Mechanical engineering is an engineering branch that combines engineering physics and mathematics principles with materials science to design, analyze, manufacture, and maintain mechanical systems. It is one of the oldest and broadest of the engineering branches.Mechanical engineering combines creativity, knowledge and analytical tools to complete the difficult task of shaping an idea into reality.
The mechanical engineering field requires an understanding of core areas including mechanics, dynamics, thermodynamics, materials science, structural analysis, and electricity. In addition to these core principles, mechanical engineers use tools such as computer-aided design (CAD), computer-aided manufacturing (CAM), and product lifecycle management to design and analyze manufacturing plants, industrial equipment and machinery, heating and cooling systems, transport systems, aircraft, watercraft, robotics, medical devices, weapons, and others. It is the branch of engineering that involves the design, production, and operation of machinery.Mechanical engineering emerged as a field during the Industrial Revolution in Europe in the 18th century; however, its development can be traced back several thousand years around the world. In the 19th century, developments in physics led to the development of mechanical engineering science. The field has continually evolved to incorporate advancements; today mechanical engineers are pursuing developments in such areas as composites, mechatronics, and nanotechnology. It also overlaps with aerospace engineering, metallurgical engineering, civil engineering, electrical engineering, manufacturing engineering, chemical engineering, industrial engineering, and other engineering disciplines to varying amounts. Mechanical engineers may also work in the field of biomedical engineering, specifically with biomechanics, transport phenomena, biomechatronics, bionanotechnology, and modelling of biological systems.
Hey guys. I'm graduating in mechanical engineering at a university in Brazil. I'm currently on my second semester.
I've started running after a mechanical engineering degree mostly because I've got a strong interest in the field of aircraft engineering, and my initial plan was to graduate in...
I'm designing a fixture for quality control and need a few precision holes. Their diameters range from 1/8" to 5/16" and need to be ±0.0002" with a depth of 1/2". I've been looking into EDM hole making and honing, but neither seem to be great for that range of diameters. Anyone know of any other...
Hello,
I'm a Mechanical Engineering student about to begin my third year. After getting a little taste of what MechE's do, I find myself losing interest. I was undecided between MechE and Physics from the beginning, and I believe I'm preferring engineering only because of the jobs. I should also...
Hi everyone,
I'm french, so sorry for my bad english.
I have a problem to compute the damping as a function of frequency. In fact, I plot the transfer function between the input (which is a force applied bu a hammer) and the output (which is an acceleration). Therefore, I can analyse the mode...
Hello,
I have completed my bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering and will be joining for my masters degree in mechanical engineering shortly. I am planning to become a drilling engineer in the petroleum industry. So in order to achieve my goal, what are the recommended courses that i...
what is the formula for the cantilever beam having two different young's modulas and moment of inertia, when a point load is acting on the free end.
i have been trying but unable to get the formula. if the formula i can validate my project work and complete it
Hello everyone, I know this has come up a lot in the past but my situation is slightly different. As is everyones. Currently a second year general engineering student with a decision to make soon, MEng Mechanical or MEng Civil?
I enjoy both subjects equally. But I will be taking an...
Hello all,
I am a Senior in Mechanical Engineering and I am in need of some advice for selecting some classes for the upcoming year. I need to select two of the three options listed below.
Mechanical Vibrations
Automatic Control Systems
Manufacturing Process
These three courses are electives...
I like maths & also like physics. So can i make career in mech. engineering ?
I am not good at programming. So if I wish to take computer engineering, it is good choice ?
Please suggest best engineering branches. I'm very confused.
Homework Statement
The figure shows an adjustable pipe wrench, drawn to scale. The geometry of the mechanism is arranged so that the jaws clamp more tightly as force is applied to the handle. Friction between the jaws and the pipe transfers a torque from the jaws to the pipe.
Find the critical...
Hello,
I am moving into a new house, remodeling, etc. & am installing a new A/C compressor and radon fan. Being that low frequency noise highly bothers me & affects my insomnia quite a bit, I am trying to look at all considerations regarding acoustics, mechanical sound propagation properties...
Homework Statement
presentation of a component and its mechanical concerns along with some mathematics behind it.
Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution
I really have no idea how to even start this but I thought of doing the spring in mechanical pens. I would appreciate any help :)
Hi, I am currently trying to decide between a master in nuclear or mechanical engineering. I did my BS in mechanical engineering.
If I dicide in a MS in nuclear engineering I am planning in focusing in the development of better and safer fission reactors and later on doing a PhD in fussion. I...
It has been a while since I was involved with my differential equations. I am a mech student. I was trying out a sample problem from the dynamics book and came upon this equation.
k = some constant of proportionality for a spring pushing back a spring mounted slider.
(1/k) arcsin(ks/v_0) = t...
Hi, I am seeking some opinions regarding a degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology. I do understand the general scope of the degree opposed to Mechanical Engineering. I am without a college education and working full-time in Quality Control at an industrial CO2 laser company. A local...
Little bit of a disclaimer: if you take a look at my first (introductory) post, you'll see that I'm working towards aerospace engineering; therefore, this is leaning towards turbopump design, but for the time being I'll start out slow.
Basically, I'd like it if anyone could help me get a sense...
I got to know about robotics 5-6 years ago after watching a program in the Discovery network. I even joined robotics classes and i found it fascinating. (They gave me LEGO mindstorm kits). I also learned C programming and i know python as well.(my friend told me that its important to know C...
I'm new to this forum, and would just like to say this is a very impressive site. My question is what is the best path way in school to design heat exchangers for power plants (more geared towards nuclear power plants.)
I'm currently finishing my first year of school studying mechanical...
Hi,
I've been grappling with a calculation that appears to give me a good result, however my gut feeling says other wise. Could someone please check the layout and possibly confirm my final answer. Attached is the layout of the system.
The system: -There is a long arm, d1+d2 is one link. then...
Hello everyone :)
For a while now I have been a lurker on this website. I absolutely love the amount answers one can find to their questions.
However, at the moment I am facing a great difficulty in deciding which university I should go to.
I have been accepted by several top universities...
Homework Statement
The problem is asking to find the change in temperature of forged cylinder. I know how to calculate this, , however I am struggling to find the work done on the cylinder, which is required to solve this problem. The cylinder is annealed copper, which is compressed from a...
Hello I have recently applied for college and I put down mechanical engineering as my number 1. I ament that good at maths in fact I struggle with it, but I am very good at solid works and I love working with metals. I still don't know if mechanical engineering is mainly designing or if there is...
I'm working on a school project (Plant layout). In the project, I'm in the planning phase of a new product and I need to have some standard data for motion time study (i.e. assembling) to determine equipment, space and people needed in the plant. Where can I find such data?
I am 17 years old and aspiring to be an engineer. When I go to university next year the course I will be studying is Computer-Aided Mechanical Engineering. I wanted to study just Mechanical Engineering however I did not get into the university that does it and this is the only course that I want...
I have a bachelor degree in Mechanical Engineering and I am interested in CFD. I have an admit offer for MS in Nuclear Engineering at UIUC with RA and MS in Mechanical Engineering at Stanford without any assistantship. Which one is a better option to choose considering the fact that I am not a...
Hello everyone, I am starting my third year in Mechanical Engineering. I wish to get a degree in physics after my bachelors, theoretical physics, to be precise. So what extra courses should I take now in order to be ready for grad. school ?
Please note that my college does not offer minors.
Homework Statement
For a crystalline metal material
- Elastic modulus E
- Poisson ratio v
- A table with test data of stresses vs. total strains, from a monotonic uniaxial tension test, which generates a stress-strain curve.
How would you use this data to find the corresponding pure shear...
Hello, all. I am currently a Junior in Mechanical Engineering. I was doing really well up until this current semester and my grades are starting to get lower and I have been losing interest in the material. I am considering switching to civil because their technical gpa requirements are a bit...
Lately I've started learning about fuel cells, particularly proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC), and a fairly basic question that has been bugging me is: Since the cathode is positive, it is clear why the electrons flow through the load and to the cathode, but why do the...
[ mod note: moved from homework ]
as a mechanical project we have been asked to design a micro steam car. we have chosen to use a wobbler engine for this. The aim of the project to see how far this car can travel based on a given amount of fuel. We are making a boiler which will provide the...
I have recently completed my A levels with 3 A's in Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics (mechanics)
Growing up I've always been fascinated by both aircraft engineering and astrophysics (how the universe came into being, how its going to end, big bang and big crunch etc.)
My question is for a...
Hi! I'm currently in senior high and I'm planning to take Mechanical Engineering for my college.I want to make advance research this incoming vacation about the different things or should I call "topics" about mechanical engineering where would I start? thank you :D
Homework Statement , [/B]I have to recommend a linear portion control sensor, that can be used in an explosive enviroment. Unsafe electrical contacts should be avoided and the case must not permit any dust or water.Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution . [/B]My thoughts are either a LVDT...
Homework Statement
For reasons based on cost,weight,availability , etc., the choice is made to construct the rod from aluminum of
σall = 100 MPA. What is an appropriate choice for the rod diameter ? Givens: (P=50 KN)
Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution
σall=P/A , then he get the Area...
My name is Vivek And i have just joined this forum.I am mechanical engineering student but i have great interest in aerospace.I want to learn more and more about aerospace and mechanical.I can made simple aeromodelling projects side by side just to enhance my aerospace engineering knowledge.Hope...
I'm currently studying Mechanical Engineering at Level 3 in the UK and I'm beginning my integrated masters in September. I've missed a large chunk of my studies this year due to a broken collarbone I sustained earlier in the year. Instead of getting any special dispensation I'm trying to work my...
Hello, I'm currently a freshman planning to pursue Mechanical Engineering with the intent of getting a Master's in Nuclear Engineering. I am attempting to decide whether or not to pursue a minor in physics because I deeply enjoy physics. However, my degree by itself is challenging and I want to...
My group and I are high schoolers working on an engineering project and need input. The project concerns preventing needlestick injuries and we would greatly appreciate anyone that takes the time to answer our survey. Thank you.
<< Survey link deleted by Moderator >>
Homework Statement
A closed, rigid tank contains a two-phase liquid-vapor mixture of Refrigerant 22 initially at -20 C with a quality of 50.36%. Energy transfer by heat into the tank occurs until the refrigerant is at a final pressure of 6 bar. Determine the final temperature. If the final...
Because there are only so many characters I can put in the title I will future explain down here. I want to do design/work on many things... I don't know how likely it is for me to do these things, but I want to work on electric motors, generators, nuclear reactors, Combustion engines, steam...
There are probably numerous threads like this, I have read them all but I'm still undecided. I am a high school senior and applying to UK universities - I have applied to more than one subject (three, actually: civil, mechanical engineering and computing, all from Imperial College) and received...
I am currently a freshman getting my undergrad in Physics, but I want to be a mechanical engineer. However, my school does not offer a degree in mechanical engineering. I would consider transferring out, but I have a full ride. The physics department at my school is also fairly good and they...
Hi everyone,
I'm a sophomore in college and we have a project discussing mechanical engineering. I'd like to know what you thought your career would be like before you graduated and now that you're in your career what is the reality.
Addition questions:
How long after college did you wait for...
So here's the deal, currently I am in med school (1st year) and the thing is i didnt love it but I am starting to hate it now
Initially i wantet to study mechanical engineering but i thought i wasnt good enough since I am not naturally good at math (i love physics though),i also was afraid on...
Okay, I hope I'm not bothering, but I just need some help, I'm a 16 years old guy from Egypt, I love Engineering and I've learned the Autodesk Inventor in 2011 (I was only 13), anyway, I need to boost my abilities to be able to be an mechanical engineer, I'm still in high school, but I'm willing...
Hello,
I am a 3rd mechanical engineering major who is heavily interested into going into the nanotechnology field. I chose mechanical engineering because it is a very broad and powerful field. I have heavily interested in nanotechnology and I would love to pursue that field for a career...
I'm trying to design an entirely mechanical system for returning an extension spring to its extended state, without the assistance of electronics, pneumatics, hydraulics or any other form of auxiliary power. It's for a soft exosuit concept that simply enhances the speed and ease of walking or...