2024-2025 Academic Catalog
Welcome to Virginia Tech! We are excited that you are here planning your time as a Hokie.
Welcome to Virginia Tech! We are excited that you are here planning your time as a Hokie.
Mechanical engineering is the broadest of the engineering professions. Because of the breadth of the ME discipline, mechanical engineers work in a wide variety of technical areas and are employed in a range of job functions. Specialty areas within the mechanical engineering discipline include, among many others, acoustics, biomechanics, CAD, controls, energy conversion and energy management, HVAC, materials, mechanical design, mechatronics, nuclear engineering, robotics and automation, and turbomachinery. The actual job functions which mechanical engineers perform vary widely as well. ME's work in design, research and development, manufacturing, service and maintenance, as well as technical sales, in almost every industry. Many are in management and administration. Many mechanical engineering graduates go on to more advanced degrees, or continue their education in other fields, such a law or business.
Because of the diversity and breadth of the mechanical engineering profession, ME graduates find employment in a wide variety of industries, laboratories, and consulting firms. This results in a relatively stable job market that is not dependent upon a single particular industry. The textile, petroleum, chemical, electronic, automotive, aerospace, power generation, HVAC, and manufacturing industries hire large numbers of mechanical engineering graduates and the starting salaries for ME's are very competitive with the other engineering disciplines.
Because of the wide diversity of specialties and job functions any two mechanical engineers might have significantly different day-to-day activities and responsibilities. Some may be concerned with very large engineering systems while others are working with small and even microscale devices and components; some work might call for highly analytical or mathematical approaches while other work might be more amenable to experimental or empirical approaches. Mechanical engineers may be involved in the operation of processing plants, or the design of engines, prosthetic devices, steam and gas turbines or compressors and pumps, alternative fuel devices, and many other devices and systems. At Virginia Tech there is a close association between the ME departments research and design project activities with industry. This enhances the opportunities for student interaction with industry representatives.
The Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (BSME) degree program at Virginia Tech is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org, under the commission’s General Criteria and the Program Criteria for Mechanical and Similarly Named Engineering Programs.
Within a few years after graduating from the Mechanical Engineering Department at Virginia Tech, the graduates will attain:
We expect our students to have the following skills, knowledge, and behaviors by the time of their graduation. We want our students to obtain:
The department is committed to providing students with an exceptional experience in both the theory and practice of mechanical engineering. In the senior capstone sequence students are required to apply classroom knowledge to complex engineering problems requiring teamwork, problem formulation, economic analysis, effective communication, and product realization. These projects are carefully selected and updated to ensure relevancy to contemporary technical issues and needs. The department encourages the involvement of students prior to their senior year and students outside the department and college in these projects. The department also encourages hands-on student involvement by providing dedicated machine and welding shops that exclusively serve the undergraduate program. The required sophomore-level Manufacturing Processes Laboratory course and certification by a professional machinist are required prior to use of either of these shops. Opportunity for professional development is provided by participation in student professional organizations, such as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, ASME, and the American Nuclear Society, ANS. In addition to the Mechanical Engineering major, there are majors in Automotive Engineering and Robotics and Mechatronics which offer additional specialization in those areas while still leading to the BS in Mechanical Engineering degree.
The ME curriculum provides a strong foundation in the basic physical and chemical sciences and in mathematics. These are followed by courses that provide a background in thermodynamics, numerical methods, solid and fluid mechanics, manufacturing processes, machine design, vibrations, heat and mass transfer, controls, statistics and materials. Courses in English and in the humanities and social sciences are included to broaden the individual. This background is strengthened and unified through a sequence of engineering design courses. Instructional laboratories in the junior year provide opportunities for students to learn measurement and instrumentation techniques. Students apply these skills to the acquisition and analysis of data from various engineering systems.
In all professional endeavors the mechanical engineer must consider ecological effects as well as the economic and social needs of people. The mechanical engineer must consider the conservation of natural resources and the environmental impact in the design of systems. These considerations are included in a number of ME courses and technical elective classes. Students wishing to further strengthen this area may wish to consider the Green Engineering Option at www.eng.vt.edu/green/index.php.
The unifying activity in all aspects of mechanical engineering is the design function. A special emphasis has been placed on the use of computer-aided design methods and applied design project experience as a required part of the curriculum. Elective courses in the junior and senior years provide students with the opportunity to pursue specialized interests related to career plans or preparation for graduate study.
The department participates in the Cooperative Education Program in which qualified students may alternate semesters of study with semesters of professional employment. Approximately twenty percent of all mechanical engineering students participate in this program.
The department offers graduate programs leading to the M.S., M.Eng., and Ph.D. in mechanical engineering (see the Graduate Catalog).
The Department of Mechanical Engineering actively seeks input on the nature and quality of our program from all interested individuals and organizations, including students, employers and supporting agencies. Our goal is to provide the best possible service to the students who entrust their education to us. Through our continuous improvement efforts, we pledge to continually improve the content of our curriculum, our educational methods and our facilities. Comments to the department head or any member of the faculty are welcomed. Note that because of this continuous improvement process entrance and degree requirements and course content are subject to change. Please consult the department academic advisor for current information.
Head: B. Lattimer
William S. Cross Professor: D. K. Tafti
Nicholas & Rebecca Des Champs Professor: B. Lattimer
George R. Goodson Professor: R. Pitchumani
Lewis A. Hester Professor: R. L. Mahajan
Robert E. Hord, Jr. Professor: A. Haghighat
Robert E. Hord Jr. Professor: C. Sandu
Robert E. Hord Jr. Professor: M. von Spakovsky
Samuel P. Langley Professor: C.R. Fuller
Chris C. Kraft Professor of Engineering: W. F. Ng
Clifton C. Garvin Professor: R.C. Batra
J. Bernard Jones Professor: M. Ahmadian
John R. Jones III Fellow: M. Bartlett
John R. Jones III Fellow: B. Behkam
John R. Jones III Fellow: J. Boreyko
John R. Jones III Fellow: R. Qiao
Mary V. Jones Fellow: S. Shahab
Raymond E. and Shirley B. Lynn Professor: R. Mueller
Rolls Royce Professor: C. Son
L. S. Randolph Professor: C.B. Williams
University Distinguished Professor: R.C. Batra
Adhesive and Sealant Science Professor: D.A. Dillard
Professors: M. Ahmadian, R.C. Batra, B. Behkam, P. Ben-Tzvi, L. Collins, R. De Vita, D.A. Dillard, C.R. Fuller, A. Haghighat, K.B. Kochersberger, A.J. Kurdila, B. Lattimer, R.L. Mahajan, R. Mueller, A.S. Nain, W.F. Ng, M.R. Paul, R. Pitchumani, R. Qiao, B. Raeymaekers, C. Sandu, J.J. Socha, C. Son, M.A. Stremler, D.K. Tafti, S. Taheri, M.R. von Spakovsky, C.B. Williams, and J. Zhang
Associate Professors: P. Acar, K.H. Akbari, A. Asbeck, O. Barry, M. Bartlett, J.H. Bohn, J. Boreyko, J. Cheng, M.W. Ellis, J.B. Ferris, W. Hardy, C. Hin, S. Huxtable, M.E.F. Kasarda, S. Li, Z. Li, Y. Liu, S. Shahab, S.C. Southward, A.E. Staples, A. Untaroiu, R.L. West, and A.L. Wicks
Assistant Professors: S. Kale, E. Komendera, D. Losey, J. Meadows, N. Naughton, and Z. Tian
Professor of Practice: J. Sole
Associate Professor of Practice: L. Vick
Collegiate Associate Professor: D. Freeman, D. Gonzales, J.K. Lord, M. Nowinski, and J. Warfford
Professors Emeritus: L.J. Arp, R.A. Comparin, T. Diller, N.S. Eiss, R.E. Hedgepeth, C.J. Hurst, , R.G. Leonard, J. R. Mahan, L.D. Mitchell, R. Mitchiner, D.J. Nelson, T.F. Parkinson, F.J. Pierce, J.R. Thomas, W.C. Thomas, and R.J. Whitelaw
Adjunct Professors: R. Anderl (TU Darmstadt), P.G. Brolinson (Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine), D. Carlson (Lord Corp.), A. Eskandarian (VCU), J. Funk (Biodynamic Research Corp.), M.J. Hampe (TU Darmstadt), T. Kress (BEST Engineering), A. Leonessa (NSF), D. Rabe (Air Force Research Lab), and B. Sanders (Air Force Research Lab)
Advanced Instructors: B. Aidi, J. Bolton, C. Galitz, S. Davison, S. Tahmasian
Instructors: J. Barbish, T.S. Chang, R. Clark, H. Pendar, J. Rule
Topics designed to foster the professional development of the ESM student. ESM program objectives and outcomes. Professional careers, employment opportunities, expectations to the profession. Technical concentration within the ESM major. Ethical decision-making, safe and life-long learning.
Vector mechanics of forces and moments, free-body diagrams, couples, resultants, equilibrium of particles and rigid bodies in two and three dimensions, forces in trusses, frames, and machines, centroids, centers of mass, distributed forces, internal shear forces and bending moments in beams, shear and moment diagrams, friction, belt friction, area of moments of inertia, parallel axis theorem. Course requirements may be satisfied by taking MATH prerequisite prior to or concurrent with course.
Vector algebra of forces, movements, couples and resultants. Free-body diagrams. Equilibrium of particles and rigid bodies in two and three dimensions. Friction. Forces in trusses and frames. Centroids, centers of mass, area moments of inertia. Internal axial forces, shear forces, and bending moments in bars in beams. Shear and moment diagrams. Stress and strain in bars in beams.
Concepts of stress, strain, and deformation. Factor of safety. Stress-strain relationships and material properties. Stress concentrations. Area moments of inertia. Axially loaded members, torsionally loaded members, bending of beams. Shear and moment diagrams. Stresses due to combined loading. Thin-walled pressure vessels. Transformation of stress including Mohrs circle. Beam deflections and buckling stability.
Vector treatment of the kinematics and kinetics of particles and rigid bodies, Newtons laws, work and energy, impulse and momentum, impact, mass moments of inertia, rotating axes.
Fluid properties. Hydrostatics. Derivation and application of the mass, momentum, and energy conservation equations. Dimensional analysis and similitude. Introduction to analyses of pipe flows and piping systems, open channel flows, and fluid forces on solid bodies.
Introduction to experimental fluid mechanics. Dimensional analysis. Experiments on fluid properties, flow measurements, and flow visualization, including manometry, determining hydrostatic forces on submerged surfaces, applications of the impulse-momentum principle, velocity measurements, measuring drag forces, quantifying flow in channels. Modern data acquisition techniques.
Mechanical properties and behavior of solid materials subjected to static, cyclic, and sustained loads resulting from stress states, environments, and stress histories typical of service conditions; multiaxial failure criteria; behavior of cracked bodies; fatigue of materials; creep of materials; microstructure-property relationships; design methodologies.
Laboratory experiments on behavior and mechanical properties of solid materials. Tension, compression, bending, hardness, nano-indentation, and impact tests; behavior of cracked bodies; fatigue and crack growth tests; creep deformation; microstructure-property relationships; laboratory equipment, instrumentation, and computers.
Define open-ended engineering design projects, identify relevant broad social, global, economic, cultural and technical needs and constraints, determine ways in which technical skills contribute to addressing complex engineering design challenges. Identify a capstone project for ESM 4015-4016. Pre-requisite: Junior standing in ESM.
Review of Newtons Laws, introduction to Lagranges equations, rotating coordinate systems, particle dynamics, systems of particles, rigid-body dynamics, small amplitude oscillations, holonomic and nonholonomic constraints, phase space and energy methods.
Single-degree-of-freedom vibration, n-degree-of-freedom systems, continuous systems, nonlinear systems, system stability, introduction to the feedback control of dynamic systems.
Introduction to tensors, mathematical description of deformations and internal forces in solids, equations of equilibrium, principle of virtual work, linear elastic material behavior, solution for linear elastic problems including axially and spherically symmetric solutions, stress function solutions to plane stress and strain problems, solutions to 3-D problems, energy methods.
Fluid statics. Control volume approach to flow analysis: conservation laws, pipe flows, compressible flow, open channel flow.
Introduction to continuum mechanics for fluid systems. Fluid kinematics. Differential approach to flow analysis: conservation equations, exact solutions, potential flows, viscous flows.
Concepts in instrumentation, data acquisition, and signal analysis. Measurements of mechanics quantities and phenomena associated with solid, fluid, and dynamical systems. Open-ended problem definition and approach formulation. Application and synthesis of engineering mechanics fundamentals to the modeling and solution of open-ended problems. Group-working skills and effective written and oral communication.
Static equilibrium of forces and moments, concurrent and nonconcurrent force systems, center of gravity, concentrated and distributed loads. Solution of trusses. Stress and strain, elastic behavior of materials, cables and arches, shear, bending, and deformation in beams, indeterminate structures. Not available to students in engineering.
Analysis of flow over practical configurations, panel methods, Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations, turbulent boundary layers, flow separation and three-dimensional effects. Unsteady flows, fluid-structure interactions.
Capstone senior design project. Synthesis and application of fundamental principles of engineering science and mechanics to an open-ended problem. 4015: Project proposal, including objectives, goals and plans for project. Identification of needs, constraints, and engineering standards with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, including ethical, global, cultural, societal, environmental, and economic contexts. Proof-of-concept prototyping. Teamwork and communication of design and project progress. 4016: Design specifications with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as ethical, global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors where applicable. Design, test, and analysis of functional prototype. Teamwork and communication of design and project progress. Pre: Senior standing.
Capstone senior design project. Synthesis and application of fundamental principles of engineering science and mechanics to an open-ended problem. 4015: Project proposal, including objectives, goals and plans for project. Identification of needs, constraints, and engineering standards with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, including ethical, global, cultural, societal, environmental, and economic contexts. Proof-of-concept prototyping. Teamwork and communication of design and project progress. 4016: Design specifications with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as ethical, global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors where applicable. Design, test, and analysis of functional prototype. Teamwork and communication of design and project progress. Pre: Senior standing.
Mechanical behavior of materials, emphasizing solid mechanics aspects and methods for predicting strength and life of engineering components. Plasticity, failure criteria, fracture mechanics, crack growth, strain-based fatigue, and creep. Microstructure-property relationships, and laboratory demonstrations.
Introduction to the deformation, stress, and strength analysis of continuous-fiber-polymer-matrix laminated composites. Fabrication, micromechanics of stiffness and expansional coefficients, classical lamination theory (CLT). Environmentally induced stresses. Computerized implementation and design.
Use of mathematical programming methods for engineering design optimization including linear programming, penalty function methods, and gradient projection methods. Applications to minimum weight design, open-loop optimum control, machine design, and appropriate design problems from other engineering disciplines.
Engineering analysis of human physiology. Physiologic systems are treated as engineering systems with emphasis input-output considerations, system interrelationships and engineering analogs. 4105 - Mass and electrolyte transfer, nerves, muscles, renal system. 4106 - cardiovascular mechanics, respiratory system, digestive systems, senses.
Engineering analysis of human physiology. Physiologic systems are treated as engineering systems with emphasis input-output considerations, system interrelationships and engineering analogs. 4105 - Mass and electrolyte transfer, nerves, muscles, renal system. 4106 - cardiovascular mechanics, respiratory system, digestive systems, senses.
Motion of systems governed by differential equations: stability, geometry, phase planes, bifurcations, Poincare sections, point attractors, limit cycles, chaos and strange attractors, Lyapunov exponents. Forced, nonlinear oscillations: jump phenomena, harmonic resonances, Hopf bifurcations, averaging and multiple-scales analysis. Systems governed by discrete maps: return maps, cobweb plots, period-multiplying bifurcations, intermittency, delay coordinates, fractal dimensions.
Concepts and methods of nondestructive evaluation of materials. Discussion of techniques and mathematical bases for methods involving mechanical, optical, thermal, and electromagnetic phenomena; design for inspectability; technique selection criteria; information processing and handling; materials response measurement and modeling; signal analysis.
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. Senior Standing in major may be substituted for pre-requisite ENGL 3764.
Skeletal anatomy and mechanics. Muscle anatomy and mechanics. Theory and application of electromyography. Motion and force measuring equipment and techniques. Inverse dynamics modeling of the human body. Current topics in musculoskeletal biomechanics research.
Study of human movement dynamics and neuromuscular control of multi-degree-of-freedom systems. Computational simulation of forward-dynamics and state-space linear control of human movement to investigate functional performance and neuromuscular pathology.
Anatomy and physiology of biological systems such as cells, tissues, and organs. Experimental techniques for determining the mechanical behavior of biological systems. Simplified mechanics-based mathematical models of biological systems. Specific biological systems include cells, tissues, and organs of the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, integumentary system, and reproductive systems.
4245: Mechanical and biological principles of terrestrial animal locomotion, including walking, running, jumping, climbing, burrowing, and crawling. Terrestrial locomotion- based bio-inspired design. 4246: Mechanical and biological principles of animal locomotion in fluids, including active and gliding flight, swimming, jetting, and running on water. Engineering design inspired by fluid based biological locomotion.
Mechanical and biological principles of of animal locomotion in fluids, including active and gliding flight, swimming, jetting, and running on water. Enginneering desgn inspired by fluid-based biological locomotion.
Study of the human cardiovascular system and blood flow. Anatomy and physiology of the human heart, vascular system, and its organization. Blood physiology and rheology. Non-Newtonian blood flow models. Steady and pulsatile blood flow in rigid and elastic arteries. Pressure waves in elastic arteries. Three-dimensional blood flow in the aortic arch and flow around heart valves.
A refresher of basic principles and problem solving techniques involving twelve subject areas most common to all engineering curricula. The topics include those tested by the National Council of Engineering Examiners on the EIT (Engineer in Training) examination, the first requirement, in all fifty states, toward P.E. (Professional Engineer) licensing. Duplicates material of other engineering courses and impracticable for non-engineers, hence not usable for credit toward any degree. Pre: Junior and senior standing in Engineering or in Building Construction or Graduate students in Engineering.
Introduction to the methods of static structural stability analysis and their applications. Buckling of columns and frames. Energy method and approximate solutions. Elastic and inelastic behavior. Torsional and lateral buckling. Use of stability as a structural design criterion.
Uncertainty analysis of engineering data, parameters estimation, probability concepts, random variables, functions of random variables, probability-based performance functions and failure modes, risk and reliability functions, probability of failure and safety index, random sequences and stochastic processes, correlation functions and spectral densities, return period and extreme values, failure rates, performance monitoring and service life prediction.
The finite element method is introduced as a numerical method of solving the ordinary and partial differential equations arising in fluid flow, heat transfer, and solid and structural mechanics. The classes of problems considered include those described by the second-order and fourth-order ordinary differential equations and second-order partial differential equations. Both theory and applications of the method to problems in various fields of engineering and applied sciences will be studied.
Honors
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.
Design process, mini-design projects, collaborative design, product dissection, economics of decision making, reverse engineering, intellectual property, oral, written, and graphic communications, engineering ethics.
Basics of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer. Fluid and thermal properties of materials. Ideal gas equation of state. First law of thermodynamics in closed systems. Transient heat transfer. First law of thermodynamics in open systems. Fluid mechanics balances, open systems. Emphasis on applications in all topic areas.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Fundamental concepts, first and second laws, gas and vapor processes with emphasis on chemical reactions, statistical interpretation of entropy, limited use of thermodynamic property tables. This course is for non-ME students.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Mathematical descriptions of physical systems behavior including mechanical, electrical, thermal, and fluid systems and their combinations; system descriptions using state variable and transfer functions; analysis of system responses: convolution integral, frequency response, numerical simulations, and Laplace transform methods; systems concepts: input-output, causality, and analogies; general process descriptions including first-order, second-order, and time delayed.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Comprehensive first course in mechanical design. Stress and Strain. Fundamentals of designing mechanical components subjected to static and cyclical loads. 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.
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.
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.
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 combination of ME 3024, ME 3034, and ME 4015-4016.
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 combination of ME 3024, ME 3034, and ME 4015-4016.
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.
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.
Survey of energy-intensive technologies used in typical industrial plants, with emphasis on cost-effective energy conservation. Burners, boilers, pumps, air compressors, electric motors, lights, refrigeration plants, HVAC systems, cogeneration systems, waste heat recovery equipment. Energy-efficient design and operation. Determination of energy efficiency based on field measurements. Economic analysis of energy conservation measures. Mitigation of environmental impacts.
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.
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.
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.
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. Senior Standing in major may be substituted for pre-requisite ENGL 3764.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Fundamentals of feedback control theory, classical analysis and design techniques for automatic controls, introduction to modern control theory.
Automation, robot technology, kinematics, dynamics, trajectory planning, and control of two-dimensional and spatial robots; robot programming; design and simulation of robotic devices.
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.
Vehicle performance, drive train, suspension, steering, and brake systems. Steady state and transient conditions. Senior standing in Mechanical Engineering required.
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.
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.
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.
Design of mechanical elements such as welded joints hydrodynamic bearings, spur gears, shafts, brakes. Alternative fatigue design methods, cumulative fatigue, mechanical design computer software.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Basic acoustical theory and practice, acoustic terminology, measurement, transmission, and perception of sound, muffler design, noise control techniques.
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.
Electromechanical system modeling, control and 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 are studied. A term design project is a key component to this course (for 4736).
Electromechanical system modeling, control and 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 are studied. A term design project is a key component to this course (for 4736).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
Honors
Application of fundamental principles of neutron physics and reactor theory. Introduction to nuclear cross-section data, neutron scattering, nuclear fission, and diffusion theory. Examination of current and next generation nuclear power.
Application of fundamental principles of neutron physics and reactor theory. Calculation of critical mass and dimensions of a reactor using modified one-group theory; reactivity changes in the core due to control rods, chemical boron shim, temperature changes, and fissioin production poisons. Determination of reactor thermal design criteria. Introduction to radiation protection and reactor accident analysis. Nuclear enginering ethics principles.
Radioactive decay, interaction of charged particles and photons with matter, methods of radiation detection and radiation dosimetry, counting statistics, radiation protection criteria and exposure limits, external radiation protection using time, distance and shielding.
Uranium nuclear fuel cycle: radiation basics, uranium reserves, mining, conversion, enrichment, fuel manufacturing, in-core fuel management and refueling, spent fuel storage, reprocessing/recycling and final disposition as waste in a geologic repository. Introduction to nuclear safeguards and nonproliferation as applied to each step of cycle. Alternative fuel cycles.
Emphasis on pressurized water reactor plant operations. Review of boiling water reactor operations. Detailed system functions and operation, reactor plant startup and shutdown procedures, reactor refueling, reactor plant safety analysis, reactor plant licensing, ethics and integrity in the nuclear industry.
Fundamental processes of heat generation and transport in nuclear reactors: reactor coolant systems and components, heat generation and spatial distribution, heat transport by conduction and convection, single-phase flow, two-phase flow and boiling, critical heat flux.
Honors Section
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