Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
479C Glennan Building (7222)
Phone: 216.368.6045; Fax: 216.368.6445
Robert X. Gao, Cady Staley Professor of Engineering and Department Chair
robert.gao@case.edu
The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering of the Case School of Engineering offers programs leading to bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. It administers the programs leading to the degrees of Bachelor of Science in Engineering with a major in Aerospace Engineering and Bachelor of Science in Engineering with a major in Mechanical Engineering. Both curricula are based on four-year programs of preparation for productive engineering careers or further academic training. A Combined Bachelor's/Master's program is also offered for our undergraduate students.
The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering participates in the practice-oriented Master of Engineering Program offered by the Case School of Engineering. The Master of Engineering degree is available exclusively online.
Mission
The mission of the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department is to educate and prepare students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels for leadership roles in the fields of Mechanical Engineering and Aerospace Engineering and to conduct research for the benefit of society.
The undergraduate program emphasizes fundamental engineering science, analysis and experiments to ensure that graduates will be strong contributors in their work environment, be prepared for advanced study at top graduate schools and be proficient lifelong learners. The graduate programs emphasize advanced methods of analysis, mathematical modeling, computational and experimental techniques applied to a variety of mechanical and aerospace engineering specialties including, applied mechanics, dynamic systems, robotics, biomechanics, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, propulsion and combustion. Leadership skills are developed by infusing the program with current engineering practice, design, and professionalism (including engineering ethics and the role of engineering in society) led by concerned educators and researchers.
The academic and research activities of the department center on the roles of mechanics, thermodynamics, heat and mass transfer, robotics, mechatronics, data analytics, sustainability in manufacturing, and engineering design in a wide variety of applications such as aeronautics, astronautics, biomechanics and orthopedic engineering, biomimetics and biologically-inspired robotics, energy, environment, mechanics of advanced materials, and nanotechnology. Many of these activities involve strong collaborations with the Departments of Biology, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Materials Science and Engineering, and Orthopedics of the School of Medicine.
The significant constituencies of the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department are the faculty, the students, the alumni and the external advisory boards. The educational program objectives are established and reviewed continuously, based on the feedback from the various constituencies as well as archival information about the program graduates. The faculty engages in continuing discussions of the academic programs in the regularly scheduled faculty meetings throughout the academic year. Periodic surveys of alumni provide data regarding the preparedness and success of the graduates as well as guidance in program development. Archival data include the placement information for graduating seniors, which provides direct information regarding the success of the graduates in finding employment or being admitted to graduate programs.
Mastery of Fundamentals
- A strong background in the fundamentals of physics, mathematics and chemistry
- Methods of mechanical engineering analysis, both numerical and mathematical, applied to mechanics, dynamic systems and control, design, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics and heat transfer
- Methods of modern experimental engineering analysis and data acquisition
Creativity
- Ability to identify, model, and solve mechanical and aerospace engineering design problems
- Ability to design experiments to resolve mechanical and aerospace engineering issues
- Ability to perform an individual senior project that demonstrates original research and/or design content
Societal Awareness
- Issues of environmental impact, efficient use of energy and resources, benefits of recycling
- An awareness of the multidisciplinary nature of mechanical and aerospace engineering
- Impact of economic, product liability and other legal issues on mechanical and aerospace engineering manufacturing and design
Leadership Skills
- An ability to work in teams
- Ethical considerations in engineering decisions
- Proficiency in oral and written communication
- Professionalism
- Students are encouraged to develop as professionals through participation in the student chapters of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).
- Students are encouraged to augment their classroom experiences with the cooperative education program and the strong graduate research program of the department.
- Students are encouraged to take the Fundamentals of Engineering Examination as the first step in the process of becoming a registered professional engineer.
- The bachelor’s candidate must complete an independent design or research project with an oral and written final report.
- The master’s candidate on the thesis or project track must demonstrate independent research suitable for publication and/or presentation in peer-reviewed journals and/or conferences.
- The doctoral candidate must complete a rigorous independent thesis containing original research results that they must publish in archival journals.
Aerospace Engineering
Aerospace engineering has grown dramatically with the rapid development of the computer in experiments, design and numerical analysis. The wealth of scientific information developed as a result of aerospace activity forms the foundation for the aerospace engineering major.
Scientific knowledge is being developed each day for programs to develop reusable launch and interplanetary vehicles, the International Space Station (ISS), supersonic and hypersonic flight vehicles, crewed and robotic space missions, and micro-electro-mechanical sensors and control systems for advanced flight. New methods of analysis and design for structural, fluid, and thermodynamic applications are required to meet these challenges.
The aerospace engineering major has been developed to address the needs of those students seeking career opportunities in the highly specialized and advancing aerospace industries.
Mechanical Engineering
Civilization, as we know it today, depends on the intelligent and humane use of our energy resources and machines. The mechanical engineer’s function is to apply science and technology to the design, analysis, development, manufacture, and use of machines that convert and transmit energy, and to apply energy to the completion of useful operations. The top ten choices of the millennium committee of the National Academy of Engineering, asked to select the 20 top engineering accomplishments of the 20th century, was abundant with mechanical engineering accomplishments, electrification (large scale power generation and distribution), automobiles, air travel (development of aircraft and propulsion), mechanized agriculture, and refrigeration and air conditioning.
Research
Aerospace Technology and Space Exploration
Pressure gain combustion, hypersonic aerodynamics, shock wave boundary layer interactions, two phase flow, supersonic combustion and propulsion, thermoacoustic refrigeration, in-situ resource utilization from space. Gravitational effects on transport phenomena, fluids and thermal processes in advance life support systems for long duration space travel, interfacial processes, g-jitter effects on microgravity flows, two phase flow in zero and reduced gravity. Aerospace vehicle design and mission analysis.
Experimental Fluid Dynamics
Turbulence, transition, separated flows, imaging diagnostics for fluids, advanced velocimetry techniques, biological flows.
Combustion and Fire Engineering
Solid pyrolysis, ignition, flame spread, material flammability, wild land fire, battery fire, fire dynamics, fire modeling, combustion in micro- and partial gravity.
Data Analytics
Multi-domain signal decomposition and analysis, wavelet transform and other transformation methods, multi-scale analysis, data fusion, stochastic modeling and statistical methods for defect detection, root cause diagnosis, and remaining service life prognosis.
Electromechanical Systems
Fundamental and applied research on physics-based sensing for improved observability and controllability of dynamic systems, vibration analysis, artificial intelligence and machine learning for data analytics, energy harvesting, smart materials and structures, and energy-efficient wireless communication methods based on radio frequencies, acoustic waves, and magnetic field coupling.
Engineering Design
Optimization and computer-aided design, feasibility studies of kinematic mechanisms, control systems, experimental stress analysis, failure analysis, development of biologically inspired methodologies.
Heat Transfer
Analysis of heat transfer in complex systems such as biological organisms, multi-functional materials and building enclosures.
Sustainable and Additive Manufacturing
Modeling, characterization and manufacturing of next-generation lithium ion batteries for electric vehicles and perovskite solar cells for low-cost solar power generation, multiphysics electrochemistry modeling, atomic layer deposition, scalable nano-manufacturing, life cycle assessment of lithium ion batteries on environmental sustainability, agile manufacturing work cells based on coordinated, multiple robots, additive manufacturing, in-process sensing and control.
Advanced Materials
Development of advanced materials with unprecedented properties and functionality for extreme environment conditions. Modeling of nonlinear deformations, instability, and failure of multi-functional materials and structures. Design, fabrication, and optimization of advanced composite materials, bio-inspired materials, and meta-materials. 3D/4D printing of functional materials and structures.
Multiphase Flow and Laser Diagnostics
Application of non-intrusive laser based diagnostic techniques and ultrasound techniques including pulsed ultrasound Doppler velocimetry to study solid-liquid, solid-gas, liquid-gas and solid-liquid-gas, multiphase flows encountered in slurry transport and bio-fluid mechanics.
Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology
Nanomaterials and nanotechnologies for high-performance nanoelectronics (transistors, sensors, photodetectors, memristors, etc.), energy conversion/generation/storage devices (batteries, supercapacitors, nanogenerators). Nanostructured materials and nanocomposites. Mechanical, thermal, optical, and electrical properties of nanomaterials. Surface and interface properties of nanomaterials. Solution processing and printing of novel nanomaterials.
Musculoskeletal Mechanics and Materials
Design, modeling, and failure analysis of orthopaedic prostheses and material selection; mechanical properties of, and transport processes in, bone and soft tissue; tribology of native and tissue engineered cartilage; nondestructive mechanical evaluation of tissue engineered cartilage.
Robotics
Biologically-inspired and biomimetic design and control of legged robots, crab-like robots, and soft worm-like robots. Controls via synthetic nervous systems, motion primitives and stable heteroclinic channels. Autonomous robots. Small fixed-wing drones. Dynamics, control and simulation of animals and robots.
Sensing and Metrology
Signal transduction mechanisms, design, modeling, functional characterization, and performance evaluation of mechanical, thermal, optical, and magnetic-field sensors, multi-physics sensing, and precision instrumentation.
Soft Machines and Electronics
Development of soft/hybrid robotics for broad applications, such as biomedical treatment, elderly care, rehabilitation, prosthetics, agriculture harvesting, and infrastructure inspections. Development of self-powered soft electronic systems for wearables, implantable, prosthetics, artificial skins, and smart agriculture systems. Printed electronics and technologies. Scalable manufacturing technologies for flexible/stretchable electronic system.
Department Faculty
Robert X. Gao, PhD
(Technical University of Berlin, Germany)
Cady Staley Professor of Engineering and Department Chair
Multi-physics sensing, stochastic modeling, and AI-enhanced manufacturing process control and operation optimization
Ozan Akkus, PhD
(Case Western Reserve University)
Leonard Case Jr. Professor of Engineering
Biologically active and mechanically functional tissue repair systems, and chemical imaging instrumentation for noninvasive biomedical and hazard diagnostics
Richard J. Bachmann, PhD
(Case Western Reserve University)
Associate Professor
Biologically inspired robotics
Paul J. Barnhart, PhD, PE
(Case Western Reserve University)
Professor and Associate Chair for Undergraduate Education
Aerospace system design, propulsion, gas dynamics, shock wave boundary layer interactions and fluid/thermal systems modeling
Changyong (Chase) Cao, PhD
(Australian National University)
Assistant Professor
Mechanics, designs, and manufacturing of smart multifunctional materials, soft robotics, soft electronics, and self-powered sensing systems
Sunniva Collins, PhD, FASM
(Case Western Reserve University)
Professor and Associate Dean of Professional Programs
Metallic surfaces for improved performance, material and design manufacturing processes for innovative outcomes
Kathryn Daltorio, PhD
(Case Western Reserve University)
Associate Professor
Robots that can traverse and operate in new environments, inspired by biological models of smart physical systems
Umut A. Gurkan, PhD
(Purdue University)
Professor
Human health via research in cell mechanics to develop biosensors and point-of-care systems
Steve Hostler, PhD
(California Institute of Technology)
Associate Professor
Development and characterization of novel thermal management materials
Chirag Kharangate, PhD
(Purdue University)
Associate Professor
Thermal management of electronics and computational fluid dynamics
Melinda Lake-Speers, PhD
(The Ohio State University)
Assistant Professor
Lab-on-a-chip devices for critical health challenges in cancer, global health, and biological modeling
Chengyu Li, PhD
(University of Virginia)
Associate Professor
Computational models to investigate the underlying flow physics and transport phenomena associated with biological and biomedical flows
Ya-Ting T. Liao, PhD
(Case Western Reserve University)
Associate Professor
Computational models of combustion, fire behavior and fire-resistant structures
Zachary Patterson, PhD
(Carnegie Mellon University)
Assistant Professor
Safe robots with smart materials, bioinspired design, and intelligent control
Roger D. Quinn, PhD
(Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University)
Arthur P. Armington Professor of Engineering
Neural and mechanical models of animals and data to design and control robots and exoskeletons
Majid Rashidi, PhD, PE
(Case Western Reserve University)
Professor
Machine and medical device design
Bryan E. Schmidt, PhD
(California Institute of Technology)
Assistant Professor
Turbulent and unsteady flows from low-speed to hypersonic using advanced imaging methods
Brian Taylor, PhD
(Case Western Reserve University)
Assistant Professor
Engineering approaches to understand biological sensation and navigation, and leverages biological understanding to develop novel engineered autonomous systems
Peng (Edward) Wang, PhD
(Case Western Reserve University)
Associate Professor
Advanced AI/ML tools for smart manufacturing, including predictive maintenance, quality assurance in additive manufacturing, and robotic automation
Research Faculty
R. Balasubramaniam, PhD
(Case Western Reserve University)
Research Associate Professor
Enables the development and understanding of thermal and fluid systems to advance space exploration
Olga Kartuzova, PhD
(Cleveland State University)
Research Assistant Professor
Studies and develops computational models for cryogenic storage tanks, and investigates zero boil-off tanks
Mohammad Kassemi, PhD
(University of Akron)
Research Professor
Microgravity fluid physics, materials processing, cryogenic fluid management including the ZBOT Microgravity Experiments, physiological flows and gravity’s impact on human systems
Vedha Nayagam, PhD
(University of Kentucky)
Research Associate Professor
Low gravity combustion and fluid physics
Associated Faculty
Alexis Abramson, PhD
(University of California, Berkeley)
Adjunct Professor
Macro/micro/nanoscale heat transfer and energy transport
Jennifer W. Carter, PhD
(The Ohio State University)
Associate Professor of Materials Science and Engineering
Processing-structure-property relationships of crystalline and amorphous materials, multi-scale material characterization methods
M. Cenk Cavusoglu, PhD
(University of California, Berkeley)
Professor of Electrical, Computer, and Systems Engineering
Robotics, systems and control theory, and human-machine interfaces; with emphasis on medical robotics, haptics, virtual environments, surgical simulation, and bio-system modeling
Zonghe Chua, PhD
(Stanford University)
Assistant Professor of Electrical, Computer, and Systems Engineering
Intelligent robotic teleoperator systems capable of sensing, understanding, and delivering multisensory feedback to the user to improve performance
Mario Garcia Sanz, DrEng
(University of Navarra, Spain)
Professor of Electrical, Computer, and Systems Engineering
Systems and control, spacecraft controls, automated manufacturing
John J. Lewandowski, PhD
(Carnegie Mellon University)
Professor of Materials Science and Engineering
Mechanical behavior of materials, fracture and fatigue, micromechanisms of deformation and fracture
Kenneth Loparo, PhD
(Case Western Reserve University)
Professor of Electrical, Computer, and Systems Engineering
Control, robotics, stability of dynamical systems, vibrations
João Maia, PhD
(University of Wales Aberystwyth, U.K.)
Associate Professor of Macromolecular Science and Engineering
Polymer rheology: extensional rheology and rheometry, micro- and nano-rheology, bio-rheology
David Matthiesen, PhD
(Massachusetts Institute of Technology)
Associate Professor of Materials Science and Engineering
Microgravity crystal growth
Ravi Vaidyanathan, PhD
(Case Western Reserve University)
Adjunct Associate Professor
Robotics and control
Xiong Yu, PhD, PE
(Purdue University)
Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Geotechnical engineering, non-destructive testing, intelligent infrastructures
Christian A. Zorman, PhD
(Case Western Reserve University)
Professor of Electrical, Computer, and Systems Engineering
Materials and processing techniques for MEMS and NEMS, wide bandgap semiconductors, development of materials and fabrication techniques for polymer-based MEMS and bioMEMS
Emeritus Faculty
Dwight T. Davy, PhD, PE
(University of Iowa)
Professor Emeritus
Musculo-skeletal biomechanics, applied mechanics
Jaikrishnan R. Kadambi, PhD
(University of Pittsburgh)
Professor Emeritus
Experimental fluid mechanics, laser diagnostics, bio-fluid mechanics, turbomachinery
Yasuhiro Kamotani, PhD
(Case Western Reserve University)
Professor Emeritus
Experimental fluid dynamics, heat transfer, microgravity fluid mechanics
Joseph M. Mansour, PhD
(Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute)
Professor Emeritus
Biomechanics and applied mechanics
Clare M. Rimnac, PhD
(Lehigh University)
Wilbert J. Austin Emeritus Professor of Engineering
Biomechanics, fatigue and fracture mechanics
Fumiaki Takahashi, PhD
(Keio University)
Professor Emeritus
Combustion, fire science and engineering
James S. Tien, PhD
(Princeton University)
Professor Emeritus
Combustion, propulsion, and fire research
Facilities
The education and research philosophy of the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering for both the undergraduate and graduate programs is based on a balanced operation of analytical, experimental, and computational activities. All three of these tools are used in a fundamental approach to the professional activities of research, development, and design. Among the major assets of the department are the experimental facilities maintained and available for the faculty, students, and staff.
Introductory undergraduate courses in computer aided design and manufacturing are taught in both the fabrication lab and the Reinberger Design Studio that are housed within Sears think[box], the university’s 7 story, 50,000 square feet, innovation center and makerspace. The Robert M. Ward ‘41 Laboratory is modular in concept and available to students at regularly scheduled class periods to conduct a variety of prepared experimental assignments. The lab is equipped with a variety of instruments ranging from classic analog devices to modern digital computer devices for the collection of data and the control of processes.
Advanced departmental facilities described below are available for more specialized experimental tasks. Every undergraduate and most graduate degree programs involve a requirement, i.e., Project, Thesis or Dissertation, in which the student is exposed to a variety of departmental facilities. In addition, think[box] facilities are available to all undergraduate and graduate students for these requirements and for other projects.
The following is a listing of the major laboratory facilities used for advanced courses and research in the department.
Augmented Intelligence for Smart Manufacturing (AISM) Laboratory
The Augmented Intelligence for Smart Manufacturing (AISM) Lab, supports research at the intersection of machine learning, sensing, and advanced manufacturing. The lab's mission is to develop data science-enhanced solutions that improve process stability, operational safety, and production quality in complex manufacturing environments. Ongoing research explores generalizable and trustworthy machine learning frameworks for predictive maintenance, self-supervised learning from unlabeled shop floor data, domain-informed AI for process control, and intelligent automation for welding and hybrid manufacturing. The lab's work is particularly focused on reducing barriers for small- and medium-sized manufacturers by developing scalable edge-cloud computing infrastructures and integrating domain knowledge into AI models for real-time decision-making.
The AISM Lab is equipped with state-of-the-art experimental and computational resources to support these research thrusts. A unique hybrid manufacturing platform integrates wire-based directed energy deposition with a 5-axis CNC milling system, augmented with inline inspection capabilities (eddy current, ultrasound, and laser scanning) and high-speed optical monitoring for melt pool analysis and feedback control. The lab also houses machinery fault simulators with multimodal sensing, Universal Robots for robotic process automation and human-robot collaboration studies, and high-performance GPU servers for large-scale ML model training. Together, these assets enable end-to-end research from sensor-based data acquisition to model development, validation, and deployment in manufacturing systems.
Biorobotics Facilities
The Biorobotics Complex consists of 8 labs, shops and office spaces on the 8th floor of the Glennan Engineering Building. Facilities include a fully equipped machine shop with CNC and manual machines for fabricating robot components. An Aerostructures Lab allows for construction of components using carbon fiber matrix composites. The Biorobotics Complex also includes labs for building worm robots and crab-like robots, with a small wave tank, dedicated 3D printers, wet working area and hood. The complex has recently added a motion capture system for robotic tracking, and an artificial magnetic environment for research in biological and biologically inspired navigation using Earth's magnetic field.
Visit the website for the Daltorio Lab website for more details.
Visit the Taylor Lab website for details about biologically inspired navigation.
A compressed air facility has been installed to operate pneumatic robots. In addition, an automated treadmill (5 feet by 6 feet) is available for testing walking robots. The Complex includes computers and software for designing, analyzing and testing mobile robots. Dozens of legged, wheeled and worm-like robots have been constructed with funding from ONR, NSF, DARPA, AFOSR and NASA.
Center for Applied Raman Spectroscopy
The Applied Raman Spectroscopy Center provides services to both trained and untrained users in acquiring Raman spectra and spectral data processing. Raman spectroscopy provides information on identities and amounts of chemical species, crystallinity/purity and molecular alignment.
Liquid, gas or solid phase specimens can be analyzed with Raman. Pharmaceuticals, polymers, coating, additives, biological samples and tissues, graphene, diamond, carbon nanotube, and inorganic species are a few of the many samples that can be analyzed.
The center is equipped with specialty Raman systems that use green, NIR and IR lasers. Explore the center’s full array of equipment. All systems are accessible as a service center to individuals within Case Western Reserve University and from outside the university. The Applied Raman Spectroscopy Center also provides services in the processing and interpretation of spectral data.
Cybernetics and Physical Intelligence Laboratory (CyPhiLab)
Housed in the Human Fusions Institute (HFI) on the 3rd floor of the BioEnterprise building, CyPhiLab shares a brand new research facility with several other groups in HFI. The laboratory contains equipment to facilitate research in robotics, human performance, and control, including Unitree humanoid and quadruped robots, FDM and SLA 3D printers, a lab-grade injection molding machine, a Vicon motion capture system, and a testing tank for marine robotics.
Electromechanical Systems (EMS) Laboratory
The EMS Lab, approximately 1,200 square feet in space, is housed in the Glennan Engineering Building of the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering department. Since its founding in 1995, faculty and students in the EMS lab have been conducting fundamental and applied research on physics-based sensing for improved observability and controllability of dynamic systems, vibration analysis, machine learning for data analytics, energy harvesting, smart materials and structures, and energy-efficient wireless communication methods based on radio frequencies, acoustic waves, and magnetic field coupling. More than 70 projects have been conducted over the past 20 years, under the sponsorship of NSF and other federal agencies, as well as the industry. Research topics involved the monitoring, diagnosis, and prognosis of manufacturing and oil drilling equipment and processes, digital manufacturing, machine learning methods, wearable sensing for human physical activity assessment, computational algorithms for reconfigurable information acquisition, energy-efficient and wireless sensor networks, etc.
The Lab is equipped with state-of-the-art electronic instruments for the design, modeling, simulation, prototyping, and experimental evaluation of miniaturized and wireless sensors and sensor networks, e.g. logic analyzer, spectrum analyzer, arbitrary waveform generator, high speed digital oscilloscopes, instrument for high speed electrical capacitance tomography, etc. It also has equipment and related software for FPGA and microcontroller-based embedded computing, multiple sensor nodes for adaptive wireless sensor communication, vibration shaker for sensor reliability testing, active vibration suppression and control test bed, etc. It also has two machine fault simulators for rotary machine systems (including bearings, spindles, and gearboxes) diagnosis and prognosis, as well as a Makerbot Replicator 3D printing machine.
Flow Physics and Flow Simulation Laboratory
The Flow Simulation & Flow Physics Laboratory is a 600-square-foot state-of-the-art research facility in the Glennan Building, where we advance cutting-edge research at the intersection of fluid dynamics, computational science, and applied engineering. Our work focuses on developing high-fidelity computational methods by leveraging mathematical modeling and numerical simulations to decode complex biological and physiological flows, with applications spanning biomedical systems, natural fluid phenomena, and engineering solutions. Equipped with four high-performance Linux workstations (each featuring 16–40 CPU cores, 128GB RAM, and 40TB storage), our lab serves as a hub for parallel computing testing, simulation post-processing, and data management. Beyond our local infrastructure, we have unrestricted access to Case Western Reserve University’s High-Performance Computing (HPC) Cluster, a powerhouse of 250+ servers, 60+ GPU nodes, and 7,000+ processors, enabling large-scale, high-speed simulations for both fundamental fluid dynamics research and real-world problem-solving. By merging advanced numerical techniques with robust computational resources, we drive innovations that deepen scientific understanding and foster transformative applications in healthcare, biomechanics, and beyond.
Flow Physics and Imaging Laboratory
The Flow Physics and Imaging Laboratory consists of 1600 square feet of research space and a dedicated student office. The primary flow facility in the lab is a water tunnel with a test section of 30 cm x 30 cm x 1 m capable of flow speeds up to 1 m/s. The lab is also equipped with equipment for high speed stereoscopic PIV and other imaging applications, including a Photonics DM-527-DH Nd:YLF PIV laser, a Nd:YAG laser, two Photron Nova S12 high speed CMOS cameras capable of 1 MP imaging at 12,800 frames per second, an Imperx Cheetah 31 MP CMOS camera, two Nila Varsa flicker-free LED lamps, and Insight4G PIV acquisition and processing software.
Laboratory for Sustainable Energy Manufacturing
The Laboratory for Sustainable Energy Manufacturing is equipped with state-of-the-art manufacturing and testing facilities for lithium ion batteries, and is capable to fabricate various sizes of lithium ion battery cells, ranging from small coin cells to large EV battery cells. Arbin battery testers are available to test the batteries from a single individual battery cell to a battery module pack on their electrochemical performance, internal impedance, rate capability, etc. Environmental chamber can support the testing of lithium ion battery cells and modules under various temperature and humidity conditions.
The lab has instruments for research and development of battery materials and testing of the materials properties. The Lab also houses a THT EV+ Calorimeter as a safety testing instrument for thermal runaway testing of lithium ion batteries under various charging/discharging conditions. The lab also has modeling tools and established professional databases for life cycle assessment (LCA) and sustainability studies of lithium ion batteries, solar cells, fuel cells, etc. Energy efficiency of industrial manufacturing processes is also studied with digital energy meters, current transducers and data loggers to measure the real-time energy consumption of a single equipment and/or an individual process.
MEMS and Microfluidics Laboratory
The MEMS and Microfluidics Lab enables engineering research for lab-on-a-chip healthcare applications and more. The lab includes a 120 ft2 hard walled semi clean room space that houses a complete soft lithography fabrication suite for PDMS and medical grade silicone device development, including a plasma bonding, low temperature furnace, and vacuum desiccator. The lab also has capabilities to process thermoplastic devices with tools for device characterization and testing such as Olympus fluorescent microscope with 5X-100X objectives equipped with a Phantom Vision high-speed camera, syringe pumps, and electronics including a DC power supply, function generator, and oscilloscope. The lab has one 6 ft fume hood, centrifuges, and refrigeration/freezers.
Multiphase Flow and Laser Diagnostics Laboratory
A laser diagnostics laboratory is directed toward investigation of complex two-phase flow fields involved in energy-related areas, bio-fluid mechanics of cardiovascular systems, slurry flow in pumps and thermoacoustic power and refrigeration systems. The laboratory is equipped with state-of-the-art Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) equipment, Pulsed Ultrasound Doppler Velocimeter, Ultrasound concentration measurement instrumentation and modern data acquisition and analysis equipment including PCs. The laboratory houses a clear centrifugal slurry flow pump loop and heart pump loop. Current research projects include investigation of flow through microchip devices, CSF flow in ventricles, investigation of solid-slurry flow in centrifugal pumps using ultrasound technique and PIV, thermo-acoustic refrigeration for space application.
Musculoskeletal Mechanics and Materials Laboratories
These laboratories are a collaborative effort between the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department of the Case School of Engineering and the Department of Orthopaedics of the School of Medicine that has been ongoing for more than 40 years. Research activities have ranged from basic studies of mechanics of skeletal tissues and skeletal structures, experimental investigation of prosthetic joints and implants, measurement of musculoskeletal motion and forces, and theoretical modeling of mechanics of musculoskeletal systems. Many studies are collaborative, combining the forces of engineering, biology, biochemistry, and surgery.
The Biomechanics Test labs include Instron mechanical test machines with simultaneous axial and torsional loading capabilities, a non-contacting video extensometer for evaluation of biological materials and engineering polymers used in joint replacements, acoustic emission hardware, and software, and specialized test apparatus for analysis of joint kinematics.
The Bio-imaging Laboratory includes microscopes and three-dimensional imaging equipment for evaluating tissue microstructure and workstations for three-dimensional visualization, measurement, and finite element modeling.
An Orthopaedic Implant Retrieval Analysis lab has resources for characterization and analysis of hard tissues and engineering polymers, as well as resources to maintain a growing collection of retrieved total hip and total knee replacements that are available for the study of implant design.
The Soft Tissue Biomechanics lab includes several standard and special test machines. Instrumentation and histology facilities support the activities within the Musculoskeletal Mechanics and Materials Laboratories.
Soft Machines & Electronics (SME) Laboratory
The Laboratory for Soft Machines & Electronics (SME) has approximately 600 square feet in space with a diverse set of facilities for the development, characterization, manufacturing and testing of multifunctional materials, soft robotics, flexible and stretchable electronics. The following resources are available for research: Olympus Microscope (BX51), HI-TEMP Vacuum Oven (MDL 281), Analytical Balance (Mettler AE160), Hotplates, Planetary Centrifugal Mixer (Thinky AR-100), Ultrasonic Cleaner (Fisher Scientific FS30D), Spin Coater, Potentiostat for electrochemistry measurements, complete materials chemistry wet lab, Goniometer for measuring surface wetting properties (contact angles, surface energy, surface tension, etc.) of materials, Model 6514 Electrometer (Tektronix Inc.), Experimental gas-flow setup for sensor testing, Aerosol Jet Printer (Nanojet Desktop) for printed nanomaterial-based electronics & sensors, 3D bioprinter (BIO-X6, Cellink Inc.) capable of printing six kinds of materials simultaneously and can perform coaxial printing of core-shell structures for a variety of soft materials and biomaterials. 3D printers include One Flash Forge Adventurer 4 3D Printer and one Prusa MK3S for fast prototyping of curing molds and complex structures and devices.
UL Fire and Combustion Laboratories
UL Fire and Combustion Laboratories was founded in 2015 at Case Western Reserve University. The mission of the labs is to support both the science community and industry to advance knowledge in material and fire dynamics with an ultimate goal to improve fire safety and save lives. The 2,200 square feet laboratory contains the following equipment: cone calorimeter, smoke density chamber, micro-combustion calorimeter, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) gas analyzer, Thermal Protective Performance (TPP) tester, analytical balances, fume hoods, various environmental chambers, and high-pressure gas supply systems. Imaging equipment includes infrared (FLIR) cameras, high-definition video camcorders, and SLR digital cameras.
Other Facilities
The department facilities also include several specialized laboratories.
Engineering Services Fabrication Center offers complete support to assist projects from design inception to completion of fabrication. Knowledgeable staff is available to assist Faculty, Staff, Students, Researchers, and personnel associated with Case Western Reserve University.
Sears think[box] is a university facility housed in a 7-story building near the Glennan Building that the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering gains many benefits from for teaching and research.
Sears think[box] is a 50,000 square feet innovation center and makerspace that is open to the entire campus community as well as users from the public. The makerspace area, inclusive of metal and wood fabrication, welding, 3D printing, laser cutting, and other capabilities inhabits half of the total area and is distributed across four adjacent floors.
The Reinberger Design Studio is located on the fifth floor of think[box]. It is outfitted with 20 thin clients running Citrix and connected to a dedicated server with high-end GPU support for demanding CAD and other applications. A host of design software is installed locally, including Solidworks, MasterCAM, Abaqus, COMSOL, and MATLAB. This lab is used for many design classes, student design clubs, and is also open to public users of think[box].
The Robert M. Ward Laboratory on the 4th floor of the Glennan Engineering Building is the primary undergraduate teaching laboratory within the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. Featuring a wind tunnel, Instron universal testing machines, and National Instruments data acquisition systems this laboratory is capable of supporting advanced engineering measurements. This laboratory is also utilized for department research, senior projects, and support for student engineering design clubs.
High Performance Computing Resources at CWRU enable researchers to solve large-scale, data-intensive, advanced computational problems on topics across the disciplinary spectrum faster, more accurately and more efficiently. The HPC cluster at CWRU provides immediate, cost-effective access to a supercomputer capable of supporting the work of researchers in all departments, across all disciplines at the university. Computationally intensive research is supported through the continuously growing (currently at 976-processors) high performance computing cluster based on Dell PowerEdge servers with Intel processors and Red Hat Enterprise Linux. The ITS HPC cluster currently consists of 187 compute nodes with Intel Xeon EM64T processors, with the following different node types such as 64 Dell PowerEdge 1950 nodes with two 3.0 GHz quad-core "Harpertown" CPUs, 16 Gbytes of main memory, and a 146 Gbyte SAS hard drive; 42 Dell PowerEdge 1950 nodes with two 3.0 GHz dual-core "Woodcrest" CPUs, 8 Gbytes of main memory, and a 146 Gbyte SAS hard drive; 72 Dell PowerEdge R410 nodes with two 2.66 GHz six-core "Westmere" CPUs, 24 Gbytes of main memory, and a 300 Gbyte SAS hard drive. In addition to high performance computing, the Research Technologies group provides data visualization and graphics processing; data storage; database creation, management, and consultation; a high-speed network; and application consultation.
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (EMAE)
EMAE 160. Mechanical Manufacturing. 3 Units.
The course is taught in two sections-Graphics and Manufacturing. Manufacturing To introduce manufacturing processes and materials and their relationships to mechanical design engineering. Course includes hands-on machining and metal fabrication lab. Also, each lab creates a 'virtual' field trip of a manufacturing facility to be shared with the class. Graphics Development of mechanical engineering drawings in orthographic, sectional, and pictorial views using manual drafting and computer-aided drafting (CAD software), dimensioning, tolerancing geometric dimensioning and tolerancing and assembly drawings will also be covered. All students are paired up to give a Manufacturing Design Presentation demonstrating the course material. The course has two (75) minute lectures and one (110) minute Machining Lab per week.
EMAE 181. Dynamics. 3 Units.
Elements of classical dynamics: particle kinematics and dynamics, including concepts of force, mass, acceleration, work, energy, impulse, momentum. Kinetics of systems of particles and of rigid bodies, including concepts of mass center, momentum, mass moment of inertia, dynamic equilibrium. Elementary vibrations. Recommended preparation: MATH 122 and PHYS 121 and ENGR 200.
EMAE 250. Computers in Mechanical Engineering. 3 Units.
Numerical methods including analysis and control of error and its propagation, solutions of systems of linear algebraic equations, solutions of nonlinear algebraic equations, curve fitting, interpolation, and numerical integration and differentiation. Recommended preparation: (ENGR 130 or ENGR 131) and MATH 122.
EMAE 251. Thermodynamics. 3 Units.
Thermodynamic concepts and definitions, properties of pure substances, work and heat, first and second laws, entropy, power and refrigeration cycles, thermodynamic relations, mixtures and solutions, chemical reactions, phase and chemical equilibrium. Prereq: CHEM 111, PHYS 121 and MATH 122.
EMAE 252. Fluid Mechanics. 3 Units.
Fluid properties, hydrostatics, fluid dynamics and kinematics, control volume analysis, differential analysis, dimensional analysis and similitude, viscous internal flows, external flows and boundary layers, lift and drag. Prereq: EMAE 251 and MATH 223.
EMAE 260. Design and Manufacturing I. 3 Units.
This is the second course of a 4-course sequence focusing on "Engineering Design and Manufacturing." This course develops students' competence and self-confidence as design engineers by exposing the students to design as a creative process and its relationship with modern manufacturing practices. The outcomes of the course focus on the student's ability to apply their knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering to design a system, component, or process that meets desired needs within realistic, multi-dimensional constraints, such as: economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability. Additionally, students will be given the opportunity to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems, while applying professional and ethical practices. Professional communication skills are emphasized and expected during all stages of the design process. The course has five main areas of emphasis: design as a creative process, decision-based design methodologies, project management, engineering economics, and design for manufacture (CAD/CAM/CAE) using industrial software tools. The course exposes the student to the integration of engineering design, manufacturing, and management disciplines and includes activities to consider and understand the complex processes associated with controlling and managing product data through all stages of the product life-cycle (PLM). Topics include: engineering ethics, design as a creative process, design methodologies, project management, engineering economics, product life-cycle management (PLM), CAD/CAE/CAM, and the role of digital manufacturing within the design process. Design/Rapid Prototyping Studio activities are an integral part of the course, and enable the students to be part of a design and build team working on various project-based tasks. Prereq: EMAE 160.
EMAE 272. Actuators and Drive Trains. 3 Units.
Graphical, analytical, and computer techniques for analyzing displacements, velocities, and accelerations in mechanisms. Analysis and synthesis of linkages, cams, and gears. Analysis of actuators, including motors, linear actuators, solenoids, hydraulics, pneumatics,and piezoelectrics. Laboratory projects include analysis, design, construction, and evaluation of students' devices that include both actuators and transmission mechanisms. Prereq: EMAE 181 and EMAE 250.
EMAE 285. Mechanical Engineering Measurements Laboratory. 4 Units.
Techniques and devices used for experimental work in mechanical and aerospace engineering. Lecture topics include elementary statistics, linear regression, propagation of uncertainty, digital data acquisition, characteristics of common measurement systems, background for measurement laboratories, and elements of report writing. Hands-on laboratory experiences may include measurements in solid mechanics, dynamics, and fluid and thermal sciences, which are summarized in lab reports. At least one report will focus on design of a measurement. Recommended preparation: EMAE 181, EMAE 251, EMAE 252 and ECIV 310. Counts as a Disciplinary Communication course.
EMAE 290. Computer-Aided Manufacturing. 3 Units.
An advanced design and manufacturing engineering course covering a wide range of topics associated with the 'design for manufacturability' concept. Students will be introduced to a number of advanced solid modeling assignments (CAD), rapid prototyping (RP), and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM). In addition students will be introduced to computer numerical control (CNC) manual part-programming for CNC milling and turning machine tools. All students will be given a design project requiring all detail and assembly drawings for a fully engineered design. The course has two (50) minute lectures and one (110) minute CAD/CAM Lab per week. Prereq: EMAE 160.
EMAE 307. Fundamentals of Biomechanics. 3 Units.
Fundamentals of biomechanics will teach students how to apply basic principles of mechanics to understand, explain and model biological processes at across the relevant length-scales (cell-tissue-organ-organism), and over a broad range of physiological systems (respiratory, ocular, circulatory, and musculoskeletal). Physiology of organs and tissues that are involved in biomechanical functions will also be covered. Offered as EMAE 307 and EMAE 407 and EBME 317. Prereq: ENGR 200.
EMAE 350. Mechanical Engineering Analysis. 3 Units.
Methods of problem formulation and application of frequently used mathematical methods in mechanical engineering. Modeling of discrete and continuous systems, solutions of single and multi-degree of freedom problems, boundary value problems, transform techniques, approximation techniques. Recommended preparation: MATH 224.
EMAE 351. Control of Mechanical Systems. 3 Units.
An introduction to automatic control theory with emphasis on mechanical and electromechanical systems. Review of Laplace Transforms, mathematical modeling of mechanical systems, state variable models, feedback control characteristics and performance, stability analysis; root locus techniques; Bode plots and Nyquist diagrams for stability analysis in frequency domain; transient and steady-state response and design of closed loop control systems. Prereq: EMAE 181, EMAE 252, EMAE 350, and ENGR 210.
EMAE 353. Heat Transfer. 3 Units.
Steady-state and transient conduction, principles of convection, empirical relations for forced convection, natural convection, boiling and condensation, radiation heat transfer, heat exchangers, mass transfer. Prereq: EMAE 251 and EMAE 252.
EMAE 355. Design of Fluid and Thermal Elements. 3 Units.
Synthesis of fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and heat transfer. Practical design problems originating from industrial experience. Recommended preparation: EMAE 251, EMAE 252, and EMAE 353.
EMAE 356. Aerospace Design. 3 Units.
Interactive and interdisciplinary activities in areas of fluid mechanics, heat transfer, solid mechanics, thermodynamics, and systems analysis approach in design of aerospace vehicles. Projects involve developing (or improving) design of aerospace vehicles of current interest (aircraft and spacecraft) starting from mission requirements to researching developments in relevant areas and using them to obtain conceptual design. Prereq: EMAE 160, EMAE 355, EMAE 376, EMAE 383, EMAE 384 and Senior standing. Coreq: EMAE 382.
EMAE 359. Aero/Gas Dynamics. 3 Units.
Review of conservation equations. Potential flow. Subsonic airfoil. Finite wing. Isentropic one-dimensional flow. Normal and oblique shock waves. Prandtl-Meyer expansion wave. Supersonic airfoil theory. Prereq: EMAE 252.
EMAE 360. Design and Manufacturing II. 3 Units.
This is the third course of a 4-course sequence focusing on "Engineering Design and Manufacturing," and is the senior capstone design course focused on a semester-long design/build/evaluate project. The course draws on a student's past and present academic and industrial experiences and exposes them to the design and manufacture of a product or device that solves an open-ended "real world" problem with multidimensional constraints. The course is structured and time-tabled within the Case School of Engineering (CSE) to give the EMAE 360 students the opportunity to team with students from other CSE departments to form multidisciplinary design teams to work on the solution to a common problem. The outcomes of the course continue to focus on the student's ability to function on multidisciplinary teams while applying their knowledge of mathematics, science and engineering to design a system, component, or process that meets desired needs within realistic, multidimensional constraints, such as: economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability. Professional communication skills are emphasized and expected during all stages of the design process and will include formal and informal oral presentations, periodic peer-focused design reviews, and a development through its various evolutionary stages to completion. Counts as a SAGES Senior Capstone course. Prereq: EMAE 160 and EMAE 260.
EMAE 366. Sustainable Manufacturing. 3 Units.
This course covers the methods and applications on sustainable manufacturing processes and systems. The methods covered include material flow analysis, energy flow analysis, manufacturing energy efficiency, life cycle assessment, environmental impact assessment, Taguchi method, etc. The case studies for sustainable manufacturing are on a variety of conventional and emerging manufacturing technologies including metal casting, machining, forming, grinding, welding, recycling, heat treatment, nano-manufacturing, additive manufacturing, etc. Some of the important goals of this course are: a. Students learn to understand the fundamental methods and techniques of sustainable manufacturing. b. Students learn the theory and practices in sustainable manufacturing on improving the sustainability performance or developing sustainable processes from real industrial practices. c. Students learn state-of-the-art knowledge on environmental impact assessment methods of industrial pollutants. d. Students apply the learned knowledge and skills in class discussions and project implementation. Offered as EMAE 366 and EMAE 466.
EMAE 368. Machine Learning for Manufacturing. 3 Units.
This course includes two major parts: introduction of Machine Learning (ML) techniques and application to practical manufacturing processes. ML techniques covered include: multiple regression, support vector regression, principal component analysis, k-means clustering, Kalman filtering, neural networks, convolutional, and advanced deep learning techniques. ML applications cover a broad range of manufacturing settings, e.g., machine anomaly detection, part quality prediction and defect detection, etc. Offered as EMAE 368 and EMAE 468. Prereq: EMAE 285 and EMAE 350 and EMAE 351.
EMAE 370. Design of Mechanical Elements. 3 Units.
Application of mechanics and mechanics of solids in machine design situations. Design of production machinery and consumer products considering fatigue and mechanical behavior. Selection and sizing of basic mechanical components: fasteners, springs, bearings, gears, fluid power elements. Prereq: ECIV 310 and ENGR 200.
EMAE 372. Structural Materials by Design. 4 Units.
Materials selection and design of mechanical and structural elements with respect to static failure, elastic stability, residual stresses, stress concentrations, impact, fatigue, creep, and environmental conditions. Mechanical behavior of engineering materials (metals, polymers, ceramics, composites). Influence of ultrastructural and microstructural aspects of materials on mechanical properties. Mechanical test methods covered. Models of deformation behavior of isotropic and anisotropic materials. Methods to analyze static and fatigue fracture properties. Rational approaches to materials selection for new and existing designs of structures. Failure analysis methods and examples, and the professional ethical responsibility of the engineer. Four mandatory laboratories, with reports. Offered as EMAE 372 and EMSE 372. Prereq or Coreq: ENGR 200.
EMAE 373. Dynamics of Machinery. 3 Units.
Dynamics of interacting machine component, comprehensive understanding of system dynamic behavior. Kinetics of 3-dimensionl rigid bodies. Mathematical formulations of multi-degree-of-freedom mechanisms. Balancing of reciprocating and rotating machinery. Fluid-film and rolling contact bearings. Time-dependent gear mesh stiffness. Prereq: EMAE 181 and EMAE 272 and EMAE 370.
EMAE 376. Aerostructures. 3 Units.
Mechanics of thin-walled aerospace structures. Load analysis. Shear flow due to shear and twisting loads in open and closed cross-sections. Thin-walled pressure vessels. Virtual work and energy principles. Introduction to structural vibrations and finite element methods. Recommended preparation: ECIV 310.
EMAE 379. Mechanics and Control of Compliant Robotics. 3 Units.
Robots are fundamentally mechanical devices designed to function autonomously or semi-autonomously. In autonomous systems including animals and robots, one of the most important mechanical properties is stiffness. Selective compliance allows robots to grasp a wide range of objects and traverse rougher terrain. A new field of Soft Robotics aims to create robots that are robust, cheap, and safe in close proximity to humans. However, as engineers challenge themselves to make increasingly soft robots, new challenges in design and control need to be addressed. This course will provide an introduction to state of the art in robotics as cyber-physical systems from a fundamental mechanics perspective. Topics include: grasping, wearable assistive locomotion, legged locomotion, locomotion in fluids, and locomotion over soft terrain. Offered as EMAE 379 and EMAE 479. Prereq: (ENGR 130 or ENGR 131 or CSDS 132 or ECSE 132) and EMAE 181 and ECSE 304.
EMAE 382. Propulsion. 3 Units.
Energy sources of propulsion. Performance criteria. Review of one-dimensional gas dynamics. Airbreathing engine cycle analysis and turbomachinery. Introduction of thermochemistry and combustion. Rocket flight performance and rocket staging. Chemical liquid and solid rockets. Offered as EMAE 382 and EMAE 482. Prereq: EMAE 251 and EMAE 359.
EMAE 383. Flight Mechanics. 3 Units.
Aircraft performance: take-off and landing, unaccelerated flight, range and endurance, flight trajectories. Aerodynamics and propulsion. Aircraft static stability and control, simple maneuvers. Aircraft flight dynamics and control, flight simulation. Offered as EMAE 383 and EMAE 483. Prereq: EMAE 181 and EMAE 252 and EMAE 359 and EMAE 351.
EMAE 384. Orbital Dynamics. 3 Units.
Spacecraft orbital mechanics: the solar system, elements of celestial mechanics, orbit transfer under impulsive thrust, continuous thrust, orbit transfer, decay of orbits due to drag, elements of lift-off and re-entry. Rigid body dynamics, altitude dynamics and control, simulations. Prereq: EMAE 181 and EMAE 252 and EMAE 359 and EMAE 351.
EMAE 387. Vibration Problems in Engineering. 4 Units.
Free and forced vibration problems in single and multi-degree of freedom damped and undamped linear systems. Vibration isolation and absorbers. Modal analysis and approximate solutions. Introduction to vibration of continuous media. Noise problems. Laboratory projects to illustrate theoretical concepts and applications. Recommended preparation: MATH 224 and EMAE 181.
EMAE 390. Advanced Manufacturing Technology. 3 Units.
This course will focus on advanced manufacturing technologies and processes, with an emphasis on the fundamental understanding of the material behaviors and process in the manufacturing operations. Topics will include: materials in manufacturing, glass manufacturing, polymer composite manufacturing, metal casting, metal machining, metal forming, grinding, welding, heat treatment, and quality control. The course will be lecture-based, with lab-based class project in the machine shop and think[box] studios. Prereq: EMAE 290.
EMAE 397. Independent Laboratory Research. 1 - 3 Units.
Independent research in a laboratory.
EMAE 398. Senior Project. 3 Units.
Individual or team capstone project under faculty supervision that can involve design, experimental, or other original work. Course requirements include periodic progress reporting, a final oral presentation, and a final written report. Counts as a Capstone Project course. Counts as a SAGES Senior Capstone course. Prereq: Senior student standing.
EMAE 399. Advanced Independent Laboratory Research/Design. 1 - 3 Units.
Students perform advanced independent research or an extended design project under the direct mentorship of the instructor. Typically performed as an extension to EMAE 397 or EMAE 398. Prereq: EMAE 397.
EMAE 400S. Graduate Seminar I. 0 Unit.
This course will expose the Ph.D. candidate to research in the fields of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering in the form of seminars given by invited speakers, faculty candidates, and other graduate students and postdocs within the department. The student must attend a minimum of 8 seminars during the semester to earn a Pass, which can be any combination of departmental seminars, special invited seminars (including faculty candidates), and/or the student seminar series. Recommended preparation: Ph.D. student in Mechanical Engineering.
EMAE 400T. Graduate Teaching I. 0 Unit.
This course will engage the Ph.D. candidate in a variety of teaching experiences that will include direct contact (for example, teaching recitations and laboratories, guest lectures, office hours) as well non-contact preparation (exams, quizzes, demonstrations) and grading activities. The teaching experiences will be conducted under the supervision of the faculty member(s) responsible for coordinating student teaching activities. All Ph.D. candidates enrolled in this course sequence will be expected to perform direct contact teaching at some point in the sequence. Recommended preparation: Ph.D. student in Mechanical Engineering.
EMAE 401. Mechanics of Continuous Media. 3 Units.
Vector and tensor calculus. Stress and traction, finite strain and deformation tensors. Kinematics of continuous media, general conservation and balance laws. Material symmetry groups and observer transformation. Constitutive relations with applications to solid and fluid mechanics problems.
EMAE 407. Fundamentals of Biomechanics. 3 Units.
Fundamentals of biomechanics will teach students how to apply basic principles of mechanics to understand, explain and model biological processes at across the relevant length-scales (cell-tissue-organ-organism), and over a broad range of physiological systems (respiratory, ocular, circulatory, and musculoskeletal). Physiology of organs and tissues that are involved in biomechanical functions will also be covered. Offered as EMAE 307 and EMAE 407 and EBME 317.
EMAE 414. Nanobiomechanics in Biology. 3 Units.
This course will elucidate the forces at play at the level of proteins including those associated with mass, stiffness, viscosity, thermal and chemical factors. Basic polymer mechanics within the context of biological molecules will be covered and structures of key proteins associated with mechanical functions, such as actin, myosin and the cell membrane will be explained. Generation of force by polymerization of filamentous proteins as well as motor proteins will be included. Interaction forces between proteins, DNA/RNA mechanics will also be elucidated. Besides lectures, there will be term long project assignments (outreach-based or detailed literature survey on a subject associated with nanomechanics of cells/proteins). Recommended Preparation: Mechanics of Materials, Thermodynamics, Statics, Introductory Level Differential Equations, Introductory Level Fluid Mechanics.
EMAE 415. Introduction to Musculo-skeletal Biomechanics. 3 Units.
Structural behavior of the musculo-skeletal system. Function of joints, joint loading, and lubrication. Stress-strain properties of bone and connective tissue. Analysis of fracture and repair mechanisms. Viscoplastic modeling of skeletal membranes. Recommended preparation: EMAE 181 and ECIV 310.
EMAE 450. Advanced Mechanical Engineering Analysis. 3 Units.
This course is intended to equip students with tools for solving mathematical problems commonly encountered in mechanical, fluid and thermal systems. Specific goals are to: i) Enable the student to properly categorize the problem in a variety of ways ii) Enable the student to identify appropriate approaches to solving the problem ii) Provide the student experience in applying some common methods for obtaining numerical solutions iii) Provide the student with understanding of trade-offs and expectations for the methods used. The course covers topics related to analytical and computational approaches to problems categorized in a variety of ways including: 1. Linear versus nonlinear problems 2) finite degrees of freedom v. infinite degrees of freedom, 3) equilibrium v. propagation v. eigenvalue problems, 4) direct formulations v. indirect formulations 5) analytical v. numerical solutions. The course will be built around specific examples from solid mechanics, dynamics, vibrations, heat transfer and fluid mechanics. The significance of the various categorizations will be developed as an ongoing part of the approach to solving the problems. Prereq: EMAE 350 or Requisites Not Met permission.
EMAE 453. Advanced Fluid Dynamics I. 3 Units.
Derivation and discussion of the general equations for conservation of mass, momentum, and energy using tensors. Several exact solutions of the incompressible Newtonian viscous equations. Kinematics and dynamics of inviscid, incompressible flow including free streamline theory developed using vector, complex variable, and numerical techniques.
EMAE 454. Advanced Fluid Dynamics II. 3 Units.
Continuation of EMAE 453. Low Reynolds number approximations. Matching techniques: inner and outer expressions. High Reynolds number approximations: boundary layer theory. Elements of gas dynamics: quasi one-dimensional flow, shock waves, supersonic expansion, potential equation, linearized theory, and similarity rules. Recommended preparation: EMAE 453.
EMAE 455. Advanced Thermodynamics. 3 Units.
Basic ideas of thermodynamics and dominant methods of their development: operational, postulational, and statistical. Entropy and information theory. Irreversible thermodynamics. Applications.
EMAE 456. Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems in Biology and Medicine (BioMEMS). 3 Units.
Microscale technologies have enabled advanced capabilities for researchers in unexplored territories of cells in biology and medicine. Biological (or Biomedical) Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) and Biomanufacturing involve the fundamentals of mechanics, electronics and advanced microfabrication technologies with specific emphasis on biological applications. MEMS is an interdisciplinary research area which brings together multiple disciplines including, mechanical engineering, biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, materials science, electrical engineering, clinical sciences, medicine, and biology. MEMS based technologies have found real world applications in tissue engineering, implantable microdevices, proteomics, genomics, molecular biology, biosensing, and point-of-care diagnostic platforms. This course aims to: (1) introduce the need for miniaturized systems in biology and medicine and the fundamental design and microfabrication concepts, (2) introduce the basics of microscale manipulation of cells, biological agents, and biomanufacturing, employing the fundamentals of microscale behaviors of fluids and mechanical systems, (3) expose the students to applications of MEMS, biosensing, and on-chip technologies in biology and medicine. Offered as EBME 456 and EMAE 456.
EMAE 457. Combustion. 3 Units.
Chemical kinetics and thermodynamics; governing conservation equations for chemically reacting flows; laminar premixed and diffusion flames; turbulent flames; ignition; extinction and flame stabilization; detonation; liquid droplet and solid particle combustion; flame spread, combustion-generated air pollution; applications of combustion processes to engines, rockets, and fire research.
EMAE 459. Advanced Heat Transfer. 3 Units.
Analysis of engineering heat transfer from first principles including conduction, convection, radiation, and combined heat and mass transfer. Examples of significance and role of analytic solutions, approximate methods (including integral methods) and numerical methods in the solution of heat transfer problems. Recommended preparation: EMAE 453.
EMAE 460. Theory and Design of Fluid Power Machinery. 3 Units.
Fluid mechanic and thermodynamic aspects of the design of fluid power machinery such as axial and radial flow turbomachinery, positive displacement devices and their component characterizations. Recommended preparation: Consent of instructor.
EMAE 463. Fire Dynamics. 3 Units.
This course introduces compartment fires and burning behavior of materials. Topics include: buoyant driven flow, fire plume, ceiling jet, vent flow, flashover and smoke movement as well as steady burning of liquids and solids; ignition, extinction and flame spread over solids. Recommended Preparation: Elementary knowledge in thermo-fluids is required. Offered as EMAC 463 and EMAE 463.
EMAE 466. Sustainable Manufacturing. 3 Units.
This course covers the methods and applications on sustainable manufacturing processes and systems. The methods covered include material flow analysis, energy flow analysis, manufacturing energy efficiency, life cycle assessment, environmental impact assessment, Taguchi method, etc. The case studies for sustainable manufacturing are on a variety of conventional and emerging manufacturing technologies including metal casting, machining, forming, grinding, welding, recycling, heat treatment, nano-manufacturing, additive manufacturing, etc. Some of the important goals of this course are: a. Students learn to understand the fundamental methods and techniques of sustainable manufacturing. b. Students learn the theory and practices in sustainable manufacturing on improving the sustainability performance or developing sustainable processes from real industrial practices. c. Students learn state-of-the-art knowledge on environmental impact assessment methods of industrial pollutants. d. Students apply the learned knowledge and skills in class discussions and project implementation. Offered as EMAE 366 and EMAE 466.
EMAE 468. Machine Learning for Manufacturing. 3 Units.
This course includes two major parts: introduction of Machine Learning (ML) techniques and application to practical manufacturing processes. ML techniques covered include: multiple regression, support vector regression, principal component analysis, k-means clustering, Kalman filtering, neural networks, convolutional, and advanced deep learning techniques. ML applications cover a broad range of manufacturing settings, e.g., machine anomaly detection, part quality prediction and defect detection, etc. Offered as EMAE 368 and EMAE 468.
EMAE 471. Computational Fluid Dynamics. 3 Units.
Finite difference, finite element, and spectral techniques for numerical solutions of partial differential equations. Explicit and implicit methods for elliptic, parabolic, hyperbolic, and mixed equations. Unsteady incompressible flow equations in primitive and vorticity/stream function formulations. Steady and unsteady transport (passive scalar) equations.
EMAE 475. Finite Element Analysis. 3 Units.
Formulation of the finite element methods for linear analysis of solid structures are presented. Solutions of equilibrium equations in static and dynamic analyses are developed. Finite element methods via computer programing are implemented to obtain solutions to pertinent engineering problems. Recommended preparation: EMAE 401.
EMAE 479. Mechanics and Control of Compliant Robotics. 3 Units.
Robots are fundamentally mechanical devices designed to function autonomously or semi-autonomously. In autonomous systems including animals and robots, one of the most important mechanical properties is stiffness. Selective compliance allows robots to grasp a wide range of objects and traverse rougher terrain. A new field of Soft Robotics aims to create robots that are robust, cheap, and safe in close proximity to humans. However, as engineers challenge themselves to make increasingly soft robots, new challenges in design and control need to be addressed. This course will provide an introduction to state of the art in robotics as cyber-physical systems from a fundamental mechanics perspective. Topics include: grasping, wearable assistive locomotion, legged locomotion, locomotion in fluids, and locomotion over soft terrain. Offered as EMAE 379 and EMAE 479.
EMAE 480. Fatigue of Materials. 3 Units.
Fundamental and applied aspects of metals, polymers and ceramics. Behavior of materials in stress and strain cycling, methods of computing cyclic stress and strain, cumulative fatigue damage under complex loading. Application of linear elastic fracture mechanics to fatigue crack propagation. Mechanisms of fatigue crack initiation and propagation. Case histories and practical approaches to mitigate fatigue and prolong life.
EMAE 481. Advanced Dynamics I. 3 Units.
Particle and rigid-body kinematics and dynamics. Inertia tensor, coordinate transformations and rotating reference frames. Application to rotors and gyroscopes. Theory of orbital motion with application to earth satellites. Impact dynamics. Lagrange equations with applications to multi-degree of freedom systems. Theory of small vibrations. Recommended preparation: EMAE 181.
EMAE 482. Propulsion. 3 Units.
Energy sources of propulsion. Performance criteria. Review of one-dimensional gas dynamics. Airbreathing engine cycle analysis and turbomachinery. Introduction of thermochemistry and combustion. Rocket flight performance and rocket staging. Chemical liquid and solid rockets. Offered as EMAE 382 and EMAE 482.
EMAE 483. Flight Mechanics. 3 Units.
Aircraft performance: take-off and landing, unaccelerated flight, range and endurance, flight trajectories. Aerodynamics and propulsion. Aircraft static stability and control, simple maneuvers. Aircraft flight dynamics and control, flight simulation. Offered as EMAE 383 and EMAE 483.
EMAE 485. Nonlinear Dynamics and Control. 3 Units.
Nonlinear dynamics, Lyapunov analysis, feedback linearization, optimal control, motion planning, reinforcement learning. Control of under-actuated systems, control of articulated robots, control of systems with safety constraints, adaptive and robust control. Prereq: EMAE 351 or Requisites Not Met permission.
EMAE 487. Vibration Problems in Engineering. 3 Units.
Free and forced-vibration problems in single and multi-degree of freedom damped and undamped linear systems. Vibration isolation and absorbers. Modal analysis and approximate solutions. Introduction to vibration of continuous media. Noise problems. Laboratory projects to illustrate theoretical concepts and applications. Recommended preparation: EMAE 181 and MATH 224.
EMAE 489. Robotics I. 3 Units.
Orientation and configuration coordinate transformations, forward and inverse kinematics and Newton-Euler and Lagrange-Euler dynamic analysis. Planning of manipulator trajectories. Force, position, and hybrid control of robot manipulators. Analytical techniques applied to select industrial robots. Recommended preparation: EMAE 181. Offered as CSDS 489, ECSE 489 and EMAE 489.
EMAE 494. Energy Systems. 3 Units.
The overarching goal of this course is to introduce energy systems to graduate students, allowing the class to explore energy resource options and technologies. We will evaluate (from a scientific, mathematical and societal perspective) the trade-offs and uncertainties of various energy systems and explores a framework for assessing solutions. Topics will include resource estimation, environmental effects and economic evaluations of fossil fuels, nuclear power, hydropower, solar energy and more. Prereq: Junior or Senior Undergraduate Engineering major or Graduate Engineering major.
EMAE 500S. Graduate Seminar II. 0 Unit.
This course will expose the Ph.D. candidate to research in the fields of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering in the form of seminars given by invited speakers, faculty candidates, and other graduate students and postdocs within the department. The student must attend a minimum of 8 seminars during the semester to earn a Pass, which can be any combination of departmental seminars, special invited seminars (including faculty candidates), and/or the student seminar series. Recommended preparation: Ph.D. student in Mechanical Engineering.
EMAE 500T. Graduate Teaching II. 0 Unit.
This course will engage the Ph.D. candidate in a variety of teaching experiences that will include direct contact (for example, teaching, recitations and laboratories, guest lectures, office hours) as well non-contact preparation (exams, quizzes, demonstration) and grading activities. The teaching experience will be conducted under the supervision of the faculty member(s) responsible for coordinating student teaching activities. All Ph.D. candidates enrolled in this course sequence will be expected to perform direct contact teaching at some point in the sequence. Recommended preparation: Ph.D. student in Mechanical Engineering.
EMAE 540. Advanced Dynamics II. 3 Units.
Using variational approach, comprehensive development of principle of virtual work, Hamilton's principle and Lagrange equations for holonomic and non-holonomic systems. Hamilton's equations of motion, canonical transformations, Hamilton-Jacobi theory and special theory of relativity in classical mechanics. Modern dynamic system formulations.
EMAE 554. Turbulent Fluid Motion. 3 Units.
Mathematics and physics of turbulence. Statistical (isotropic, homogeneous turbulence) theories; success and limitations. Experimental and observational (films) evidence. Macrostructures and microturbulence. Other theoretical approaches. Recommended preparation: EMAE 454.
EMAE 557. Convective Two-Phase Flow and Heat Transfer. 3 Units.
Basic two-phase flow equations, homogeneous model, drift-flux model, flow regimes, pressure drop in two-phase flow. Nucleation and bubble dynamics, pool boiling, subcooled boiling, forced convection boiling, critical heat flux in pool boiling, critical heat flux in forced convection boiling, minimum heat flux, film boiling, post dryout heat transfer. Flow instabilities, choking in two-phase flow, film and dropwise condensation. Applications to heat exchangers. Special boiling and two-phase flow problems.
EMAE 559. Hypersonics and Gas Dynamics. 3 Units.
1D non-steady gas dynamics for general fluids, including detonation waves. Hypersonic wind tunnels. Some approximate and exact methods for inviscid, hypersonic flow. Aspects of viscous hypersonic flow, including boundary layers and shock-boundary layer interactions. Rarefied gas dynamics and free molecular flow. Advanced propulsion methods. Non-equilibrium effects, including statistical thermodynamics and kinetic theory. Prereq: EMAE 454.
EMAE 600S. Graduate Seminar III. 0 Unit.
This course will expose the Ph.D. candidate to research in the fields of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering in the form of seminars given by invited speakers, faculty candidates, and other graduate students and postdocs within the department. The student must attend a minimum of 8 seminars during the semester to earn a Pass, which can be any combination of departmental seminars, special invited seminars (including faculty candidates), and/or the student seminar series. Recommended preparation: Ph.D. student in Mechanical Engineering.
EMAE 600T. Graduate Teaching III. 0 Unit.
This course will engage the Ph.D. candidate in a variety of teaching experiences that will include direct (for example, teaching recitations and laboratories, guest lectures, office hours) as well non-contact preparation (exams, quizzes, demonstrations) and grading activities. The teaching experience will be conducted under the supervision of the faculty member(s) responsible for coordinating student teaching activities. All Ph.D. candidates enrolled in this course sequence will be expected to perform direct contact teaching at some point in the sequence. Recommended preparation: Ph.D. student in Mechanical Engineering.
EMAE 601. Independent Study. 1 - 18 Units.
EMAE 651. Thesis M.S.. 1 - 18 Units.
(Credit as arranged.)
EMAE 689. Special Topics. 1 - 18 Units.
EMAE 695. Project M.S.. 1 - 9 Units.
Research course taken by Plan B M.S. students. Prereq: Enrolled in the EMAE Plan B MS Program.
EMAE 701. Dissertation Ph.D.. 1 - 9 Units.
(Credit as arranged.) Prereq: Predoctoral research consent or advanced to Ph.D. candidacy milestone.