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Mechanical
engineering is
a discipline of engineering that
applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design,manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that
involves the production and usage of heat and
mechanical power for the design, production, and operation of machines and tools.[1] It is one of the oldest and
broadest engineering
disciplines.
The engineering field requires an
understanding of core concepts including mechanics, kinematics, thermodynamics, materials science, structural analysis,
and electricity. Mechanical engineers use these
core principles along with tools like computer-aided
engineering and product
lifecycle management to design and analyze manufacturing plants,
industrial equipment and machinery, heating
and cooling systems, transport systems,aircraft, watercraft, robotics, medical devices, and others.
Mechanical engineering emerged as a field
during the industrial revolution in
Europe in the 18th century; however, its development can be traced back several
thousand years around the world. Mechanical engineering science emerged in the
19th century as a result of developments in the field ofphysics. The field has continually evolved to
incorporate advancements in technology, and mechanical engineers today are
pursuing developments in such fields as composites, mechatronics, and nanotechnology. Mechanical engineering
overlaps with aerospace engineering, building
services engineering, metallurgical
engineering, marine engineering, civil engineering, electrical
engineering, petroleum engineering, manufacturing
engineering, and chemical engineering to
varying amounts. Mechanical engineers also work in the field of Biomedical
engineering, specifically with biomechanics,transport phenomena, biomechatronics, bionanotechnology and modeling of
biological systems, like soft tissue mechanics.
Development
Applications of mechanical engineering are
found in the records of many ancient and medieval societies throughout the
globe. In ancient Greece,
the works of Archimedes (287
BC–212 BC) deeply influenced mechanics in the Western tradition and Heron of Alexandria (c.
10–70 AD) created the first steam engine.[2] In China, Zhang Heng (78–139 AD) improved a water clock and invented a seismometer, and Ma Jun(200–265 AD) invented a chariot with differential gears.
The medieval Chinese horologist and engineer Su Song (1020–1101 AD) incorporated an escapement mechanism into his astronomical clock tower two centuries before any
escapement can be found in clocks of medieval Europe, as well as the world's
first known endless power-transmitting chain drive.[3]
During the years from 7th to 15th century,
the era called the Islamic Golden Age,
there were remarkable contributions from Muslim
inventorsin the field of mechanical technology. Al-Jazari, who was one of them, wrote his
famous Book of Knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical Devicesin 1206,
and presented many mechanical designs. He is also considered to be the inventor
of such mechanical devices which now form the very basic of mechanisms, such as
the crankshaft and camshaft.[4]
Important breakthroughs in the foundations of
mechanical engineering occurred in England during the 17th century when Sir Isaac Newtonboth formulated the three Newton's Laws of
Motion and developed Calculus, the mathematical basis of physics.
Newton was reluctant to publish his methods and laws for years, but he was
finally persuaded to do so by his colleagues, such as Sir Edmund Halley, much to the benefit of all
mankind.
During the early 19th century in England, Germany and Scotland, the development of machine tools led
mechanical engineering to develop as a separate field within engineering,
providing manufacturing machines and the engines to power them.[5] The first British professional
society of mechanical engineers was formed in 1847 Institution
of Mechanical Engineers, thirty years after the civil engineers
formed the first such professional society Institution
of Civil Engineers.[6] On the European continent, Johann
Von Zimmermann (1820–1901) founded the first factory for
grinding machines in Chemnitz, Germany in
1848.
In the United States, the American
Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) was formed in 1880,
becoming the third such professional engineering society, after the American
Society of Civil Engineers (1852) and the American
Institute of Mining Engineers (1871).[7] The first schools in the United
States to offer an engineering education were the United
States Military Academy in 1817, an institution now known asNorwich University in
1819, and Rensselaer
Polytechnic Institute in 1825. Education in mechanical
engineering has historically been based on a strong foundation in mathematics
and science.[8]
Education
Degrees in mechanical engineering are offered
at universities worldwide. In Brazil, Ireland, Philippines, Pakistan, China,
Greece, Turkey, North America, South Asia, India, Dominican Republic and the
United Kingdom, mechanical engineering programs typically take four to five
years of study and result in a Bachelor of
Engineering (B.Eng), Bachelor of Science (B.Sc),
Bachelor of Science Engineering (B.ScEng), Bachelor of
Technology (B.Tech), or Bachelor of
Applied Science (B.A.Sc) degree, in or with emphasis in
mechanical engineering. In Spain, Portugal and most of South America, where
neither BSc nor BTech programs have been adopted, the formal name for the
degree is "Mechanical Engineer", and the course work is based on five
or six years of training. In Italy the course work is based on five years of
training, but in order to qualify as an Engineer you have to pass a state exam
at the end of the course.
In Australia, mechanical engineering degrees
are awarded as Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) or similar nomenclature[9] although there are an
increasing number of specialisations. The degree takes four years of full-time
study to achieve. To ensure quality in engineering degrees, Engineers Australia accredits
engineering degrees awarded by Australian universities in accordance with the
global Washington Accord.
Before the degree can be awarded, the student must complete at least 3 months
of on the job work experience in an engineering firm. Similar systems are also
present in South Africa and are overseen by the Engineering Council of South
Africa (ECSA).
In the United States, most undergraduate
mechanical engineering programs are accredited by
the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)
to ensure similar course requirements and standards among universities. The
ABET web site lists 276 accredited mechanical engineering programs as of June
19, 2006.[10] Mechanical engineering
programs in Canada are accredited by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation
Board (CEAB),[11] and most other countries
offering engineering degrees have similar accreditation societies.
Some mechanical engineers go on to pursue a
postgraduate degree such as a Master of Engineering, Master of Technology, Master of Science, Master of
Engineering Management (MEng.Mgt or MEM), a Doctor of Philosophy in
engineering (EngD, PhD) or an engineer's degree.
The master's and engineer's degrees may or may not include research. The Doctor of Philosophy includes a
significant research component and is often viewed as the entry point to academia.[12] The Engineer's degree exists
at a few institutions at an intermediate level between the master's degree and
the doctorate.
tCoursework
Standards set by each country's accreditation
society are intended to provide uniformity in fundamental subject material,
promote competence among graduating engineers, and to maintain confidence in
the engineering profession as a whole. Engineering programs in the U.S., for
example, are required by ABET to show that their students can "work
professionally in both thermal and mechanical systems areas."[13] The specific courses required
to graduate, however, may differ from program to program. Universities and Institutes of
technology will often combine multiple subjects into a single
class or split a subject into multiple classes, depending on the faculty
available and the university's major area(s) of research.
The fundamental subjects of mechanical
engineering usually include:
·
Instrumentation and measurement
·
Thermodynamics, heat transfer, energy conversion, and HVAC
·
Mechanism design
(including kinematics and dynamics)
·
Manufacturing
engineering, technology, or processes
·
Hydraulics and pneumatics
·
Mathematics - in particular, calculus, differential
equations, and linear algebra.
·
Engineering design
·
Mechatronics and control theory
·
Design engineering, Drafting, computer-aided design (CAD)
(including solid modeling),
and computer-aided
manufacturing (CAM)[14][15]
Mechanical engineers are also expected to
understand and be able to apply basic concepts from chemistry, physics, chemical engineering, civil engineering, and electrical
engineering. All mechanical engineering programs include multiple semesters
of calculus, as well as advanced mathematical
concepts including differential equations, partial
differential equations, linear algebra,abstract algebra, and differential geometry,
among others.
In addition to the core mechanical
engineering curriculum, many mechanical engineering programs offer more
specialized programs and classes, such as robotics, transport and logistics,cryogenics, fuel technology, automotive
engineering, biomechanics, vibration, optics and others, if a separate department does not
exist for these subjects.[16]
Most mechanical engineering programs also
require varying amounts of research or community projects to gain practical
problem-solving experience. In the United States it is common for mechanical
engineering students to complete one or more internships while studying, though this
is not typically mandated by the university. Cooperative education is
another option. Future work skills[17] research puts demand on study
components that feed student's creativity and innovation.[18]
License
Engineers may seek license by a state, provincial, or
national government. The purpose of this process is to ensure that engineers
possess the necessary technical knowledge, real-world experience, and knowledge
of the local legal system to practice engineering at a professional level. Once
certified, the engineer is given the title of Professional Engineer (in
the United States, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Bangladesh and South Africa), Chartered Engineer (in
the United Kingdom, Ireland, India and Zimbabwe), Chartered
Professional Engineer (in Australia and New Zealand) or European
Engineer (much of the European Union) Registered
Engineer or Professional Engineer in Philippines and Pakistan. The Chartered Engineer and European
Engineer are not licenses to practice - they are qualifications.[citation needed]
In the U.S., to become a licensed Professional
Engineer, an engineer must pass the comprehensive FE (Fundamentals of
Engineering) exam, work a given number of years as an Engineering
Intern (EI) or Engineer-in-Training (EIT), and finally
pass the "Principles and Practice" or PE (Practicing Engineer or
Professional Engineer) exams.
In the United States, the requirements and
steps of this process are set forth by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and
Surveying (NCEES), a composed of engineering and land surveying
licensing boards representing all U.S. states and territories. In the UK,
current graduates require a BEng plus an appropriate
masters degree or an integrated MEng degree, a minimum
of 4 years post graduate on the job competency development, and a peer reviewed
project report in the candidates specialty area in order to become chartered
through the Institution
of Mechanical Engineers.
In most modern countries, certain engineering
tasks, such as the design of bridges, electric power plants, and chemical
plants, must be approved by a Professional Engineer or
a Chartered Engineer.
"Only a licensed engineer, for instance, may prepare, sign, seal and
submit engineering plans and drawings to a public authority for approval, or to
seal engineering work for public and private clients."[19] This requirement can be
written into state and provincial legislation, such as in the Canadian
provinces, for example the Ontario or Quebec's Engineer Act.[20]
In other countries, such as Australia, no
such legislation exists; however, practically all certifying bodies maintain a code of ethics independent of legislation
that they expect all members to abide by or risk expulsion.[21]
Further information: FE Exam, Professional Engineer, Incorporated Engineer, and Washington Accord
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