Programs - Mechanical Engineering

  The mechanical engineering curriculum is designed to prepare students for productive careers in industry, government, education and private consulting as well as for graduate study. Thus, it is based on the fundamental principles of science and engineering. These provide a strong foundation that enables students to apply what they have learned to the complex technological problems of today and to teach themselves the new technologies of tomorrow. Since mechanical engineering is a broad field of endeavor, the curriculum offers a strong technical elective program to allow each student to craft a broad educational experience and to develop the flexibility to pursue diverse career goals.

   No less than any professional, the mechanical engineering graduate must work within the social and environmental context of our world. To be effective and successful, he or she must be aware of the roles of engineering and science in solving complex technological and social problems as well as of the impacts of social and environmental factors on engineering activities such as design. To foster this awareness, the curriculum allows the student an unusually wide choice of social science and humanities electives and emphasizes the links between society and engineering through courses such as Engineering Systems Design.

   The strength of any department is its faculty. The mechanical engineering faculty are committed to providing a dynamic and innovative learning environment and to maintaining and increasing their technical competence in a rapidly changing world. Stereotypes not withstanding, they understand that people are more important than things. Thus, they encourage each student to seek them out when he or she has academic problems or needs guidance in career planning.

   The freshman year of the mechanical engineering program includes courses in mathematics, physics, humanities and social science as well as introductory courses in engineering and design. The sophomore year features courses in mathematics, chemistry and the engineering sciences. The final two years of the program stress the design and analysis of systems, machines and their components, and the transfer and transformation of energy. The required courses provide the basic mathematical and scientific fundamentals underlying the practice of mechanical engineering, while 12 cr. hrs. of technical elective courses and 8 cr. hrs. of free elective courses allow flexibility in adapting the program to the interests and abilities of the individual student. The student is not encouraged to specialize in a particular area but rather to seek a broad background in basic engineering principles. For the student who wishes to pursue a career in the field of aerospace engineering, however, extensive sequences of courses are available as elective offerings.

   The mechanical engineering program is designed to encourage the best students to continue their education at the graduate level. For those who choose to study at Rose-Hulman, graduate work leading to a Master of Science degree is offered by the Mechanical Engineering Department. Options in the general areas of Thermal/Fluids Systems and Solid Systems Design are available. These options are devoted to developing a deeper understanding of engineering and are not intended to constrain the student to a high degree of specialization.

Mechanical Engineering Program Educational Objectives and Outcomes

Mission: To provide the curriculum, the educational environment, and the individual support necessary to graduate mechanical engineers who are technically competent, effective in practice, creative, ethical and mindful of their responsibility to society.

Vision:  To graduate the best baccalaureate mechanical engineers.

Mechanical Engineering Program Objectives

The mechanical engineering curriculum is designed to prepare students for productive careers in industry, government, education, and private consulting as well as for graduate study. In the early phase of their careers, we expect our students to:

1. Apply engineering fundamentals to problem solving processes in an iterative manner.
2. Design effectively.
3. Continue to learn and educate themselves.
4. Communicate effectively.
5. Work responsibly.
6. Work effectively.

Outcomes

By the time a student graduates with a mechanical engineering degree from Rose-Hulman, they will possess the following abilities:

• Ethics – A recognition of ethical and professional responsibilities
  When given the opportunity, students will:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of professional codes of ethics.
2. Evaluate the ethical dimensions of professional engineering, mathematical, and scientific practices.

• Contemporary Issues - An understanding of how contemporary issues shape and are shaped by mathematics, science, & engineering
  When applying the principles of mathematics, science, and/or engineering to a technical problem, students will:

1. Demonstrate an awareness of how the problem is affected by social concerns and trends.
2. Demonstrate an awareness of how the proposed solution(s) will affect culture and the environment.

• Global - An ability to recognize the impact of global societies on citizens and professionals
  When given the opportunity, students will:

1. Demonstrate an awareness of the development of cultures and societies.
2. Show an awareness of the relationships of nations and the interdependence of peoples around the globe.

• Culture - An ability to understand diverse cultural and humanistic traditions
  When given the opportunity, students will:

1. Perform, interpret, analyze or otherwise engage in artistic, literary, and/or other forms of culture.
2. Recognize the importance of contributions of peoples from other cultures to the students’ professions and personal lives.
3. Evaluate an issue or problem from other cultural perspectives.

• Teams - An ability to work effectively in teams
  When assigned to teams, students will:

1. Share responsibilities and duties, and take on different roles when applicable.
2. Analyze ideas objectively to discern feasible solutions by building consensus.
3. Develop a strategy for action.
4. Listen openly, actively and critically.

• Communication - An ability to communicate effectively in oral, written, graphical, and visual forms
  When performing communication tasks, students will:

1. Identify the readers/audience, assess their previous knowledge and information needs, and organize/design information to meet those needs.
2. Provide content that is factually correct, supported with evidence, explained with sufficient detail, and properly documented.
3. Test readers/audience response to determine how well ideas have been relayed.
4. Submit work with a minimum of errors in spelling, punctuation, grammar, and usage.
5. Present information visually using drawings, graphs and sketches.
6. Deliver oral presentations with clarity and professionalism.

• Problem Solving - An ability to apply the skills and knowledge necessary for mathematical, scientific, and engineering practices

1. Inspect and define the problem.

2. Identify the basic principles and concepts that apply to the situation.

3. Use appropriate resources to locate pertinent information.

4. Build appropriate model(s).

5. Solve the problem by choosing appropriate tools. (analytical, experimental, and numerical)

6. Check a solution using appropriate criteria.

• Interpreting Data - An ability to interpret graphical, numerical, and textual data

1. Collect and present data in an accurate and orderly way.
2. Use appropriate statistical procedures to analyze and evaluate the information contained in a data set.
3. Analyze the data and draw supportable conclusions from the result.

• Experiments - An ability to design and conduct experiments

1. Identify the problem and develop a hypothesis.
2. Select measurement techniques to collect appropriate data and justify that selection.
3. Estimate experimental uncertainties.

• Design - An ability to design a product or process to satisfy a client's needs subject to constraints

1. Understand the problem.
2. Develop a design specification that addresses customer/client needs and constraints.
3. Carry out a conceptual design by generating multiple solutions that address the issues above, evaluating the feasibility of the solutions, and choosing the appropriate solution.
4. Carry out a detail-level design using appropriate design tools and methodologies.
5. Test and refine the implementation until the product or process design specifications are met or exceeded.
6. Document the finished product or process as appropriate for the discipline according to standard practice.
7. Present and transfer the product or process and documentation to the client.

• Continue to Learn and Educate One's Self

1. Learn new information independently.

Area Minor‡ in Thermal-Fluids
To complete the requirements of the thermal-fluids area minor, a student must fulfill the following three expectations:

(1) Completion of a set of 2 courses covering basic fluid mechanics and basic thermodynamics. These are commonly required for most engineering majors. Acceptable sets include:

• ES 201 Conservation & Accounting Principles
  ES 202 Fluid & Thermal Systems
  or
• ME 201 Thermodynamics
  EM 301 Fluid Mechanics
  or
• CHE 201 Conservation Principles & Balances
  CHE 301 Fluid Mechanics

(2) One of the following foundational prerequisites.
ME 301 Thermodynamics II
CHE 303 Chem. Engineering Thermodynamics
ME 302 Heat Transfer
CHE 314 Heat Transfer

(3) Three of the thermal-fluids electives listed below.
Thermal Fluid Systems
ME 407 Power Plants†
ME 408 Renewable Energy
ME 409 Air Conditioning*
ME 410 Internal Combustion Engines
ME 411 Propulsion Systems†
ME 426 Turbomachinery

Thermal Fluid Sciences
ME 402 Advanced Heat Transfer*
ME 405 Theoretical Aerodynamics
ME 427 Computational Fluid Dynamics
ME 501 Advanced Thermodynamics†
ME 502 Topics in Heat Transfer*
ME 503 Viscous Fluid Flow
ME 510 Gas Dynamics
EM 501 Topics in Fluid Mechanics

Successful completion of an area minor is indicated on the student’s transcript. A student interested in pursuing an area minor in mechanical engineering should consult with the chairman of the Department of Mechanical Engineering.
____________________________
†Requires one of the thermodynamics prerequisites from section 2 above.
* Requires one of the heat transfer prerequisites from section 2 above.
‡ ME Majors do not qualify for ME Area Minors, but may pursue ME Concentrations.
 

Areas of Concentration

Advanced Transportation Concentration
To better prepare our students for the interdisciplinary field of Advanced Transportation, an area of concentration is offered to expose students to modern automotive, aviation, and off-highway design methodologies and technologies. Two courses in Model-Based System Design, the modern design practice in the aviation and automotive industry, is required of all participants.  Three additional elective courses are required which permit students to provide either depth or breadth according to their interests.

Required Courses
ECE/ME 497 Introduction to Model-Based System Design
ECE/ME 497 Advanced Model Based-System Design

Elective Courses
CHEM 470 Combustion Chemistry

ECE 320 Linear Control Systems
or
ME 406 Control Systems

ECE 420 Nonlinear Control Systems
or
ME 506 Advanced Control Systems

ECE 370 Machines & Power
ECE 410 Communication Networks
ECE 452 Power Electronics

ME 408 Renewable Energy
ME 410 Internal Combustion Engines
ME 411 Propulsion Systems
ME 422 Finite Elements for Engineering Applications
ME 427 Introduction to Computational Fluid Dynamics

Aerospace Engineering Area of Concentration
   The aerospace industry provides job opportunities each year for many mechanical engineering graduates. The aerospace engineering area of concentration is intended to provide specialty courses which focus the application of basic mechanical engineering skills on aerospace systems.
   The courses that comprise this area of concentration are:

   Any student who completes five of these recommended courses may receive, upon request, a letter from the Department Head attesting to the fact that the student has completed the requirements in the aerospace engineering area of concentration in the Mechanical Engineering Department. With proper planning, students should be able to take at least five of these course offerings without overload

* Select only one, either ME 405 or MA 330 will count toward the Aerospace concentration.

Energy Production, Utilization, and Forecasting
Rising energy costs, air pollution, climate change, petrochemical production, environmental friendly and green processes and machines, alternative power sources and renewable energy are some of the topics topping local, national and international news. Rose-Hulman offers a series of courses, across several disciplines that broadens, educates and addresses solutions to these relevant contemporary issues.

Students who complete any five of the recommended courses in Energy Production, Utilization, and Forecasting area of concentration may receive, upon request, a letter from their Department Head, a certificate and transcript annotation attesting to the fact that the student has completed the requirements in this area of concentration in the Energy Production, Utilization, and Forecasting. With proper planning, students should be able to take these course offerings without overload.

Recommended Energy Production, Utilization, and Forecasting Concentration Courses.

CE561 or CHE450 Air Pollution (cross-listed class)
CE590 Climate Change Assessment
CHE490 Energy and Environment
CHE512 Petrochemical Processes
ECE370 Power and Energy Systems
ECE371 Industrial Power Systems
ME407 Power Plants
ME408 Renewable Energy
ME501 Advanced Thermodynamics

Industrial Leadership
Many mechanical engineering students are attracted to industry for both technical and leadership opportunities. Graduates often are responsible for project management and may develop over time into more significant leadership roles. This area of concentration is intended to take advantage of Rose-Hulman offerings in Mathematics, Engineering Management, and Humanities and Social Sciences to provide skills and knowledge that would be useful for graduates with increasing managerial responsibilities. Since part of leadership is also practice, the area of concentration requires one industrial internship and one significant leadership experience.

To complete the requirements of the area of concentration in industrial leadership, each student must take a total of six courses, two from the Math list, two from the Engineering Management list, and two from the Humanities, Social Sciences list

Math List
MA 385 Quality Methods
MA 487 Design of Experiments
MA 387 Statistical Methods in Six Sigma

Engineering Management List
EMGT330 Introduction to Engineering Management
EMGT427 Project Management
EMGT520 Accounting for Technical Managers
EMGT521 Financial Management in a Technical Environment
EMGT522 Organizational Management
EMGT523 Marketing Issues in a Technical Environment 4
EMGT524 Production/Operations Management
EMGT526 Technology Management and Forecasting
EMGT527 Project Management
EMGT531 Economics for Technical Managers
EMGT532 Technical Entrepreneurship
EMGT533 Intercultural Communication
EMGT534 Management Science
EMGT535 Strategies for Organizational Change
EMGT586 Supply Chain Management
EMGT587 Systems Engineering
EMGT588 Quality Management l
EMGT589 Manufacturing Systems

Humanities, Social Sciences List
GL 357 European Economics
GL 458 International Trade
GL 459 International Finance
RH 230 Fundamentals of Public Speaking
SL 151 Principles of Economics
SL 350 Managerial Accounting
SL 351 Managerial Economics
SL 356 Game Theory
SL 398 The Research and Development Organization
VA 303 Business and Engineering Ethics
VA 304 Bioethics
VA 352 Financial Markets and Institutions
VA 353 Industrial Organization
VA 452 Environmental Economics
VA 454 Financial Economics
VA 498 Technology Management and Forecasting

In addition to coursework, students must complete one Industrial Internship (of approximately three month duration) and one significant co-curricular leadership experience. To get credit for the leadership experience, the student must submit an application with reference support which is approved by the department head. Possible examples of qualifying leadership could include leadership experience in design-build competitions or serving as a Resident Assistant in the residence halls.

Manufacturing and Production Engineering Area of Concentration
   Many mechanical engineering graduates will work in tasks related to the manufacture of various products. The manufacturing and production engineering area of concentration is intended to bridge the gap between the analytical and design courses which are the heart of the professional program and the practical problems of producing acceptable hardware, on time, at a profit.
   The courses that comprise this area of concentration are:

Solid Mechanics Area of Concentration
   The broad field of solid mechanics prepares the mechanical engineering graduate with many career opportunities in areas such as stress analysis, dynamics, vibrations, materials, and the design of mechanical components and systems.
   The courses that comprise this area of concentration are:

   With proper planning, students should be able to take five elective courses in the area without overload. Any student who completes five of these recommended courses may request a letter from the Department Head attesting to the fact that the student has completed the requirements in the solid mechanics area of concentration within the Mechanical Engineering Department.

Thermal Fluid Area of Concentration
Many Mechanical Engineering graduates will work with engineering systems that are based on the principles of thermodynamics, heat transfer and fluid mechanics. The Mechanical Engineering curriculum offers an opportunity for the student to concentrate his studies on the analysis and design of these systems. The courses that comprise the thermal fluid area of concentration may be classified according to whether the main emphasis is on the system or on the thermal or fluid concepts which underpin its design and operation.

   In order to complete the requirements in the thermal fluid area of concentration a student must select five elective from the lists such that at least one course is taken from the “Thermal Fluid Systems” list and at least two courses are taken from the “Thermal Fluid Sciences” list.
   With proper planning, students should be able to take five elective courses in the area without overload. Any student who completes five of these recommended courses may request a letter from the Department Head attesting to the fact that the student has completed the requirements in the thermal fluid area of concentration within the Mechanical Engineering Department.