Undergraduate Courses in Engineering Mechanics

MECH 2. Elementary Engineering Mechanics (3) fall
Static equilibrium of particles and rigid bodies. Elementary analysis of simple truss and frame structures, internal forces, stress, and strain. Prerequisites: Phys.11; MATH 22 previously or concurrently.

MECH 3. Fundamentals of Engineering Mechanics (3) fall, spring
Static equilibrium of particles and rigid bodies. Analysis of simple truss and frame structures, internal forces, stress, strain, and Hooke’s Law, torsion of circular shafts; pure bending of beams. Prerequisites: Phys. 11; MATH 22 previously or concurrently. Course is intended as a prerequisite for MECH 12. Credit not given for both Mech 2 and Mech 3. (ES 2.5, ED 0.5)

MECH 12. Strength of Materials (3) spring
Transverse shear in beams. Mohr’s circle for stress. Plastic yield criteria. Deflection of beams. Introduction to numerical analysis of simple structures. Fatigue and fracture. Column buckling. Stresses in thick-walled cylinders. Prerequisites: MECH 2; MATH 23 may be taken previously or concurrently. (ES 2), (ED 1)

MECH 102. Dynamics (3) fall
Particle dynamics, work-energy, impulse-momentum, impact, systems of particles; kinematics of rigid bodies, kinetics of rigid bodies in plane motion, energy, momentum, eccentric impact. Prerequisites: MECH 2 or MECH 3, and MATH 23. (ES 3), (ED 0)

MECH 103. Principles of Mechanics (4)
Composition and resolution of forces; equivalent force systems; equilibrium of particles and rigid bodies; friction. Kinematics and kinetics of particles and rigid bodies; relative motion; work and energy; impulse and
momentum. Prerequisites: MATH 23 and Phys 11. (ES 4), (ED 0)

For Advanced Undergraduates and Graduate Students

MECH 302. Advanced Dynamics (3)
Fundamental dynamic theorems and their application to the study of the motion of particles and rigid bodies, with particular emphasis on three-dimensional motion. Use of generalized coordinates; Lagrange’s equations and their applications. Prerequisites: MECH 102 or 103; MATH 205. Perreira (ES 3), (ED 0)

MECH 305. Advanced Mechanics of Materials (3)
Strength, stiffness, and stability of mechanical components and structures. Fundamental principles of stress analysis: three-dimensional stress and strain transformations, two-dimensional elasticity, contact stresses, stress concentrations, energy and variational methods. Stresses and deformations for rotating shafts, thermal stresses in thick-walled cylinders, curved beams, torsion of prismatic bars, and bending of plates. Projects relate analysis to engineering design. Prerequisites: MECH 12, MATH 205. Nied. (ES 2.5), (ED 0.5)

MECH 307. Mechanics of Continua (3)
Fundamental principles of the mechanics of deformable bodies. Study of stress, velocity and acceleration fields. Compatibility equations, conservation laws. Applications to two-dimensional problems in finite elasticity, plasticity, and viscous flows. Prerequisite: MECH 305. Varley. (ES 3), (ED 0)

MECH 312. Finite Element Analysis (3)
Basic concepts of analyzing general media (solids, fluids, heat transfer, etc.) with complicated boundaries. Emphasis on mechanical elements and structures. Element stiffness matrices by minimum potential energy. Isoparametric elements. Commercial software packages (ABAQUS, NISA) are used. In addition, students develop and use their own finite element codes. Applications to design. Prerequisite: MECH 12. (ES 1.5), (ED 1.5)

MECH 313. Fracture Mechanics (3)
Fracture mechanics as a foundation for design against or facilitation of fracture. Fracture behavior of solids; fracture criteria; stress analysis of cracks; subcritical crack growth, including chemical and thermal effects; fracture design and control, and life prediction methodologies. Prerequisites: MECH 12, MATH 205, or approval of department. Nied, Wei. (ES 2), (ED 1)

MECH 326. Aerodynamics (3)
Application of fluid dynamics to flows past lifting surfaces. Normal force calculations in inviscid flows. Use of conformal mappings in two-dimensional airfoil theory. Kutta condition at a trailing edge; physical basis. Viscous boundary layers. Thin airfoil theory. Section design; Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics 327 pressure profiles and separation. Lifting line theory. Compressible subsonic flows; Prandtl-Glauert Rule. Airfoil performance at supersonic speeds. Prerequisites: ME 231 and MATH 208. Blythe, Varley. (ES 2.5), (ED 0.5)

MECH 328. Fundamentals of Aircraft Design (3)
Review of aerodynamics; Weight and balance, stability, loads; Basics of propellers; Power and performance; International Standard Atmosphere; Introduction to aerospace composites; Introduction to FAA regulations. Prerequisite: MECH 12. Grenestedt.

MECH 350. Special Topics (3)
A study of some field of engineering mechanics not covered elsewhere. Prerequisite: consent of the department chair.