Mechanical Engineering

This course develops key mathematical and computational skills relevant to the wider mechanical engineering program. Topics include vector algebra, real analysis, limits, curve sketching, series, applications of integration, complex analysis, functions of more than one variable, matrix algebra, second order ordinary differential equations, and vector calculus. Practical implementation through programming is studied to solve problems selected from the topic areas.

The course introduces Mechatronics as a fundamental concept for modelling and designing machine systems, and to encourage electrical systems to be modeled in a manner compatible with mechanical systems using system concepts; to develop an ability to design, and select components for simple electromechanical systems; and to develop mastery of modelling concepts which have direct equivalents in mechanical systems theory, e.g. equivalent characteristics, operating diagrams, complex impedance.

This project instructs on the basics of image processing a professor's lab, including use of Python, OpenCV, and numpy. Students are expected to write a code for license plate identification by the end of the semester. 

This course enables students to master essential topics in vibrations and dynamics and contributes to the development of their analytical, design, and communication skills. Upon completion of the course, students are able to discuss the dynamical behavior of one-degree-of-freedom dynamical systems in general terms using the concepts of natural frequency, damping, free response, forced response, transmissibility, isolation, phasor diagrams, and Bode plots; discuss the dynamical behavior of multi-degree-of-freedom systems in terms of natural frequencies and associated mode shapes; use the concept of modal summation; discuss the concepts of energy-work done; and understand linear momentum, linear impulse, angular momentum, angular impulse, and simple gyroscopic motion.

The topics covered on this course include dimensional analysis, the mass-conservation and momentum-balance principles applied to a fluid particle, the differential form of the governing equations (Navier-Stokes), compressible flows (speed of sound, Mach cone, isentropic-flow relations and converging-diverging nozzles), as well as incompressible flows with exact (Couette-Poiseuille flows) and approximate (boundary layers, Blasius solution, lubrication) solutions, and an introduction to turbulence.