Mechanical engineering

Short description: Engineering discipline

Various machine components used in mechanical engineering

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Mechanical engineering is the study of physical machines and mechanisms that may involve force and movement. It is an engineering branch that combines engineering physics and mathematics principles with materials science, to design, analyze, manufacture, and maintain mechanical systems.[1] It is one of the oldest and broadest of the engineering branches.

Mechanical engineering requires an understanding of core areas including mechanics, dynamics, thermodynamics, materials science, design, structural analysis, and electricity. In addition to these core principles, mechanical engineers use tools such as computer-aided design (CAD), computer-aided manufacturing (CAM), computer-aided engineering (CAE), and product lifecycle management to design and analyze manufacturing plants, industrial equipment and machinery, heating and cooling systems, transport systems, motor vehicles, aircraft, watercraft, robotics, medical devices, weapons, and others.[2][3]

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, structural 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.

## Contents

* 1 History
* 2 Education
* 2.1 Coursework
* 3 Job duties
* 3.1 License and regulation
* 3.2 Salaries and workforce statistics
* 4 Subdisciplines
* 4.1 Mechanics
* 4.2 Mechatronics and robotics
* 4.3 Structural analysis
* 4.4 Thermodynamics and thermal engineering
* 4.5 Design and drafting
* 5 Modern tools
* 5.1 Computer aided software suites
* 5.2 On‑demand platforms for external FEA expertise
* 6 Areas of research
* 6.1 Micro electro-mechanical systems (MEMS)
* 6.2 Friction stir welding (FSW)
* 6.3 Composites
* 6.4 Mechatronics
* 6.5 Nanotechnology
* 6.6 Finite element analysis
* 6.7 Biomechanics
* 6.8 Computational fluid dynamics
* 6.9 Acoustical engineering
* 7 Related fields
* 8 See also
* 9 References
* 10 Further reading
* 11 External links

## History

Main article: Engineering:History of mechanical engineering

The application of mechanical engineering can be seen in the archives of various ancient and medieval societies. The six classic simple machines were known in the ancient Near East. The wedge and the inclined plane (ramp) were known since prehistoric times.[4] Mesopotamian civilization is credited with the invention of the wheel by several, mainly old sources.[5][6][7] However, some recent sources either suggest that it was invented independently in both Mesopotamia and Eastern Europe or credit prehistoric Eastern Europeans with the invention of the wheel[8][9][10][11] The lever mechanism first appeared around 5,000 years ago in the Near East, where it was used in a simple balance scale,[12] and to move large objects in ancient Egyptian technology.[13] The lever was also used in the shadoof water-lifting device, the first crane machine, which appeared in Mesopotamia circa 3000 BC.[12] The earliest evidence of pulleys date back to Mesopotamia in the early 2nd millennium BC.[14]

The Saqiyah was developed in the Kingdom of Kush during the 4th century BC. It relied on animal power reducing the tow on the requirement of human energy.[15] Reservoirs in the form of Hafirs were developed in Kush to store water and boost irrigation.[16] Bloomeries and blast furnaces were developed during the seventh century BC in Meroe.[17][18][19][20] Kushite sundials applied mathematics in the form of advanced trigonometry.[21][22]

The earliest practical water-powered machines, the water wheel and watermill, first appeared in the Persian Empire, in what are now Iraq and Iran, by the early 4th century BC.[23] In ancient Greece, the works of Archimedes (287–212 BC) influenced mechanics in the Western tradition. The geared Antikythera mechanisms was an Analog computer invented around the 2nd century BC.[24]

In Roman Egypt, Heron of Alexandria (c. 10–70 AD) created the first steam-powered device (Aeolipile).[25] In China, Zhang Heng (78–139 AD) improved a water clock and invented a seismometer, and Ma Jun (200–265 AD) invented a chariot with differential gears. The medieval Chinese horologist and engineer Su Song (1020–1101 AD) incorporated an escapement mechanism into his astronomical clock tower two centuries before escapement devices were found in medieval European clocks. He also invented the world's first known endless power-transmitting chain drive.[26]

The cotton gin was invented in India by the 6th century AD,[27] and the spinning wheel was invented in the Islamic world by the early 11th century,[28] Dual-roller gins appeared in India and China between the 12th and 14th centuries.[29] The worm gear roller gin appeared in the Indian subcontinent during the early Delhi Sultanate era of the 13th to 14th centuries.[30]

In the 17th century, important breakthroughs in the foundations of mechanical engineering occurred in England and the Continent. The Dutch mathematician and physicist Christiaan Huygens invented the pendulum clock in 1657, which was the first reliable timekeeper for almost 300 years, and published a work dedicated to clock designs and the theory behind them.[31][32] In England, Isaac Newton formulated his laws of motion and developed calculus, which would become the mathematical basis of physics. Newton was reluctant to publish his works for years, but he was finally persuaded to do so by his colleagues, such as Edmond Halley. Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, who earlier designed a mechanical calculator, is also credited with developing the calculus during the same time period.[33]

During the early 19th century Industrial Revolution, machine tools were developed in England, Germany, and Scotland. This allowed mechanical engineering to develop as a separate field within engineering. They brought with them manufacturing machines and the engines to power them.[34] The first British professional society of mechanical engineers was formed in 1847 Institution of Mechanical Engineers, thirty years after the civil engineers formed the first such professional society Institution of Civil Engineers.[35] On the European continent, Johann von Zimmermann (1820–1901) founded the first factory for grinding machines in Chemnitz, Germany in 1848. In the United States, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) was formed in 1880, becoming the third such professional engineering society, after the American Society of Civil Engineers (1852) and the American Institute of Mining Engineers (1871).[36] The first schools in the US to offer an engineering education were the United States Military Academy in 1817, an institution now known as Norwich University in 1819, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1825. Education in mechanical engineering has historically been based on a strong foundation in mathematics and science.[37]

## Education

A mechanical engineering teaching lab at Ohio State University, c. 1900

Degrees in mechanical engineering are offered at various universities worldwide. Mechanical engineering programs typically take four to five years of study depending on the place and university and result in a Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng. or B.E.), Bachelor of Science (B.Sc. or B.S.), Bachelor of Science Engineering (B.Sc.Eng.), Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech.), Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (B.M.E.), or Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.Sc.) degree, in or with emphasis in mechanical engineering. In Spain, Portugal and most of South America, where neither B.S. nor B.Tech. programs have been adopted, the formal name for the degree is "Mechanical Engineer", and the course work is based on five or six years of training. In Italy the course work is based on five years of education, and training, but in order to qualify as an Engineer one has to pass a state exam at the end of the course. In Greece, the coursework is based on a five-year curriculum.[38]

In the United States, most undergraduate mechanical engineering programs are accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) to ensure similar course requirements and standards among universities. The ABET web site lists 302 accredited mechanical engineering programs as of 11 March 2014.[39] Mechanical engineering programs in Canada are accredited by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB),[40] and most other countries offering engineering degrees have similar accreditation societies.

In Australia, mechanical engineering degrees are awarded as Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) or similar nomenclature, although there are an increasing number of specialisations. The degree takes four years of full-time study to achieve. To ensure quality in engineering degrees, Engineers Australia accredits engineering degrees awarded by Australian universities in accordance with the global Washington Accord. Before the degree can be awarded, the student must complete at least 3 months of on the job work experience in an engineering firm.[41] Similar systems are also present in South Africa and are overseen by the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA).

In India, to become an engineer, one needs to have an engineering degree like a B.Tech. or B.E., have a diploma in engineering, or by completing a course in an engineering trade like fitter from the Industrial Training Institute (ITIs) to receive a "ITI Trade Certificate" and also pass the All India Trade Test (AITT) with an engineering trade conducted by the National Council of Vocational Training (NCVT) by which one is awarded a "National Trade Certificate". A similar system is used in Nepal.[42]

Some mechanical engineers go on to pursue a postgraduate degree such as a Master of Engineering, Master of Technology, Master of Science, Master of Engineering Management (M.Eng.Mgt. or M.E.M.), a Doctor of Philosophy in engineering (Eng.D. or Ph.D.) or an engineer's degree. The master's and engineer's degrees may or may not include research. The Doctor of Philosophy includes a significant research component and is often viewed as the entry point to academia.[43] The Engineer's degree exists at a few institutions at an intermediate level between the master's degree and the doctorate.

### Coursework

Standards set by each country's accreditation society are intended to provide uniformity in fundamental subject material, promote competence among graduating engineers, and to maintain confidence in the engineering profession as a whole. Engineering programs in the U.S., for example, are required by ABET to show that their students can "work professionally in both thermal and mechanical systems areas."[44] The specific courses required to graduate, however, may differ from program to program. Universities and institutes of technology will often combine multiple subjects into a single class or split a subject into multiple classes, depending on the faculty available and the university's major area(s) of research.

The fundamental subjects required for mechanical engineering usually include:

* Mathematics (in particular, calculus, differential equations, and linear algebra)
* Basic physical sciences (including physics and chemistry)
* Statics and dynamics
* Strength of materials and solid mechanics
* Materials engineering, composites
* Thermodynamics, heat transfer, energy conversion, and HVAC
* Fuels, combustion, internal combustion engine
* Fluid mechanics (including fluid statics and fluid dynamics)
* Mechanism and Machine design (including kinematics and dynamics)
* Instrumentation and measurement
* Manufacturing engineering, technology, or processes
* Vibration, control theory and control engineering
* Hydraulics and Pneumatics
* Mechatronics and robotics
* Engineering design and product design
* Drafting, computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM)[45][46]

Mechanical engineers are also expected to understand and be able to apply basic concepts from chemistry, physics, tribology, chemical engineering, civil engineering, and electrical engineering. All mechanical engineering programs include multiple semesters of mathematical classes including calculus, and advanced mathematical concepts including differential equations, partial differential equations, linear algebra, differential geometry, and statistics, among others.

In addition to the core mechanical engineering curriculum, many mechanical engineering programs offer more specialized programs and classes, such as control systems, robotics, transport and logistics, cryogenics, fuel technology, automotive engineering, biomechanics, vibration, optics and others, if a separate department does not exist for these subjects.[47]

Most mechanical engineering programs also require varying amounts of research or community projects to gain practical problem-solving experience. In the US it is common for mechanical engineering students to complete one or more internships while studying, though this is not typically mandated by the university. Cooperative education is another option. Research puts demand on study components that feed student's creativity and innovation.[48]

## Job duties

Mechanical engineers research, design, develop, build, and test mechanical and thermal devices, including tools, engines, and machines.

Mechanical engineers typically do the following:

* Analyze problems to see how mechanical and thermal devices might help solve the problem.
* Design or redesign mechanical and thermal devices using analysis and computer-aided design.
* Develop and test prototypes of devices they design.
* Analyze the test results and change the design as needed.
* Oversee the manufacturing process for the device.
* Manage a team of professionals in specialized fields like mechanical drafting and designing, prototyping, 3D printing or/and CNC Machines specialists.

Mechanical engineers design and oversee the manufacturing of many products ranging from medical devices to new batteries. They also design power-producing machines such as electric generators, internal combustion engines, and steam and gas turbines as well as power-using machines, such as refrigeration and air-conditioning systems.

Like other engineers, mechanical engineers use computers to help create and analyze designs, run simulations and test how a machine is likely to work.

### License and regulation

Engineers may seek license by a state, provincial, or national government. The purpose of this process is to ensure that engineers possess the necessary technical knowledge, real-world experience, and knowledge of the local legal system to practice engineering at a professional level. Once certified, the engineer is given the title of Professional Engineer (in the US, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Bangladesh and South Africa). Chartered Engineer is used in the United Kingdom, Ireland, India and Zimbabwe, along with Chartered Professional Engineer (in Australia and New Zealand) or European Engineer (much of the European Union).

In the U.S., to become a licensed Professional Engineer (PE), an engineer must pass the comprehensive FE (Fundamentals of Engineering) exam, work a minimum of 4 years as an Engineering Intern (EI) or Engineer-in-Training (EIT), and pass the "Principles and Practice" or PE (Practicing Engineer or Professional Engineer) exams. The requirements and steps of this process are set forth by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES), composed of engineering and land surveying licensing boards representing all U.S. states and territories.

In Australia (Queensland and Victoria) an engineer must be registered as a Professional Engineer within the State in which they practice, for example Registered Professional Engineer of Queensland or Victoria, RPEQ or RPEV. respectively.

In the UK, current graduates require a BEng plus an appropriate master's degree or an integrated MEng degree, a minimum of 4 years post graduate on the job competency development and a peer-reviewed project report to become a Chartered Mechanical Engineer (CEng, MIMechE) through the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. CEng MIMechE can also be obtained via an examination route administered by the City and Guilds of London Institute.[49]

In most developed countries, certain engineering tasks, such as the design of bridges, electric power plants, and chemical plants, must be approved by a professional engineer or a chartered engineer. "Only a licensed engineer, for instance, may prepare, sign, seal and submit engineering plans and drawings to a public authority for approval, or to seal engineering work for public and private clients."[50] This requirement can be written into state and provincial legislation, such as in the Canadian provinces, for example the Ontario or Quebec's Engineer Act.[51]

In other countries, such as the UK, no such legislation exists; however, practically all certifying bodies maintain a code of ethics independent of legislation, that they expect all members to abide by or risk expulsion.[52]

### Salaries and workforce statistics

The total number of engineers employed in the U.S. in 2015 was roughly 1.6 million. Of these, 278,340 were mechanical engineers (17.28%), the largest discipline by size.[53] In 2012, the median annual income of mechanical engineers in the U.S. workforce was $80,580. The median income was highest when working for the government ($92,030), and lowest in education ($57,090).[54] In 2014, the total number of mechanical engineering jobs was projected to grow 5% over the next decade.[55] As of 2009, the average starting salary was $58,800 with a bachelor's degree.[56]

## Subdisciplines

The field of mechanical engineering can be thought of as a collection of many mechanical engineering science disciplines. Several of these subdisciplines which are typically taught at the undergraduate level are listed below, with a brief explanation and the most common application of each. Some of these subdisciplines are unique to mechanical engineering, while others are a combination of mechanical engineering and one or more other disciplines. Most work that a mechanical engineer does uses skills and techniques from several of these subdisciplines, as well as specialized subdisciplines. Specialized subdisciplines, as used in this article, are more likely to be the subject of graduate studies or on-the-job training than undergraduate research. Several specialized subdisciplines are discussed in this section.

### Mechanics

Mohr's circle, a common tool to study stresses in a mechanical element

Main article: Physics:Mechanics

Mechanics is, in the most general sense, the study of forces and their effect upon matter. Typically, engineering mechanics is used to analyze and predict the acceleration and deformation (both elastic and plastic) of objects under known forces (also called loads) or stresses. Subdisciplines of mechanics include

* Statics, the study of non-moving bodies under known loads, how forces affect static bodies
* Dynamics, the study of how forces affect moving bodies. Dynamics includes kinematics (about movement, velocity, and acceleration) and kinetics (about forces and resulting accelerations).
* Mechanics of materials, the study of how different materials deform under various types of stress
* Fluid mechanics, the study of how fluids react to forces[57]
* Kinematics, the study of the motion of bodies (objects) and systems (groups of objects), while ignoring the forces that cause the motion. Kinematics is often used in the design and analysis of mechanisms.
* Continuum mechanics, a method of applying mechanics that assumes that objects are continuous (rather than discrete)

Mechanical engineers typically use mechanics in the design or analysis phases of engineering. If the engineering project were the design of a vehicle, statics might be employed to design the frame of the vehicle, in order to evaluate where the stresses will be most intense. Dynamics might be used when designing the car's engine, to evaluate the forces in the pistons and cams as the engine cycles. Mechanics of materials might be used to choose appropriate materials for the frame and engine. Fluid mechanics might be used to design a ventilation system for the vehicle (see HVAC), or to design the intake system for the engine.

### Mechatronics and robotics

Main articles: Mechatronics and Robotics

Mechatronics is a combination of mechanics and electronics. It is an interdisciplinary branch of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and software engineering that is concerned with integrating electrical and mechanical engineering to create hybrid automation systems. In this way, machines can be automated through the use of electric motors, servo-mechanisms, and other electrical systems in conjunction with special software. A common example of a mechatronics system is a CD-ROM drive. Mechanical systems open and close the drive, spin the CD and move the laser, while an optical system reads the data on the CD and converts it to bits. Integrated software controls the process and communicates the contents of the CD to the computer.

Robotics is the application of mechatronics to create robots, which are often used in industry to perform tasks that are dangerous, unpleasant, or repetitive. These robots may be of any shape and size, but all are preprogrammed and interact physically with the world. To create a robot, an engineer typically employs kinematics (to determine the robot's range of motion) and mechanics (to determine the stresses within the robot).

Robots are used extensively in industrial automation engineering. They allow businesses to save money on labor, perform tasks that are either too dangerous or too precise for humans to perform them economically, and to ensure better quality. Many companies employ assembly lines of robots, especially in Automotive Industries and some factories are so robotized that they can run by themselves. Outside the factory, robots have been employed in bomb disposal, space exploration, and many other fields. Robots are also sold for various residential applications, from recreation to domestic applications.[58]

### Structural analysis

Main articles: Structural analysis and Failure analysis

Structural analysis is the branch of mechanical engineering (and also civil engineering) devoted to examining why and how objects fail and to fix the objects and their performance. Structural failures occur in two general modes: static failure, and fatigue failure. Static structural failure occurs when, upon being loaded (having a force applied) the object being analyzed either breaks or is deformed plastically, depending on the criterion for failure. Fatigue failure occurs when an object fails after a number of repeated loading and unloading cycles. Fatigue failure occurs because of imperfections in the object: a microscopic crack on the surface of the object, for instance, will grow slightly with each cycle (propagation) until the crack is large enough to cause ultimate failure.[59]

Failure is not simply defined as when a part breaks, however; it is defined as when a part does not operate as intended. Some systems, such as the perforated top sections of some plastic bags, are designed to break. If these systems do not break, failure analysis might be employed to determine the cause.

Structural analysis is often used by mechanical engineers after a failure has occurred, or when designing to prevent failure. Engineers often use online documents and books such as those published by ASM[60] to aid them in determining the type of failure and possible causes.

Once theory is applied to a mechanical design, physical testing is often performed to verify calculated results. Structural analysis may be used in an office when designing parts, in the field to analyze failed parts, or in laboratories where parts might undergo controlled failure tests.

### Thermodynamics and thermal engineering

Main articles: Physics:Thermodynamics, Heat Transfer, and Combustion

Thermodynamics is a physical science concerned with heat, work, energy, and the physical properties of matter.[61] It is used in several branches of engineering, including mechanical and chemical engineering. Engineering thermodynamics focuses on systems that change energy from one form to another.

More broadly, thermal engineering combines thermodynamics and the science of transport phenomena to study heat transfer, combustion, and compressible fluid flow in engineered systems. Mechanical engineers use thermal engineering to design equipment such as engines, power plants, heat exchangers, heat sinks, radiators, refrigerators, insulation, and heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems.[62]

As an example, automotive engines convert the chemical energy of fuel (enthalpy) into heat and then into the mechanical work that turns a car's wheels. A mechanical engineer will aim for an engine design that maximizes the fraction of the initial chemical energy that is converted to mechanical work, rather than being lost as heat or friction. An ideal design would approach Carnot efficiency. (In fact, Sadi Carnot was a French military engineer.)

### Design and drafting

A CAD model of a mechanical double seal

Main articles: Engineering:Technical drawing and CNC

Drafting or technical drawing is the means by which mechanical engineers design products and create instructions for manufacturing parts. A technical drawing can be a computer model or hand-drawn schematic showing all the dimensions necessary to manufacture a part, as well as assembly notes, a list of required materials, and other pertinent information.[63] A U.S. mechanical engineer or skilled worker who creates technical drawings may be referred to as a drafter or draftsman. Drafting has historically been a two-dimensional process, but computer-aided design (CAD) programs now allow the designer to create in three dimensions.

Instructions for manufacturing a part must be fed to the necessary machinery, either manually, through programmed instructions, or through the use of a computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) or combined CAD/CAM program. Optionally, an engineer may also manually manufacture a part using the technical drawings. However, with the advent of computer numerically controlled (CNC) manufacturing, parts can now be fabricated without the need for constant technician input. Manually manufactured parts generally consist of spray coatings, surface finishes, and other processes that cannot economically or practically be done by a machine.

Drafting is used in nearly every subdiscipline of mechanical engineering, and by many other branches of engineering and architecture. Three-dimensional models created using CAD software are also commonly used in finite element analysis (FEA) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD).

## Modern tools

An oblique view of a four-cylinder inline crankshaft with pistons

### Computer aided software suites

Many mechanical engineering companies, especially those in industrialized nations, have incorporated computer-aided engineering (CAE) programs into their existing design and analysis processes, including 2D and 3D solid modeling computer-aided design (CAD). This method has many benefits, including easier and more exhaustive visualization of products, the ability to create virtual assemblies of parts, and the ease of use in designing mating interfaces and tolerances.

Other CAE programs commonly used by mechanical engineers include product lifecycle management (PLM) tools and analysis tools used to perform complex simulations. Analysis tools may be used to predict product response to expected loads, including fatigue life and manufacturability. These tools include finite element analysis (FEA), computational fluid dynamics (CFD), and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM).

CAD designed Watts Link for CSULA Baja SAE buggy

Using CAE programs, a mechanical design team can quickly and cheaply iterate the design process to develop a product that better meets cost, performance, and other constraints. No physical prototype need be created until the design nears completion, allowing hundreds or thousands of designs to be evaluated, instead of a relative few. In addition, CAE analysis programs can model complicated physical phenomena which cannot be solved by hand, such as viscoelasticity, complex contact between mating parts, or non-Newtonian flows.

As mechanical engineering begins to merge with other disciplines, as seen in mechatronics, multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO) is being used with other CAE programs to automate and improve the iterative design process. MDO tools wrap around existing CAE processes, allowing product evaluation to continue even after the analyst goes home for the day. They also use sophisticated optimization algorithms to more intelligently explore possible designs, often finding better, innovative solutions to difficult multidisciplinary design problems.

### On‑demand platforms for external FEA expertise

Engineering teams can access external finite‑element analysis (FEA) expertise through on‑demand platforms. By submitting structured project inputs—such as CAD or FEA input files, load cases, boundary conditions and desired deliverables - users receive instant quotes and connect with pre‑qualified simulation engineers. Providers manage the entire workflow remotely, often running simulations on cloud and GPU‑based infrastructure to accelerate turnaround, which can be significantly faster than in‑house CPU‑based systems.[64][65] This model offers scalability, access to niche simulation domains like CFD or multiphysics, and avoids the delays, licensing burden and overhead of traditional procurement cycles. It is particularly valuable for smaller teams operating under tight deadlines or limited in‑house capacity.

## Areas of research

Mechanical engineers are constantly pushing the boundaries of what is physically possible in order to produce safer, cheaper, and more efficient machines and mechanical systems. Some technologies at the cutting edge of mechanical engineering are listed below (see also exploratory engineering).

### Micro electro-mechanical systems (MEMS)

See also: Engineering:MEMS

Micron-scale mechanical components such as springs, gears, fluidic and heat transfer devices are fabricated from a variety of substrate materials such as silicon, glass and polymers like SU8. Examples of MEMS components are the accelerometers that are used as car airbag sensors, modern cell phones, gyroscopes for precise positioning and microfluidic devices used in biomedical applications.

### Friction stir welding (FSW)

Friction stir welding, a new type of welding, was discovered in 1991 by The Welding Institute (TWI). The innovative steady state (non-fusion) welding technique joins materials previously un-weldable, including several aluminum alloys. It plays an important role in the future construction of airplanes, potentially replacing rivets. Current uses of this technology to date include welding the seams of the aluminum main Space Shuttle external tank, Orion Crew Vehicle, Boeing Delta II and Delta IV Expendable Launch Vehicles and the SpaceX Falcon 1 rocket, armor plating for amphibious assault ships, and welding the wings and fuselage panels of the new Eclipse 500 aircraft from Eclipse Aviation among an increasingly growing pool of uses.[66][67][68]

### Composites

Composite cloth consisting of woven carbon fiber

Main article: Chemistry:Composite material

Composites or composite materials are a combination of materials which provide different physical characteristics than either material separately. Composite material research within mechanical engineering typically focuses on designing (and, subsequently, finding applications for) stronger or more rigid materials while attempting to reduce weight, susceptibility to corrosion, and other undesirable factors. Carbon fiber reinforced composites, for instance, have been used in such diverse applications as spacecraft and fishing rods.

### Mechatronics

Mechatronics is the synergistic combination of mechanical engineering, electronic engineering, and software engineering. The discipline of mechatronics began as a way to combine mechanical principles with electrical engineering. Mechatronic concepts are used in the majority of electro-mechanical systems.[69] Typical electro-mechanical sensors used in mechatronics are strain gauges, thermocouples, and pressure transducers.

### Nanotechnology

Main article: Engineering:Nanotechnology

At the smallest scales, mechanical engineering becomes nanotechnology—one speculative goal of which is to create a molecular assembler to build molecules and materials via mechanosynthesis. For now that goal remains within exploratory engineering. Areas of current mechanical engineering research in nanotechnology include nanofilters,[70] nanofilms,[71] and nanostructures,[72] among others.

See also: Engineering:Picotechnology

### Finite element analysis

Finite Element Analysis is a computational tool used to estimate stress, strain, and deflection of solid bodies. It uses a mesh setup with user-defined sizes to measure physical quantities at a node. The more nodes there are, the higher the precision.[73] This field is not new, as the basis of Finite Element Analysis (FEA) or Finite Element Method (FEM) dates back to 1941. But the evolution of computers has made FEA/FEM a viable option for analysis of structural problems. Many commercial software applications such as NASTRAN, ANSYS, and ABAQUS are widely used in industry for research and the design of components. Some 3D modeling and CAD software packages have added FEA modules. In the recent times, cloud simulation platforms like SimScale are becoming more common.

Other techniques such as finite difference method (FDM) and finite-volume method (FVM) are employed to solve problems relating heat and mass transfer, fluid flows, fluid surface interaction, etc.

### Biomechanics

Main article: Biology:Biomechanics

Biomechanics is the application of mechanical principles to biological systems, such as humans, animals, plants, organs, and cells.[74] Biomechanics also aids in creating prosthetic limbs and artificial organs for humans.[75] Biomechanics is closely related to engineering, because it often uses traditional engineering sciences to analyze biological systems. Some simple applications of Newtonian mechanics and/or materials sciences can supply correct approximations to the mechanics of many biological systems.

In the past decade, reverse engineering of materials found in nature such as bone matter has gained funding in academia. The structure of bone matter is optimized for its purpose of bearing a large amount of compressive stress per unit weight.[76] The goal is to replace crude steel with bio-material for structural design.

Over the past decade the finite element method (FEM) has also entered the Biomedical sector highlighting further engineering aspects of Biomechanics. FEM has since then established itself as an alternative to in vivo surgical assessment and gained the wide acceptance of academia. The main advantage of Computational Biomechanics lies in its ability to determine the endo-anatomical response of an anatomy, without being subject to ethical restrictions.[77] This has led FE modelling to the point of becoming ubiquitous in several fields of Biomechanics while several projects have even adopted an open source philosophy (e.g. BioSpine).

### Computational fluid dynamics

Main article: Computational fluid dynamics

Computational fluid dynamics, usually abbreviated as CFD, is a branch of fluid mechanics that uses numerical methods and algorithms to solve and analyze problems that involve fluid flows. Computers are used to perform the calculations required to simulate the interaction of liquids and gases with surfaces defined by boundary conditions.[78] With high-speed supercomputers, better solutions can be achieved. Ongoing research yields software that improves the accuracy and speed of complex simulation scenarios such as turbulent flows. Initial validation of such software is performed using a wind tunnel with the final validation coming in full-scale testing, e.g. flight tests.

### Acoustical engineering

Main article: Physics:Acoustical engineering

Acoustical engineering is one of many other sub-disciplines of mechanical engineering and is the application of acoustics. Acoustical engineering is the study of sound and vibration. Acoustical engineers work to reduce noise pollution in mechanical devices and in buildings by soundproofing or removing sources of unwanted noise. The study of acoustics can range from designing a more efficient hearing aid, microphone, headphone, or recording studio to enhancing the sound quality of an orchestra hall. Acoustical engineering also deals with the vibration of different mechanical systems.[79]

## Related fields

Manufacturing engineering, aerospace engineering, automotive engineering and marine engineering are grouped with mechanical engineering at times. A bachelor's degree in these areas will typically have a difference of a few specialized classes.

## See also

* Automobile engineering
* Index of mechanical engineering articles

Lists

* Glossary of mechanical engineering
* List of automotive engineering software
* List of historic mechanical engineering landmarks
* List of inventors
* List of mechanical engineering software
* List of mechanical engineering topics
* List of mechanical engineers
* List of related journals
* List of mechanical, electrical and electronic equipment manufacturing companies by revenue

Associations

* American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)
* American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
* Pi Tau Sigma (Mechanical Engineering honor society)
* Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)
* Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
* Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) (British)
* Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) (British)
* Verein Deutscher Ingenieure (VDI) (Germany)

Wikibooks

* Engineering Mechanics
* Engineering Thermodynamics
* Engineering Acoustics
* Fluid Mechanics
* Heat Transfer
* Microtechnology
* Nanotechnology
* Pro/Engineer (ProE CAD)
* Strength of Materials/Solid Mechanics

## References

1. ↑ "What is Mechanical Engineering?". 28 December 2018. https://me.columbia.edu/what-mechanical-engineering.
2. ↑ "mechanical engineering". mechanical engineering (Fourth ed.). http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/mechanical engineering. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
3. ↑ "mechanical engineering". mechanical engineering. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mechanical engineering. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
4. ↑ Moorey, Peter Roger Stuart (1999). Ancient Mesopotamian Materials and Industries: The Archaeological Evidence. Eisenbrauns. ISBN 9781575060422.
5. ↑ Transportation. BPI. p. 4. ISBN 9788184972436. https://books.google.com/books?id=zP45DAAAQBAJ. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
6. ↑ Mitchell Lewis Ditkoff (May 2008). Awake at the Wheel: Getting Your Great Ideas Rolling (in an Uphill World). Morgan James Publishing. p. 15. ISBN 9781600377709.
7. ↑ Y C Chiu (2010). An Introduction to the History of Project Management: From the Earliest Times to A.D. 1900. Eburon. p. 24. ISBN 9789059724372.
8. ↑ Schier, Wolfram (2015). "Chapter 5: Central and Eastern Europe". The Oxford Handbook of Neolithic Europe. OUP Oxford. pp. 113. ISBN 978-0-19-954584-1. https://books.google.com/books?id=2PAkBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA113.
9. ↑ Weil, David (3 June 2016). Economic Growth - David Weil - Google Books. Routledge. ISBN 9781315510446. https://books.google.com/books?id=p79JDAAAQBAJ. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
10. ↑ Bulliet, Richard W. (19 January 2016). The Wheel Inventions and Reinventions By Richard W. Bulliet page 98 (a BA and a PhD from Harvard university). Columbia University Press. ISBN 9780231540612. https://books.google.com/books?id=x341CwAAQBAJ. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
11. ↑ Man and Wound in the Ancient World A History of Military Medicine from Sumer to the Fall of Constantinople By Richard A. Gabriel, 65 page
12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Paipetis, S. A.; Ceccarelli, Marco (2010). The Genius of Archimedes -- 23 Centuries of Influence on Mathematics, Science and Engineering: Proceedings of an International Conference held at Syracuse, Italy, June 8-10, 2010. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 416. ISBN 9789048190911.
13. ↑ Clarke, Somers; Engelbach, Reginald (1990). Ancient Egyptian Construction and Architecture. Courier Corporation. pp. 86–90. ISBN 9780486264851.
14. ↑ Moorey, Peter Roger Stuart (1999). Ancient Mesopotamian Materials and Industries: The Archaeological Evidence. Eisenbrauns. p. 4. ISBN 9781575060422. https://archive.org/details/ancientmesopotam00moor.
15. ↑ G. Mokhtar (1 January 1981). Ancient civilizations of Africa. Unesco. International Scientific Committee for the Drafting of a General History of Africa. p. 309. ISBN 9780435948054. https://books.google.com/books?id=gB6DcMU94GUC&q=ancient+irrigation+saqiya&pg=PA309. Retrieved 19 June 2012.
16. ↑ Fritz Hintze, Kush XI; pp. 222-224.
17. ↑ Humphris, Jane; Charlton, Michael F.; Keen, Jake; Sauder, Lee; Alshishani, Fareed (2018). "Iron Smelting in Sudan: Experimental Archaeology at The Royal City of Meroe". Journal of Field Archaeology 43 (5): 399. doi:10.1080/00934690.2018.1479085. ISSN 0093-4690.
18. ↑ Collins, Robert O.; Burns, James M. (8 February 2007). A History of Sub-Saharan Africa. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521867467. https://books.google.com/books?id=PZcX2jQFTRcC&pg=PA61.
19. ↑ Edwards, David N. (29 July 2004). The Nubian Past: An Archaeology of the Sudan. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9780203482766. https://books.google.com/books?id=6tsaBtp0WrMC&pg=PA173.
20. ↑ "Iron Smelting in Sudan: Experimental Archaeology at The Royal City of Meroe". Journal of Field Archaeology 43 (5): 399–416. June 2018. doi:10.1080/00934690.2018.1479085.
21. ↑ Depuydt, Leo (1 January 1998). "Gnomons at Meroë and Early Trigonometry". The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 84: 171–180. doi:10.2307/3822211.
22. ↑ Slayman, Andrew (27 May 1998). "Neolithic Skywatchers". http://www.archaeology.org/online/news/nubia.html.
23. ↑ Selin, Helaine (2013). Encyclopaedia of the History of Science, Technology, and Medicine in Non-Westen Cultures. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 282. ISBN 9789401714167.
24. ↑ Efstathiou, Kyriakos; Efstathiou, Marianna (1 September 2018). "Celestial Gearbox: Oldest Known Computer is a Mechanism Designed to Calculate the Location of the Sun, Moon, and Planets" (in en). Mechanical Engineering 140 (9): 31–35. doi:10.1115/1.2018-SEP1. ISSN 0025-6501.
25. ↑ "Heron of Alexandria". Encyclopædia Britannica 2010. https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/263417/Heron-of-Alexandria. Retrieved 9 May 2010.
26. ↑ Needham, Joseph (1986). Science and Civilization in China: Volume 4. Taipei: Caves Books, Ltd..
27. ↑ Lakwete, Angela (2003). Inventing the Cotton Gin: Machine and Myth in Antebellum America. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 1–6. ISBN 9780801873942. https://books.google.com/books?id=uOMaGVnPfBcC.
28. ↑ Pacey, Arnold (1991). Technology in World Civilization: A Thousand-Year History (First MIT Press paperback ed.). Cambridge MA: The MIT Press. pp. 23–24.
29. ↑ Baber, Zaheer (1996). The Science of Empire: Scientific Knowledge, Civilization, and Colonial Rule in India. Albany: State University of New York Press. p. 57. ISBN 0-7914-2919-9.
30. ↑ Irfan Habib (2011), Economic History of Medieval India, 1200–1500, p. 53, Pearson Education
31. ↑ Marconell, M.H. (1996). Christiaan Huygens: a foreign inventor in the Court of Louis XIV, his role as a forerunner of mechanical engineering (Ph.D. thesis). The Open University.
32. ↑ Yoder, J. G. (1996). "Following in the footsteps of geometry: The mathematical world of Christiaan Huygens". https://www.dbnl.org/tekst/_zev001199601_01/_zev001199601_01_0009.php.
33. ↑ Sayeed, Ahmed (24 September 2019). You Could Be the Winner (Volume - II). Sankalp Publication. ISBN 978-93-88660-66-2. https://books.google.com/books?id=pzOyDwAAQBAJ&q="Gottfried+Wilhelm+Leibniz+is+also+credited+with+creating+Calculus+during+this+time+period"&pg=PA46.
34. ↑ "Engineering". Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9105842/engineering. Retrieved 6 May 2008.
35. ↑ Buchanan, R.A. (February 1985). "Institutional Proliferation in the British Engineering Profession, 1847–1914". The Economic History Review. New Series 38 (1): 42–60. doi:10.1111/j.1468-0289.1985.tb00357.x.
36. ↑ ASME history . Retrieved 6 May 2008.
37. ↑ The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001, engineering. Retrieved 6 May 2008.
38. ↑ Sayeed, Ahmed (24 September 2019) (in en). You Could Be the Winner (Volume - II). Sankalp Publication. ISBN 978-93-88660-66-2. https://books.google.com/books?id=pzOyDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA47.
39. ↑ ABET searchable database of accredited engineering programs. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
40. ↑ Accredited engineering programs in Canada by the Canadian Council of Professional Engineers . Retrieved 18 April 2007.
41. ↑ "Mechanical Engineering". http://www.flinders.edu.au/science_engineering/csem/disciplines/mecheng/.
42. ↑ Sayeed, Ahmed (24 September 2019) (in en). You Could Be the Winner (Volume - II). Sankalp Publication. ISBN 978-93-88660-66-2. https://books.google.com/books?id=pzOyDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA48.
43. ↑ Types of post-graduate degrees offered at MIT \- Accessed 19 June 2006.
44. ↑ 2008-2009 ABET Criteria , p. 15.
45. ↑ University of Tulsa Required ME Courses – Undergraduate Majors and Minors . Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Tulsa, 2010. Retrieved 17 December 2010.
46. ↑ Harvard Mechanical Engineering Page . Harvard.edu. Retrieved 19 June 2006.
47. ↑ Mechanical Engineering courses, MIT. Retrieved 14 June 2008.
48. ↑ "Why do we need creativity and innovation in higher education? | Aalto Design Factory". http://www.aaltodesignfactory.fi/why-do-we-need-creativity-and-innovation-in-higher-education/. Aalto University School of Engineering, Design Factory – Researchers Blog. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
49. ↑ Sayeed, Ahmed (24 September 2019) (in en). You Could Be the Winner (Volume - II). Sankalp Publication. ISBN 978-93-88660-66-2. https://books.google.com/books?id=pzOyDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA51.
50. ↑ "Why Get Licensed?". National Society of Professional Engineers. http://www.nspe.org/Licensure/WhyGetLicensed/index.html.
51. ↑ "Engineers Act". Quebec Statutes and Regulations (CanLII). http://www.canlii.org/qc/laws/sta/i-9/20050616/whole.html.
52. ↑ "Codes of Ethics and Conduct". Online Ethics Center. http://onlineethics.org/codes/.
53. ↑ "May 2015 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates". U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm#17-0000.
54. ↑ Occupational Employment and Wages, 17-2141 Mechanical Engineers. U.S. Bureau of Labor, May 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
55. ↑ Mechanical Engineers. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 17 December 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
56. ↑ "2010–11 Edition, Engineers" . Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved 9 May 2010.
57. ↑ Note: fluid mechanics can be further split into fluid statics and fluid dynamics, and is itself a subdiscipline of continuum mechanics. The application of fluid mechanics in engineering is called hydraulics and pneumatics.
58. ↑ Bolton, W. Mechatronics. Pearson; 6th ed. edition, 2015. ISBN 9781292076683
59. ↑ "Chapter 8. Failure". http://www.virginia.edu/bohr/mse209/chapter8.htm.
60. ↑ ASM International's site many documents, such as the ASM Handbook series . ASM International.
61. ↑ "Thermodynamics". https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/airplane/thermo.html.
62. ↑ "Applications of Thermodynamics Laws. Carnot, Stirling, Ericsson, Diesel cycles". 10 June 2009. https://www.brighthubengineering.com/thermodynamics/38344-thermodynamics-integral-part-of-our-life/.
63. ↑ "SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD" (in en). 27 November 2017. https://www.solidworks.com/product/solidworks-3d-cad.
64. ↑ "Accelerated Finite Element Analysis". 29 July 2025. https://finitenow.com/accelerated-finite-element-analysis/.
65. ↑ "Accelerating Finite‑Element Structural Elastic Dynamic Analysis Using GPU Computing". https://simcenter.designsafe-ci.org/media/filer_public/6e/e8/6ee8a662-7b09-4a3d-86dd-f3b3d6f984ae/comp_symposiumposter_2024_araujo.pdf.
66. ↑ "Advances in Friction Stir Welding for Aerospace Applications". http://www.niar.wichita.edu/media/pdf/nationalpublication/Nov2-06.pdf.
67. ↑ Proposal Number: 08-1 A1.02-9322 – NASA 2008 SBIR
68. ↑ "Military Applications". http://www.ntefsw.com/military_applications.htm.
69. ↑ "What is Mechatronics Technology?" (in en). 19 October 2017. https://www.ecpi.edu/blog/what-is-mechatronics-technology.
70. ↑ Nilsen, Kyle. (2011) "Development of Low Pressure Filter Testing Vessel and Analysis of Electrospun Nanofiber Membranes for Water Treatment"
71. ↑ Mechanical Characterization of Aluminium Nanofilms, Microelectronic Engineering, Volume 88, Issue 5, May 2011, pp. 844–847.
72. ↑ "Columbia Nano Initiative". http://www.cise.columbia.edu/nsec/.
73. ↑ Xia, Ting (3 February 2003). "Introduction to Finite Element Analysis (FEA)". http://user.engineering.uiowa.edu/~bme083/lecture/lecture04_020303.pdf.
74. ↑ Alexander, R. Mcneill (2005). "Mechanics of animal movement". Current Biology 15 (16): R616–R619. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2005.08.016. PMID 16111929.
75. ↑ Phoengsongkhro, S., Tangpornprasert, P., Yotnuengnit, P. et al. Development of four-bar polycentric knee joint with stance-phase knee flexion. Sci Rep 13, 22809 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-49879-4
76. ↑ Dempster, Coleman (15 August 1960). "Tensile strength of bone along and across the grain". Journal of Applied Physiology 16 (2): 355–360. doi:10.1152/jappl.1961.16.2.355. PMID 13721810.
77. ↑ Tsouknidas, A., Savvakis, S., Asaniotis, Y., Anagnostidis, K., Lontos, A., Michailidis, N. (2013) The effect of kyphoplasty parameters on the dynamic load transfer within the lumbar spine considering the response of a bio-realistic spine segment. Clinical Biomechanics 28 (9–10), pp. 949–955.
78. ↑ "What is CFD | Computational Fluid Dynamics? — SimScale Documentation" (in en). https://www.simscale.com/docs/content/simwiki/cfd/whatiscfd.html.
79. ↑ "What is the Job Description of an Acoustic Engineer?". learn.org. http://learn.org/articles/What_is_the_Job_Description_of_an_Acoustic_Engineer.html.

## Further reading

Library resources about
Mechanical engineering

* * *

* Resources in your library
* Resources in other libraries

* Burstall, Aubrey F. (1965). A History of Mechanical Engineering. The MIT Press. ISBN 978-0-262-52001-0.
* Marks' Standard Handbook for Mechanical Engineers (11 ed.). McGraw-Hill. 2007. ISBN 978-0-07-142867-5.
* Oberg, Erik; Franklin D. Jones; Holbrook L. Horton; Henry H. Ryffel; Christopher McCauley (2016). Machinery's Handbook (30th ed.). New York: Industrial Press Inc.. ISBN 978-0-8311-3091-6.

## External links

* Mechanical engineering at MTU.edu

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Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning

Fundamental concepts|

* Air changes per hour
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* Thermal insulation
* Underfloor air distribution
* Underfloor heating
* Vapor barrier
* Vapor-compression refrigeration (VCRS)
* Variable air volume (VAV)
* Variable refrigerant flow (VRF)
* Ventilation

Components|

* Air conditioner inverter
* Air door
* Air filter
* Air handler
* Air ionizer
* Air-mixing plenum
* Air purifier
* Air source heat pumps
* Automatic balancing valve
* Back boiler
* Barrier pipe
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* Plenum space
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* Radiator
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* Thermal wheel
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Measurement
and control|

* Air flow meter
* Aquastat
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* Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR)
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Professions, trades,
and services|

* Architectural acoustics
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* Deep energy retrofit
* Duct leakage testing
* Environmental engineering
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* Kitchen exhaust cleaning
* Mechanical engineering
* Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing
* Mold growth, assessment, and remediation
* Refrigerant reclamation
* Testing, adjusting, balancing

Industry organizations|

* ACCA
* AHRI
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* BRE
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* Institute of Refrigeration
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Health and safety|

* Indoor air quality (IAQ)
* Passive smoking
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See also|

* ASHRAE Handbook
* Building science
* Fireproofing
* Glossary of HVAC terms
* World Refrigeration Day

* Template:Home automation
* Template:Solar energy

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