department of mechanical engineering · the institution of mechanical engineers now regards the...

Undergraduate Syllabuses_2005–06

Department of Mechanical Engineering

This publication refers to the session 2005–06. The information given, including that relating to the availability of courses, is that current at the time of going to press, October 2005, and is subject to alteration.

© Imperial College London 2005

For details of ppoossttggrraadduuaattee opportunities go to www.imperial.ac.uk/pgprospectus.

176 undergraduate syllabuses

Mechanical Engineering

The Mechanical Engineering Department of Imperial College London is widely rated as the best in the UK.The Mechanical Engineering building is situated on Exhibition Road, next to the main entrance to thecampus. Its 18,000 square metres accommodate lecture theatres, tutorial rooms, computer rooms,laboratories and specialised workshops. Laboratory space is available for undergraduate andpostgraduate teaching and research in nearly every aspect of mechanical engineering: there isspecialised equipment for materials testing, robotics, tribology, biomechanics, polymer engineering,stress analysis, vibration and noise analysis, food technology, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, combustion,gas turbine, internal combustion engine and hybrid vehicle technology. Excellent computing facilitiesinclude dedicated workstations supporting a wide range of software packages, including those neededfor Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Manufacturing (CAM). CAM resources are completed by advancedmanufacturing facilities in the Engineering Faculty Workshop, in an adjacent building; the Departmentmakes extensive use of these, for both teaching and for research. The Department has fast computernetwork access to the College and University computing services, as well as to national supercomputercentres elsewhere in the UK.

Details of postgraduate opportunities can be found in the online Postgraduate Prospectus atwww.imperial.ac.uk/pgprospectus.

Undergraduate coursesThe Institution of Mechanical Engineers now regards the four-year Master of Engineering (MEng) degreeas the benchmark route for formation of a professional engineer. Graduates with BEng degrees will needto study for additional 'matching sections' after graduation to become eligible for registration as aChartered Mechanical Engineer. For this reason, and because British degrees need to be equivalent tothose of other European countries, we offer only four-year MEng degrees. All courses have beenaccredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, and also lead to the diploma of Associate of theCity and Guilds Institute (ACGI).

Mechanical Engineering Mechanical Engineering (Total Technology) Mechanical Engineering with a Year Abroad

Each course can be taken with or without sponsorship, and students can select from a range of subjects intheir final years. The first and second years are devoted to acquiring a common body of knowledge andskills, while the third and fourth years form a continuum in which the student can develop professionalknowledge, understanding, attitudes and skills to the level attained in the best institutions throughoutEurope. All courses are fully accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers as the basis forincoroporation as a Chartered Engineer.

Sponsorship and industrial experience

Engineering is based in science but is essentially practical in its application. A professional engineerneeds not only to understand the physical science but also to appreciate the practical constraints onapplying that science. These constraints are imposed by the nature of materials and manufacturingprocesses, the behaviour of people, the organisation of companies, the flow of money, andenvironmental considerations. The training of a professional engineer includes both time spent studyingthe science and its application, and time spent in industry learning about these constraints — where it iseasier to see them in action.

Sponsorship by an employer who provides experience and training to recognised standards is aneffective way of combining industrial training and academic education. For many years this Departmenthas enjoyed excellent working arrangements with most major employers of mechanical engineers inBritain. These companies sponsor individual students on courses here, and provide pre and post-

university training and experience accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Sponsorship on the 1-4-1 pattern, with this close integration of the activities in all years, is known as

the Total Technology course and has operated in some form since 1974. Of increasing interest to bothsponsors and students is sponsorship on either a 2-1-2-1 pattern, with an industrial training year takenafter two years of academic study here, rather than before it begins.

In the first industrial year there is a planned programme of industrial training integrated with aprogramme of academic education. This academic education is achieved either by the student attendinga day-release course at a local college or by tutorial guidance provided by the academic tutors fromImperial.

The final industrial year is spent on a programme of career-directed training, designed to prepareindividual graduates for their first appointment. On successful completion of this final year the graduateis awarded a special certificate, granting eligibility for Associate Membership of the Institution ofMechanical Engineers.

There are academic tutors to help and guide students during their periods in industry. Students canjoin the Total Technology course only if accepted by the Department of Mechanical Engineering andsponsored on the scheme by a firm or organisation supporting the course. A list of sponsor companies isavailable on the Department’s website.

The collaboration of University and Industry throughout the six years of a student’s progress make theTotal Technology scheme an excellent way of combining education and training. However, the number ofstudents who can be sponsored in any one year is limited, and the Department also helps many studentsto find other kinds of industrial placements. Increasing numbers of students are finding placements withthe Year in Industry scheme, under which they spend a pre-university year with an employer, attendingseveral residential courses and seminars — some at Imperial. Details of this scheme, too, are available tointerested applicants.

An integral part of our own course is a period of workshop training, which takes place throughout thefirst year and for one week at the end of the summer term. Some students may be exempted from part ofthis training if they can demonstrate that they have obtained, or arranged to obtain, equivalentexperience: e.g. from an approved industrial sponsor.

A year abroad

Imperial College offers an MEng in Mechanical Engineering with a Year Abroad. Students whose generalacademic standard — and proficiency in the necessary language — are high enough spend their finalyear at a university or equivalent institution in another country. Their studies there are regarded asequivalent to a fourth year spent at the College. There are already arrangements with leading institutionsin France, Germany, the Netherlands and Australia, and others will be made elsewhere as demand for ayear abroad increases.

The course structure and content

The first and second years are spent mostly on basic engineering sciences, mathematics, design andcomputing, including computer-aided design. The engineering sciences are presented in ways that link them to their applications in the design of artefacts and systems. Through a blend of lectures, guidedreading, problem-solving, design exercises, laboratory work and contacts with industry, students gain aknowledge and understanding of the engineering science and the skills to apply it. Every student isallocated a personal tutor from whom advice, academic or personal, can be sought at any time.

In the third and fourth years, students are able to go more deeply into subjects or themes of their ownchoice. The range of course modules available may vary from year to year according to demand and theavailability of staff: those currently available are listed below. Some subjects are mandatory in the thirdyear, and all students carry out a group Design, Make and Test project and an individual LiteratureResearch project. However, a wide range of both technical and non-technical options is also on offer inboth of these years. In the final year, every student works on an Individual Project, which can beexperimental, analytical, design or computational or mixed in nature.

Students work in groups ranging in size from the whole class for some lectures to three or four forsome subject tutorials and laboratory or design work. Some subjects are offered using ‘problem-based’learning: guided investigations by students replace some of the formal lecturing.

mechanical engineering 177


Further information on particular subjects is given below and details of examinations appear on pages200-1. For further information contact the Department, telephone +44 (0)20 7594 7000, fax +44 (0)207823 8845 or visit the departmental website at www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanicalengineering.

FIRST YEARSubjects in the first year curriculum are taken by all students. ME.11 Computing ME.13 Mechatronics ME.14 Materials, Manufacturing and Design (including engineering drawing and

workshop training) ME.15/MEng.1.6 Mathematics ME.16 Solid Mechanics (mechanics and stress analysis) ME.17 Mechanics Laboratory ME.18 Thermofluids (thermodynamics and fluid mechanics) ME.19 Report Writing (professional skills)

SECOND YEAR Subjects in the second year curriculum are taken by all students.ME.20 Managing People in Organisations (professional skills)ME.21 Design and ManufacturingME.23 Electronics, Instrumentation and ControlME.24 ComputingME.25/MEng.2.6 MathematicsME.26 Solid Mechanics (mechanics, stress analysis and materials)ME.28 Thermofluids (thermodynamics, fluid mechanics and heat transfer)ME.29 Oral Communication (professional skills)

THIRD YEAR In the third year, each student must take at least eight (but no more than 10) subjects, two of which arecompulsory. In addition to these two, at least two other subjects must be from the technical optiongroup. At least one (and no more than two) subject(s) must be from the management and electivesgroups. Students who will spend their final year abroad are strongly advised to take the relevantlanguage option. Each subject normally has 20 lectures or equivalent, and up to 10 tutorials.

Each student also works on an individual Literature Research project, and then — as one of a group of(normally) four — on a Design, Make and Test project.

Compulsory subjects

ME.301 Fluid Mechanics or ME.302 Sustainable Energy Engineering ME.304 Machine System Dynamics

Technical optional subjects

ME.303 Stress AnalysisME.305 Fundamentals of Fracture Mechanics ME.306 Structure, Properties and Applications of Polymers ME.307 Integrated Design and Manufacture ME.308 Computational Continuum Mechanics ME.310 Object Oriented Programming in C++ME.312 Microprocessors ME.313 Welding, Joining and AdhesivesME.314 Tribology ME.315/MEng.3.6 Mathematics ME.316/MEng.3.7 Statistics


Management and elective subjects

ME.325 Innovation Management ME.326 Project Management ME.327 Entrepreneurship ME.340 Languages and Humanities subjects:

French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese H.1 Philosophy H.4 Controversies and Ethical Dilemmas in Science and Technology H.5 European History 1870-1989 H.6 Politics H.7 Science and Technology in Western Civilisation H.8 Global History of Twentieth-Century Things H.9 History of Medicine H.10 Modern Literature and Drama H.11 Art and Nature H.12 Music and Western Civilisation H.13 Communicating Science: the Public and the Media

Descriptions of the elective subjects listed above appear in the Humanities Programme UndergraduateSyllabus. Other subjects in the programme may also be acceptable.

FOURTH YEAR In the fourth year each student must take an Advanced Application subject and at least six others, butnot more than 10 in total. A minimum of three subjects must be from the fourth year technical group. Atleast one (but no more than two) subjects must be from the Management and Electives groups listedabove. Students may also take third year technical subjects which they have not followed in the previousyear. Each advanced application subject normally has 40 lectures or equivalent, and up to 20 tutorials.Other subjects normally have 20 lectures or equivalent, and up to 10 tutorials. Each student works on anindividual main project.

Advanced Application subjects

ME.4A2 Nuclear Reactor Technology ME.4A3 Mechanical Transmissions Technology ME.4A4 Polymer Processing Technology

Technical Optional subjects

Some subjects in this group have prerequisites of corresponding subjects in the third year course. ME.402 Advanced Stress Analysis ME.403 Advanced Control ME.404 Advanced Fracture Mechanics ME.405 Advanced Vibration Engineering ME.406 Computational Fluid Dynamics ME.407 CombustionME.409 Vehicle Propulsion ME.410 Interfacing and Data Processing ME.411 Finite Element Analysis And Applications


Syllabuses

FIRST YEAR

ME.11 Computing

DR A.M. KEMPF9 lectures and 21 hours practical. Introduction: basic computing terminology, introduction to Matlab, plotting simple functions.Matrices: arrays and matrices in Matlab, matrix arithmetic, the workspace browser, load and save, ASCIIfile format, three dimensional plots, exporting plots.Script files: comments, running scripts, selecting part of a matrix, using the help system.Variables and Loops: for loops and while loops.Conditions: if statements, keyboard input comparisons, not.Function files: differences between functions and scripts, passing variables, scope of variables.Examples: electronics, statics and dynamics problems.Advanced features of Matlab: solving differential equations, roots of equations, least squaresapproximations.

ME.13 Mechatronics

DR P. LEEVERS 24 lectures, 11 tutorials and 12 hours laboratory. Introduction: machine systems as complexes of mechanical, electrical and electronic subsystems and ofsoftware.Circuit elements. Power sources and loads; resistors, capacitors, inductors etc. Sensors and transducers. Detector networks. Kirchhoff’s laws. Potential divider, potentiometer,Wheatstone bridge.DC networks. Equivalent resistors, capacitors and inductors. Thévenin and Norton sources. Generalnetwork analysis methods.Waveforms and signals. Peak and average values, pulse width modulation, sine waves. Digital signals:binary numbers, sampling. Digital transducers.Logic. Logic variables, operations and truth tables. Gates: inputs, outputs, packages. Latches and flip-flops. Digital instructions.Transients. First order differential equations: transient solutions. Free and forced response of reactivenetworks.AC networks 1: phasors and impedance. AC voltage and current in resistors, capacitors and inductors.Impedance. Phasor analysis. Basic a.c. network analysis using phasors. Power factor.Diodes and rectifiers. Ideal and real diodes. Light emitting diodes. Non-linear networks: load linemethod. Power supplies.Electromagnetic actuators. Magnetic field properties, circuits and devices. Solenoids and steppermotors.Induction and transformers. Force on a conductor, induced e.m.f., generators. Transformers, transfomeranalogues, referred load impedance, induction motor.AC networks 2: Complex variable methods and filters. Complex voltage, current and impedance. Gainand frequency response. Filters. Bode plots.

ME.14 Materials, Manufacturing and Design

DR B.R.K. BLACKMAN, MR.G.G. GOSLING AND MR. D.A. ROBB 48 lectures, 12 tutorials, 3 hours laboratory, 24 hours manufacturing practical and 40 hours designpractical. MaterialsAn introduction to engineering materials and their properties: Stress-strain behaviour includingdefinitions of ‘engineering’ and ‘true’ stress and strain, concept of elastic limit and Young’s modulus,elastic-plastic behaviour and definitions of strength. Hardness. Fatigue strength (S-N approach), fatiguelimit and life. Creep behaviour, physical origins of creep, activation energy and Arrhenius law. Fracture


behaviour, brittle-ductile transition, toughness. Price, material availability and sustainability of humanactivity. Bonding between atoms, ions and molecules. Primary and secondary bonds. Forces and energy inbonds, physical basis of Young’s modulus, theoretical strength, thermal expansion. Crystal structure anddeformation of crystalline materials. Definition of crystal, lattice and primitive cell. Hard sphere model ofthe ion. Unit cells: BCC, FCC, HCP. Atomic packing factor, close packed planes, defects, dislocations.Deformation, close-packed direction, slip systems, strain energy, deformation in polycrystals, effect ofcrystal size. Metallic alloys: definitions, interstitial and substitutional solid solutions. Phase diagrams for binaryalloys. Equilibrium and non-equilibrium conditions. Solid solution hardening, precipitation hardening,TTT diagrams. Carbon steels and Al-Si casting alloys. Fe-C phase diagram, eutectoid, hypo- and hyper-eutectoid steels, cast iron. Heat treatment of steels, Annealing and normalising, quenching, tempering,TTT diagram for Eutectoid steel, uses of steel. Al-Si casting alloys. Al-Si equilibrium phase diagram,casting versus wrought properties. Polymers: classes of polymer, molecular structure, macroscopic structure, mechanical properties. Use offillers. Processing. Ceramics. Definitions. Ionic ceramics, covalent ceramics. Crystal structure,mechanical properties, applications. Composite materials: definitions, natural composites, polymer matrix composites, metal matrixcomposites. Fibre volume fraction. Mechanical properties. Stiffness, strength and toughness.Processing. High performance applications. Material selection: Ashby selection maps, selection of materials based on stiffness, weight and cost.Introduction to the Cambridge Engineering Selector (CES) software. Manufacturing Concepts of risk and hazard. Basic rules for safe working within Workshops. Absolute and comparative measurement methods, basic manual tools, work holding considerations,mechanics of cutting, machine tool methods, material forming methods, component joining processes. Application of computers in machine tools. Factory administration and measurement. Practical experience in measuring techniques, using simple hand tools for marking out and manualcutting, internal and external thread cutting, sheet metal forming and joining methods, and the use oflathes, milling and drilling machine tools.DesignEngineering drawing, perspective drawing, freehand sketching, computer-aided design. Analysis ofproposed designs, checking validity for manufacture and assembly. History of art and design. Materialsfor design, efficient and aesthetic form for design, life-cycle design, graphics, colour appreciation,ergonomics, design of critical components, use of perspective drawing to give 'life-like' representation toconcept sketches and presentation drawings. Codes of practice and legal requirements.

ME.15/MEng.1.6 Mathematics DR M. CHARALAMBIDES AND OTHERS 68 lectures and 48 tutorials.AnalysisFunctions of one variable: odd, even, inverse functions. Limits: continuous and discontinuous functions.Differentiation: continuity and differentiability; implicit and logarithmic differentiation; Leibniz’s formula;stationary points and points of inflection; curve sketching; polar coordinates. Taylor‘s and Maclaurin’sseries; l’Hopital’s rule. Convergence of power series; ratio test; radius of convergence. Complex numbers: the complex plane; polar representation; de Moivre’s theorem; ln z and exp (z).Hyperbolic functions : inverse functions; series expansions; relations between hyperbolic andtrigonometric functions. Integration: definite and indefinite integrals; the fundamental theorem; improper integrals; integration bysubstitution and by parts; partial fractions; applications to path lengths, surface areas, volumes, centresof gravity. Functions of more than one variable: partial differentiation; exact differentials; change of variable; chainrule; Taylor’s theorem for a function of two variables; stationary points; contours.


Ordinary differential equationsFirst order equations : separable, homogeneous, exact, linear. Second order linear equations ; dampedand forced oscillations. Solutions in Taylor/Maclaurin series. Laplace transforms: definition and simpleapplications to ODE’s.Numerical methodsDiscussion of errors; interpolation and extrapolation; Legendre interpolation. Least squares fitting tostraight lines and curves. Solution of nonlinear equations by bisection, fixed point and Newton-Raphson iterative methods;convergence of solutions.Numerical integration: trapezium and Simpson’s rules; discussion of errors; Richardson extrapolation.

ME.16 Solid Mechanics

DR S.P. WALKER, DR M.J. BLUCK 48 lectures and 24 tutorials. Stress analysisStatic equilibrium in structures, rules for static determinacy of frames;General conditions for solution: equilibrium of forces and compatibility of strains, stress-strainrelationships, examples from thin shells;Elastic stress-strain relationships in three-dimensions, elastic constants, elastic strain energy, staticallyindeterminate stress systems; Bending stresses in beams - Moment, stress, curvature relationship, deflections, Macauley’s method,statically indeterminate beams; Torsion of circular sections. MechanicsFree body diagrams, equilibrium conditions, Coulomb friction, belts, pulleys, clutches.Relative velocities and accelerations in mechanisms, vector equations and vector diagrams, generalexpression by differentiation; Laws of motion, translational motion, rotational motion, general planar motion, moment of inertia, linearand angular momentum, of particles and rigid bodies.

ME.17 Mechanics laboratory

DR K. NIKBIN AND OTHERS6 hours laboratory. Introduction to the conduct of experiments and analysis of measurements.Treatment of experimental errors and uncertainty: difference between accuracy and precision;systematic and random errors; error propagation (compound errors); graphical representation of errors(boxes, bars); linear regression (least squares fitting); statistical treatment of errors and confidencelimits.Maintenance of good records in a log book.Producing a technical report to describe the results of an engineering project (see syllabus for ME19,Professional Skills) The course is based on two experiments: 1. Measurement of stress concentration2. Jet thrust of a suspended fan

ME.18 Thermofluids

DR. A. KRONENBURG 48 lectures, 24 tutorials and 6 hours laboratory. ThermodynamicsIntroduction to Thermodynamics: its history linked to power plant development, its relevance in thecontext of energy reserves and the environment.Basic concepts: microscopic and macroscopic points of view, system and control volume approaches,properties, state, equilibrium, processes and cycles.


Energy, heat, work and the First Law: kinetic, potential and internal energy; heat transfer; displacementwork and shaft work; the First Law of Thermodynamics (cyclic and non-cyclic) for a system.Properties of substances: pure substances; the two-property rule, state diagrams; intensive andextensive properties; internal energy, enthalpy and specific heats; ideal and perfect gases; phase change,vapour and liquid properties, steam and water.The First Law for flow processes: the steady-flow energy equation and application to throttlingprocesses, nozzles, turbines, pumps, compressors, heat exchangers (including boilers and condensers).The Second Law: heat engines and efficiency; Carnot and thermodynamic reversibility; the Second Lawof Thermodynamics and its consequences.Consequences of the 2nd law: Clausius inequality, definition of entropy, state diagrams using entropy; TdS relationships; isentropic processes for perfect gases; isentropic efficiency; simple ideas of workpotential in the presence of the environment.Fluid mechanicsIntroduction to Fluid Mechanics: phenomena and applications; the continuum approximation; normaland shear forces in fluids; velocity profiles, the no-slip condition.Classifications: gases/liquids, compressible/incompressible, ideal/real, laminar/turbulent,Newtonian/non-Newtonian; physical properties; dimensionless groups (e.g. Reynolds No.); Newtonianfluids and strain rate, comparison with solids.Hydrostatics: forces and moments on submerged bodies; centre of pressure; manometry; gaugepresssure and head.Conservation of mass: streamlines/streamtubes, continuity equation.Conservation of mechanical energy: acceleration along a streamtube and centripetal acceleration;Bernoulli's equation; applications of Bernoulli (Pitot tube, venturi meter etc.); mechanical energy loss inreal fluids, pipe flows, use of Moody diagram; relationship between Bernoulli and steady-flow energyequations.Conservation of linear momentum: control volumes, mass and momentum flux; derivation of force-momentum equation from Newton's 2nd Law; relationship with Bernoulli's equation; choice of controlvolume; illustration by flow through real devices.Laminar flow: laminar flow velocity profile between plates and in pipes.

ME.19 Report Writing (professional skills)

DR A. KRONENBURG AND OTHERSTechniques of report writing: organisation (objectives, background, method, results, conclusions,appendices, etc). Achieving clarity and conciseness. Presentational aspects; figures, graphs, tables, literature references, etc.General writing skills: identification of and tailoring for audiences. Other forms of writing: articles, letters, brochures, posters, CVs, etc.Two of the ME17 Mechanics Laboratory reports are used as subject material for a discussion of reportwriting and as assessment for the Professional Skills Course. Students conduct an experiment in thelaboratory and then take part in a one-hour tutorial to discuss appropriate content for the report andproduce a detailed plan. The report is then written and handed in with assessment based both ontechnical content for the purposes of the Mechanics Laboratory Course and on communication for thepurposes of the Professional Skills Course.

SECOND YEAR

ME.20 Managing people and organisations (professional skills)

DR J. SHELDRAKEThe origins and development of professional management.Managerial control: The ways in which management seeks to maintain control over organizations andthe individuals within them. The influence of scientific management and mass production. Japanization(1) and the quality Movement. ISO 9000.Organizational structures and design: The significance of structure. Bureaucracy and its impact.


Obedience to authority. Current trends – the flexible firm.Job design: How should work be allocated? Current issues in the management and organization of work.Japanization (2) and the significance of groups and teams.Motivation: Management and motivation. How can managers motivate their workers? An introductionto motivation theory. Personality and psychometric testing.Leadership and decision making: Are effective leaders born or created? How are the necessary skills tolead and manage people obtained? Transformational vs. transactional leadership.Culture and its impacts: Globalization and transnational management. What is meant by organizationalculture. Can we identify different patterns of organizational culture? Does culture make a difference toorganizational performance?Managers and values: Health and safety, business ethics and social responsibility. What are the keyresponsibilities of management in these areas?Organizational change and development: How can managers influence change in organizations?Contemporary ideas and trends.

ME.21 Design, manufacturing and management

DR. S. CROFTON AND OTHERS20 lectures and 42 hours practical.The design process: market research, the design brief and specification, concept development, conceptselection, design development, design analysis and verification, detail design. Design for manufactureand assembly, process selection and planning, costing. Computer Aided Engineering (CAE): CAD and computer-aided manufacture, design and analysispackages. Project planning, teamworking and time management. Design assessment and analysis,interrelationship of design, materials and manufacture.Design of machine elements: bearings, shaft design, electric, hydraulic, and pneumatic motors andactuators, power transmissions, fasteners, dimensions and tolerances.

ME.23 Electronics, instrumentation and control

DR M.U. LAMPERTH AND OTHERS 24 lectures, 12 tutorials and 18 hours laboratory. Introduction to mechanical, electrical, electronic, e.g. mechatronic systems and their control througheveryday examples. Closed loop proportional control of a autonomous vehicle.Networks: Revision of Kirchoff’s laws applied to active and passive networks; load lines; linear andnon-linear volt-amp characteristics. Semiconductors. Zener diodes: application to constant voltagepower supplies.Micro Controllers and Data Acquisition. Analogue-digital and digital-analogue conversion.Microcontrollers: basic principles, technology and applications. Program control algorithms using theAtomPro chip. Signal Amplification and Processing. Operational Amplifiers: principles, ideal model and limitations.Op-amps in d.c. and time-dependent feedback stages: inverting and non-inverting amplifiers.Power Amplification. Transistors and MOSFETs. State of operation of transistor. Pulse width modulation.Signal Processing: differentiator, integrator, low-pass filter, high pass filter. Charge amplifier.Piezoelectric force transducers and accelerometers. Response in the time and frequency domain. Bodeplots for single stages and cascades. Gain and phase: magnitude/time and phasor representations.Complex gain.System modelling: hybrid systems as block diagrams with transfer operators. System transfer operator.Effects of negative feedback. Performance of servomechanisms. First and second order systems withstability and damping.

ME.24 Computing

DR A.J. MARQUIS8 lectures and 20 hours practical. Compiling: the MetroWerks C/C++ compiler. Program structure. Variable types: int, float, double and


char. Basic unary and binary operations. Basic internal functions. Reading and writing from thekeyboard and screen. Control structures: if(), for() and while(). Top-Down Development. Debugging. Functions and Procedures. Arrays. Structures. Pointers.

ME.25/MEng.2.6 Mathematics

PROF. M.LIEBECK AND OTHERS48 lectures and 24 tutorials. Vector calculus: double integrals; inversion of order of integration; mappings; Jacobian; change ofvariable.Conservative fields; Line integrals in the plane and Green’s theorem. Vector operators: grad, div and curl.Linear algebra: vector algebra: basic rules; scalar and vector products; triple products; lineardependence; coplanar vectors. Matrix algebra: basic rules; orthogonal and inverse matrices; non-commutativity of rotations.Determinants; basic properties; Cramer’s rule. Linear algebraic equations: consistency; lineardependence; Gauss-Jordon method; Gaussian elimination; LU factorisation.Eigenvalues and eigenvectors; linear independence of eigenvectors; diagonalisation; powers of a matrix;Cayley-Hamilton theorem.Ordinary differential equations: systems of ODEs with constant coefficients; matrix form leading toeigenvalue problem; normal modes.Fourier series: standard formulae; even and odd functions; sine and cosine series; complex form;Parseval’s theorem.Partial differential equations: second order PDEs: classification; Laplace, wave and diffusion equations;separation of variables including the use of Fourier series.Numerical methods: Picard iteration; Euler, trapezium and Runge-Kutta methods.Probability and statistics: Sampling, sorting and plotting data. Probability rules and models. Standarderror and confidence intervals.

ME.26 Solid mechanics

PROFESSOR M. IMREGUN AND OTHERS 72 lectures and 48 tutorials, laboratory and practical. VibrationsSingle-degree-of-freedom damped and undamped systems, natural frequency, viscous damping, criticaldamping coefficient, response to external force, resonance, transmitted force, amplitude and phaserelationships, abutment excitation; multi-degree-of-freedom systems, normal modes, modalsuperposition.DynamicsLaws of motion, d'Alembert's principle. Impulse-momentum and work-kinetic energy equations. Potentialenergy.Impact. Examples of translation motion. Rotational motion; moments of inertia and angular momentum.MaterialsYielding: deformation under uniaxial loading, elastic and plastic deformation, true stress and strain,effect of temperature and strain rate on post-yield behaviour, superplasticity, grain size effects,hydrostatic and deviatoric stresses, Tresca and von Mises criteria, isotropic and kinematic hardening andmechanisms.Fatigue: High cycle fatigue, crack initiation, intrusions/extrusions, stage I and stage II cracks, meansstresses, multi-axial stresses, Miner’s rule, LEFM, Paris law, Low cycle fatigue, fatigue designphilosophies.Fracture: Ductile and brittle fracture, use of LEFM, relationship between K and G, microvoid coalescence,cleavage, the ductile-to-brittle transition, grain size control, cracking in weldsCreep: Diffusion and Fick’s laws, mechanisms of creep, engineering approach to creep deformation, creepstrength and creep rupture, mechanisms of creep failure, material selection criteria for creep.


Stress analysisStress and strain analysis in two dimensions, principal values, maximum shear stresses. Mohr's circle forstress and strain. Yield criteria and the concept of equivalent uniaxial stress. Displacement relationshipsand compatibility. The analysis of strain gauge results. Stress and strain in cylindrical polar coordinates(three dimensions with axial symmetry). Hooke's law for three dimensions and the elastic constants. Theelastic limit and plastic flow effects. Plastic collapse.Applications in elasticity: shafts in bending and torsion, thin section tubes in torsion, high pressuremonobloc and compound cylinders, rotating discs. Applications in elasto-plasticity: beams and shafts inbending and torsion, limit loads, permanent set and residual stress. Simple work-hardening solutions.Plastic deformations of monobloc cylinders.

ME.28 Thermofluids

DR R.I. CRANE AND OTHERS 72 lectures, 36 tutorials and 15 hours laboratory. ThermodynamicsRevision of fundamental concepts and laws from 1MTF Thermodynamics.Otto and Diesel cycles, elements of reciprocating engine performance; Joule cycle and simple gas turbineperformance; properties and uses of steam (steam tables and Mollier diagram); Rankine cycle, simplesteam power plant performance.Gas and gas-vapour mixtures: mixtures of ideal gases, the Gibbs-Dalton law; properties of ideal gasmixtures; mixtures of an ideal gas and a vapour (air-water): dew point, specific and relative humidities;use of psychrometric chart; application to air conditioning, cooling towers, product drying etc.Compressible flows: stagnation temperature and pressure; relations between stagnation and staticstates; sonic velocity, Mach number; choking, critical pressure ratio; convergent nozzle flow; phenomenain convergent-divergent nozzles (qualitative treatment only), normal shock waves (qualitative treatmentonly); nozzle and diffuser efficiencies; application to rocket motors, turbomachine blade passages etc.Turbomachinery: types of turbomachine; Euler turbomachine equation and energy equation; velocityvector triangles; definitions of efficiency; degree of reaction and relationship to blade shape; selection ofappropriate machines; application to axial-flow compressors, gas and steam turbines.Thermodynamics of combustion: fuels and their origins; reaction of hydrocarbon fuels with oxygen orair: composition of reactant and product mixtures, stoichiometric mixtures, incomplete combustion,excess air, air/fuelratio and equivalent specifications; energy content of fuels, gross and net calorificvalues, relation to enthalpy of formation; the steady-flow energy equation applied to combustionprocesses; adiabatic flame temperature; combustion efficiency; irreversibility of combustion, fuel cells;environmental aspects; application to boilers, gas turbine combustors etc.Fluid mechanicsDifferential forms of the equations of continuity and motion: continuity and Cauchy form of the equationsof motion (with body forces) in three dimensions, derived using control volume analysis; simplificationsof the equation set (e.g. one and two-dimensional, steady flow, uniform flow, uniform property, invariantproperty) in both Cartesian and cylindrical polar coordinates; state of internal stress in Newtonian fluids;Couette flow as example of equation set and application of boundary conditions: practical applications ofCouette flow in flow metering.Boundary layer (b.l.) flows: the b.l. as an 'approximately Couette' flow, for the case of zero streamwisepressure gradient; derivation of von Karman's integral momentum equation (IME) from simplifieddifferential equation set, use of the IME for experimental evaluation of drag and for derivation ofanalytical estimates of drag coefficient, skin friction coefficient and b.l. growth for laminar and turbulentflows using "assumed profile" method; hydraulically smooth and fully rough limits of wall roughnessheight for drag generated by turbulent b.l. flow, the inner-layer variables based on the friction velocity,the viscous, buffer, and log-law layers; Prandtl-Karman formula for Darcy friction factor; hydraulicdiameter.Bluff body flows: pressure, friction and profile drag; use of frontal, platform and wetted areas for dragcalculations; drag coefficients as a function of shape, and body orientation; extension of b.l. theory toseparation on imperfectly streamlined bodies in the presence of an imposed adverse pressure gradient;examples (ducted flows, aircraft wings, turbine blades, automobiles); approximate magnitude of critical

adverse pressure gradient for laminar flow using Couette flow and Pohlhausen's quartic profile analyses;methods to improve streamlining of bodies; variation of drag coefficient with Reynolds number,particularly at low and at high values, flow over a cylinder as an example; vortex shedding; drag crisisdue to laminar-to-turbulent transition of b.l.; use of value of drag coefficient to determine dynamically-influenced quantities such as terminal velocity, deceleration time and distance.Stream function: definition and mathematical representation of a streamline; the stream function; use ofmeasured/calculated velocity profiles to plot streamlines; application to bluff body flows (separationstreamlines, free stagnation points, physical significance of negative stream function).Similitude: use of models to measure drag of automobiles, aircraft and ships; identification of Reynolds,Froude, Mach, Strouhal and Weber numbers from dimensionless form of the differential equations ofmotion, physical significance of these numbers; estimation of prototype behaviour from measurementson model; pitfalls of models, incomplete similarity as applied to drag of ships.Heat transferHeat transfer mechanisms: conduction, convection, radiation; common engineering occurrences andtheir importance.Conduction and convection: thermal conductivity and heat transfer coefficient; Fourier's and Newton'slaws; thermal resistance of plane, cylindrical and spherical walls and fluid boundary layers; thermalresistance networks; thermal insulation; overall heat transfer coefficient; cooling by fins; radiators.Convection and thermal boundary layers: two-zone model; forced and free convection; heat transfercorrelations; Nusselt number. Boiling and condensation (phenomenological description). Heatexchangers: counter-flow, co-flow and condensing flow; effectiveness.Unsteady conduction in space and time: one-dimensional conduction with convective boundaries;conductors with internal energy generation and dissipation; derivation of fin efficiency; separable two-and three-dimensional problems; heat treatment and cooling; Fourier and Biot numbers.Radiation: Stefan-Boltzman law; black and grey bodies; emission and absorption; radiosity; radiationresistance networks.

ME.29 Oral communication (professional skills)

DR B.R.K. BLACKMAN1 lecture and 4 hours’ practical.The planning of a technical presentation. Identifying the main aims of the presentation and identifyingthe audience. Deciding upon the right technical level to pitch a presentation to an audience of mixedtechnical background. Preparation of material. Deciding on the main points you wish to present.Deciding what audio-visual aids to use and how many to use. Designing your presentation (text, graphsetc) and making sure all is clearly visible. Practicing before the day. Use of cue cards and other memoryaids. Pacing of the presentation, keeping to time, handling interruptions and minimising the effects ofnervousness. Responding to questions. How to assess your own performance. Researching your topic— information sources.

THIRD YEAR

Core subjectsEach 20 lectures, or equivalent, and up to 10 tutorials.

ME.301 Fluid mechanics

DR A.J. MARQUIS AND OTHERS Body and Surface Forces. Stress and Strain; Constitutive Equations. Conservation (Balance) Equations:properties, boundary conditions and dimensionless parameters. Laminar Flow: exact solutions.The Thin Boundary Layer approximation: order of magnitude analysis; the flat plate boundary layer, freeshear flows.Turbulent Flow: Reynolds averaging and the closure problem; Eddy viscosity models; Free jets, wakesand mixing layers; Near Wall Flows.



Speed of sound and the Mach Number.Energy equation and equation of state.One-dimensional isentropic flow in convergent, divergent and convergent-divergent ducts.Normal shocks.De Laval nozzle.Oblique, weak, strong and reflected shocks.

ME.302 Sustainable Energy engineering

DR J.R. GIBBINS AND OTHERS Introduction to sustainable development concepts.Current UK energy scenario (with emphasis on non-nuclear energy): consumption and fuel mix forstationary heat and power; current and projected emission standards and pollution levels (including CO2emissions), contrasts between the UK and other countries.Solid fuel utilisation: combustion and gasification of coal and biomass, including carbon capture andstorage.Renewable energy in the UK: the Renewables Obligation and Climate Change Levy; current and futurecontributions of biomass, waste, landfill gas, hydro, wind and solar photovoltaic sources.Heat and power production technology: thermodynamics underlying the best technology; heatgeneration including waste heat boilers, condensing boilers, heat pumps; power generation includinggas turbine and integrated gasification combined cycle plant, super-critical steam plant, reciprocatingengines, fuel cells.Combined heat and power (CHP) systems: fundamental concepts and CHP uptake in the UK; plantexamples including case study of Imperial College CHP plant.Other non-fossil energy sources (principally nuclear fission and fusion).Thermodynamic limits in energy conversion between chemical, heat and work forms, includingintroduction to exergy theory and applications.

ME.304 Machine system dynamics

PROFESSOR P. CAWLEY AND OTHERS Passive system dynamics: forced response of multi-DOF systems (vibration absorber); free and forcedresponse of 1D continuous systems (beams, shafts in torsion and bending)Rotor dynamics: whirling of shafts; synchronous whirl critical speedsFatigue: revision of S-N curves, Goodman diagrams; calculation of alternating stress from vibrationamplitude via mode shape; Interpretation of fatigue failure surfaces.Signal processing: transducers (linear displacement, angular displacement, angular velocity, pressure);Fourier Transform, FFT; Data acquisition (resolution, aliasing); Time Windows (rectangular, Hanning,exponential)Control (analogue): feedback systems; Solution by Laplace transform; PID control; one of root locusmethod, frequency response method (to be decided).Analysis of realistic signals and systems: Use of MATLAB for Fourier analysis and frequency responsefunctions; control system design; control system optimisation.

Technical option subjectsEach 20 lectures or equivalent, and up to 10 tutorials.

ME.303 Stress analysis

DR U.N. HANSEN

Thick-walled cylinder theory (including the effects of radial temperature distribution and body forces): revision of Lamé equations and boundary conditions for monobloc cylinders; extension of Laméequations to include thermal effects and body forces (thin rotating discs); stress distributions, examples;compound cylinders.Deficiencies of monobloc cylinders; interference stresses, modified stress distribution under internalpressure; applications and examples.


Yielding of thick-walled cylinders: first yield, full yield, partial yield for non work hardening materials;limit loads, residual stresses, autofrettage; examples.Residual stresses in beams: extension of elastic-plastic bending of beams from Stress Analysis 2 toinclude residual stresses.Bending Theory of Axi-Symmetric PlatesReview of bending of beams; extension to axi-symmetric plates; boundary conditions, applications andexamples including built in and simply supported solid plates with uniform load, central point load andannular loads, plates with central holes. Thermal stresses.Theory of ShellsMembrane Theory of Axi-Symmetric Shells; derivation of relationships between applied loads, stressesand geometry of shells; examples including internal pressure, hydrostatic loading and self weight.Axi-symmetric bending of thin walled cylinders; examples.Energy MethodsElastic strain energy for multi-axial loading systems; Castigliano’s Theorem; applications to staticallyindeterminate and deflections in pin jointed structures; straight and curved beams and other examples.

ME.305 Fundamentals of fracture mechanics

PROFESSOR A.J. KINLOCHMechanisms of fracture; cleavage; ductile to brittle transition, influence of temperature, strain role andstress state. Significance of cracks and defects. Introduction to linear and yielding fracture mechanics;stress intensity factor K and fracture toughness KIc. Griffith energy concepts; stable and unstablefracture. Effects of plasticity; plane stress-plane strain transition; small scale yielding; extensive yielding;crack opening displacement. Application of principles to high and low strength steels and weldedstructures. Use of design codes for specifying maximum tolerable defect sizes in components.

ME.306 Structure, properties and applications of polymers

DR J.P. DEAR

Structure-property relationshipsMonomers, oligomers and polymers. Thermoplastics and thermosets. Blends and copolymers.Conformation and configuration of CC backbone chains; tacticity. Chain flexibility and mobility.Amorphous polymers in melt, rubbery and glassy states. Entanglements. Chain mobility under stress. Theglass transition: factors affecting its value. Elastomers. Crystallinity. Factors affecting crystallinity and Tm.Orientation. Blends. Thermoplastic elastomers. Liquid crystal polymers. Additives. Introduction topolymer composites and foams. Processing of polymersPrincipal methods of processing plastics, rubbers and short-fibre composites (extrusion, blow moulding,calendering, rotational casting, thermoforming, compression moulding, injection moulding and theirderivatives). Polymer melt properties. Melt flow index. Melt viscosity: strain rate and temperature effects.Melt elasticity, slip and fracture. Shrinkage. Mouldability: the spiral flow test. Curing of thermosets andrubbers. Processing effects on properties of extruded and injection moulded components. Flow lineorientation.Incomplete and shear-promoted crystallisation. Residual stresses. Moulding faults and warping.Stress analysis of polymers Stress, strain, rate and time. Viscoelasticity in creep and relaxation behaviour: linear elastic, Newtonianviscous and vioscoelastic response. Spring-dashpot models: Maxwell, Voigt and Standard Linear Solid.Equations of state. Temperature dependence.Use of creep and relaxation data. Isochronous curves, non-linearity; tangent, secant, flexural and tensilemodulus. The pseudoelastic design method. Boltzmann Superposition Principle applied to stepwisechanges in stress or strain. Temperature effects. Stiffness of elastomers.Failure of polymersThe causes of, phenomena of, tests for and design against bulk failure modes (yield, creep rupture,thermal fatigue, solvent attack and swelling, electrical breakdown, combustion): surface failure modes


(wear, chemical attack, weathering, stress whitening, crazing, tracking) and ‘brittle fracture’ modes (slowand environmental stress cracking, fatigue crack growth and impact fracture). Strengthening andtoughening of plastics. Selection of plastics on the basis of previous applications. Recognising polymers. Selection from aproperty database: CES, Campus.Aspects of design for injection moulded rigid components: fixing, joining and consolidation features(snap-fits, moulded-in hinges etc.). Engineering design resources. Concurrent engineering systems.Design for recovery, recycling and disposal.

ME.307 Integrated Design and Manufacture

MR G.G. GOSLINGIntroduction: The manufacturing revolution of the 1980s and the subsequent concept and pursuit ofWorld Class Manufacturing. Role of computer technology in WCM.Automation of machines: origins, technology, features, benefits and application of Computer NumericalControl of machine tools.Automation of manual activities: History, type, application and technology of robotic devices to replacemanual tasks.Automation of process control: use of MRP, PLCs and metrology in the planning and control of productionprocesses and quality assurance.Creation and management of CAM data; programming of machines, and the methods of datamanagement. Data network terminology, hardware and architecture.Design/manufacturing interface: the product-life cycle. Theory, environment and benefits of ConcurrentEngineering, design for manufacture and assembly. Rapid manufacturing: techniques, equipment and selection criteria for rapid manufacturing, importancein modern design and manufacturing process.Factory organisation: considerations of how factory equipment is arranged in different layouts. Grouptechnology, cellular manufacturing (benefits and threats); application of flexible manufacturing systems.Scheduling and MRP: Requirements in the preparation of manufacturing data for use with computer-based system for scheduling complex Just in Time production. How MRP has developed, benefits andweaknesses.Lean Manufacturing: evolution from origins within Toyota Production System. Process Flow, theory ofconstraints, KanBan, Just in Time, 5S Housekeeping and the removal of waste.

ME.308 Computational continuum mechanics

DR N.P. O’DOWDBasic concepts and definitions: concept of a continuum, continuity, homogeneity and isotropy; Elementsof vector and tensor algebra. Deformation and flow: length and angle changes: Strain tensor; Material and spatial description;Deformation; Motion and flow. Stresses: body and surface forces; Stress tensor; Principal stresses, stress invariants, hydrostatic anddeviatoric stresses.Fundamental laws of continuum mechanics: mass conservation, conservation of linear and angularmomentum, conservation of energy; Law of entropy production; Equations for large deformations. Constitutive relations: ideal materials; constitutive relations and equations of state; Elastic solids;Newtonian fluids.Mathematical models: linear elastic solids; Newtonian fluids; Initial and boundary conditions.Introduction to the Finite Element method: principle of virtual work; Finite element discretisation; Linearelastic finite element model; Shape functions; Numerical quadrature; Mapping of elements; Solution ofthe finite element equations.


ME.310 Object Oriented Programming in C++

DR A.K. FORRESTHow C++ relates to Pascal and a comparison of their history. Invention of Algol, C, Pascal and C++ and theinvention of compilation. Declaration of variables and the base data types. Block structure and types of conditional execution;loops. Function subroutines. Returning more than one value from a function. Arrays and pointers.Dynamic memory allocation. Creation and destruction of multi-dimen-sional arrays. Storing data on thestack and in the heap. C structures. Use of header files. Theoretical advantages and reasons for object orientated languages. The idea of a class.Implementation of dynamic and static classes. Use of constructors and destructors. Use of the C++keywords “public”, “private”, “protected”. How class “methods” are used on an object and on a pointerto an object. Copy constructors and overloading operators especially “=” and “+”. Memory allocationfor static classes. Passing objects or pointers to objects, and the possibility of dangling pointers. Implementation of a binary tree class and methods for adding to and checking the contents of the tree.Advantages and disadvantages of a tree compared to other data structures in the context of a spellchecking program. Segmentation of a problem into separately codeable and testable parts and choice ofclasses and data flow between them. How to improve re-usability of programs.Introduction to the further capabilities of C++ i.e. inheritance, exceptions and use of available code byoverloading functions.Introduction to programming a physical simulation.

ME.312 Microprocessors

DR A.K. FORRESTGeneral structure of computers. History of the development of computers at machine level. Numbersystems and the changes from decimal to binary coded decimal to hexadecimal. Number systems andtheir different benefits. Arithmetic for number bases other than ten.General structure of a computer. The use of busses to transfer data in two directions. Tri-state buffersand the problems of their use. Memory address decoding. Starting up a machine and the hardwareneeded to accomplish it. Interrupt and reset vectors. Status looping versus interrupts. The requirementsof an interrupt routine. Cross development of code on host PC and its implementation and testing on thetarget system. Memory mapped input/output. Interface of electronics to software systems and choice oftasks for software and hardware. Register to register assembler operations; add, subtract, move etc. Transfer of data between processorand memory; indirect addressing with automatic update, indexing or offsetting. The relationshipbetween memory transfer at assembly level and structures in high level languages such as arrays andpointers. Shift and rotate instructions. Twos complement numbers and the use of flag registers for carryoverflow and zero testing. Interface of electronics to software systems and choice of tasks for softwareand hardware. Subroutine implementation at machine level. The characteristics and use of a stack. Allocating memoryfor local stack and the use the system makes of its own global stack. Use of timers and counters. Makingexecution faster, optimisation issues. The use of queues and a comparison to stacks.Program organisation and methods for writing large programs. The choice of split between high level andlow level programming. Testing and fault finding strategies.

ME.313 Welding, joining and adhesives

PROFESSOR A.J. KINLOCH Science and technology of the various means of fastening materials and structures. Welding: fusion, resistance, electron beam, flash and friction welding. Brazing, soldering. Mechanicalfasteners and structural adhesives. Advantages/disadvantages of the various methods, effect of processing variables, significance ofdefects, stress analysis and design of joints, fracture and fatigue, fracture mechanics assessment,service-life predictions, economic aspects and quality control.


ME.314 Tribology

PROFESSOR H.A. SPIKES Simple contact mechanics: the contact of rough and smooth surfaces; surface topography, solid/solidfriction, flash temperature.Lubricant film generation: liquid viscosity and its measurement, characteristics and specification;derivation and approximations to Reynolds’ equation.Regimes of lubrication: hydrodynamic lubrication, hydrostatic lubrication, elastohydrodynamiclubrication, mixed and boundary lubrication, practical application of these types of lubrication; plainbearings, rolling element bearings, gears, additives.Nature and properties of rubbing materials: mechanical properties and composition of machinecomponents; lubricant and grease composition; lubricant specification.Types and mechanisms of tribological damage: wear, scuffing, rolling contact fatigue, performancecharts, monitoring the health of lubricated systems.

ME.315/MEng.3.6 Mathematics

DR R. JACOBSNon-linear ordinary differential equations: the qualitative nature of their solutions. Their relevance to models of the spread of populations, diseases or war. Dynamical systems: simple results. Use of the phase plane to study the prey-predator model, a model of the spreading of a non-fatal disease, the non-linear pendulum and L.F. Richardson’s theory of war. Signal analysis: Fourier analysis of signals, applied to the activity of solar spots and the variation in air pressure arising from speech or music.

ME.316/MEng.3.7 StatisticsDR N. ADAMSStatistical techniques for summarising and displaying data, including computer processing. Probabilitytheory for events. Discrete probability models (Poisson, binomial, geometric), including computersimulation, fitting parameters and testing the fit. Continuous probability models (uniform, exponential,normal, student t, chi-squared, Weibull) including simulations, fitting and applications. Failure analysis,reliability of devices and systems. Covariance and correlation. Sampling distributions, unbiasedness,standard error and mean square error. Maximum likelihood estimation, confidence bounds andhypothesis testing. Linear models , regression and factorial experiments. Decision tree analysis.Random processes (Markov chains, Poisson process and queues).

Management and elective subjects20 lectures or equivalent, and up to 10 tutorials.

ME.325 Innovation management

PROFESSOR D. GANN, DR A. SALTERTypes of innovation in different industries. Models of innovation processes. Strategies for innovation.Sources of innovation. Competition, firm size and innovation. Organising innovation inside the firm.Managing research and development projects. Institutions supporting innovation. Commercialisinginnovation.

ME.326 Project management

DR E. HADJICONSTANTINOUProject nature and the project life cycle; key roles and responsibilities (the client and the projectmanager); the use of mathematical models; network-based project management methodology; time-scale planing techniques; resource scheduling; modelling uncertainty in activity durations; project costcontrol and time-cost trade-offs; use and evaluation of project management software from both atheoretical and practical viewpoint.


ME.327 Entrepreneurship

DR T. MELDRUM

Introduction to entrepreneurship and new venture creation: Introduction to module, learning objectives and assessment. New ventures in the UK: an economicoverview. What is entrepreneurship? The role of the entrepreneur. The entrepreneurial process. Entrepreneurial behaviour: Stevenson’s model. End of session groups: team building. Fundamentals of business: The nature of markets. Legal structures. Financial institutions. The business support infrastructure. Business basics. Origins of new ventures: Types of new ventures. The business concept; commercialising ideas. Defining the market. Barriers toentry. The entrepreneur and the team: Who becomes an entrepreneur and why? Entrepreneurial characteristics: myths and realities.Entrepreneurial skills. Entrepreneurial teams and team formation. Stakeholders and networks. Groupassignment. Appraising the business opportunity: Market assessment and research. Competitor analysis. Marketing strategy. Revenue strategy. Picking winners. Raising and managing the money: Basic concepts in finance: ‘Turnover is vanity, profit is sanity, cash is king’. Raising money: sources of debt and equity finance. Managing finance during start-up and early growth. Technologies Technical uncertainties. Technology strategy. New product development. Project management. Marketing and sales: Promotional techniques. Personal networks. Selling. Buying. Business planningIndividual assignment. Managing growth and succession How do businesses grow? Growth strategies. Resource implications. Operational issues. Harvesting andexit.

FOURTH YEAR

Advanced application subjectsEach 40 lectures or equivalent, and up to 20 tutorials.

ME.4A2 Nuclear reactor technology

DR S.P. WALKER AND OTHERS

Introduction to nuclear particles and their interactions (discursive, non-mathematical) Nuclear particles and atomic and nuclear structure, Binding energy and energy release on of neutrons:diffusion and leakage, Criticality, spatial neutron distribution, Moderation, thermal and fast reactors,Spatial distribution of thermal power generation, Fission product; origin, distribution, importanceIntroduction to reactor physicsDiffusion: Neutron current, neutron flux, the diffusion approximation, the diffusion equation, examplesolution for a source free regionMultiplying media and criticality: One group reactor equation, the source term, criticality condition for a1-D slab reactor, spherical reactor, brick reactor.The cylindrical reactor: determination of critical size, minimum critical radius / height, spatial distribution


of flux, energy generationThermal reactor: Thermal reactor analysis, the four factor formula, resonance escape, fast fission,neutron life cycle in a thermal reactorReflected reactors: reflectors, determination of critical size of a reflected sphere, ‘reflector savings’Reactor kinetics: doubling times, prompt criticality, reactivity feedback mechanisms, positive andnegative feedback, power and temperature coefficientsReactor thermohydraulicsWithin-pin temperature distribution, cladding temperature drop, gap temperature drop, significance ofpellet central holeSpatial distribution of energy generation, axial variation of coolant bulk temperature, axial variation ofcladding surface temperature, axial variation of fuel centre temperature, determination of magnitude andlocation of peak cladding temperature.Fuel – coolant heat transfer, heat transfer coefficients, boiling, boiling regimes, nucleate boiling anddeparture therefrom, dryout, critical heat flux.Flow in the core, pressure drop, accelerational and frictional components, pumping powerSafetySafety principles, objectives, fallacy of ‘zero risk’, tolerability of risk, ALARPProbabilities, consequences, risk, hazardReactor hazards, probabilistic and deterministic analysis, defence in depth, redundancy, diversityProbabilistic risk assessment, fault trees, event treesMaterials issues for nuclear reactorsMain classes of materials, particular requirements, materials used and why, radiation damage,displacements, radiation effects (hardening, embrittlement, swelling, creep, ..)Fuel and fuel elementsFuel production, desirable fuel properties, why we use the fuels we do, fuel element design (thermal,mechanical), fuel modeling.Lecture reinforcing experimentsThe course includes two visits to the Imperial College nuclear reactor, to perform teaching experimentsthat augment and reinforce the lectured material:Approach to criticalExponential graphite stackGraphite stack; critical size, bucklingShielding of radiationAxial flux distributionDelayed neutron parameters

ME.4A3 Mechanical transmissions technology

DR A.V. OLVER Transmission types: gearing, continuously variable transmissions, belts and chains, fluid power systemsand electrical systems. Contact mechanics and tribology in the transmission of power. Dynamic andkinematic aspects of gears, belts and chains. Tooth forces, inertia forces, etc., for bearing design. Vibrational aspects, torsional stiffness considerations and gearbox noise effects. Reliability assessmentmethods and condition monitoring techniques for transmissions. General gear design methods. Lubrication and lubricants. Rolling element bearings. Materials and heat treatment of gears in relation tocontact mechanics and bending stresses. Failure modes in rolling and sliding contacts related tolubrication and contact conditions. Seals and sealing. Belts, chains, couplings, clutches and brakes.

ME.4A4 Polymer Processing Technology

DR P.S. LEEVERS

Injection mouldingA revision of the process cycle, technology, terminology and industrial context (including materials

supply), process/property interactions and moulding faults. Context, role and principles of concurrentengineering software: introduction to Moldflow. Plastics selection for engineering components usingCES. Preparing a material specification from mechanical, thermal, electrical, environmental andprocessing considerations. Property and selection-criteria definitions and their limitations. Campus datasheets. Polymer melt rheology and rheometryShear flow and extensional flow. Continuum analysis of drag and pressure flows. Constitutive equations:newtonian (plateau) and power-law flow, temperature and pressure effects. Capillary rheometry.Rabinowitsch and Bagley corrections. Viscosity models for injection moulding simulation: Cross-Arrhenius and Cross/WLF models. Melt slip, melt fracture.Channel flowThe lubrication approximation. Heat generated in channel flow. Dimensionless groups relevant to meltflow processes. Transient hear conduction in a solid. Channel flow with convection and conduction, orconduction and heat generation. Viscosity changes. Conditions for isothermal flow. Nozzle/sprue flowand hot runner technology. Flow modelling for injection moulding. Cold runner systems and mouldtechnology. Filling, freeze-off and flow ratio in gates, channel cavities and disc cavities.Mould cooling technology.Cooling by conduction with and without surface thermal resistance. Temperature dependence of specificenthalpy, conductivity and viscosity.Time and temperature dependence of the isochronal modulusRate dependence, time dependence and viscoelasticity. Creep and relaxation equations of state;pseudoelasticity. Maxwell material: creep and relaxation response. Power-law materials. Temperatureeffects on the isochronal modulus. Time-temperature equivalence: master curves and the WLF equation.Boltzmann superposition principle and integral representation. Creep and relaxation, dynamic shear andtensile property data. Complex modulus, loss peaks and DMTA. Multi-element spring-dashpot models,Prony series representations and Schapery collocation.PVT data. Tait model. Packing. Residual stress models. Shrinkage and warpage: origin and estimationmethods for plate and beam components.

Technical option subjectsEach 20 lectures or equivalent, and up to 10 tutorials.

ME.402 Advanced stress analysis

DR D.P. ISHERWOOD

Stress Function Methods in 2 DimensionsEquilibrium, compatibility and constitutive equations; combination for linear elastic materials inCartesian co-ordinates to produce biharmonic equation using Airy stress function; solution bypolynomials, application to beam problems.Transformation to cylindrical polar co-ordinates; general solution; application to selected problems fromthick walled cylinders; split and curved rings, wedges, elastic half-space, cracks, discs between opposingloads; superposition for arbitrary loading.Torsion of Non-Circular SectionsTorsion of solid bars; warping function and Prandtl stress function; solutions for elliptical and triangularbars. Torsion of thin walled sections - membrane analogy, relationship between shear stress, appliedtorque, geometry and angle of twist.Elastic WavesLongitudinal vibrations of rods; wave speed; stresses reflections at a boundary. Torsional vibrations ofrods. Hopkinson’s bar test. Flexural vibrations of rods; flexural waves; phase and group velocities.Dispersion Waves in elastic media; wave equations; dilatational and distortional waves; Raleigh waves.Convolution IntegralWhy an alternative to previous stress analysis is needed. Development and application to simpleproblems. Study of more advanced problems.



ME.403 Advanced control

DR M. RISTIC

Analogue Control SystemsMathematical modelling of signals and linear dynamic systems; System models using differentialequations; Signal representation in the frequency domain and transfer functions; Frequency responseanalysis and design; Signal representation in the frequency domain and transfer functions; Systemdesign using Bode diagrams; Design of compensation; Complex frequency analysis and design; Laplacetransforms and complex frequency concepts; Complex frequency Signal representation and transferfunctions; Root locus design method including compensation design.Digital Control SystemsDesign of a digital controller using continuous system theory, CNC controller case study. CNC systemmodelling; CNC controller design for transients, disturbance rejection and multi-axis contouring ; Effectsof sampling; Discrete system analysis and design using z-transforms; z-transforms of sampled datasignals, modified z-transforms and fractional time delays; Discrete transfer function; Digital equivalentof a continuous transfer function (approx. integration, MPZ, ZOH); Root Locus design in the ‘z’ domain;Jury’s stability test; Effects of sampling.Introduction to State Variable AnalysisState variable analysis of continuous systems; State variable models of dynamic systems; Eigenvalues,eigenvectors, characteristic equation, stability; Conversion between transfer function and state variablemodels; The state transition matrix; Closed loop systemsState variable feedback; Design of a tracking controller; State variable representation of discretesystems; Discrete state variable model from the time response of the continuous model; Discrete statevariable model from discrete transfer function G(z)

ME.405 Advanced vibration engineering

DR M.J. LOWE Illustrative examples of vibrations problems in engineering. Range of vibration problems: Nature ofrange of vibration phenomena and their effects on structures; Case study - worked illustration of aproblem and its solution.Review of Fourier Transform and essentials of time and frequency signal processing.Modal Analysis 1Modal Analysis applied to single degree of freedom vibration, including Frequency Response Functions

(FRF), Bode and Nyquist plots, circle-fitting. Introduction to analysis of multi-degree of freedomproblems.Modal Analysis 2Models used to describe damping, modal analysis techniques used for measuring damping. Introductionto practical implications and difficulties.Measurement techniquesPrinciples of operation of accelerometer, hammer with force gauge, shaker, use of these with spectrumanalysis hardware/software. Comparison of sinusoidal and impulse excitation. Measurements on activestructures, including vibrating machines, rotating shafts.NoiseNature of noise emission and propagation, noise meter and measurement, frequency bandmeasurements, dB(A) readings.Use of equipmentPractical sessions using measurement equipment (instruction, simple example measurements by groupsof students).Assessment of vibration problemsTypes of problem and governing equations - unforced, harmonic forcing, transient; simplified lumpedparameter representations; simplified analysis of continuous structures; natural frequencies and modeshapes; use of handbook solutions.


Finite Element analysis 1Concept of the method, kinds of analysis possible, governing equations, nature of solutions. Example ofapplication of Finite Elements to the solution of a real vibration problem.Finite Element analysis 2: strategy for undertaking Finite Element analysis; Selection of elements;boundary conditions; forcing; type of solution. Power of the method, dangers of mis-use, checking ofresults.Model validationTechniques for the comparison of results from Modal Analysis, Finite Element analysis and experimentalmeasurements. Extraction of the structural parameters, refinement of the models.Analysis of transient responseSolution techniques for transient forcing, including shock loading; Integral and mode summationmethods; Measurement of transients.Practical approaches to solving vibration problemsSolutions involving changing mass, stiffness or forcing, vibration absorbers; Solutions involvingdamping; Solutions involving the reduction of the symptoms of vibration.

ME.404 Advanced Fracture Mechanics

DR NOEL O’DOWDDefinition of strain energy density, strain energy, energy release rate and compliance. Determination of elastic crack tip K field. Definition and use of crack opening displacement COD.Determination of K in infinite and finite bodies. Concept of K dominance, KIc testing, relationshipbetween K and energy release rate. Concept of cleavage fracture. Examination of fracture under mixed mode conditions, and crack branching. Definition and use of the J integral in non-linear fracture mechanics. Determination of elastic-plastic cracktip HRR field. Relationship between J and energy release rate. Definition of limit load and its applicationin fracture mechanics. Use of eta-factors in carrying out fracture toughness tests. J estimation schemes. Concept of J dominance and size requirements for JIC testing.Concept of ductile fracture and the competition between cleavage and ductile fracture. Derivation of Failure Assessment Diagrams and use of British Standard BS7910 in fracture assessments. Definition and use of C* in creep fracture mechanics. Determination of elastic-creep crack tip C* field.Prediction of crack initiation and growth under creep conditions. Mechanisms of creep fracture.

ME.406 Computational fluid dynamics

PROFESSOR W.P. JONES Introduction: review of major flow classes (inviscid/boundary-layer/recirculating), related mathematicaldescriptions (hyperbolic, parabolic, elliptic equations), obstacles to solution; Characteristic features ofand precision in numerical solution procedures (choice of working variables/discretisationprocedure/solution algorithm/code structure etc.); Survey and assessment of available procedures(finite difference, finite element, finite volume).Equations of Motion and transport: conservation of mass, momentum and energy. Reduced forms of theequations: inviscid, irrotational, potential and fully developed flow; Turbulent Flow - averaging, the k-Âturbulence model, boundary conditions.Finite Volume Solution of the Conservation Equation for a scalar quantity: relevance (heat and masstransfer, fluid flow, fully developed laminar flow, potential flow etc.); solution strategy; Discretisation bythe finite volume method; conservation, choice of computational molecule, flux approximations,boundary conditions, properties of resultant coefficient matrix; Solution algorithms for discreteequations (explicit, implicit, iterative, direct, factored); Convection term discretisation - the extremumprinciple, boundedness, upwind, QUICK and TVD schemes.The Navier-Stokes Equations: governing equations, grid and storage arrangements; Discretisation;Solution - simultaneous satisfaction of momentum and continuity, calculation of pressure.


ME.407 Combustion

PROFESSOR R.P. LINDSTEDTThe course covers the global utilisation of fossil fuels and issues relating to primary pollutants. The latterare divided into two groups. The first is concerned with overall energy efficiency (low CO2 emissions) andthe second group with pollutants that present more immediate health and environmental problems suchas oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and particulates.

An introduction to combustion chemistry leads to an understanding of the actual oxidation paths ofdifferent types of practical fuels and the formation paths of oxides of nitrogen and micro/nano-scaleparticulates are introduced. It is shown how pollutant emissions are affected by changes in oxidationconditions and the topic is related to the design of practical devices. Different types of reaction classesand effects of pressure and temperature on product distributions are discussed.

Differential control volume analysis is used to derive the multi-dimensional conservation equations forchemical species. The importance of the relative roles of diffusion and thermal conductivity in laminarflames is discussed along with the role of differential diffusion.

The conservation equations for the oxidation of single particles (droplets) of solid (liquid) fuels.Limiting cases and the role of sprays in the case of liquids. Particular difficulties with pollutant emissionsarising from utilisation of solid fuels such as coal and some liquids. Issues with the combustion of wasteand biomass.

Turbulence and the characteristics of interactions between chemistry and velocity/scalar fluctuations.Limiting cases of fast and slow chemistry. The chemical equilibrium and laminar flamelet approximations.The use presumed probability density function approaches. Key terms, such as those relating to pressuregradients, in premixed turbulent combustion.

The different types of combustion modes used in practical devices such as aero and automotive powerplants. Trends in technologies for power generation. Technology limitations and possible futuredevelopments.

ME.408 Vehicle propulsion

PROFESSOR A.M.K.P. TAYLOR Reciprocating internal combustion engines: Thermodynamic considerations. The ideal Otto cycle, efficiencies, more realistic cycles, knocking, meaneffective pressure, piston speed, specific power, stroke/bore ratio, power equation, influence on design,Bmep again, Some more Thermodynamics.Breathing Exercises. Introduction, Flow through the inlet valve, the discharge coefficient, the Mach indexand volumetric efficiency, partial throttle, combustion chamber shape, valve actuation, valve timing,variable valve timing, manifold tuning, folding the manifold, supercharging/turbocharging (introductiononly), intercoolers.Engine cooling. Introduction, valve seat recession, heat transfer in the cylinder (conduction, convection,part temperature, turbulent velocities), overall heat transfer, exhaust valve, ceramic coatings.Engine Friction losses. Lubrication, total engine friction, attribution of friction losses, hydrodynamiclubrication, mechanical efficiency, inertial loading, piston ring.Flow in cylinder. Introduction. Phases of the flow, averaging, turbulence, turbulence induced by the inletjet, introducing swirl and tumble, effect of compression, charge stratification, squish, pollution, leanburn, gasoline direct-injection engines.Overall engine performance. Introduction. Carburetion vs. injection (fuel mixing, mixing and evaporation,droplet size, puddling), transient response, brake specific fuel consumption.Design considerations. Introduction, similarity considerations (inertial stress, valve speed, MIT engines),balance and vibration, the in-line four (forces, moments, balance shafts), the five-cylinder in-line.The Stanford “ESP” computer program (tentative inclusion: depends on computer availability for theclass which is still being negotiated).TurbochargingIntroduction to turbocharging the internal combustion engine, current and future trends. A clearstatement of the different possibilities to turbocharger an internal combustion engine will be made withclear reference to a Pressure vs. Volume diagram. The arrangement of the turbocharger within the engine


is explored in terms of the limitations imposed by the current compact designs. A discussion ofadvantages and disadvantages of turbocharging is presented. Turbocharger matching analysis for Diesel Engines, including component maps and intercoolers. Anumerical description of the thermodynamic equations for turbocharger/engine matching at design pointis introduced. This analysis is all devoted to constant pressure systems. A study of the component maps(turbine and compressor) is presented with the aim of matching the engine requirements over a variationin engine load. The analysis will be partially numerical and partially graphical. Strategies for turbochargermatching are expected to be understood. A tutorial question will be put forward for private study.Introduction to gas dynamics and wave theory for engine exhaust systems. The fundamental equationsfor gas flow in a one-dimensional pipe will be derived and inspected. The solution of the equation withthe first order scheme based on the Method of Characteristics is introduced. A number of test cases ispresented numerically. A tutorial question will be put forward for private study.Hybrid propulsion systemsBasic ideas; past and current systems; automotive gas turbines; description and simple analysis ofcomponents (flywheels, batteries, super capacitors, electric drives); component integration; vehiclebehaviour; performance evaluation using existing software; challenges, limitations and future trends.Fuel cellsElectrochemical thermodynamics, comparison of fuel cells with heat engines; fuel cells and batteries,targets for fuel cell designers; Nernst equation and theoretical cell emf, electrokinetics of fuel cells,losses and I-V characteristics; PEM fuel cell manufacture, material selection, operation and performance,fuel supply, storage and creation; ‘well-to- wheel’ studies, vehicle powerplant selection.

ME.409 Interfacing and data processing

DR Y. HARDALUPAS

Data ProcessingData sampling of random variables; Probability Density Function - definition and examples (e.g.Gaussian PDF); Mean and standard deviation and estimates of statistical uncertainties; Higher Momentsfor the probability density function; Correlation; Measurement of auto- and co-variance;Autocorrelation and Cross-correlation functions; Power Spectrum; Measurement of Power spectrum,Folding and Aliasing; Frequency resolution and leakage. Computer InterfacingIntroduction to computer interfacing; Parallel Digital Interfacing; Direct Memory Access (DMA); GeneralPurpose Interface Bus (GPIB); Introduction to Analog-to-Digital Conversion; Hardware Overview;Selection Criteria.Experimental Methods and measurements for Thermofluids ApplicationsIntroduction to measurement needs; Measured quantities and physical meaning; Hot Wire Velocimetry;Laser Doppler Velocimetry.

ME.410 Finite element analysis and applications

DR U. HANSEN Introduction, with application to static stress analysis. Context and history. Truss frame exampleDivision into elements, selection of variables and shape functions, stiffness derivation, assembly ofstiffness equations, application of boundary conditions, solution for displacements, computation ofelement stresses and strains.The constant strain triangleContinuum model and role of continuum elements; Geometry of constant strain triangle (CST), nodalvariables and shape functions, stiffness derivation (plane stress and plane strain), element stress andstrain computation.Element formulationThe need for more advanced and generalised procedures; element stiffness by virtual work; generalprocedure applied to CST; Detailed derivation of linear rectangular element (Gauss quadrature, location

of element integration points etc.); quadratic rectangular element, axisymmetric elements, 3-D solidelements, truss and beam elements, membrane, plate and shell elements; Isoparametric elements,Jacobian mapping for arbitrarily shaped elements. Element performance: Stiffness and accuracyconsiderations. Nonconforming elements, reduced integration.Element libraries: elements offered by commercial programs (shapes, nodes, degrees of freedom,allowable load types etc.). Materials, loads, supports and solutionanalysis procedure for modern commercial programs (definition of structure and loads, supports andother constraints, solution, post-processing); Material property definitions and matrices; Geometricproperties (thicknesses, cross-sectional areas etc.); load types (point forces and moments, pressure,body forces, thermal) and internal conversion to nodal loads; Supports, prescribed displacements, rigidlinks; Symmetric and antisymmetric boundary conditions and their application to reduce model size;Stiffness transformations to model supports or loads at arbitrary angles; Stiffness matrix assembly andsolution, bandwidth and its minimisation; Other types of solution (structural dynamics, materialplasticity, large deflections, contact problems, fracture mechanics).Guide to good modellingIdentification of appropriate domain of solution (2-D/3-D, axisymmetry, beams/shells etc.); Selection ofelements, degrees of freedom, stress assumptions etc.; Creation of mesh (refinement, shape, aspectratios, curvature); Definition of material and geometric properties; Application of loads and supports;Pre-analysis checks; Post-processing results — typical options; Importance of verification, developmentof checking strategies; Sources of inaccuracies and errors.

ExaminationsSubjects not listed here are examined by coursework and projects. Some of the listed subjects areassessed partly by coursework.

DDeeggrreeee eexxaamm ffoorr

FIRST YEAR wwhhiicchh rreeccooggnniisseedd

Mechatronics Final, Part IMaterials, manufacturing and design " "Mathematics " "Solid mechanics " "Thermofluids " "

SECOND YEARElectronics, instrumentation and control Final, Part IIMathematics " "Solid mechanics " "Thermofluids " "Managing people in organisations " "

THIRD YEAR

Compulsory subjects Final, Part IIIFluid mechanics " "Sustainable energy engineering " "Machine system dynamics " "


DDeeggrreeee eexxaamm ffoorrwwhhiicchh rreeccooggnniisseedd

Technical option coursesStress anaysis Final, Part III or IVFundamentals of fracture mechanics " " " Structure, properties and applications of polymers " " " Integrated design and manufacture " " " Computational continuum mechanics " " " Tribology " " " Welding, joining and adhesives " " " Mathematics " " " Statistics " " "

Management subjectsInnovation management Final, Part III or IV Project management " " " Entrepreneurship " " "

FOURTH YEARAdvanced application subjects Final, Part IVNuclear reactor technology " "Mechanical transmissions technology " "Polymer processing technology " "

Technical option courses Advanced stress analysis Final, Part IVAdvanced control " "Advanced fracture mechanics " "Advanced vibration engineering " "Computational fluid dynamics " "Combustion " "Vehicle propulsion " "Interfacing and data processing " "Finite element analysis and applications " "


department of mechanical engineering · the institution of mechanical engineers now regards the...

Documents