehicle Dynamics & Control (3 credits) 
Topics in the dynamics and control of systems including airplanes, helicopters, spacecraft, and structures. Physics and data-based modeling from the control system designers perspective. Structure of the control-oriented equations of motion in relation to robust control design. Bio-inspired design.
Prerequisite(s): AOE 5204 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
Course Crosslist: AOE 6204, ECE 6724, ISE 6204 
ME 6434 - Computational Fluid Dynamics and Heat Transfer (3 credits) 
Overview of numerical methods used in the study of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and heat transfer. Spatio-temporal finite-difference, finite-volume discretizations, solution of linear systems with direct and iterative methods, algorithms for solving the Navier Stokes and energy equations, and turbulence modeling. Applications to inviscid subsonic, transonic, and supersonic flows and viscous boundary layer. Theory reinforced with hands on programming assignments and the application of commercial CFD packages to select problems.
Prerequisite(s): ME 5404 and ME 5314 and ME 5104 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
Course Crosslist: AOE 6434 
ME 6444 - Verification and Validation in Scientific Computing (3 credits) 
Applicable to scientific and engineering models described by partial differential or integral equations. Software engineering, code verification, and the method of manufactured solutions for generating exact solutions. Estimation of numerical approximation errors in scientific computing. Design and execution of experiments for model validation and model accuracy assessment. Propagation of aleatory and epistemic uncertainty through models. Estimation of total prediction uncertainty in scientific computing simulations. Graduate Standing required
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
Course Crosslist: AOE 6444, CS 6444 
ME 6454 - Microfluidics and Nanofluidics (3 credits) 
Scaling considerations for fluid and particulate transport at micro- and nanoscales. Surface effects in nanoscale fluid and ion transport. Liquid and ion transport driven by electrical fields and interfacial forces, including linear and nonlinear electroosmosis, diffusioosmosis, thermoosmosis, and surface conduction. Nanoscale gas transport, including Knudsen diffusion, slip flows, and surface diffusion. Nanoscale ionic transport. Electrokinetic and magnetic manipulation of particles (electrophoresis, dielectrophoresis, diffusiophoresis, thermophoresis, magnetophoresis, and magnetic surface walkers). Applications of microfluidics and nanofluidics in biochemical and energy fields. Pre: Graduate-level course in fluid mechanics or transport phenomena required - see instructor with questions about the suitability of your fluids/transport phenomena background.
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 6504 - Nonlinear Vibrations and Applications (3 credits) 
Stability, floquet theory, and bifurcation; phase-plane; asymptotic and perturbation methods; internal, primary, secondary, and parametric resonances; singular point, limit cycles, and chaos; cables and beams; piezoelectric and electromagnetic based nonlinear energy harvesting; nonlinear vibration absorbers and energy sink; friction-induced oscillations; wind-induced vibrations; microelectro mechanical systems (MEMS) sensors/actuators; and wave propagation, nonlinear metamaterials.
Prerequisite(s): ME 5514 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 6544 - Linear Control Theory (3 credits) 
Advanced introduction to the theory of optimal control of time-varying and time-invariant linear systems; Solutions to the linear-quadratic regulator, optimal filtering, and linear-quadratic-gaussian problems; Robustness analysis and techniques to enhance robustness of controllers.
Prerequisite(s): ECE 5744 or ECE 5754 or ME 5544 or ME 5554 or AOE 5744 or AOE 5754 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
Course Crosslist: AOE 6744, ECE 6744 
ME 6574 - Adaptive Control Systems (3 credits) 
Introduction to the theory and methodology used to design adaptive controllers for uncertain systems, addressing issue such as input constraints, disturbance rejection, partial measurements, and robustness.
Prerequisite(s): (ECE 5774 and ECE 5744) or (ME 5544 and ME 5574) or (AOE 5774 and AOE 5744) 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
Course Crosslist: AOE 6774, ECE 6774, ISE 6574 
ME 6604 - Model Predictive Control for Agile Robots (3 credits) 
Dynamic optimization and optimal control problems for dynamical systems. Model predictive control (MPC). Formulation of optimal control as optimization problems. Effective numerical tools for optimal solutions. Implementation of MPC for agile robots (legged robots, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs)). Convex optimization tools for MPC and trajectory optimization. Numerical simulations of robotic systems with MPC algorithms. Analysis of stability and robustness with MPC.
Prerequisite(s): ME 5564 and ME 5704 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 6744 - Chaos & Nonlinear Dynamics (3 credits) 
Overview of theoretical and numerical approaches for the study of nonlinear and chaotic dynamics in science and engineering. Fractals, bifurcation analysis, predictability, strange attractors, and routes to chaos. Roles of dissipation and noise in deterministic chaos. Use of Lyapunov spectra, fractal dimension, information, entropy, correlation functions, and attractor reconstruction to describe chaos. Chaos in iterated maps and systems of nonlinear ordinary differential equations. Spatiotemporal chaos in coupled map-lattices and in systems of nonlinear partial differential equations. Numerical integration of systems of stiff equations, operator splitting, exponential time integration, spectral and pseudo-spectral methods.
Prerequisite(s): ME 5404 and ME 5744 
Instructional Contact Hours: (3 Lec, 3 Crd) 
ME 6984 - Special Study (1-19 credits) 
Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course 
ME 7994 - Research and Dissertation (1-19 credits) 
Instructional Contact Hours: Variable credit course