Mechanical Engineering
What do mechanical engineers do exactly?
Mechanical engineers are responsible for designing, developing, manufacturing, and maintaining various power-producing machines. These machines can range from simple machines like levers and pulleys to complex ones such as electric generators, rocket-powered scramjet engines, and automotive body-in-white (structure/frame), to AI-powered robot assistants such as Roomba vacuum. Mechanical engineers use principles of physics, mathematics, and material science to design and develop mechanical systems. They use computer-aided design (CAD) software such as SolidWork, NX, or Inventor to create virtual models/drawings of parts and assemblies. These models can then be fed to finite element analysis (FEA) tools such as ABAQUS or ANSYS to analyze stresses/strains, and vibrations.
Mechanical engineering is a broad field that can cover many different areas of study such as thermodynamics, mechanics of materials (strength of materials), heat transfer, robotics, manufacturing, and control systems. Aerospace engineering and automotive engineering are examples of some areas of specialization within the mechanical engineering field however there are many others. Mechanical engineering is an exciting and challenging field that combines creativity, analytical skills, and practical knowledge to design and develop mechanical systems that meet the needs of modern society.
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Deep dive into one of the following topics:
Automotive Structure Design (Automotive Engineering)
- Sheet Metal Hydroforming: The Ultimate Guide for Engineers and Manufacturers
- Mastering Sheet Metal Forming
- Sheet Metal Stamping and Forming
- The Science of Fatigue Stress in Engineering: Key Considerations for Design and Testing
- Crashworthiness 101
- Why are cars so heavy?
- Automotive body structure 101
- Steel in a Car: Explained
- Automobile Roof: History & Design
- Unibody Torsional Rigidity
Mathematical Modeling (Automotive Engineering)
- Conventional Powertrain Explained
- Vehicle Dynamics of EVs
- Roll Control System Simulation
- Automobile Ride Quality Study
- Automotive Suspension Bond Graph Simulation
Chassis Design (Automotive Engineering)
- Vehicle Systems Overview
- EV Braking System Explained
- The Science of Fatigue Stress in Engineering: Key Considerations for Design and Testing
- Design of a suspension system
- Automotive Suspension System 101
- How are leaf springs designed?
- Roll Control System Simulation
- Automobile Ride Quality Study
Compressible Flow (Aerospace Engineering)
Manufacturing Process
- The Automotive Industry
- The Birth of Lean Manufacturing
- Car Assembly Process 101
- Sheet Metal Hydroforming: The Ultimate Guide for Engineers and Manufacturers
- Mastering Sheet Metal Forming
- Sheet Metal Stamping and Forming
- A Beginner’s Guide to Extrusion
- Forging Manufacturing Process
- The Science of The Rolling Process
- Understanding Machining Economics
Design of Fluid Thermal Systems
- The Internal Combustion Engine
- Design of Fluid-Thermal Systems (leaf blower)
- Air Distribution System Design
- Design of a Fuel Supply System
- Design of a Power Plant Cooling System
Dynamics
- Planetary Gear: Explained
- Modeling of Dynamic Systems
- Dynamics of Mechanical Systems
- Crashworthiness 101
- Automotive Suspension System 101
- Tumbling Toast Dynamics Experiment
Finite Element Analysis
Fluid Dynamics
- Understanding Car Wind Noise
- Computational Fluid Dynamics
- Energy Storage Explained
- Automotive Aerodynamics 101
- Design of Fluid-Thermal Systems (leaf blower)
- The Relief Valve
- Drag Forces on Wing Platform
- Drag Forces Acting on Objects in a Wind Tunnel
- Performance Characteristics of a Centrifugal Pump
- Impact of a Liquid Jet
Heat Transfer
- Battery Thermal Management 101
- Why is Heat Transfer Important?
- Low-E Windows VS Standard Windows
- Forced Heat Convection
- Radial Heat Conduction
- Design of a Power Plant Cooling System
- Design of a Heat Sink
- Fundamentals of Heat and Mass Transfer – Problem 2.10
- Fundamentals of Heat and Mass Transfer – Problem 2.31
- Fundamentals of Heat and Mass Transfer – Problem 2.28
Materials
- How to Test Mechanical Properties: Methods and Techniques
- Understanding Combined Axial Loading and Bending: How They Impact Structural Design
- Exploring the Advantages and Challenges of Carbon Fiber in Cars
- Solidification of Metal
- Metalworking Basics Explained
- Common Engineering Materials
- Why are cars so heavy?
- How temperature affects material energy absorption and hardness.
- Steel in a Car: Explained
- Determining Material based on Mechanical Properties
Statics
- Understanding Moment of Inertia
- Planetary Gear: Explained
- Energy vs Power
- Automotive Suspension System 101
- Mechanics of Materials 8th Edition Problem – 1.16
- Mechanics of Materials 8th Edition Problem – 1.15
- Mechanics of Materials 8th Edition Problem – 1.14
- Mechanics of Materials 8th Edition Problem – 1.13
- Mechanics of Materials 8th Edition Problem – 1.12
- Mechanics of Materials 8th Edition Problem – 1.11
Strength of Materials
- The Science of Fatigue Stress in Engineering: Key Considerations for Design and Testing
- How to Test Mechanical Properties: Methods and Techniques
- Understanding Combined Axial Loading and Bending: How They Impact Structural Design
- How temperature affects material energy absorption and hardness.
- Mechanics of Materials 8th Edition Problem – 1.16
- Mechanics of Materials 8th Edition Problem – 1.15
- Mechanics of Materials 8th Edition Problem – 1.14
- Mechanics of Materials 8th Edition Problem – 1.13
- Mechanics of Materials 8th Edition Problem – 1.12
- Mechanics of Materials 8th Edition Problem – 1.11
Thermodynamics
- The Internal Combustion Engine
- Thermodynamics of Batteries
- Thermodynamics- Gibbs free energy
- Conventional Powertrain Explained
- Energy vs Power
- Design of a Power Plant Cooling System