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.
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
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