Mechanical Engineering
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ENG ME 515: Vibration of Complex Mechanical Systems
Introductory course in mechanical vibrations for graduate students and for undergraduate students with substantial mastery of core undergraduate subjects in mechanics and mathematics. Course includes an elementary introduction to applicable concepts in linear algebra. Potential and kinetic energy functions of single- and multi-degree-of-freedom systems. Matrix formulations of forced vibrations of linear systems. Natural frequencies, resonance, and forced vibration response. Natural modes and mode shapes. Rayleigh's principle. Rayleigh's dissipation function, transient and forced responses of damped vibrations. Random excitation of vibrations. Impedance matrix. O'Hara-Cunniff theorem, modal masses, modal analysis. Vibrations of simple continuous systems such as strings, beams, rods, and torsional shafts. This course cannot be taken for credit in addition to ENG ME 441. -
ENG ME 516: Statistical Mechanical Concepts in Engineering
Specific prerequisites vary according to topic, but do not extend beyond what is covered in the core courses in the undergraduate curriculum in mechanical engineering. Elementary introduction to selected fundamental concepts in probability, random processes, signal processing, and statistical mechanics with strong emphasis on their applications to aerospace and mechanical engineering. Examples taken from acoustics, mechanics, thermodynamics, and fluid dynamics. -
ENG ME 517: Product Development
Dynamics of converting ideas into marketable products. Choosing products and defining their specifications to achieve competitive advantage. The product development process is decomposed and its elements are examined critically in the context of actual case studies; risk evaluation, concurrent engineering, and impact of new product decisions on the factory. A step-by-step methodology for new product development is derived. -
ENG ME 518: Product Quality
Introduction to statistical methods for design, control and improvement of quality. Includes Statistical Process and Quality Control (SPC & SQC) and Acceptance Sampling. Extensive coverage of Design of Experiments (DOE) with applications to designing quality into products and to process and product performance improvement. Also covers Robust Design and Taguchi's method. Introduction to modern approaches to management of quality (TQM, Six Sigma). -
ENG ME 519: Theory of Heat Transfer
Analytical, numerical, and physical aspects of heat transfer phenomena, with emphasis on nondimensionalization and scaling. Mathematical treatment of steady and unsteady conduction, including finite difference methods. Forced and natural convection in internal and external flows. Thermal radiation and multimode heat transfer. Melting and solidification. Applications to aerospace heat transfer, energy systems, manufacturing, and biological heat transfer. -
ENG ME 520: Acoustics I
Introduction to wave propagation and sound. General concepts such as quantitative measures of sound, plane waves, and acoustic energy density and intensity. Derivation of wave equation. Sound radiation from vibrating bodies. Basic ray-acoustic concepts: reflection, refraction, diffraction and scattering of acoustic waves. Other topics may include flow-induced sound, Helmholtz resonators, sound transmission through ducts and mufflers, room acoustics, and absorption and attenuation of sound waves in fluids. -
ENG ME 521: Continuum Mechanics
The main goal of this course is to present a unified, mathematically rigorous approach to two classical branches of mechanics: the mechanics of fluids and the mechanics of solids. Topics will include kinematics, stress analysis, balance laws (mass, momentum, and energy), the entropy inequality, and constitutive equations in the framework of Cartesian vectors and tensors. Emphasis will be placed on mechanical principles that apply to all materials by using the unifying mathematical framework of Cartesian vectors and tensors. Illustrative examples from biology and physiology will be used to describe basic concepts in continuum mechanics. The course will end at the point from which specialized courses devoted to problems in fluid mechanics (e.g. biotransport) and solid mechanics (e.g. cellular biomechanics) could logically proceed; Same as ENGBE521. Students may not receive credit for both. -
ENG ME 522: Underwater Acoustics
The ocean environment. Physical processes in deep and shallow water. Time and frequency domain wave equations for homogeneous and inhomogeneous acoustics. Spectral and ray methods for wave propagation in layered fluid and elastic media. Uncoupled and adiabatic normal mode theory. Parabolic equations and computational techniques for fluids and solids. Noise sources and surface effects. Sensors, transducers, and signal processing techniques. -
ENG ME 523: Mechanics of Biomaterials
. Covers the chemical composition, physical structure, and mechanical behavior of engineering materials and the tissues they sometimes replace. Study of materials classes; materials selection; deformation of an elastic solid; yield and fracture; fundamentals of viscoelastic phenomena such as creep, stress relaxation, stress rupture, mechanical damping, impact; effects of chemical composition and structure on mechanical properties; methods of chemical property evaluation. Fracture and fatigue. Influences of plastics fabrication methods on mechanical properties. Emphasis on recent research techniques and results. Discussion of practical matters in medical device design including regulatory approvals, sterilization, packaging and quality control. Students will complete a semester-long design project. Same as ENG ME 523 and ENG MS 523; students can only receive credit for one of these courses. 4 cr. -
ENG ME 524: Skeletal Tissue Mechanics
The course is structured around classical topics in mechanics of materials and their application to study of the mechanical behavior of skeletal tissues, whole bones, bone-implant systems, and diarthroidal joints. Topics include: mechanical behavior of tissues, (anisotropy, viscoelasticity, fracture and fatigue) with emphasis on the role of the microstructure of these tissues; structural properties of whole bones and implants (composite and asymmetric bean theories); and mechanical function of joints (contact mechanics, lubrication, and wear). Emphasis is placed on using experimental data to test and to develop theoretical models, as well as on using the knowledge gained to address common health related problems related to aging, disease, and injury. Meets with ENGMS524 and ENGBE524. Students may not receive credit for both. -
ENG ME 525: Technology Ventures
An introduction to the formation and management of technology-based enterprises for engineers and scientists. Modules include opportunity recognition and evaluation, gathering financial and human resources, and managing and harvesting ventures. Goals include an understanding of basic start-up finance and accounting, writing business plans, presenting venture ideas to industry experts, and venture leadership skills. Students become familiar with fundamental technical and engineering issues in a wide variety of high-tech industries, especially information technology, life sciences, biotechnology and telecommunications. Case studies, lectures, workshops, and projects are utilized. 4 cr. -
ENG ME 526: Simulation of Physical Processes
Modern simulation methods are used for describing and analyzing the behavior of realistic nonlinear systems that occur in the engineering and science disciplines. By developing and applying such methods and tools, much deeper understanding, insight, and control of novel technologies can be gained, thereby often greatly aiding technology development, and sometimes providing the leverage to turn a novel technology into a practical reality. Advanced numerical methods are covered for attacking nonlinear partial differential equations. Key aspects of the finite element method. Extensive use is made of the modern computational tools Maple and Scientific Workplace. Examples including problems in micro- and nanoelectronics, bioengineering, material science, photonics, and physics are introduced and related to sensing instrumentation and control. Meets with ENGMS526. Students may not receive credit for both. -
ENG ME 527: Transport Phenomena in Materials Processing
Introduction to momentum, heat and mass transport phenomena occurring in various processes. Whereas transport phenomena underlie many processes in engineering, agriculture, meteorology, physiology, biology, analytical chemistry, materials science, pharmacy and other areas, they are key to specific applications in diverse areas such as materials processing, green manufacturing of primary materials, biological membranes, fuel cell engineering, synthesis of clean fuels. This course covers three closely related transport phenomena: momentum transfer (fluid flow), energy transfer (heat flow) and mass transfer (diffusion). The mathematical underpinnings of all three transport phenomena are closely related and the differential equations governing them are frequently quite similar. Since in many situations the three transport phenomena occur together, they are presented and studied together in this course. Meets with ENGMS527. Students may not receive credit for both. -
ENG ME 528: Biological Physics
This course offers an introduction to biological physics and consists of four blocks. 1)Thermodynamics and statistical physics with a particular focus on Einstein's approach. 2)Physics of (Bio) polymer networks. 3) Nano and Microfluidics and life and low Reynold numbers. 4) Interface physics and Biomembranes. -
ENG ME 529: Thermodynamics and Kinetics of Materials and Processes
Provides a basic understanding of the laws of thermodynamics as they apply to different elements and compounds and their interactions in the solid, liquid, and gaseous forms as a function of various extensive and intensive variables. Analysis of the path to thermodynamic equilibrium or process kinetics is covered through studying reaction kinetics and the laws that govern mass transfer in solids and fluids. Mass transfer through membranes/cellular materials will also be covered. The course primarily covers thermodynamics and kinetics as they apply to the study of materials structure and synthesis. -
ENG ME 530: Introduction to Micro- and Nano-mechanics of Solids
Mechanics and physics of solids at the nanometer scale: introductory graduate level course for students with background in undergraduate engineering mechanics (or solid state physics) and mathematics. Review of continuum solid mechanics fundamentals. Introduction to dislocation theory. Continuum elastic theory of dislocations. Mechanics of thin films. Review of fundamentals of solid state physics. Electron motion in a periodic potential. Derivative of bulk material properties from free-electron and free-atom models. Phonons. Introduction to atomistic computational methods. Meets with ENGMS530. Students may not receive credit for both. -
ENG ME 531: Phase Transformations
Graduate-level introduction to phase transformations; solution thermodynamics; phase diagrams; kinetics of mass transport and chemical reactions; atomistic models of diffusion; nucleation and growth; spinodal decomposition; martensitic transformations; order-disorder reactions; point defects and their relation to transport kinetics. -
ENG ME 532: Atomic Structures and Dislocations in Materials
Relates mechanical behavior of crystalline materials to processes occurring at microscopic and/or atomic levels. Topics covered include structure of materials and their determination by X-ray diffraction; dislocations and their relationship to plastic deformation and strength of materials; fracture and creep. Meets with ENGMS532. Students may not receive credit for both. -
ENG ME 533: Energy Conversion
Thermodynamic and mechanical aspects of modern conventional energy conversion systems, including steam electric power plants, gas turbine and internal combustion engines, and refrigeration systems. Combined cycle and cogeneration are also considered, as well as economic and environmental aspects of energy conversion. Includes design project. 4 cr. -
ENG ME 534: Mat Tech Microe

