Mechanical Engineering (ME)

Principles of data acquisition, analysis, and uncertainty. Exploration of components of measuring systems, including design, selection, and operation of equipment. Two lectures and one lab per week.

Examination of the zeroth, first and second laws of thermodynamics, properties of pure materials, the ideal gas law, entropy, and cycles; control volume analysis of closed and open systems; engineering applications and problem solving.

Examination of forces due to static and dynamic fluids. Principles of mass and momentum conservation in open and closed systems. Characterization of flow. Application of concepts to design of thermal engineering systems. Two lectures and one lab per week.

Fundamental characteristics of basic mechanical components, and methodologies for analysis, selection, and synthesis of components into a mechanical system. Introduction to the engineering design and decision-making process. Examination of stress and failure modes.

Utilization of Laplace transforms and/or transfer functions to describe, analyze, model and simulate dynamics of mechanical, electrical, thermal, fluid, and hybrid systems. Examination and modeling of time and frequency domain responses. Block diagrams. Analysis and design of discrete systems and design compensation.

Fundamentals of heat transfer in one-dimensional, two-dimensional, and transient conduction, forced and free convection, and radiation exchange between surfaces. Analysis of heat exchangers. Examination of mass transfer. Lab experiments examining concepts in thermodynamics and heat transfer.

Application of fundamentals of thermodynamics to power, refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump systems. Examination of gas and chemical mixtures as applied to psychrometry, thermochemistry, and combustion. Major design component.

Incorporation of sensors, actuators, digital, and analog electronic components for control of systems through programming of microcontrollers. Simulation, acquisition, and analysis of input and output signals of electro-mechanical systems. Use of logic and Boolean operations. Application of concepts through hands-on development of electro-mechanical systems.

Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is a convenient and speedy tool for approximation of the solution to a wide variety of complicated engineering problems across a wide range of industries. This course explains how FEA can produce accurate, reliable approximate solutions, at a small fraction of the time of more rigorous, closed-form analyses. The course also provides the required knowledge to successfully use the FEA software packages. In this course, SolidWorks will be used which builds on the CAD from the Introduction to Engineering course.

Special advanced topics in Mechanical Engineering may include Advanced Controls, Finite Element Analysis, Environmental Engineering, Biomechanics, etc. Prerequisites: Instructor Approval required.

A significant project involving design or re-design of an operational product in either an industrial or a service setting. As a minimum, students will consider objectives and criteria, resources, interface with other functional areas, constraints, alternatives, and operational specifications. A written report will be prepared by the student. Designs may include HVAC or device-based projects. Writing intensive.