Mechanical Engineering (ME)
ME 1V9R Research in Mechanical Engineering (3)
Pre-requisite(s): Consent of instructor
Undergraduate research supervised by a faculty member. May be taken for a maximum of 6 hours.
ME 2320 Statics (3)
Pre-requisite(s): A grade of C or better in MTH 1321; a grade of B or better or concurrent enrollment in EGR 1302; a grade of C or better or concurrent enrollment in PHY 1420
Study of forces, moments, free-body diagrams, friction, equilibrium, first and second moments of lines, centers of pressure, mass and gravity, and moments of inertia.
ME 2321 Dynamics (3)
Pre-requisite(s): A grade of C or better in ME 2320, PHY 1420 and MTH 1322; A grade of B or better in EGR 1302
Kinematics and kinetics of particles and rigid bodies including Newton's Second Law, work-energy methods, impulse-momentum, and central and oblique impact.
ME 2345 Thermodynamics (3)
Thermodynamic properties, heat and work, first and second laws, processes, ideal and non-ideal cycles.
ME 2346 Introduction to Aeronautics and Astronautics (3)
An introduction to air and space flight, including history, basic aerodynamics, aircraft performance, and orbital mechanics. Principles of stability and control, aircraft and spacecraft structures, and propulsion are explored.
ME 2V9R Research in Mechanical Engineering (3)
Pre-requisite(s): Consent of instructor
Undergraduate research supervised by a faculty member. May be taken for a maximum of 6 hours.
ME 3122 Materials and Manufacturing Processes Lab (1)
Pre-requisite(s): A grade of C or better in both ME 3320 and ME 3420 and a grade of C or better or concurrent enrollment in either ME 3322 or BME 4370
Laboratory experiments in strength of materials, property of materials, and manufacturing processes. Application of statistics and probability to material properties and manufacturing.
ME 3145 Thermal/Fluids Laboratory (1)
Pre-requisite(s): A grade of C or better in ME 3420 and a grade of C or better or concurrent enrollment in ME 3321
Laboratory measurements of devices and systems in thermodynamics and fluid mechanics. Physics and operation of temperature, pressure, and flowrate measurement devices, and application of measurement concepts to analyzing the performance of pumps, pipe networks, airfoils, and thermodynamic cycles.
ME 3320 Mechanics of Materials (3)
Introduction of stress and strain, stress transformations, analysis of stresses, strain, and deflections in axial members, beams, and torsional shafts. Analysis of pressure vessels.
ME 3321 Fluid Mechanics (3)
Introductory concepts of fluid motions, fluid statics, control volume forms of basic principles, and applications basic principles of fluid mechanics to problems in viscous and compressible flow.
ME 3322 Mechanical Engineering Materials and Manufacturing Processes (3)
Properties of the principal families of materials used in mechanical engineering design with an introduction to the manufacturing processes used to convert these materials into finished products.
ME 3323 Machine Design (3)
The fundamentals of machine elements in mechanical design. Includes the analysis of components under static and fatigue loadings, and the analysis, properties, and selection of machine elements such as shafts, gears, belts, chains, brakes, clutches, bearings, screw drives, and fasteners.
ME 3345 Thermodynamics II (3)
Pre-requisite(s): A grade of C or better in ME 2345
Second law analysis, gas power cycles, vapor power cycles, refrigeration cycles, property relations, gas mixtures, gas-vapor mixtures, combustion, design of cycles. (3-0 )
ME 3346 Aerodynamics (3)
Study of aerodynamics including potential flow theory, airfoil theory, and viscous flow effects. Topics include boundary layers, streamlines, pathlines, wingtip vortices, lift, drag, flow separation, and stall.
ME 3349 Aerospace Structures (3)
Study of aircraft and spacecraft structures, including load paths and distribution, stress and strain, failure criteria, and structural design applications. Topics include thin-walled beam theory, buckling, critical load, composite materials, and effects of space radiation on material properties.
ME 3420 Instrumentation and Measurements (4)
Pre-requisite(s): A grade of C or better in ELC 2320 or ELC 2330 and a grade of C or better in ME 2345
Introductory mechanical engineering laboratory experience: measurement system concepts, statistical and uncertainty analyses, survey of measurement devices, experimental design and planning.
ME 3V9R Research in Mechanical Engineering (3)
Pre-requisite(s): Consent of instructor
Undergraduate research supervised by a faculty member. May be taken for a maximum of 6 hours.
ME 4305 Sustainable Engineering (3)
Pre-requisite(s): A grade of C or better in EGR 3380
This is an introduction to the context, concepts, and practice of sustainable engineering, and the importance of sustainable systems in the modern world. Topics will include an overview of resources and sustainability, technological systems, complexity, industrial ecology, green design principles, and life cycle assessment.
ME 4320 Computer-Aided Structural Analysis (3)
Pre-requisite(s): A grade of C or better in ME 3320
Structural analysis using the matrix stiffness method with applications to 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional beams, trusses and plates.
ME 4322 Computer-Aided Engineering and Design (3)
Pre-requisite(s): A grade of C or better in EGR 3380
Design and analysis of engineering components and systems using interactive computer programs with emphasis on computer simulation.
ME 4323 Mechanical Vibrations (3)
The theory and analysis of vibrating systems including single and multi-degrees of freedom, free and forced, vibrations, with and without damping.
ME 4324 Introduction to Finite Element Methods (3)
Co-requisite(s):
Pre-requisite(s): A grade of C or better in MTH 3325
Introduction to the basic theory and techniques of finite element analysis beginning from energy concepts and the foundational constitutive equations. Engineering applications will focus on one- and two-dimensional formulations for classical beams, frames, trusses and electrical network applications. Introduction to typical workflow of finite element analysis using modern computer technologies.
ME 4325 Dynamic Systems (3)
Pre-requisite(s): A grade of C or better in ME 2321, MTH 2311, and MTH 3325 and a grade of C or better or concurrent enrollment in ME 4327
Theory, analysis and simulation of dynamic systems including application of Newton's Laws and conservation of energy to model single and multiple degree-of-freedom mechanical and other dynamic engineering systems. Solutions obtained using advanced engineering mathematics and computational software.
ME 4327 Numerical Methods for Engineers (3)
Introduction to engineering computational methods for design, from theory to algorithm to implementation. The course will discuss the following numerical methods from the engineering design perspective: roots of equations, optimization, linear systems, integration and differentiation, curve-fitting, and systems of ordinary differential equations.
ME 4334 Gas Dynamics (3)
This course focuses on compressible flows, where the Mach number is high enough such that the assumption of incompressibility is no longer valid. Compressible flows occur externally and/or internally in many applications, including supersonic/hypersonic jets, rockets, missiles, and more. Topics covered include supersonic flows, shock waves, shock tubes, expansion fans, and compressible flows with friction or heat transfer.
ME 4335 Mechanical Engineering Laboratory (3)
Measurement of fluid flow, heat transfer, power and other properties of mechanical equipment. Design of experiments, selection and use of data acquisition systems, data reporting and presentation.
ME 4336 Thermal Systems Design (3)
Pre-requisite(s): A grade of C or better in or concurrent enrollment in ME 4345
Design and analysis of thermal energy systems such as pipe networks, HVAC systems, and steam power plants. Specification of energy system components such as pumps, pipes, control valves, and heat exchangers.
ME 4339 Tribology (3)
Pre-requisite(s): A grade of C or better in ME 3321
Experimental, analytical, and computational analysis of tribology, which is the study of friction, lubrication, wear, and fatigue between contacting and sliding surfaces. Topics include the nature of rough surfaces, contact mechanics between nonconformal and nominally-flat surfaces, nature of friction, lubricants and lubrication theory, and surface damage and fatigue. Computational analyses of surfaces and lubricant flow will be performed using Python.
ME 4343 Introduction to Computational Fluid Dynamics (3)
Pre-requisite(s): A grade of C or better in ME 3321
Study of numerical methods tailored to solve thermo-fluids governing equations. Classification of partial differential equation (PDE). Finite difference method. Basic concepts of discretization, consistency, and stability. Applications of numerical methods to selected model PDE. Numerical methods for inviscid flow, boundary-layer flow, and the Navier-Stokes equations. supersonic compressible and subsonic incompressible flows.
ME 4344 Composite Materials (3)
Pre-requisite(s): A grade of C or better in ME 3322
Introduction to advanced fiber-reinforced composite materials for engineering design. Topics include applications, material properties, stress analysis techniques, failure theories, and design methodologies.
ME 4345 Heat Transfer (3)
Pre-requisite(s): A grade of C or better in ME 3321
Steady and unsteady heat conduction including numerical solutions, thermal boundary layer concepts and applications to free and forced convection. Thermal radiation concepts. Heat exchanger design.
ME 4346 Introduction to Aeronautics (3)
Pre-requisite(s): A grade of C or better in ME 2321 and a grade of C or better or concurrent enrollment in ME 2345
Introduces the applied science of atmospheric flight. The course teaches about airplanes and how they fly from a design and application perspective. Included are topics in fluid dynamics, airfoil and wing theory, aircraft performance, stability, and aircraft design.
ME 4347 Analysis and Design of Propulsion Systems (3)
Introduction to compressible flow, including flows with simple area change, heat addition, friction, and shock waves. Analysis, parametric design, and performance of ramjets, turbojets, turbofans, and turboprops. Introduction to the operating principles of major engine components. Introduction to rockets.
ME 4349 Aircraft Structural Analysis (3)
Introduction to aircraft structures, including semi-monocoque and thin-walled structures, and the analysis techniques for these specialized structures. Understand the basis for airworthiness certification, aircraft loads, and design considerations in aerospace structures. Topics include elasticity, torsion, bending and shear stresses in thin walled structures; shear flow, and shear center.
ME 4350 Aircraft Flight Dynamics and Control (3)
Development of aircraft equations of motion. Examination of aircraft dynamic modes based on both limited and full degree of freedom models utilizing analytical and numerical methods. Aircraft design considerations. Determination and evaluation of aircraft flying qualities. Application of control system theory to the design of aircraft stability augmentation systems and autopilots.
ME 4354 Rocket Propulsion (3)
Introduction to performance analysis of liquid and solid chemical rockets systems. Thrust, efficiency and other derivations, along with Thrust and Flight profile development.
ME 4355 Orbital Mechanics and Space Flight (3)
Study of spacecraft motion, including Kepler’s laws, orbits, and orbital maneuvers. Other topics include history, Newton’s laws, transfer efficiency, escape velocity, and re-entry.
ME 4356 Introduction to Space Flight (3)
An interdisciplinary introduction to the basics, concepts, methods, and applications of space flight. Topics include fundamental principles, history, space environment, orbital mechanics, launch vehicles, propulsion systems, spacecraft (e.g., satellites, probes, space stations), applications (Earth observation, astronomy, interplanetary exploration, commercial utilization), international space efforts, regulations, and future activities.
ME 4357 Cardiovascular Engineering and Instrumentation (3)
See BME 4357 for course information.
ME 4360 Renewable Energy Devices (3)
Cross-listed as EGR 4360
Introduction to the basic concepts, principles, potential, and limitations of several energy conversion and storage devices with a focus on solar cells, fuel cells, batteries, inverters, wind power, and hydropower with real world examples. Design and/or application of various renewable energy sources, materials, and devices.
ME 4362 Principles of Process Engineering (3)
Pre-requisite(s): Senior standing in Engineering or instructor approval
Overview of the principles of process engineering, where process engineering is loosely described as converting matter from raw materials to more valuable forms. Provides an understanding of the major aspects of process engineering as embodied in chemical, environmental, or biomolecular engineering.
ME 4363 Advanced Concepts of Process Engineering (3)
Pre-requisite(s): C or better in ME 4362
Provides a deeper examination of some process engineering topics initially covered in the “Principles of Process Engineering” course. Topics include reaction engineering, unit operations, chemical measurements, process data analysis, and flowsheeting of a process.
ME 4364 Introduction to Additive Manufacturing (3)
Co-requisite(s):
Pre-requisite(s): A grade of C or better or concurrent enrollment in ME 3322
This course introduces various aspects of additive manufacturing, which has become prominent in industry over the past two decades. The aim of this course is to give the students a basic understanding of additive manufacturing and its use in design, both for rapid prototyping and for functional manufacturing. Specifically, this course will highlight the advances that additive manufacturing makes upon traditional manufacturing techniques.
ME 4380 Microscopy Techniques for Material Science (3)
Pre-requisite(s): C or better in ME 3322
Introduction to the basic principles of structural, chemical and property characterization techniques. The course is grounded in modern X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy techniques for characterization of the chemical and structural properties of a material. The course introduces the fundamental theoretical framework for diffraction, spectrometry and imaging methods.
ME 4381 Advanced Mechanics of Materials (3)
Analysis of stresses and strains at a point, stress-strain relationships, stresses due to various loading conditions, theories of failure, energy methods, shear center, unsymmetrical bending, curved beams, torsion in closed and open cell cross-sections, principles of plastic analysis, and buckling analysis.
ME 4382 Selection of Materials and Manufacturing Processes in Design (3)
Systematic approach for selection of materials and manufacturing process in design that balances performance requirements with cost of materials and manufacturing. Material properties, manufacturing processes and types of materials. Advanced computer software and case studies are used to illustrate application of principles.
ME 4384 Engineering with Plastics (3)
Pre-requisite(s): A grade of C or better in ME 3322
Introduction to engineering plastics, including manufacturing process and mechanical properties, elastic and viscoelastic behavior of polymers and polymeric composites, predicting long-term behavior from short-term tests using time-temperature-superposition, relating chemical structure to mechanical properties for thermosets and amorphous or semi-crystalline thermoplastics, environmental stress cracking in polymers, relating processing to mechanical properties, introduction to injection molding, extrusion, thermoforming, compression molding, and blow molding.
ME 4385 Failure Analysis and Product Liability (3)
Pre-requisite(s): A grade of C or better in ME 3322
How components and systems fail; how to determine the probable cause of specific failures; practical skills to do failure analyses; product liability as it applies to product failures and litigation. Class time and homework assignment will use principally a case studies approach.
ME 4386 Properties and Processing of Electronic Materials (3)
Pre-requisite(s): A grade of C or better in ME 3322
Modern microelectronic technologies utilize the electrical, magnetic and optical properties of materials to develop new devices for a wide variety of cutting edge applications. A strong foundation in materials physics and chemistry helps engineers/scientists to understand these properties. The course will highlight: 1) structure-property relationships and 2) materials used for various electronic and optoelectronic device applications.
ME 4388 Corrosion and Sustainable Metallurgy (3)
Pre-requisite(s): A grade of C or better in ME 3322
Introduction to the eight forms of corrosion. Sustainable engineering concepts, with an emphasis on metallic materials. Alternative metallic designs. Course will culminate in a sustainable materials design project.
ME 4390 Engineering Design II (3)
Pre-requisite(s): A grade of C or better in EGR 3380, final Fall or Spring semester before graduation; A grade of C or better in STA 3381; A grade of C or better in ME 3323
A capstone design course for emphasizing the decision-making process that must be used by a practicing engineer to apply the basic sciences in order to convert resources optimally to meet stated objectives. Oral and written reports are required.
ME 4391 Aerospace Design I (3)
Pre-requisite(s): C or better in ME 3349
An introduction to aircraft and spacecraft design. Discussion of basic mission considerations for spacecraft design including space environment, astrodynamics and atmospheric re-entry. Introduction to process of aircraft conceptual design - from requirements definition to initial sizing, configuration layout, analysis, optimization, and trade studies.
ME 4392 Aerospace Design II (3)
A capstone design course allowing students to focus on either an aircraft or a spacecraft design. Application of concepts and design theory developed in earlier courses to the design of an aerospace vehicle.
ME 4396 Special Topics in Mechanical Engineering (3)
Pre-requisite(s): Consent of Department Chair
Study of advanced topics in mechanical engineering. This course may be repeated once under a different topic.
ME 4V97 Special Projects in Mechanical Engineering (1-6)
Pre-requisite(s): Consent of department chair
Advanced topics and/or special project activities in Mechanical Engineering.
ME 4V9R Research in Mechanical Engineering (3)
Pre-requisite(s): Consent of instructor
Undergraduate research supervised by a faculty member. May be taken for a maximum of 6 hours.