Mechanical Engineering
Overview
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. It is one of the oldest and broadest of the engineering disciplines.
History
The application of mechanical engineering can be seen in the archives of various ancient and medieval societies. In ancient Greece, the works of Archimedes (287–212 BC) influenced mechanics in the Western tradition and Heron of Alexandria (c. 10–70 AD) created the first steam engine (Aeolipile).
During the medieval ages, several foundations of modern mechanical engineering were laid down by Muslim engineers, such as the crankshaft by Al-Jazari in 1206. The earliest practical wind-powered machines, the windmill and wind pump, first appeared in the medieval Islamic world and were described by Muslim engineers.
The development of mechanical engineering was largely influenced during the industrial revolution in Europe in the 18th century. The first British professional society of mechanical engineers was formed in 1847, known as the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
Principles
Mechanical engineers use several core principles along with tools like computer-aided design 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.
Mechanics
Mechanics is, in the most general sense, the study of forces and their effect upon matter. Typically, engineering mechanics is used to analyze and predict the acceleration and deformation (both elastic and plastic) of objects under known forces (also called loads) or stresses.
Kinematics
Kinematics is the study of the motion of bodies (objects) and systems (groups of objects), while ignoring the forces that cause the motion. Kinematics is often used in mechanical engineering to determine the range of movement for a given mechanism.
Thermodynamics and Thermo-science
Thermodynamics is an applied science used in several branches of engineering, including mechanical and chemical engineering. At its simplest, thermodynamics is the study of energy, its use and transformation through a system.
Fields of Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineering is a diverse subject that derives its breadth from the need to design and manufacture everything from small individual parts and devices (e.g., microscale sensors and inkjet printer nozzles) to large systems (e.g., spacecraft and machine tools).
Automotive Engineering
Automotive engineering is a branch of mechanical engineering that deals with designing, manufacturing and operating automobiles. It is an introduction to vehicle engineering which deals with motorcycles, cars, buses, trucks, etc.
Aerospace Engineering
Aerospace engineering is another powerful branch of mechanical engineering. It is the field of engineering that deals with the design, development, testing, and production of aircraft and related systems like missiles and spacecraft.
Marine Engineering
Marine engineering includes boat, ship, oil rigs and any other marine vessel or structure, as well as oceanographic engineering. Specifically, marine engineering is the discipline of applying engineering sciences, including mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, electronic engineering, and computer science, to the development, design, operation and maintenance of watercraft propulsion and on-board systems and oceanographic technology.
Education and Licensing
In most developed 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. Mechanical engineering education, like all higher education, embodies theoretical and practical training.