Mechanical Engineering
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ENG ME 416: Introduction to Robotics
The term robot was first used by a Czech playwriter in 1920, but the fascination of humans with machines that can sense, process and act in their physical environment was there since ancient civilization. Today the convergence of relatively cheap but powerful hardware with many years of research makes possible to (almost) build robots in different shapes and for a variety of applications: industrial robots, vacuum cleaners, delivery drones, self-driving cars, etc. While this is an active field of research, the basic building blocks for a robot (modeling, control, perception, mapping and planning) are well understood. Through both theory and practice, in this class you will learn these basics, and build a simple but complete system that will compete with the creations of your peers. -
ENG ME 419: Heat Transfer
Fundamentals of heat exchange processes and applications to heat exchanger design. Principles of steady and unsteady conduction. Introduction to numerical analysis. Natural and forced convection heat transfer in internal and external flows. Radiant heat exchange. Introduction to boiling and condensation heat transfer. Includes lab and design project. -
ENG ME 420: Supply Chain Engineering
Emphasizes the integration of product design with the process of delivering products to customers. Review of manufacturing processes for process automation. Supply chain configuration and flow balancing. Seamless introduction of new products. Process reengineering and lean manufacturing techniques in established supply chains. Design of decision support systems. -
ENG ME 421: Aerodynamics
Flow kinematics. Aerodynamic forces. Potential flow theory. Streamfunction and velocity potential in two-dimensional flows. 2D and 3D wing theory: thin airfoil theory and lifting line theory. Computational methods for potential flow. Linearized compressible flow. Laminar and turbulent boundary layers. Includes labs and computer projects. -
ENG ME 425: Compressible Flow and Propulsion
Fluid mechanics and thermodynamics of compressible fluid flow with application to external and internal flows as found in propulsion systems. Fluid/thermal related topics include: normal and oblique shocks, Prandtl-Meyer expansion waves, variable area duct flow, and wave drag. Propulsion applications include rocket nozzles, rocket engine staging, supersonic inlets, and exhaust nozzles for airbreathing propulsion systems. Parametric cycle analysis for ramjet, turbojet, turbofan, and turboprop engines. -
ENG ME 441: Mechanical Vibration
One- and multi-degree-of-freedom systems. Natural frequencies and modes of vibrations, resonance, beat phenomenon. Stability analysis. Energy methods. Applications to rotating machinery. Methods for vibration reduction. -
ENG ME 452: Directed Study in Mechanical Engineering
Under faculty supervision, students may study a subject that is relevant to mechanical engineering and is not covered in a regularly offered course. Term paper and/or written examination required at end of semester. -
ENG ME 457: Engineering Projects in Mechanical Engineering
Project for seniors in mechanical engineering. Students select, develop, and complete a project and prepare a report. -
ENG ME 460: Senior Design I
The course develops skills that are crucial to the successful completion of the Senior Capstone Design project. The core technical framework is electro- mechanical systems. Through lectures, workshops, and online materials, students gain practical experience in component and system design, project planning, and engineering communications. The course guides students through execution and documentation of the conceptual design stage of their Capstone projects. Cannot be taken for credit in addition to ENG ME 560. When taken with ENG ME 461, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub areas: Digital/Multimedia Expression, Oral and/or Signed Communication, Writing-Intensive Course, Research and Information Literacy. -
ENG ME 461: Senior Design II
The main activity in this course is the planning, and execution of a capstone project that represents a culmination of the Mechanical Engineering program. Students work in teams on either a research or design problem in some area of Mechanical Engineering that builds upon previous coursework. Class time will be focused on weekly project meetings with faculty. The course includes lectures on ethics, entrepreneurship, project management and other professional topics. Oral and written communications will be emphasized. When taken with ENG ME 460, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub areas: Digital/Multimedia Expression, Oral and/or Signed Communication, Writing-Intensive Course, Research and Information Literacy. -
ENG ME 500: Special Topics in Mechanical Engineering
Seminar course on a topic of current interest in aerospace and mechanical engineering. -
ENG ME 501: Dynamic System Theory
Introduction to analytical concepts and examples of dynamic systems and control. Mathematical description and state space formation of dynamic systems; modeling, controllability, and observability. Eigenvector and transform analysis of linear systems including canonical forms. Performance specifications. State feedback: pole placement and the linear quadratic regulator. Introduction to MIMO design and system identification using computer tools and laboratory experiments. Meets with ENG EC 501 and ENG SE 501; students may not receive credit for both. -
ENG ME 502: Invention: Technology Creation, Protection, and Commercialization
This course provides students with the knowledge and tools necessary to create, protect, and commercialize engineering and scientific intellectual assets. Students will first make use of creativity tools to attack posed engineering problems, then turn to means for protecting their solutions. Rapidly growing areas that are affecting nearly all businesses (e.g., software and the internet) as well as "high-tech" areas including microelectronics, communications, and bioengineering will be emphasized. Extensive patent searches and analysis will be carried out to develop skills for quickly ascertaining the protected technical content of patents, and for recognizing what intellectual property (IP) should be and can be protected. Legal aspects for protecting creative ideas will be studied at a level appropriate for engineers to interact easily and smoothly during their technical careers with IP lawyers. Various business models for the commercialization of intellectual assets will be analyzed. Extensive class exercises and projects will explore in depth all three of these important areas of IP, with emphasis on key contributions during engineering and scientific research and development activities. -
ENG ME 503: Kinetic Processes in Materials
Kinetics of mass transport, continuum and atomistic approaches, chemical diffusion; kinetics of chemical reactions, kinetics of adsorption and evaporation; nucleation and growth; solidification; spinodal decomposition; coarsening; martensitic transformations; order-disorder reactions; point defects and their relation to transport kinetics. Meets with ENGMS503; students may not receive credit for both. -
ENG ME 504: Polymers and Soft Materials
An introduction to soft matter for students with background in materials science, chemistry, and physics. This course covers general aspects of structures, properties, and applications of soft materials such as polymers, colloids, liquid crystals, amphiphiles, gels, and biomaterials. Emphasis on chemistry and forces related to molecular self-assembly. Topics include forces, energies, kinetics in material synthesis, growth and transformation; methods for preparing synthetic materials; formation, assembly, phase behavior, and molecular ordering of synthetic soft materials; structure, function, and phase transition of natural materials such as nucleic acids, proteins, polysaccharides, and lipids; techniques for characterizing the structure, phase, and dynamics of soft materials; application of soft materials in nanotechnology. Meets with ENG MS 504; students may not receive credit for both. -
ENG ME 505: Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics
The laws of thermodynamics; general formulation and applications to mechanical, electromagnetic and electromechanical systems; thermodynamics of solutions, phase diagrams; thermodynamics of interfaces, adsorption; defect equilibrium in crystals; statistical thermodynamics, including ensembles, gases, crystal lattices, and phase transitions. Same as ENGME505; students may not receive credit for both. -
ENG ME 507: Process Modeling and Control
An introduction to modeling and control as applied to industrial unit processes providing the basis for process development and improvement. Major themes include an integrated treatment of modeling multi-domain physical systems (electrical, mechanical, fluid, thermal), application of classical control techniques, and system design. Topics include modeling techniques, analysis of linear dynamics, control fundamentals in the time and frequency domain, and actuator selection and control structure design. Examples drawn from a variety of manufacturing processes and case studies. Meets with ENGMS507. Students may not receive credit for both. -
ENG ME 508: Computational Methods in Materials Science
Introduction to computational materials science. Multi-scale simulation methods; electronic structure, atomistic, micro-structure, continuum, and mathematical analysis methods; rate processes and rare events. Materials defect theory; modeling of crystal defects, solid micro-structures, fluids, polymers, and bio-polymers. Materials scaling theory: phase transition, dimensionality, and localization. Perspectives on predictive materials design. Same as ENGMS508; students may not receive credit for both. -
ENG ME 510: Production Systems Analysis
Operations research and dynamic systems methods applied in modeling, analysis, and control of production systems. Inventory analysis and control for single and multi-item systems based on deterministic and stochastic demand models. Demand forecasting. Supply chain management. Machine, flow shop and job shop scheduling, project scheduling with PERT and CPM. Production control methods: MRP, MRP-II, Just-in-Time, and Kanban. -
ENG ME 514: Simulation
Modeling of discrete event systems and their analysis through simulation. Systems considered include, but are not limited to, manufacturing systems, computer-communication networks and computer systems. Simulating random environments and output analysis in such contexts. A simulation language is introduced and is the main tool for simulation experimentation. Meets with ENG EC 514; students may not receive credit for both.
