Mechanical Engineering
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ENG ME 535: Green Manufacturing
Provides a systems view of the manufacturing process that aims to efficiently use energy, water, and raw materials to minimize air and water pollution and generation of waste per unit of the manufactured product. Specifically, the course will discuss methods to maximize yield and minimize waste effluents in processes, ways to devise treatment strategies for handling manufacturing wastes, innovative ways to decrease energy consumption in manufacturing, by-product use and product recycling, and policies that encourage green manufacturing. Meets with ENGMS535. Students may not receive credit for both. -
ENG ME 538: Introduction to Finite Element Methods and Analysis
This class serves as an introduction to linear finite element method, and its application to static and dynamic problems with an emphasis on solid mechanics. The first half of the course will use the stiffness and energy approaches to developing the finite element equations as applied to bars, beams and trusses. Lab sessions will focus on learning how to utilize commercially-relevant finite element software to find numerical solutions to problems in solid mechanics. The second half of the course will focus on developing the finite element method as one that is applicable as a general numerical method for solving ordinary and partial differential equations that arise in all areas of science and engineering, including solid and fluid mechanics, thermal systems and electrostatics. -
ENG ME 541: Classic Thermo
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ENG ME 542: Advanced Fluid Mechanics
Incompressible fluid flow. Review of control-volume approach to fluids engineering problems, with advanced applications. Differential analysis of fluid motion. Derivation of full Navier-Stokes, Euler, and Bernoulli equations. Unsteady Bernoulli equation. Velocity potential and its application to steady two-dimensional flows. Vorticity and vortex motion. Eulerian vs Lagrangian analysis. -
ENG ME 543: Sustainable Power Systems: Planning, Operation and Markets
Breakthroughs in clean energy generation technologies and the advantage of exploiting efficiently the available work in fossil fuels will render electricity the dominant energy form in a sustainable environment future. We review the key characteristics of Electric Power Transmission and Distribution (T&D) networks and the associated planning and operation requirements that ensure supply adequacy, system security and stability. Capital asset investment and operation cost minimization is discussed in a systems engineering context where the assets as well as the dynamic behavior of generators, T&D networks, and loads interact. Recent developments in the formation of competitive wholesale markets at the High Voltage Transmission system level, the associated market participation and clearing rules and the market clearing optimization algorithms are presented and analyzed in terms of their effectiveness in fostering cost reflective price signals and competitive conditions that encourage optimal distributed/not-centralized investment and operating decisions. Finally, we present T&D congestion and supply-demand imbalance related barriers to the widespread adoption of environmentally friendly and economically efficient technological breakthroughs, and propose a systems engineering and real-time retail-market based coordination of centralized as well as decentralized generation, storage and load management resources that is able to achieve desirable synergies and mitigate these barriers. 4 cr. -
ENG ME 544: Networking the Physical World
Considers the evolution of embedded network sensing systems with the introduction of wireless network connectivity. Key themes are computing optimized for resource constrained (cost, energy, memory and storage space) applications and sensing interfaces to connect to the physical world. Studies current technology for networked embedded network sensors including evolving protocol standards. A laboratory component of the course introduces students to the unique characteristics of distributed sensor motes including programming, reliable communication, sensing modalities, calibration, and application development. Experience with the C language is required. Meets with ENG EC544; students may not receive credit for both. -
ENG ME 545: Electrochemistry of Fuel Cells and Batteries
Electrochemistry of high temperature fuel cells, batteries and ceramic gas separation membranes. Types, advantages and disadvantages of fuel cells currently being developed by the power generation industry, and the electrochemical underpinnings of fuel cell operation. Thermodynamics of fuel cells, electrode kinetics and mass transport in porous electrodes. Measurements techniques (dc polarization, ac impedance spectroscopy and blocking electrodes) used extensively in fuel cell research and development. Operation of batteries and ceramic gas separation membranes. Current manufacturing techniques used in fuel cell industry. Meets with ENGMS545. Students may not receive credit for both. -
ENG ME 550: Product Supply Chain Design
Integrated design of systems to deliver quality products to customers. Lean manufacturing with hard automation. Worker empowerment with active learning. Creation of lean supply chains with control of logistics and information. Creating customer value in a world of excess capacity. Industry project required. -
ENG ME 555: Product Supply Chain Design
Integrated design of systems to deliver quality products to customers. Lean manufacturing with hard automation. Worker empowerment with active learning. Creation of lean supply chains with control of logistics and information. Creating customer value in a world of excess capacity. Industry project required. -
ENG ME 560: Precision Machine Design and Instrumentation
This interdisciplinary course teaches the student how to design, instrument, and control high-precision, computer-controlled automation equipment, using concrete examples drawn from the photonics, biotech, and semi-conductor industries. Topics covered include design strategy, high-precision mechanical components, sensors and measurement, servo control, design for controllability, control software development, controller hardware, as well as automated error detection and recovery. Students will work in teams, both in-classroom and out-of-classroom, to integrate and apply the material covered in class to a term-long multi-part design project in PTC Pro-Engineer or other comparable CAD system, culminating in a group presentation at the end of the class. -
ENG ME 566: Advanced Engineering Mathematics
Introduces students of engineering to various mathematical techniques which are necessary in order to solve practical problems. Topics covered include a review of calculus methods, elements of probability and statistics, linear algebra, transform methods, difference and differential equations, numerical techniques, and mathematical techniques in optimization theory. Examples and case studies focus on applications to several engineering disciplines. The intended audience for this course is advanced seniors and entering MS engineering students who desire strengthening of their fundamental mathematical skills in preparation for advanced studies and research. -
ENG ME 570: Robot Motion Planning
Provides an overview of state-of-the-art techniques for robot motion planning. The emphasis is on the algorithms. It covers topology of configuration spaces, potential functions, roadmaps, cell decompositions, sampling-based algorithms, and model checking approaches to robot motion planning and control. -
ENG ME 579: Nano/microelectronic Device Technology
Physical processes and manufacturing strategies for the fabrication and manufacture of microelectronic devices. Processing and device aspects instrumental in silicon, including the fabrication of doping distributions, etching, photolithography, interconnect construction, and packaging. Future directions and connections to novel devices, MEMS, photonics, and nanoscale structures will be discussed. Emphasis will be on "designing for manufacturability." The overall integration with methods and tools employed by device and circuit designers will be covered. Same as ENG EC 579; students may not receive credit for both. -
ENG ME 580: Theory of Elasticity
An introduction to the general theory of solid deformation; small deformation emphasized. Topics include: Cartesian tensors, indicial notation. Introduction to continuum mechanics: deformation of continuous media, deformation gradient, strain definitions. Stress, Cauchy's postulate, Cauchy and Piola-Kirchhoff stress tensors. Balance laws. Constitutive equations, strain energy and Green's postulate. Linear Elasticity: Two dimensional problems, Airy stress function, in plane loading of strips, St. Venant's principle, complex variable methods, Goursat-Muskhelishvili representation, stress concentrations around holes and cracks. Three dimensional problems, Kelvin's solution, the Boussinesq problem, Hertzian contact, Eshelby's energy-momentum tensor. Meets with ENGMS580. Students may not receive credit for both. -
ENG ME 581: Experimental Techniques in Solid Mechanics
Theory and practice of experimental techniques used in solid mechanics. Topics include ultrasonic NDE, optical strain techniques (e.g., Moire interferometry, spectroscopy), and material strength and stiffness testing (e.g., fracture, fatigue, elastic constants). Also examines the use of computer for data acquisition and control. Some discussion of theory related to filters, sampling theory, uncertainty analysis, and spectra and correlations is incorporated. -
ENG ME 582: Mechanical Behavior of Materials
Fundamental concepts of modern materials behavior and materials engineering. Emphasis on analytical and numerical methods for predicting material properties and behavior, as well as some discussion of the relationships between solid structure and material properties. Topics include: constitutive relations, fracture, fatigue, plasticity, creep, damping, impact, and deformation. Elastic, plastic, and viscous behavior. Some discussion of the effects of processing--thermodynamics, kinetics--may be addressed. Specific examples from ceramics, metals, polymers, and composites is given, with the emphasis changing for each offering. Meets with ENGMS582. Students may not receive credit for both. -
ENG ME 583: Product Management
Planning and execution of the process of bringing new tangible and intangible products to market. Review of the new product development process. Establishment of the new product specification. Setting of financial expectations. Formation and dynamics of the product implementation team. Organization of the new product introduction project including matrixed management and financial control. Contingency planning and risk management. Taught through case-based discussions, lectures, and readings. -
ENG ME 584: Manufacturing Strategy
Strategic decision-making for technical people in manufacturing companies. Provides practice in applying financial, organizational, and operational concepts through analysis and discussion of case situations. Topics include process alternatives and their implications; interactions among product design, process design, worker skill and worker motivation; supplier relationships; interfaces with marketing and finance; introduction of new technology; capacity planning; and competitive analysis. Taught principally by in-class discussion plus guest lectures. -
ENG ME 700: Advanced Topics in Mechanical Engineering
Specific prerequisites vary according to research topic. -
ENG ME 701: Optimal and Robust Control
This course is aimed at an introduction (with rigorous treatment) to the fundamentals of optimal and robust control. It will be divided roughly into two parts. The first will cover aspects of robust control including model reduction, H_2 and H_ infinity control, and feedback control of uncertain systems. The second will delve into optimal control including topics such as the linear quadratic regulator, the calculus of variations, the maximum principle, and the Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equation. Meets with ENG EC701 and ENG SE 701; students may not take both for credit.

