Subject Overview

An integrated foundation in mechanics, materials, thermal-fluid sciences, manufacturing, machine elements and mechanical design for mechatronic systems. The subject connects classical theory with experimentation, simulation, reliability, sustainability and contemporary smart-engineering practice.

Learning Goal

Students will be able to model, analyze, design and evaluate mechanical subsystems within mechatronic products; select materials and manufacturing processes; use engineering software and experimental data responsibly; and make safe, economical and sustainable lifecycle decisions.

Syllabus

1. Mechanical Engineering Foundations and Engineering Practice

Learning Objective: Apply SI units, dimensions, vectors, free-body diagrams, estimation, uncertainty and engineering problem-solving methods. Interpret standards, tolerances and technical terminology while recognizing professional ethics, safety responsibilities and documentation requirements.

Category: foundation

2. Engineering Graphics, Metrology and Digital Models

Learning Objective: Create and interpret orthographic, sectional and assembly drawings; apply geometric dimensioning and tolerancing, fits and surface-finish specifications; use measurement instruments, calibration and uncertainty analysis; and develop basic CAD models and digital product definitions.

Category: foundation

3. Engineering Statics

Learning Objective: Analyze particles, rigid bodies, trusses, frames and machines using equilibrium principles. Determine centroids, centers of gravity, friction effects, distributed loads and internal forces in mechanical structures.

Category: core

4. Mechanics and Strength of Materials

Learning Objective: Evaluate stress, strain, elastic behavior, thermal stress, torsion, bending, shear, combined loading, stress concentration, beam deflection and column buckling. Relate analytical models to testing and introductory finite-element analysis.

Category: core

5. Engineering Dynamics

Learning Objective: Model particle and rigid-body kinematics and kinetics using force–acceleration, work–energy and impulse–momentum methods. Analyze planar motion, rotating systems, balancing and transient mechanical responses relevant to actuators and robots.

Category: core

6. Mechanical Vibrations and Noise

Learning Objective: Analyze free, forced and damped vibration, resonance, transmissibility and multi-degree-of-freedom concepts. Apply vibration measurement, modal interpretation, isolation, balancing and basic noise-control techniques to mechatronic equipment.

Category: core

7. Engineering Materials and Failure Behavior

Learning Objective: Explain relationships among material structure, processing and properties for metals, polymers, ceramics, composites and smart materials. Select materials using performance indices and assess yielding, fracture, fatigue, creep, corrosion and environmental impacts.

Category: core

8. Manufacturing Processes and Production Systems

Learning Objective: Compare casting, forming, machining, joining, molding, heat treatment, surface engineering and additive manufacturing. Design for manufacturability and assembly while considering process capability, quality control, automation, cost and production sustainability.

Category: application

9. Engineering Thermodynamics and Energy Systems

Learning Objective: Apply thermodynamic properties, the first and second laws, entropy and ideal-gas models to closed and open systems. Evaluate power, refrigeration and energy-conversion cycles, efficiencies and electromechanical thermal loads.

Category: core

10. Fluid Mechanics and Fluid Power

Learning Objective: Use fluid properties, hydrostatics, conservation laws, dimensional analysis and internal-flow models to calculate pressure losses and flow rates. Select pumps, compressors, valves and piping, and analyze hydraulic and pneumatic actuation systems.

Category: core

11. Heat Transfer and Thermal Management

Learning Objective: Analyze steady and transient conduction, convection, radiation, thermal resistance networks and heat exchangers. Design cooling and thermal-management solutions for motors, batteries, power electronics, sensors and embedded systems.

Category: application

12. Mechanisms, Machine Elements and Tribology

Learning Objective: Analyze mobility, position, velocity and acceleration in linkages, cams, gears and transmission systems. Size shafts, bearings, springs, fasteners, belts, chains, couplings and brakes while accounting for lubrication, friction, wear and fatigue.

Category: core

13. Integrated Mechanical Design and Engineering Analysis

Learning Objective: Translate stakeholder needs into specifications, concepts and mechanical architectures. Apply load cases, safety factors, design optimization, CAD/CAE, prototyping, verification and engineering economics to multidisciplinary mechatronic design decisions.

Category: application

14. Reliability, Maintenance, Safety and Lifecycle Governance

Learning Objective: Apply failure mode and effects analysis, fault-tree concepts, reliability metrics, condition monitoring, maintainability and preventive or predictive maintenance. Address machinery safety, risk assessment, standards compliance, configuration control and ethical lifecycle governance.

Category: strategic

15. Smart, Sustainable and Emerging Mechanical Engineering

Learning Objective: Evaluate digital twins, connected sensors, simulation-led design, robotics, advanced manufacturing and AI-assisted design or predictive maintenance. Assess data quality, cybersecurity interfaces, human oversight, circular design, decarbonization and future developments in autonomous mechatronic systems.

Category: contemporary