Mechanical Engineering

This course covers basic mechanical engineering knowledge and theory of mechanics of materials, and how they are used to solve practical engineering problems. Topics include introduction to statics, concept of stress and strain, analysis of stresses and deflections in a loaded beam, torsion of a circular bar as well as analysis of frames and machines. The course requires students to take prerequisites.

This course introduces the concept "Design for X" (DfX), which is well established within product development. In any product development project, it is essential to ensure that the product satisfies the functions it is designed for. But many other issues are caused by, or affect the properties of the product: is the product reliable, sustainable, is it easy to assemble, and inexpensive to manufacture? In this course, the following "design for Xs" are included: design for manufacturing and assembly (DFMA), design for additive manufacturing (DFAM), robust design, design for environment (DFE), and design to cost (DtC).

In this research course, students chose from a range of research topics in various academic fields and receive one-on-one training from an experienced mentor who helps them refine research ideas, formulate questions, define methods of data collection, execute a plan, and present findings. Students review background information for their project, summarize its key outcomes, write a clear and concise research paper or report, and present results orally.

This module introduces the various standards and techniques of sketching, how to prepare engineering drawings and specifications, and how to interpret drawings. Students use advanced commercial CAD software to do 3D solid modeling. Above all, this module expands the students’ creative talent and enhances their ability to communicate their ideas in a meaningful manner. Major topics include: principles of projections; isometric; orthographic and isometric sketching; 3D solid modeling; sectioning and dimensioning; drawing standards; and limits, fits, and geometrical tolerances. This module provides the student with the fundamental knowledge to do calculations on design components like bolts, screws, fasteners, weld joints, springs, gears, material selection, fatigue, bearings, and shafts.

The course comprises basic parts from rigid body mechanics as well as deformable body mechanics and strength of materials. In rigid body mechanics, both static and dynamic problems are treated. In statics, the equations of equilibrium are formulated from free body diagrams, and problems with concentrated as well as distributed forces are handled. The distributed forces come from applications in hydrostatics and the computation of centroids. The dynamics part of the course is based on the laws of Newton. Particle motion is described in linear and curvilinear coordinates and the equations of motion of the particle are established. Equivalent formulations based on the principles of preservation of energy and momentum are also treated. Examples of applications are taken both from daily life experiences such as climbing ladders, moving furniture, riding a bike or a rollercoaster, and technical applications from robotics and ballistics. In deformable body mechanics, the tensorial concepts of stress and strain are first defined. The relations between stress and strain, i.e. constitutive laws, for different materials are established and applications from the dimensioning of different simple construction elements (lines, rods, beams, and trusses) are treated. Important phenomena such as fatigue and fracture are also discussed.

The course is practically oriented, and students work in project groups with the different concepts/change management methods before seminars and with a major project work together with a company (or other organization) during the course. A significant part of the course is made up of literature seminars, where the students actively discuss and analyze research articles in the field.

This course provides individual research training for students in the Junior Year Engineering Program through the experience of belonging to a specific laboratory at Tohoku University. Students are assigned to a laboratory with the consent of the faculty member in charge. They participate in various group activities, including seminars, for the purposes of training in research methods and developing teamwork skills. The specific topic studied depends on the instructor in charge of the laboratory to which each student is assigned. The methods of assessment vary with the student's project and laboratory instructor. Students submit an abstract concerning the results of their individual research each semester and present the results near the end of this program.

This course provides the technical expertise on various thermal and power cycle technologies as well as the tools needed to assess and evaluate various optimized solutions. The course builds upon previous knowledge in thermodynamics theory and cycle analysis.

The Individual Research Training Senior (IRT Senior) Course is an advanced course of the Individual Research Training A (IRT A) course in the Tohoku University Junior Year Program in English (JYPE) in the fall semester. Though short-term international exchange students are not degree candidates at Tohoku University, a similar experience is offered by special arrangement. Students are required to submit: an abstract concerning the results of their IRT Senior project, a paper (A4, 20-30 pages) on their research at the end of the exchange term, and an oral presentation on the results of their IRT Senior project near the end of the term.