Mechanical Engineering Courses
ME 5105 (3 Credits) Basic Concepts of Continuum Mechanics
An introductory course in the theory of continuum mechanics. Development of physical principles using cartesian tensors. Concepts of stress, strain and motion. Basic field equation for the Newtonian fluid and the elastic solid.
ME 5110 (3 Credits) Advanced Thermodynamics
Microscopic view of thermodynamics: probability and statistics of independent events, thermodynamic
probabilities and most probable thermodynamic distributions, molecular structure and partition function, Ensemble of microstates describing macroscopic behavior, with ideal gas as an example, Macroscopic descriptions of thermodynamic equilibrium and equilibrium states, Reversible processes, Heat and Work interactions, Mixtures of pure substances and chemical equilibrium, Stability and phase transitions, Irreversible thermodynamics, Onsager reciprocity relations and thermo-electric effects, Kinetic theory of gases.
ME 5120 (3 Credits) Advanced Thermo-Fluids I
Fluid as a continuum, Kinematics and decomposition of fluid motion, Conservation of mass and momentum, Navier-Stokes equations, Conservation of energy, Exact solutions to governing equations, Potential flows, Vorticity dynamics and low Reynolds number flows, Laminar boundary layers including heat transfer, Laminar free shear flows including heat transfer, Flow instabilities and transition.
ME 5130 (3 Credits) Advanced Heat and Mass Transfer
Review of thermophysical properties of matter including nanoscale effects. Exact and computational solutions of heat conduction equation. Dimensionless conduction rate approach for steady-state and transient conduction. Species diffusion equations with emphasis on stationary media and partitioning effects. Navier-Stokes equations and exact solutions for special cases. Correlation approach for treatment of single phase laminar, turbulent and two-phase flow. Radiative properties and treatment of surface radiation with spectral and directional effects. Emphasis on multimode heat transfer with applications in manufacturing, nanotechnology, information technology and biotechnology.
ME 5140 (3 Credits) Heat and Mass Transfer in Multiphase Systems
Presentation of basic principles for analysis of transport phenomena in multi-phase systems and how they can be applied to a wide variety of applications. The scope is limited to thermodynamics and heat and mass transfer fundamentals in solid <-> liquid, liquid <-> vapor and solid <-> vapor with emphasis in
condensation, evaporation, sublimation, vapor deposition, boiling, two phase flow, melting and
solidification.
ME 5150 (3 Credits) Analytical and Applied Kinematics
Analytical methods of coordinate transformation and two and three dimensional motion, analysis of relative motion and relative freedom through kinematics connections, study of finite and instantaneous properties of motion, study of the geometry of single and multi-parameter engineering curves, surfaces and motions. Application in the analysis and design of linkages and mechanisms.
ME 5155 (3 Credits) Geometric Modeling
This course deals with the mathematical modeling, computer representations and algorithms for manipulating geometry on a computer. It focuses on the basic concepts of solid and geometric modeling from geometry and topology, and uses these concepts to develop computational techniques for creating, editing, rendering, analyzing and computing with models of physical objects, mechanical parts, assembly and processes.
ME 5160 (3 Credits) Theory and Design of Automatic Control Systems
Design features of a closed loop control system. Laplace domain analysis of electromechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, thermal, and mechanical systems. Computer simulation of dynamic responses using software tools. Stability issues, Routh analysis, root locus, Bode and Nyquist analyses are addressed. An open-ended, hands-on design project from a current research topic is assigned.
ME 5180 (3 Credits) Dynamics
Three-dimensional particle and rigid-body mechanics. Particle kinematics. Newton’s laws, energy and momentum principles. Systems of particles. Rigid body kinematics, coordinate transformations. Rigid body dynamics, Euler’s equations. Gyroscopic motion. Lagrange’s equations.
ME 5190 (3 Credits) Advanced Mechanics of Materials
This course covers the fundamental idealizations used in linear solid mechanics and the fundamental
principles of the subject. Idealizations covered include beams, circular torsion, struts and thick cylinders. Basic principles include principle of minimum potential energy, principle of minimum complementary energy, virtual work, equations of static equilibrium and direct and potential methods of solving equilibrium equations. Example applications vary but may include, bounding of elastic properties of
composites, derivation of finite elements, solution of plate problems by Green’s functions and others.
ME 5210 (3 Credits) Intelligent Material Systems and Structures
Overview of piezoelectric materials and electrostrictive materials, shape memory alloys, magnetostrictive materials, and ER/MR fluids. Development of adaptive structure integrated with piezoelectric material, actuation and sensing, simultaneous optimal design/control of electromechanical integrated system, nonlinear and robust control. Design of shape memory alloy system for position control. Development of semi-active control using ER/MR fluids. Structural health monitoring and system identification research.
ME 5220 (3 Credits) Principles of Machining and Machine Tools
Theories and applications of machining. Fundamentals of machine tools and machining automation. Physics and mechanics in machining, machining forces and stresses, shear angle theories. Basic phenomena pertinent to process characteristics, such as tribology and tool life, machinability, surface integrity, and economics. Mechanisms of machining and machine tool errors. Machining error compensation with feedback sensors. Machining chatter and vibration analyses. Case studies.
ME 5301 (3 Credits) Macroscopic Equilibrium Thermodynamics I
Review of zeroth, first and second laws of thermodynamics, development of equilibrium thermodynamics from a postulatory viewpoint, examination of thermodynamic potentials and equilibrium states, stability of thermodynamic systems including implications on phase and chemical equilibrium. Thermodynamic availability analysis.
ME 5311 (3 Credits) Instructor Consent Required, Computational Methods of Viscous Fluid Dynamics
An advanced course on integral and finite-difference methods of solution of the parabolic and elliptic
equations of viscous fluid flow. Method of weighted residuals; Crank-Nicolson; Dufort-Frankel; Peaceman-Rachford alternating direction method; truncation error analysis; stability. Applications to
boundary layer and heat transfer problems. A background of FORTRAN programming and numerical analysis is necessary.
ME 5320 (3 Credits) Flow of Compressible Fluids I
Equations of motion of a compressible fluid. Quasi-one-dimensional flow including effects of friction, heat addition, and normal shocks. Two and three dimensional flows. Velocity potential and stream function. Small perturbation theory. Subsonic pressure correction formulas. Kelvin and Crocco Theorems. Method of characteristics for steady and unsteady, rotational and irrotational flows. Curved and oblique shock waves. Shock tube theory.
ME 5321 (3 Credits) Flow of Compressible Fluids II
Equations of motion of a compressible fluid. Quasi-one-dimensional flow including effects of friction, heat addition, and normal shocks. Two and three dimensional flows. Velocity potential and stream function. Small perturbation theory. Subsonic pressure correction formulas. Kelvin and Crocco Theorems. Method of characteristics for steady and unsteady, rotational and irrotational flows. Curved and oblique shock waves. Shock tube theory.
Prerequisite: ME 5320
ME 5340 (3 Credits) Conduction Heat Transfer
Mathematical development of the fundamental equations of heat conduction in the steady and unsteady state, with or without internal heat generation or absorption. Study of exact and approximate methods used in the solution of heat conduction boundary value problems. Analytical, graphical, numerical and experimental evaluation of the temperature field in conducting media.
ME 5341 (3 Credits) Radiation Heat Transfer
Fundamentals of radiative emission (black body behavior and Planck’s law), surface properties (emissivity, absorptivity, reflectivity, and transmissivity), electromagnetic theory for prediction of radiative properties, development of the methods of solution for radiant energy interchange between surfaces and in enclosures with and without absorbing, emitting, and scattering medi present.
Prerequisite: ME 5507
ME 5410 (3 Credits) Theory of Elasticity
The mathematical theory of linear elasticity. The theory of torsion of prismatic members. Two-dimensional elasticity problems. Thermal stress. Variational methods.
Prerequisite: ME 5105
ME 5412 (3 Credits) Wave Propagation in Continuous Media
General dynamical equations for linear elastic media including both solids and fluids. Wave propagation in elastic rods, plates, cylinders, and semi-infinite and infinite solids. Rayleigh and Love waves; Layered
media; reflection and refraction.
Prerequisite: ME 5105
ME 5415 (3 Credits) Advanced Dynamics
Variational principles of mechanics: Legranges equations, Hamilton’s principle. Hamilton-Jacobi theory,
canonical transformations, integrability. Introduction to special relativity, applications to orbital problems. Current topics in analytical dynamics.
Prerequisite: ME 5180
ME 5420 (3 Credits) Mechanical Vibrations I
Variational principles, Lagrange’s equation. Equations of motion for multi-degree of freedom systems. Free vibration eigenvalue problem: modal analysis. Forced solutions: general solutions, resonance, effect of damping, and superposition. Vibrations of continuous systems: vibration frequencies and mode shapes for strings, bars, membranes, beams, and plates. Experimental methods and techniques.
ME 5421 (3 Credits) Mechanical Vibrations II
Variational mechanics, Hamilton’s principle, and energy formulations for linearly inelastic bodies.
Eigenvalue and boundary-value problems. Non-self adjoint systems. Approximate methods: Ritz and Galerkin. Gyroscopic systems. Nonconservative systems. Perturbation theory for the eigenvalue problem. Dynamics of constrained systems.
ME 5425 (3 Credits) Principles of Machine Tool Design
The basic principles and philosophies in the design of precision machine tools. Mathematical theory and
precision machine tools. Mathematical theory and physics of errors. The building up of error budget and the mapping of geometric and thermal errors. Design case study of a precision machine tool. Discussion of various types of sensors and actuators, bearings, and transmissions. System design considerations.
ME 5430 (3 Credits) Mechanics of Composites and Laminates
Review of elasticity theory. Average theorems. Effective constitutive relations for heterogeneous media.
Variational bounding. Isotropic elastic composites fiber reinforced and laminated materials.
Prerequisite: ME 5410 or CE 5124
ME 5431 (3 Credits) Fatigue in Mechanical Design
Design calculation methods for the fatique life of engineering components, fundamentals of fracture
mechanics. Crack initiation and crack propagation fatique lives. Neuber analysis, multiaxial stress, cyclic
stress-strain behavior, mean and residual stress effects. Selected current research topics, advanced research and design projects.
Not open to students who have passed ME 3228
ME 5432 (3 Credits) Tribology
The theory of fluid film lubrication, including hydrodynamic, externally pressurized and squeeze film
mechanisms of load support in bearings. Fixed and pivot pad thrust bearings; air bearings; journal bearings. Elastohydro dynamic lubrication; boundary lubrication; liquid and solid lubricants. Direct solid contact and rolling element contact bearings. Theories of wear. Design considerations in lubrication and wear.
ME 5433 (3 Credits) Theory of Plasticity
Introduces the physical basis for inelastic behavior and various mathematical descriptions for non-linear
deformation. Provides an overview of plastic deformation in metals, including the role of dislocation behavior in strain hardening and strengthening. Detailed topics include yield surfaces, flow rules, hardening rules and introduction to viscoplastic modeling; emphasis is on finite element computer-based implementation of the concepts and their use in predicting the behavior of structures.
Prerequisite: ME 5410
ME 5440 (3 Credits) Instructor Consent Required, Computer Integrated Manufacturing Systems
Topics in Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) including the fundamentals of automated manufacturing systems; production economics; Just-In-Time (JIT) and Shop Floor Control (SFC) techniques; Computer Numerical Control (CNC) and off-line programming; Computer Aided Design (CAD), Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM), and release and control of the engineering and manufacturing of new products. Advanced design and research projects.
ME 5441 (3 Credits) Instructor Consent Required, Design and Engineering Production Systems
Design and engineering functions of production systems. Decision-Making Process, Economic Analysis, Demand Forecasting, Product and Process Design, Optimization and Linear Programming, Integrated Production and Inventory Control, Production Scheduling, Critical Path Methods (CPM), Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT), and Statistical Quality Control. Advanced design and research projects.
ME 5507 (3 Credits) Engineering Analysis I
Matrix algebra, indicial notation and coordinate transformations. Cartesian and general vectors and tensors, vector and tensor calculus. Partial differential equations: Fourier series, solution procedures to boundary value problems in various domains. Application to the mechanics of continuous media.
ME 5511 (3 Credits) Principles of Optimum Design
Engineering modeling and optimization for graduate students in all areas of engineering. Problem formulation, mathematical modeling, constrained and unconstrained optimization, interior and boundary optima constraint interaction, feasibility and boundedness, model reduction, sensitivity analysis, linear programming, geometric programming, nonlinear programming, and numerical methods in optimization.
ME 5513 (3 Credits) Modern Computational Mechanics
An advanced course in Computational Mechanics with emphasis on modeling problems using Finite Differences and Finite Element techniques. Projects include initial value problems, ordinary differential equations and partial differential equations. Course evaluation is made by the successful completion of several assigned projects.
ME 5520 (3 Credits) Finite Element Methods in Applied Mechanics I
Formulation of finite elements methods for linear static analysis. Development of two and three dimensional continuum elements, axisymmetric elements, plate and shell elements, and heat transfer elements. Evaluation of basic modeling principles including convergence and element distortion. Applications using commercial finite element programs.
Course Equivalents: CE 5164
ME 5521 (3 Credits) Finite Element Methods in Applied Mechanics II
Formulation of finite elements methods for modal and transient analysis. Development of implicit and explicit transient algorithms. Stability and accuracy analysis. Formulation of finite element methods for material and geometric nonlinearities. Development of nonlinear solution algorithms. Applications using commercial finite element code.
Course Equivalents: CE 5166
ME 5895 (1 – 3 Credits) Special Topics in Mechanical Engineering
Classroom and/or laboratory courses in special topics as announced in advance for each semester. The field of study or investigation is to be approved by the Head of the Department before announcement of the course.
ME 5895 – Mechanics of Composite Materials
Introduction to composite materials including their constituent properties, applications, advantages and limitations, and manufacturing techniques. Review of elasticity of anisotropic solids. Determination of composite macroscopic constitutive relations through micromechanics. Development of Classical Lamination Theory (CLT) for composite structural members and applications to buckling and free vibration analyses. Failure analysis of composite structures subjected to mechanical and thermal loads.
ME 6110 (3 Credits) Statistical Thermodynamics
A microscopic development of thermodynamics including statistical ensembles, quantum statistical mechanics, and a comparison of various molecular models.
ME 6130 (3 Credits) Advanced Thermo-Fluids II
Review of governing flow equations, instability and transition, Reynolds averaging and closure approximations, Algebraic turbulence models, Two-equation turbulence models, Large eddy simulations
Turbulence statistics: probability density function and power spectral densities, Energy cascade and intermittency, Turbulent boundary layers including heat transfer, Turbulent free shear flows, Turbulent internal flows (pipes and channels) including heat transfer, Natural convection.
ME 6140 (3 Credits) Convection Heat Transfer
A study of heat transfer to laminar and turbulent boundary layers for both compressible and incompressible fluids. Free convection heat transfer is also investigated.
ME 6160 (3 Credits) Turbines and Centrifugal Machinery
Theory, design and performance of centrifugal and exial flow machinery including turbines, blowers, fans, compressors, superchargers, pumps, fluid couplings and torque converters. A detailed study of the mechanics of the transfer of energy between a fluid and a rotor.
Prerequisite: ME 5320
ME 6170 (3 Credits) Combustion and Air Pollution Engineering
Review of thermodynamics and chemical equilibrium. Introduction to chemical kinetics. Studies of combustion processes, including diffusion and premixed flames. Combustion of gases, liquid, and solid phases, with emphasis on pollution minimization from stationary and mobile systems. Air pollution measurement and instrumentation.
Course Equivalents: ENVE 5253
ME 6171 (3 Credits) Reaction Engines
Dynamics of gas flow, including heat addition of friction. Thermodynamic analysis of ram-jets, gas turbines and rockets and their components. Principles of propulsion systems. Nuclear, thermoelectric, ionic, and high energy propulsion devices.
Components: Lecture
Prerequisite: ME 5320
ME 6172 (3 Credits) Advanced Internal Combustion Engines
An analytical study of the factors influencing the operation and performance of the internal combustion
engine. Spark-ignition and compression ignition engine theory. Emphasis on the latest analytical and experimental developments.
ME 6173 (3 Credits) Advanced Combustion
Review of thermodynamic properties, transport properties, conservation equations of multicomponent reacting gas. Introduction to chemical kinetics. Classification of combustion waves. Deflagrations, detonations and diffusion flames. Ignition phenomena, droplet and spray combustion and some aspects of turbulent combustion.
Course Equivalents: ENVE 6210
Program Description + Plan of Study [link to pages]