ME 104Q THE ENGINEERING OF BRIDGES
An introduction to the art of bridge building based on the study of the engineering and technological problems involved in the design, construction, and collapse of bridges from antiquity to the present time. The course includes several case studies of major historical bridges selected for their structural significance. Students learn how to calculate the forces acting on structural elements, how these forces depend on the bridge structural form, how the form itself is conditioned by the structural materials, and how forces are measured with electromechanical instrumentation. The study includes fundamental notions of mechanics, strength of materials, structural behavior, instrumentation failure analysis, and design optimization. Working on teams, students use constructive experimental models as well as computer-aided programs to design, build, instrument, and test realistic bridge projects. This is a self-contained course open to all Rochester undergraduates.
ME 106 ENGINEERING IN ANTIQUITY
Application of engineering principles and technology to the design and performance of engineering structures from antiquity to the pre-industrial world. Engineering principles (transfer of forces, momentum, and energy), study of primary texts (in translation), and examination of existing structures/monuments. Primary texts include selections from Aristotle’s Mechanical Problems, Vitruvius’Ten Books on Architecture, Leonardo’s Notebooks, Galileo’s Dialogues on Two New Sciences. Emphasis on engineering design of engineered structures from the Bronze Age to the 18th century. Topics: Evolution of engineered materials (metals, wood, stone, marble, concrete, composites) and limitations; Bronze Age fortifications; Structural design of Greek temples; Roman aqueducts, siphons, and vaults; Force, power and energy sources and transmission; Failure of materials; Lifting devices; Construction engineering; Columns, beams, vaults, trusses, frames; Instruments of warfare. Open to all undergraduates.
ME 107 MECHANICS & OPTICS IN ANTIQUITIES
The basic principles of mechanics and optics as they developed in ancient Greece, Rome, China and Europe and the emergence of mechanics and optics prior to the industrial revolution. Examples: Law of the lever (Aristotle and Archimedes); Center of gravity (Archimedes and Galileo); Gears, metalworking, and the Antikythera mechanism; Hellenistic science; Medieval mechanics and optics; Mechanical designs of Leonardo da Vinci; Development of glass-making, eyeglasses, the telescope (Galileo, Kepler, Newton); Lens grinding and polishing; Dynamics and strength of materials (Galileo); The emergence of mechanics (Newton) and optics (Kepler). The course includes basic mechanics and optics; study of texts (in English translation); and study of artifacts and archaeological and historical discoveries.
ME 107W MECHANICS & OPTICS IN ANTIQUITY
The basic principles of mechanics and optics as they developed in ancient Greece, Rome, China and Europe and the emergence of mechanics and optics prior to the industrial revolution. Examples: Law of the lever (Aristotle and Archimedes); Center of gravity (Archimedes and Galileo); Gears, metalworking, and the Antikythera mechanism; Hellenistic science; Medieval mechanics and optics; Mechanical designs of Leonardo da Vinci; Development of glass-making, eyeglasses, the telescope (Galileo, Kepler, Newton); Lens grinding and polishing; Dynamics and strength of materials (Galileo); The emergence of mechanics (Newton) and optics (Kepler). The course includes basic mechanics and optics; study of texts (in English translation); and study of artifacts and archaeological and historical discoveries. Upper level writing.
ME 110 INTRODUCTION TO CAD AND DRAWING
This course covers engineering drawing, and modeling using the Computer Aided Design software Pro/ENGINEER. Topics include orthographic projections, solid modeling, assemblies, and dimensioning. Students will complete the course with a fundamental ability to create and understand solid modeling, and engineering drawings using state of the art PC CAD software. Lectures will make use of a computer projection screen as well as individual computers for each student.
ME 120 ENGINEERING MECHANICS I
Basic concepts; units; vector algebra; forces; moments; force systems; equilibrium. Plane trusses; method of joints; method of sections; space trusses; frames and machines. Centroids of lines, areas, and volumes; center of mass. Distributed loads on beams; internal forces in beams; distributed loads on cables. Basic concepts of friction; dry friction; friction in machines.
ME 121 ENGINEERING MECHANICS II
This course uses an engineering approach to the solution of dynamics problems with an emphasis on conceptual understanding. Topics include kinematics and kinetics of particles and rigid bodies.
ME 123 THERMODYNAMICS
Course Content: thermodynamic systems, properties, equilibrium, and processes; energy and the first law; properties of simple compressible substances; control volume analysis; steady and transient states; entropy and the second law, general thermodynamic relations.
ME 201 APPLIED BOUNDARY VALUE PROBLEMS
This course covers the classical partial differential equations of mathematical physics: the heat equation, the Laplace equation, and the wave equation. The primary technique covered in the course is separation of variables, which leads to solutions in the form of eigenfunction expansions. The topics include Fourier series, separation of variables, Sturm-Liouville theory, unbounded domains and the Fourier transform, spherical coordinates and Legendre’s equation, cylindrical coordinates and Bessel’s equation. The software package Mathematica will be used extensively. Prior knowledge of Mathematica is helpful but not essential. In the last two weeks of the course, there will be a project on an assigned topic. The course will include applications in heat conduction, electrostatics, fluid flow, and acoustics.
ME 202 INTRODUCTION TO APPLIED COMPLEX VARIABLES
Complex numbers and the complex plane; analytic functions; elementary functions; complex integration; series expansions; residue theory; multi-valued functions; conformal mapping. Applications: use of complex functions in oscillation theory; solution of Laplaces equation; evaluation of definite integrals by contour integration; series solutions of ordinary differential equations.
ME 203 ASPECTS OF MODERN DESIGN
Aspects of modern design, with emphasis on mechanical design. Professional ethics and economic planning of projects. Preliminary design, team formation, communication. Precision engineering; Design of experiments and dealing with uncertainty; Practical finite elements and applications to structures and optomechanics. Failure theories. Structural dynamics. Material selection.
ME 204 MECHANICAL DESIGN
The theory and application of structural mechanics to mechanical design. Topics include: matrix structural analysis and finite element techniques. Students will use the NASTRAN finite element program to solve a variety of design and analysis problems. The term project consists of a team competition to design, analyze build, and test a lightweight structure.
ME 205 ADVANCED MECHANICAL DESIGN
In this design-based senior capstone project course,student teams devise solutions to real-world mechanical engineering problems that are submitted and mentored by industry and/or faculty. Formal design reviews and engineering reports are used to document results. The capstone project culminates in students presenting their projects at Senior Design Day. Lectures concentrate on machine design, the engineering design process, and special topics.
ME 206 BUILDING ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY IN ANTIQUIY
Engineering and technological problems involved in the design, construction, maintenance, and collapse of major buildings and infrastructural systems from antiquity to the pre-industrial world drawing material from case studies of relevant monuments primarily from Classical Rome and Greece, and the Middle Ages.
ME 207 ROMAN STRUCTURES: BUILDING THE IMPERIAL CITY
This course examines the engineering and technology in Roman Imperial times as related to building design, construction, and maintenance of large-scale projects in the city of Rome. The course begins with a mandatory study-on-location component in Italy in the summer. Topics include forces, materials, and structural design. ME 106, Engineering in Antiquity, is recommended but not required. The course is appropriate for students in the humanities and the social sciences as well as in engineering. Coursework includes homework assignments, midterm exam, and term project. Additional program fee for the study-on-location in Italy is required.
ME 211 COMPUTATIONAL METHODS
Introduction to Matlab; solution of linear equations; interpolation; numerical differentiation and integration; root finding; data fitting; numerical solution of ordinary differential equations.
ME 213 MECHANICAL SYSTEMS
Free and forced vibrations. Complex representation, the Euler-Lagrange equations, state space, matrix methods, Laplace transforms. Feedback control of linear systems in state space: stabilization, tracking and observers.
ME 222 INTRODUCTION TO ROBUST DESIGN & QUALITY ENGINEERING
Definition and pursuit of "quality" as a design criterion. The concept of robust design. Selection of the quality characteristic, incorporation of noise, and experimental design to improve robustness. Analysis and interpretation of results.
ME 223 HEAT TRANSFER
Review of thermodynamic concepts; energy balances; heat transfer mechanisms. Steady-state heat conduction; concept of thermal resistance; conduction in walls, cylinders, and spheres; cooling fins. Transient heat conduction; lumped parameter systems; transient conduction in plane walls; transient conduction in semi-infinite solids. Numerical analysis of conduction; finite difference analysis; one-dimensional steady conduction; two-dimensional steady conduction; transient conduction. Fundamentals of convection; fluid flow and heat transfer; energy equation; convective heat transfer from flat plate; use of dimensional analysis. External forced convection; flow over flat plates; flow past cylinders and spheres; flow across tube banks. Internal forced convection; thermal analysis of flow in tubes; laminar flow in tubes; turbulent flow in tubes. Heat exchangers; overall heat transfer coefficient; log mean temperature analysis; effectiveness-NTU method.
ME 225 INTRODUCTION TO FLUID DYNAMICS
Fluid properties; fluid statics; kinematics of moving fluids; the Bernoulli equation and applications; control volume analysis; differential analysis of fluid flow; inviscid flow, plane potential flow; viscous flow, the Navier-Stokes equation; dimensional analysis, similitude; empirical analysis of pipe flows; flow over immersed bodies, boundary layers, lift and drag.
ME 226 INTRODUCTION TO SOLID MECHANICS
Description: Loads and displacements, stress and strain in solids. Laws of elasticity. Mechanical properties of materials. Thermal stresses. Axial loading. Pressure vessels. Plane stress and plane strain. Stress and strain tensor rotations; principal stresses, principal strains. Torsion and bending of beams. Energy methods. Buckling.
ME 232 OPTO-MECHANICAL
The mechanical design and analysis of optical components and systems will be studied. Topics will include kinematic mounting of optical elements, the analysis of adhesive bonds, and the influence of environmental effects such as gravity, temperature, and vibration on the performance of optical systems. Additional topics include analysis of adaptive optics, the design of lightweight mirrors, thermo-optic and stress-optic (stress birefringence) effects. Emphasis will be placed on integrated analysis which includes the data transfer between optical design codes and mechanical FEA codes. A term project is required for ME 432.
ME 241 FLUIDS LAB
Laboratory course. Introductory Lecture(s) on lab practice and data analysis. The lab itself consists of two parts: The first part uses simple experiments to familiarize the student with computer data acquisitions and some basic instrumentation. In the second part, students (working in groups of three) perform independent experimental projects. The course has significant writing content and makes formal use of the Writing Center. In addition to written and oral laboratory reports, each group is expected to make a final poster presentation of its work.
ME 242 SOLIDS & MATERIALS LAB
In this course, you will apply previously learned theoretical concepts to
practical problems and applications. In addition, you will learn experimental
techniques and enhance your technical writing skills. This course has two
parts, a series of small laboratory exercises and a project. During the
semester, students will work in groups of three to complete the assigned work,
labs, and reports. The lab section of the course is designed to present basic
applied concepts that will be useful to a broad base of engineering problems.
The project portion is where you will work on a more specific idea, tailored
around your desired future goals.
ME 251 HEAT POWER APPLICATION
Vapor power systems, gas power systems, refrigeration and heat pumps, internal combustion engines, compressors and turbines.
ME 253 INTRODUCTION TO NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
This course will cover the basic principles behind the operation of nuclear fission reactors, describe existing and planned reactor designs, cover radiation and radiation protection and briefly discuss the potential of nuclear fusion and attempts to produce a fusion reaction.
ME 280 INTRODUCTION TO MATERIALS SCIENCE
Properties of engineering materials including metals, alloys, ceramics, polymers and composites. Relationship of properties to the materials microstructure including atomic bonding, atomic arrangement, crystal structure, co-existing phases, interfaces, defects and impurities. Processing techniques for altering the microstructure and properties.
ME 291 VEHICLE DESIGN AND DYNAMICS
Engineering design aspects of car dynamics, with hands-on workshop for vehicle measurements and data. Tire behavior, center of gravity, vehicle axis systems and SAE tire axis system, stability and control, break system, suspension, steering. Applications to SAE Mini Baja design. Course offered August 30th through October 30th.