Mechanical Engineering

In the study of physiology and anatomy, the course explores how organs are built and how they work together. The building stones of the human body (bone, articular cartilage, ligaments, tendons, muscles, blood, and body fluids) are described and situated in the context of students' previous knowledge of mechanics and solid mechanics. Concepts like constitutive equations and evolution laws are applied to biological material, like bone, where effects from mechanical loading on the inner structure are modeled. The architecture of the skeleton and the apparatus of locomotion are described as a mechanical system where the bones are coupled together in joints and the activity in the muscles controls the movements.

This interaction between actors in the energy market creates opportunities to use energy more efficiently and reduces the environmental impact of the energy system. It is therefore important to be able to understand the limitations and possibilities of the components and to optimize their usage within the energy system. This course provides engineering expertise regarding energy processes and components within energy systems, and provides the tools needed to argue, judge, and evaluate possible solutions. Prior knowledge of thermodynamics is required.

The course is the first of two fluid mechanics courses that are taught concurrently in a single semester. Students take Fluid Mechanics I and then either Fluid Mechanics II (Technique and Examples) or II (Higher Flow Level). This course discusses the fundamental concepts of fluid mechanics including hydrostatic and kinematic behavior of fluids, differential and integral laws of conservation, laminar and turbulent flow, and the theory behind fluid dynamics. The course consists of two hour lectures which review the course concepts, and two hour seminars in which students solve problems.

This course provides a method for solving physical problems that are described by partial differential equations. The course project gives students an experience and theoretical understanding in solving comprehensive physical problems using the finite element method.  The course content includes: strong and weak formulation of differential equations; approximating functions; Galerkin’s method; finite element formulation of heat conduction; finite element formulation of deformable bodies; finite element formulation of bending; and isoparametric elements and numerical integration.

This course provides students with an understanding of the tools and techniques required to interface between mechanical components and the wider world, involving sensing, actuation (e.g. motors) modelling and control.