Professor Anil Saigal, Chair; Materials engineering, manufacturing processes,
quality control
Professor Robert Greif, Vibrations, composite materials, vehicle dynamics
Professor Mark Kachanov, Fracture mechanics and micromechanics of materials
Professor Vincent P. Manno, Computational thermal-fluid dynamics and
power plant engineering
Professor Frederick C. Nelson, Active and passive control of vibration and
noise, rotordynamics
Professor Armand Benjamin Perlman, Finite element methods and rail vehicle
dynamics and materials
Professor Chris Rogers, Fluid dynamics experimentation and science
education
Associate Professor Behrouz Abedian, Fluid
mechanics, electrokinetics and thermal-fluid
systems
Associate Professor Douglas M. Matson, Solidification processes,
thermal manufacturing, machine design
Assistant Professor Caroline G. L. Cao, Human factors, medical
systems, technology assessment, training
Assistant Professor Robert White, Acoustics,
MEMS, sensors, cochlear mechanics
Research Associate Professor Peter Y. Wong, Thermal materials processing and
radiative heat transfer
Emeritus Professor Kenneth N. Astill, Thermal-fluid sciences
Emeritus
Professor William J. Crochetiere, Machine design, mechatronics and biomedical
applications
Emeritus Professor John G. Kreifeldt, Engineering psychology, human factors, product
design
Adjunct Associate Professor Michael A. Wiklund, Human factors in software
interfaces
Adjunct Associate Professor Michael A. Zimmerman, Material science, thermal
manufacturing
Adjunct Assistant Professor Allan H. Clemow, Consumer product evaluation
Lecturer Gary G. Leisk, Machine design,
non-destructive testing
Lecturer Kenneth James, Biomaterials
Mechanical engineering is a rich and versatile profession that is concerned with
inventing, designing, analyzing, controlling, testing, manufacturing, and marketing
components and systems. Mechanical engineering plays a crucial role in conventional
industries as well as emerging technologies. Current and future achievements in aerospace,
defense, and energy, as well as the promise of advanced materials, high-technology
manufacturing, and health-related instrumentation and mechanisms, are driven by the
creativity and talent of mechanical engineers. Mechanical engineers use their technical
insight, physical intuition, and human experience to produce economical, efficient, and
environmentally sound devices. They also study biological and other natural systems both
to exploit their hidden lessons and to protect their well being.
The mission of the Department of Mechanical Engineering is to provide educational experiences that give students a sound basis for professional practice and a career of lifelong learning. Each departmental program has specific objectives, but the common goal is to learn fundamental principles of mechanical engineering and to master engineering methods to solve challenging problems and to communicate these solutions to the technical and nontechnical community. The department strives to offer undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education students programs which are recognized as distinctive in their combination of technical quality, diverse areas of technology, and attention to the individual. In addition to its traditional strengths in applied mechanics, materials processing, system design, and thermal-fluid sciences, many of the department's teaching and research activities are focused in the emerging area of thermal manufacturing.
The undergraduate curricula combine a strong base in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and in the humanities and social sciences, with hands-on laboratory and practical design experiences. Through electivity in the programs, students are exposed to a wide range of advanced and applied courses in applied mechanics, thermal-fluid sciences, machine and systems design methodology, materials and materials processing, manufacturing, and system automation and control. This provides students with a broad intellectual foundation upon which to build future careers in advanced engineering education and research; engineering practice; or nonengineering professional training in business, education, law, and medicine.
The graduate curricula offer students opportunities to develop levels of expertise and knowledge consistent with a career of technical leadership. The department offers master's degree programs for a spectrum of students ranging from working professionals interested in acquiring a strong technical background for continued practice to those interested in a research and development experience which includes thesis work. The doctoral program emphasizes exposure to advanced topics and individual experience of significant intellectual exploration.
The faculty is dedicated to the integration of teaching and research in both the undergraduate and graduate programs. In several required courses, undergraduate students undertake individual and small group projects, including a senior-year design project. Further, undergraduates are encouraged to participate in ongoing research activities through mentored special projects and bachelor's theses. Above all, the department strives to convey to all of its students a strong technical and humanistic education to prepare them for a career of continued learning.
Students are encouraged to consult this bulletin and the various booklets available in the department office (Anderson Hall 204) and to visit http://ase.tufts.edu/mechanical for updated information and current events in the department.
Departmental Facilities
Departmental facilities are located in Anderson Hall and Bray Laboratory. The
administrative office is staffed by Joan Kean. The overall operation of
all facilities is managed by a full-time coordinator, Vincent Miraglia, the machine shop
by James Hoffman, and the individual facilities are supervised by the faculty.
Acoustics and Vibrations Laboratory
This laboratory is dedicated to acoustics, and noise and vibration control. Equipment
includes state-of-the-art modal analysis, spectrum analyzers, and computer-based data
acquisition systems. Current research involves dynamic and acoustic characterization of
advanced materials, railroad wheels, and speaker enclosures.
Blake Computational Studio
The department maintains a computational mechanics studio. The facility includes numerous
Unix-based workstations, personal computers, color graphic display and hard-copy devices,
and high-speed links to on-campus computers and national computer networks, including the
NSF Supercomputing network and Internet. The studio is used with faculty supervision for
course-related work and research.
Burstein Family Prototyping Facility
This new educational facility is supported by the Burstein family, the Society of
Manufacturing Engineers, and industries such as Lucent and Polaroid. Its state-of-the-art
facilities include computer numerical control (CNC) machining centers, as well as 3-D
printing machines for rapid prototyping of solid parts directly from CAD files. This
equipment is used by students in industry-funded projects, for the development of complex
shape tooling parts, processes, and integrated machines with embedded intelligence.
Center for Engineering Education Outreach (CEEO)
The center is dedicated to bringing engineering into the K-12 classroom
in an effort to improve the engineering literacy of the average high school
graduate. It works with a number of companies (including LEGO) to develop
educational tools and it woks with teachers and schools around the world to
develop engineering curriculum. It provides Tufts engineering students the
opportunity to help out in local classrooms, working with teachers to teach
engineering in every grade from kindergarten to high school. Tufts students have
worked with schools in Medford and Chinatown as well as Singapore and New
Zealand.
Comparative Biomechanics Laboratory
This laboratory introduces students at all levels to the relationship between the
functioning of organisms and concepts in fluid flow, heat transfer, and design. The
laboratory emphasizes education as well as houses projects on
drag effects on sessile and motile organisms, life in velocity gradients and
wave swept environments, lift, gliding, and thrust production effects on plants
and animals. The laboratory is
equipped with wind and liquid tunnels, ocean and freshwater aquaria, temperature,
pressure, fluid flow, force, and visual computerized data acquisition and analysis systems.
Machine Shop
The machine shop is equipped with several manual and computer-controlled machines. The
shop is directed by a professional machinist and includes an industrial scale CNC machine.
The facility is used for teaching as well as fabrication of equipment used in research and
design projects. The procedures and policies for using the machine shop are described in a
booklet available in the departmental office or at the machine shop.
Materials Characterization Facility
This laboratory houses state-of-the-art
computational and experimental facilities to characterize materials through
microscopic evaluation. Materials characterization and
metrology capabilities include a stylus profilometer,
a microhardness tester, optical microcropy and sample
preparation facilities, and a scanning electron microscope.
Materials Testing Laboratory
This laboratory is used for both instruction and research in static and dynamic mechanical
characterization of materials. Advanced instrumentation includes an Instron model 4505
universal testing instrument with digital control and thermal test chamber with data
acquisition system, as well as smaller-scale materials testing apparatus. Current research
focuses on composite materials including metals and metal matrix composites.
Mechatronics Laboratory
This laboratory is used for instruction in automation and projects focused on developing
mechatronic control (the interdisciplinary application of distributed mechanical and
electronic components) to a variety of applications including biomedical devices.
Robotics and Controls Laboratory
This laboratory for modern automation and robotics technology currently houses projects
involving intelligent lighting control for robotics vision, simulation of chemical plant
dynamics, design of EKG monitors and robotic repair operations. Laboratory facilities
include a tabletop SCARA 4-dof robot with vision system, an articulated 6-dof manipulator
with tactile sensing, several small 5-dof arms and student-designed mobile robots, a
paper-based rapid prototyper and a video editing system.
Thermal Analysis of Materials Processing Laboratory (TAMPL)
A number of department and college laboratories make up TAMPL. These include the Robotics
and Controls Laboratory, the Thermal Manufacturing Automation Laboratory, and TUFTL. In
addition to these, TAMPL has a dedicated electronics materials laboratory. This laboratory
includes state-of-the-art data acquisition and image analysis equipment and software used
to investigate the micromechanics of these material processes.
Thermal-Fluids Dynamics and Processes Laboratory
This laboratory, which is equipped with anemometry and temperature measurement as well as
data acquisition systems, is used for thermal-fluid science class demonstration
laboratories and undergraduate and graduate research projects in fluid mechanics and heat
transfer. Current research includes characterization of dental resin materials and design
of biomedical devices such as catheters.
Thermal Manufacturing Automation Laboratory
This laboratory was created to take advantage of advances in modern automation and control
and apply them to advanced manufacturing processes. Laboratory facilities include a 300W
Nd:YAG laser with fiber optics delivery, a plasma-arc welding and cutting setup, a
gas-tungsten arc welding supply, and an ultrasonic welding facility.
Other equipment includes a high precision X-Y positioner tabel,
an articulated 6-dof process robot, and a SCARA 4-dof asembly robot. Sensing facilities
consist of an infrared pyrometry camera, a 3-D optical laser scanner system and complete
computer support for off-line image analysis and real-time feedback control. Current
projects are focused on scan welding, rapid prototyping, and thermal manufacturing process
characterization.
Tufts University Fluid Turbulence Laboratory (TUFTL)
TUFTL facilities include state-of-the-art imaging and laser-based flow diagnostic
equipment, a two-component, fiber-based laser-Doppler anemometer capable of high-accuracy
single-point velocity measurements, and a digital particle image velocimetry system capable
of measuring instantaneous velocities. Current projects include studies of particle-laden
turbulent flows, chemical mechanical planarization, and flow visualization in
manufacturing processes.
Undergraduate Teaching Laboratory
The main undergraduate laboratory is used for the required undergraduate laboratory courses
(Mechanical Engineering 1 Introducton to Mechanical
Engineering), as well as other courses and projects. The facility is
equipped with state-of-the-art automated experiment and data acquisition stations.
Undergraduate Programs
An adviser is selected when a student enters the department. With the adviser's counsel,
students plan a course of study that meets their career goals. The Mechanical Engineering
Department offers three different programs leading to the undergraduate degrees of
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (BSME), Bachelor of Science in Engineering
(BSE), and Bachelor of Science (BS). Detailed information and yearly programmatic updates
are contained in degree-specific booklets available from the departmental office. See
School of Engineering Information for degree requirements.
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
The program leading to the bachelor of science in mechanical engineering is accredited by
ABET. As part of the ongoing assessment process required of all ABET-accredited programs,
the BSME program has several specific objectives embedded in the general program, core
courses, and individualized study plans that are aimed at achieving the following goals:
1) provide students with educational experiences that prepare them for continual learning
and productive careers in engineering as well as other professions; 2) offer high-quality
instruction that not only encompasses the technical content but also makes students aware
of the societal implications of technology; 3) present a curriculum built on fundamental
principles of mathematics, sciences, and engineering that utilizes departmental
disciplinary strengths and gives students the ability to integrate and apply these
principles; 4) teach the curriculum through integrated experiences in analysis,
computation, experimentation, design, and fabrication; 5) include individual and
team-based experiences in problem definition and solution and the communication of these
solutions to the technical as well as nontechnical communities; 6) encourage students,
through advising and curriculum structure, to pursue individualized plans of study
including elective courses, internships, and undergraduate research; 7) offer a
manufacturing engineering option within the BSME degree.
The mission of the BSME degree program offered by the Department of
Mechanical Engineering is to provide our students with undergraduate educational
experiences which give them a sound basis for professional practice and a career
of lifelong learning. Its primary goals are that students learn fundamental
principles of mechanical engineering, that they master engineering methods to
solve challenging problems, and that they communicate these solutions to
technical and non-technical communities. The faculty is dedicated to
accomplishing this mission through the integration of teaching and research.
Given that contemporary interests in mechanical engineering involve so many disciplines, the
department has several patterns of course selection to illustrate the possibilities.
Examples include concentration in applied mechanics, materials and manufacturing
processes, system control and design, or thermal-fluid sciences. It should be emphasized
that these are suggested programs. With the assistance of a faculty adviser, students
should individually plan a program and, if desirable, modify that program each term as
their experience and plans develop.
In consultation with their advisers, students select a course of study that not only satisfies program requirements but also reflects their educational objectives. Topics include mechanics, electrical circuits, strength of materials, thermodynamics, and an introduction to experimentation and fabrication. The second-year program gives students the opportunity to expand their mathematics and science background and to explore their interests in the humanities and social sciences.
The third-year program completes the foundation essential to modern mechanical engineering and provides the first opportunities for specialization and depth. These include concentration courses such as dynamics and vibration, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, materials, and machine design. Laboratory experiences, an introduction to project work, and open-ended problem-solving techniques are an important part of the junior-year program. Students who have already fulfilled junior-year requirements owing to an accelerated program or advanced placement may consider taking courses needed as background for advanced courses.
The senior-year curriculum is structured to encourage students to acquire some degree of specialization and introductory professional design experience. Elective courses fall within several groups: concentration electives, senior design project elective, mathematics/science electives, humanities/social science electives, and free electives. Students are encouraged to consider independent project work as part of a coordinated program of study. Students who want to pursue a project for more than a single semester are expected to write an undergraduate thesis.
Suggested course schedule for the BSME program is listed below.
Core Program
Sophomore Year
FALL TERM
Engineering Science 3 (Electrical Engineering)
Engineering Science 5 (Statics)
Mathematics 13 (Calculus)
Physics 12 or Chemistry 2
Humanities or social sciences elective
SPRING TERM
Mechanical Engineering 1 (Introduction to Mechanical Engineering)
Engineering Science 7 (Thermodynamics)
Engineering Science 9 (Strength of Materials)
Mathematics 38 (Differential Equations)
Foundation elective
Junior Year
FALL TERM
Engineering Science 8 (Fluid Mechanics)
Mechanical Engineering 25 (Materials)
Mechanical Engineering 41 (Machine Design I)
Mathematics or science elective
Free elective
SPRING TERM
Mechanical Engineering 16 (Heat Transfer)
Mechanical Engineering 37 (Dynamics and Vibrations)
Mechanical Engineering 42 (Machine Design II)
Science elective
Humanities or social sciences elective
Senior Year
FALL TERM
Mechanical Engineering 43 (Senior Design Project)
Mechanical Engineering 11 (Applied Thermodynamics)
or Mechanical Engineering 38 (Mechanical Vibrations)
or Mechanical Engineering 80 (Systems Design)
Department concentration elective
Mathematics or science elective
Humanities or social sciences elective
SPRING TERM
Department concentration elective
Department concentration elective
Department concentration elective
Humanities or social sciences elective
Free elective
The above courses, in conjunction with the courses taken in the first year, satisfy the following distribution:
a. A total of four courses in biology, chemistry, geology, or physics, including Physics 11, Chemistry 1, 3, or 16, and Physics 12 or a second course in chemistry. The science elective courses cannot be from courses primarily for nonscience majors or from courses that deal primarily with computational methods or computer programming. Many students opt to include biology in their electives, reflecting the increasing importance of biomedical engineering applications.
b. A total of six courses in humanities and social studies, including English 1 or 8. Both humanities and social sciences courses must be included. One humanities or social science must be an advanced-level course. In accordance with general School of Engineering requirements, all students must formulate an "intellectual cluster" in selecting their humanities and social science courses. The goal of this intellectual cluster is to develop an overarching theme to improve the coherence of the nontechnical portion of the student's education.
c. Eight department foundation courses: five required courses related to engineering science, two elective courses in mathematics and/or science, and one foundation elective to be satisfied by taking either: 1) Engineering Science 4 (Introduction to Digital Logic Circuits) or any course with Engineering Science 3 (Introduction to Electrical Engineering) or 4 as its prerequisite; 2) Computer Science 11 (Introduction to Computer Science) or any course with Computer Science 11 as its prerequisite; 3) a nonintroductory science course, which has a prerequisite from the department in which the course is offered; and 4) specific engineering courses that are consistent with a student's pursuit of a minor or ancillary focus. Examples include Electrical Engineering 50 (Introduction to Biomedical Engineering), Engineering Psychology 61 (Introduction to Human Factors and Ergonomics), Engineering Science 20 (Consumer Product Evaluation), Engineering Science 25 (Environment and Technology), and Engineering Science 88 (Introduction to Computer-Aided Design).
d. Twelve department concentration courses: five required mechanical engineering science courses (Mechanical Engineering 1, 11 or 38 or 80, 16, 25, and 37), three mechanical-engineering design courses (Mechanical Engineering 41 and 42) and a senior design project elective (Mechanical Engineering 43), and four mechanical-engineering concentration electives. The senior design project electives vary from year to year and a list for the current year is issued by the department at the time of preregistration. Note that Engineering Science 101 (Numerical Methods) and Mechanical Engineering 150 (Advanced Mathematics for Engineers) may be counted as either concentration electives or mathematics/science electives.
e. Two free elective courses without restriction.
In addition to mechanical engineering courses, the department may approve certain
courses given by other departments for one mechanical engineering concentration course.
Also, the department will permit the substitution of certain courses for some of the
required courses listed in the above core curriculum. In all such cases, however, the
adviser should be consulted and prior department approval obtained. More details on course
selection can be found in the program requirement booklet available from the Department of
Mechanical Engineering.
Bachelor of Science in Engineering - Manufacturing
The department encourages students who are interested in manufacturing to consider
pursuing this interest through their choice of electives within the accredited BSME
program. The department does, however, offer a bachelor of science in engineering degree
focused specifically on manufacturing engineering. Information on this program may be
obtained by contacting the department office.
Engineering Psychology/Human Factors
This program is available for students planning a career or further graduate study in
the field of human factors and ergonomics. Students generally should plan to elect the
program at the end of the first year and will graduate with a bachelor of science degree
in engineering psychology. The program was initiated in 1972 and is interdisciplinary
between the School of Engineering and the College of Liberal Arts. Graduates of the
program typically are hired for their acquired skills in advanced consumer-product design,
consumer-product safety analyses, computer-interface design, workplace evaluation and
design, and other such problems where the concern for the human is the central design
issue. Program requirements are detailed in this bulletin under Engineering Psychology and
in the booklet available in the departmental office. In addition to the undergraduate
program, students may also pursue a master of science degree in human factors. Students wishing to know more
about these programs should contact Professor Caroline Cao in the mechanical engineering
department or at Caroline.Cao@tufts.edu.
Manufacturing Engineering Certificate Program
This certificate is offered on a part-time, nondegree basis for
post-baccalaureate students seeking
professional training in manufacturing engineering with emphasis on manufacturing
processes, robotics, designs, quality control, or cost-effective production systems.
Courses taken in the certificate program may be transferred to the degree program.
Professor Anil Saigal is the faculty adviser of this program. (See Manufacturing
Engineering for program description.)
Graduate Program
Master of Science
Candidates are admitted to this program on the basis of a strong academic background in
mechanical engineering or a related technical discipline. The department encourages but
does not require applicants to submit GRE scores. The goal of the M.S. degree program
is to provide students with an opportunity to strengthen their technical backgrounds so
that they may pursue successful professional careers in engineering research, development,
and production. Ordinarily, candidates are required to complete the equivalent of ten
graduate-level (100-level or above) semester courses. These courses must include at least
one course from two of the following three categories: applied mechanics (Mechanical
Engineering 122, 137, 138); processes and control (Mechanical Engineering 125, 180, 186);
and thermal-fluid sciences (Mechanical Engineering 112, 115, 116, 165); as well as at
least one course in applied mathematics (Engineering Science 101 or Mechanical Engineering
150). The remainder of the program is determined by the student and primary thesis
adviser. Students are encouraged to complete at least one 200-level course as part of
their program of study.
A thesis is required in partial fulfillment of the degree. Ordinarily, the thesis is two or three of the ten required course credits. The exact number of semester courses to be considered for the thesis research is determined by the thesis committee, but more than three is considered extraordinary. After selecting a thesis topic and adviser, a student must register for thesis credit and submit a thesis prospectus signed by the student and adviser describing the proposed project. The thesis committee periodically reviews and evaluates the candidate's performance in courses and research, typically after the first semester the student enters the graduate program. There is a final examination on the thesis. With the recommendation of the thesis committee and the approval of the department, however, a candidate for the doctoral degree may satisfy the master of science degree requirements by taking ten courses and writing a research paper.
There is no language requirement for the master of science degree. The student's program may include appropriate courses in other departments of the university.
Master of Engineering
Applicants are admitted to the master of engineering (M.Eng.) program based
on a strong academic background in mechanical engineering or a related technical
discipline. The department encourages but does not require G.R.E. scores for admission.
The goal of the master of engineering program is to afford qualified postbaccalaureate
students the opportunity to obtain the advanced engineering education needed to grow as
engineering professionals. As such the M.Eng. program emphasizes technical course work and
a project, and can be contrasted with the departmental M.S. program, which is focused
on research and development and includes a research thesis.
The M.Eng. program includes ten graduate-level course credits consisting of an engineering analysis course (Mechanical Engineering 150 or Engineering Science 101), four core courses in each of the following subdisciplines (see Ph.D. requirements for lists of specific courses in each subdiscipline): applied mechanics, material and manufacturing process, system control and design, and thermal-fluid sciences; four elective courses and a one-credit project (Mechanical Engineering 299). The project is conducted under the guidance of a faculty adviser and must address a substantive engineering analysis or design problem. Students are required to submit a written report and make an oral presentation of their project work.
Doctor of Philosophy
For general information and admission requirements for the Ph.D. degree, see the graduate
school section of this bulletin. Candidates for the doctoral degree program are expected
to have an outstanding academic record and an M.S. degree in mechanical engineering or a
related discipline. Additionally, as part of the admissions process, all applicants to the
Ph.D. program, including those who completed their M.S. degree at Tufts, should outline in
writing their reasons for applying to the doctoral program and their tentative plan of
study. This statement should be supported by a written statement from the proposed thesis
adviser. The department gives serious consideration to these two documents in assessing
applications to the program.
Current Tufts students who desire to go directly into the Ph.D. program following completion of their master's degree must apply to the Graduate School using the regular application. The application fee is waived and in place of letters of recommendation students must submit personal and adviser statements of support. The application must be submitted prior to the semester in which the students intend to begin their doctoral work.
The Ph.D. program can be viewed as having two chronological parts, the qualification period and the research period. Parts 1 and 2 of the qualification process must be completed before the end of the third semester of the doctoral program enrollment for full-time students and the fifth semester for part-time students. Part 3 must be completed by the end of the semester following the completion of Parts 1 and 2.
PART 1: BREADTH OF KNOWLEDGE
In two of the four subdisciplines listed below, students must receive the grade of A- or
above in two of the courses listed under the subdiscipline or submit to a qualifying
examination in the subdiscipline administered during the fall semester of each academic
year. The course work option is for courses taken after the completion of an M.S. degree.
1) Applied mechanics (Mechanical Engineering 122, 128, 129, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139,
221, 222, 225)
2) Materials and manufacturing processes (Mechanical Engineering 108, 120, 121, 123, 125,
126, 285)
3) System control and design (Mechanical Engineering 102, 180, 182, 184, 185, 186, 280)
4) Thermal-fluid sciences (Mechanical Engineering 112, 115, 116, 118, 145, 165, 166, 168,
212, 213, 265, 268, 285)
PART 2: MATHEMATICAL PREPARATION
Students must demonstrate through past course work, or course work done during the
qualification period, that they have mastered the concepts of advanced calculus, solution
of differential equations, and computational methods (e.g., content of Mechanical
Engineering 150 and Engineering Science 101).
PART 3: PROPOSED RESEARCH
Students must give a presentation on the proposed thesis research area to a committee
comprised of the thesis adviser(s), other mechanical engineering faculty, and
possibly outside expert(s). This presentation includes questioning by the committee and other
faculty to assess whether the candidate has sufficient background to study the research
area.
On successful completion of the qualification process, all Ph.D. candidates must submit a thesis prospectus summarizing the thesis problem and planned approach. The prospectus should also identify the thesis committee including primary adviser(s), other faculty members, and outside expert(s). The purpose of the prospectus is to inform the department in a concise statement of the candidate's research program and those involved in it. The prospectus must be signed by all committee members. Doctoral candidates are expected to pursue either course work in direct support of their research or course work that addresses the recommendations made during the qualification period. In the interest of broadening the educational experience, students are also expected to take at least one advanced course in a technical discipline outside of the department during the research period. The department strongly recommends that candidates include the study of a language other than their native language in their program; however, demonstration of foreign language proficiency is not required. All Ph.D. candidates must defend their dissertation in an oral examination, open to the community, in which the candidate is examined by a committee of at least three members, one of whom is an outside expert.
Recent doctoral dissertation topics include modeling mechanical performance and
acoustic properties of porous materials, utilization of fuzzy logic in human factors
applications, fluid dynamics of particle-laden turbulent flow, hybrid control
methodologies for active vibration control, and femoral deformation during hip replacement
surgery.
Undergraduate Courses
1 Introduction to Mechanical Engineering. Basic experimentation (computer-based data acquisition, sensors and output devices, report preparation and presentation, statistical data analysis) and fabrication (shop safety, machine shop operations, computer numerically controlled (CNC) machine and manual prototyping, overview of modern rapid prototyping) used in mechanical engineering. The course prepares students for experimental and project components of junior and senior concentration courses. Prerequisites: Engineering 1 and 2. Members of the department
11 Applied Thermodynamics. Concepts of thermodynamics are applied to mechanical engineering applications, including power cycles for electricity generation and propulsion, refrigeration, and fossil fuel combustion and chemical reactions. Methods for analyzing mixtures including multicomponent (humidity, solid-solid alloys) and multiphase (liquid-vapor-solid) substances are introduced, as well as basic concepts of compressible flow including nozzle performance and planar shock waves. Prerequisite: Engineering Science 7. Matson
16 Heat Transfer. A first course in thermal analysis. Steady-state and transient conduction in solids; numerical solution of conduction problems; radiative heat transfer; forced and natural convection. Introduction to boiling and condensation heat transfer. Heat exchanger analysis. A mandatory weekly lab session designated as Mechanical Engineering 16L (no credit) must be taken concurrently. These scheduled laboratory periods involve either experiments from Mechanical Engineering 16 or 37, demonstrations both experimental and computational, and problem-solving recitations. Prerequisites: Engineering Science 7 and 8, Mathematics 38. Abedian, Manno
19 Project Laboratory. A laboratory course that builds on the background and experiences of Mechanical Engineering 1, 16L and 25L. Although students will be allowed as much freedom as possible in working out problems involved, they will be supervised by and responsible to a designated faculty member from the department. Prerequisite: Mechanical Engineering 1. Members of the department
25 Engineering Materials. A study of the structure-property relationships of engineering materials. It covers the internal structure of both perfect and imperfect materials and the principles and techniques by which this structure can be controlled. The relationship of mechanical properties to structure is studied, and the influence of these properties on actual production processes is covered. A mandatory weekly laboratory session designated as Mechanical Engineering 25L (no credit) must be taken concurrently. The purpose of the laboratory component is to familiarize students with the experimental measurement techniques and fabrication methods employed in utilizing engineering materials. Saigal
37 Dynamics and Vibrations. Kinematics and kinetics of particles and of rigid bodies in plane motion. Free and forced vibration of damped and undamped single-degree of freedom systems. Prerequisites: Engineering Science 5 and 9, and Mathematics 38. Kachanov, Perlman
38 Mechanical Vibrations. Review of dynamics: kinematics, kinetics of particles and rigid bodies, work-energy relations. Single-degree-of-freedom vibrating systems: free vibration, damping, forced vibration, resonance, isolation, transient excitation, vibration transducers. Two-degree-of-freedom vibrating systems: eigenvalues and eigenvectors, modes and frequencies, modal superposition, coupling, detuning. Random vibrations: transfer functions, correlations, power spectral density. Signal processing of vibration analysis: spectral analysis of time signals. Applications: vehicle suspension systems, fatigue, machinery dynamics. Prerequisite: Engineering Science 6 (Dynamics), or Mechanical Engineering 37 (Dynamics and Vibrations), or consent. Greif, Nelson
41 Machine Design I. Deals with the fundamentals of machine design. This includes a review of mechanics and strength of materials, and also serves to extend this background to include elastic and plastic deformation, theories of failure, impact, and fatigue of machine elements. The design of machine elements is approached through selected design problems that are integrated throughout the course. Prerequisites: Engineering Science 5 and 9. Leisk, Matson
42 Machine Design II. Concerned with the application of the fundamentals of machine design to specific machine components and systems. Components include fasteners, springs, bearings, gears, shafts, clutches, and other elements. Advanced topics are used in the design and analysis of real systems. Design projects are assigned with emphasis placed on establishing the validity and practicality of the solution. Prerequisite: Mechanical Engineering 41. Leisk
43 Senior Design Project. Individual and group independent design projects under the supervision of a department faculty member. The design must be open-ended and make use of the elements of design, as well as use the student's knowledge of engineering science. Prerequisites: Mechanical Engineering 41, 42, and senior standing. Members of the department
45 Power and Propulsion. Cycle analysis, power generation, and propulsion system. Thermodynamics of combustion and chemical equilibrium are treated. Internal combustion engine and principles of turbomachines are studied. Prerequisite: Mechanical Engineering 11. Manno
54 Management of Technology and Innovation. The course covers a wide range of issues in modern management of technology and innovation, with emphasis in the high-technology sector. Topics include manufacturing, research and development, marketing management and interfacing, technical forecasting, corporate strategy, and entrepreneurship. Areas of emphasis may vary from year to year. Members of the department
65 Applied Fluid Mechanics. This course begins with a review of the equations of motion for fluids. Students then get an overview of inviscid, viscous, and compressible flows and the opportunity to compare theory with experiment. Prerequisite: Engineering Science 8. Abedian, Rogers
80 Systems Design. Fundamental design concepts in modeling and control of dynamic mechanical systems. Formal analysis reduces the continuous system physics to a differential mathematical model and studies its behavior and properties in the time and frequency domain. Feedback control design techniques using measurements and modulation of the system are introduced to obtain the specified performance. Prerequisite: Mechanical Engineering 37. Greif
85 Modern Manufacturing Practice. Hands-on exposure to hardware and software in modern manufacturing industry. Overview of classical technology and CAD/CAM; nontraditional processes including electrochemical, optical, arc, plasma, laser, ultrasonic methods, and others, with emphasis on those related to research at Tufts laboratories. Metrology and testing equipment is applied to reverse engineering, and rapid prototyping is practiced at the Tufts prototyping shop. Robot configuration and programming for various applications; industrial locomotion and transport systems. Emphasis on selection criteria among alternative manufacturing methods and in laboratory exercises and projects. Prerequisites: Mechanical Engineering 41, 42. Members of the department
92 Thesis. Supervised research in some specialized field of mechanical engineering. Prerequisite: consent of instructor and departmental chair. Credit as arranged. Members of the department
93, 94 Special Topics. Supervised study in some specialized field of mechanical engineering. Prerequisite: consent of instructor and departmental chair. Members of the department
95 Electronic Musical Instrument Design. (Cross-listed as Music 53/153.) Non-standard electronic musical instruments or "controllers," incorporating sensors that respond to touch, position, movement, finger pressure, wind pressure, and other human factors, and their translation to Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) data. Designing and building original systems using common materials and object-oriented music-specific programming languages and software-based synthesis. Prerequisites: Experience in one or more of the following: electronic music, electronic prototyping, mechanical engineering, computer programming. Lehrman
99 Internship in Mechanical Engineering. A mentored preprofessional experience
in mechanical engineering at an off-site organization. The internship must conform to all
the requirements of the School of Engineering Internship Program. The department will
grant course credit for internships if the following conditions are met: 1) The
student submits a written internship proposal that is approved by the department prior to
the semester in which the internship will be performed (no internships with course credit
will be approved once the semester of the internship has started), 2) a faculty mentor has
supervisory control of any work that receives credit, and 3) a written report is submitted
that will be evaluated by the faculty adviser and the outside institutional supervisor.
Prerequisite: junior or senior standing. Members of the department
Courses for Undergraduate and Graduate Students
Engineering Science 101: Numerical Methods. Numerical methods are studied and applied to the solution of problems in applied science and engineering. Interpolation, approximation, numerical linear algebra including system solution and eigenvalue problems, solution of nonlinear equations, numerical differentiation and integration, ordinary differential equation algorithms, and finite-difference solution of partial differential equations. Applications using calculative software. Prerequisites: Mathematics 38 and ability to implement computer solutions. Greif, Manno
102 Inventive Design. The invention, design, and development of new products.
The identification of product opportunities from marketing, manufacturing, and
consumers'
viewpoints. The organization of new product effort within a corporation. Primary
assignments are design projects that are presented before a jury of professionals in the
field. Prerequisite: senior standing. Members of the department
103 Micro-fabrication and Design. An introduction to
Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS). Topics include fabrication, design, and
applications of MEMS devices. Introduction to computer-aided design techniques
and tools. Prerequisites: senior standing. Matson
108 Statistical Quality Control. (Cross-listed as Engineering Science 108.) This course deals with principle, role, management, and history of quality control in modern manufacturing and servicing organizations. Topics covered include statistical process control, probability and statistics, Pareto diagrams, statistical design of experiments, Taguchi methods, acceptance sampling, and cost of quality. Prerequisite: senior standing or consent. Saigal
112 Advanced Heat Transfer. (Cross-listed as Chemical Engineering 112.) General treatment of heat transfer in solids and fluids. Topics include transient and steady-state conductions, turbulent diffusion, boiling, condensation, numerical methods, and computer-aided solutions. Prerequisite: Mechanical Engineering 16. Abedian, Manno
115 Advanced Thermodynamics. Classical thermodynamics and an introduction to chemical thermodynamics and statistical thermodynamics. Applications to materials engineering and processes. Prerequisites: Mechanical Engineering 11, Mathematics 38. Abedian
116 Mass Transfer and Phase Transformations in Materials Processing. (Cross-listed as Chemical Engineering 116.) The course is designed for students interested in thermal, fluid, and mass transport aspects of materials processing. Topics include heat treatment, continuum diffusion, atomistics of diffusion, oxidation, evaporation, and solidification. A wide range of practical examples and applications is drawn on, and class work and readings are supplemented by in-class presentations, guest lectures, and small projects. Prerequisites: Mechanical Engineering 16 or consent. Matson
118 Advanced Data Acquisition and Image Processing. (Cross-listed as Engineering Science 118.) An upper-level course designed for students interested in laboratory techniques relevant to mechanical engineering experimentation, including temperature, velocity, and stress measurement. Topics include image processing and advanced signal processing. After an initial review of computer interface and experiment control, the course is dedicated to how video signals are generated, acquired, and processed, including filtering techniques (Sobel, Median, Lapacian, etc.) as well as pattern recognition and identification. Prerequisite: consent. Rogers
120 Advanced Engineering Materials. Microstructure-mechanical property relations and some basic concepts of micromechanics. Modes of material failure. Properties and applications of advanced materials such as various composites, alloys, and polymers. Materials selection in engineering design, materials characterization, and processing. Prerequisites: Mechanical Engineering 25 or consent. Saigal
121 Introduction to Biomaterials. This course presents the following topics: elementary solid mechanics; aspects of material science applied to metals, polymers, ceramics, and biological tissues; tissue reactions to artificial materials; pathohistology; and inflammatory and immune responses. The course is completed by a survey of artificial materials and devices in clinical use, emphasizing vascular and orthopedic prostheses. A literature review and oral presentation covering a current device is assigned. Prerequisite: Mechanical Engineering 25 or consent. Members of the department
122 Advanced Strength of Materials. (Cross-listed as Civil and Environmental Engineering 122.) Stresses and strains. Fundamentals of elastic stress analysis. Bending and torsion of beams and bars. Energy methods of analysis. Basic concepts of fracture mechanics. Prerequisite: Engineering Science 9. Kachanov, Perlman
123 Mechanics of Composite Materials. Fundamental concepts underlying characteristics and mechanical behavior of composite materials such as fiber-reinforced laminates and honeycomb structural sandwiches. Micro- and macromechanics; lamination theory; anisotropic elasticity; fracture and failure mechanisms; effect of matrix material, environmental degradation; methods of design, fabrication, and testing. Case studies dealing with the use of these materials in engineering applications. Prerequisite: Engineering Science 9. Greif
124 Fracture Mechanics. Fundamental physical concepts of fracture science and the basic mechanics models of fracture propagation. Cracks and stress concentration. Brittle fracture, elastic-plastic fracture, creep fracture. Damage mechanics, phenomenological criteria of strength. Applications to engineering problems. Prerequisites: Mechanical Engineering 122 or Civil and Environmental Engineering 122, or Engineering Science 9 and consent. Kachanov
125 Manufacturing Processes and Materials Technology. A study of traditional and nontraditional manufacturing processes related to processing of metals, ceramics, and polymers, including computer-aided manufacturing. Topics include properties and behavior of materials, selection of materials and processes subject to surface finish, tolerance, design, and economic constraints. Prerequisite: Mechanical Engineering 25. Saigal
126 Computer-Integrated Engineering. This is a project-oriented course that introduces students to the concept of integrated engineering consisting of design, analysis, optimization, and manufacturing. Microcomputer-based commercial software packages will be used to design and optimize a mechanical component or an assembly. Engineering constraints such as costs, material selection, and manufacturing techniques will be discussed. The students will then use a CNC Machining Center to produce their optimized design. Prerequisite: senior standing or consent. Saigal
127 Theory and Applications of Polymer Materials and Processing. Design processes for developing plastic parts. Physical, rheological, environmental and electrical properties of engineering polymers. Material selection methods, mold filling simulation techniques for plastics, mechanics of polymer processing, mold design techniques, secondary assembly techniques, secondary plastic part processing. Agency considerations and economics. Applications in injection molding. Prerequisite: Mechanical Engineering 25 or consent. Zimmerman
128 Structural Mechanics. (Cross-listed as Civil and Environmental Engineering 128.) An introduction to structural mechanics that emphasizes the application of energy methods. Basic concepts of stress, deformation, equilibrium, elastic stability, and failure theories are considered in terms of structural elements such as beams, rings, plates, shells, and pressure vessels. Prerequisite: Engineering Science 9. Perlman
129 Finite Element Methods in Engineering Systems. Review of energy methods in applied mechanics; formulation of the displacement and force finite element methods; discussion of element types and general purpose computer codes; applications to structural, fluid, and thermal systems. Prerequisites: Engineering Science 9 and Mechanical Engineering 37, or equivalent. Perlman
135 Applied Machinery Vibration. Application of the methods of dynamics and vibration to problems in rotating machinery. Review of the Rayleigh-Ritz and modal superposition methods for multidegree-of-freedom systems; vibration isolation; balancing of high-speed rotating machines; the effects of internal and external damping, bearing, and seals; rotordynamics in bending and torsion; determination of rotor critical speeds and regions of instability; industrial applications and an introduction to API standards. Prerequisites: Mechanical Engineering 37 or equivalent. Nelson
136 Noise and Vibration Control. Noise sources, transmission and radiation; noise criteria; passive and active noise control; vibration isolation; structural damping; noise control by transmission loss, sound absorption, flow control, duct liners and mufflers; acoustical materials; instrumentation; laboratory and field measurement and analysis; design procedure. Nelson
137 Advanced Vibrations. Extension and generalization of single- and two-degree-of-freedom systems to discrete systems with many degrees of freedom, using Lagrange's equations and matrix theory. Numerical integration methods with computer applications. Introduction to continuous systems and random vibration. Prerequisite: Mechanical Engineering 37 or consent. Greif
138 Advanced Dynamics. Vector algebra and calculus. Kinematics of particles and rigid bodies: 3-D kinematics of particles. Velocity and acceleration in curvilinear coordinates. Generalized coordinates, D'Alembert's principle, energy, and momentum methods. Central force problems, moving reference frames, tops, and gyroscopes. Lagrange's equations. Prerequisite: Mechanical Engineering 37 or Engineering Science 6. Nelson, Perlman
139 Acoustics. Wave propagation in fluids and solid structures; sound sources and sound radiation by vibrating structures; fluid-structure interaction; sound transmission and attenuation; laboratory and field measurements; design criteria and methods. Prerequisite: Mechanical Engineering 37. Nelson
145 Powerplant Engineering Analysis and Design. Application of mechanical engineering principles to the analysis and design of power plants. Review of power-plant thermodynamics. Rankine, Brayton, and combined cycles. Irreversibilities and real systems. Fossil-fuel-steam generation, feedwater, circulating water, cooling towers, steam turbines, fuels, and combustion. Nuclear power: basic theory, thermal and fast reactors, safety. Alternative sources: solar, wind, ocean, geothermal. Energy storage systems. Environmental impact. Prerequisites: Mechanical Engineering 11 and 16. Manno
149 Special Topics in Engineering. Study of selected engineering problems in the analysis and design of physical systems. Members of the department
150 Applied Mathematics for Engineers. (Cross-listed as Mathematics 151.) Review of ordinary differential equations and oscillatory phenomena. Fourier series and applications. Orthogonal functions, Bessel functions. Partial differential equations and their applications to fluid mechanics, heat transfer, vibration and wave propagation. Prerequisite: Mathematics 38 or equivalent. Kachanov, Perlman
165 Advanced Fluid Mechanics. (Cross-listed as Chemical Engineering 165.) Euler's, Bernoulli's, Navier-Stokes's, and energy equations; potential, viscous, and boundary-layer flows; separation flows; applications to various physical systems. Prerequisite: Engineering Science 8. Abedian, Rogers
166 Compressible Fluid Mechanics. One-dimensional compressible flow, including the effects of variable area, friction, and heat transfer. Normal and oblique shocks, method of small perturbation, method of characteristics. Prerequisites: Engineering Science 7, 8, and Mathematics 38. Abedian, Rogers
168 Seminar in Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer. Presentation to a seminar group of selected topics on recent developments in fluid mechanics and heat transfer. Student, faculty, or an outside guest carries out the presentation, which is followed by discussion. Individual guided study is required for students taking this course for credit. Prerequisite: Mechanical Engineering 65 or 165. Members of the department
180 Computer Control Systems. Fundamental concepts and modern techniques for the design of real-time computer-controlled systems with multiple inputs and outputs. Review of formal modeling methods, closed-loop control principles and industrial technology. Digital controller design using time domain, state space techniques and analysis of their properties and performance. Introduction to graphical frequency methods, advanced control techniques, and implementation issues. Prerequisite: Mechanical Engineering 80 or consent. Rogers
182 Automation. Course deals with the design of automatic machinery. Students learn to program, interface, and embed a microcontroller. Includes design and laboratory experience. Members of the department
184 Robotics. Broad review of theoretical and industrial aspects of robotic manipulators. Arm configurations, statics, kinematics, dynamics, trajectory planning and control are examined together with hardware technology design (end effectors, robotic sensors and vision), programming languages and applications. Hands-on pick-and-place operation project in robotics laboratory. Prerequisites: Mathematics 38, Mechanical Engineering 37 or Engineering Science 6, or consent. Rogers
185 Manufacturing Process Automation. A comparative in-depth study of physical dynamics involved in individual manufacturing processes, assessing their potential for automation. Modeling and control issues are reviewed and applied to metal cutting, forming, bulk deformation, joining, welding, casting, sintering, ceramics and composite processing. Manufacturing process taxonomy and redesign for control is also discussed. Prerequisite: Mechanical Engineering 25, 80, or consent. Members of the department
186 Electromechanical Systems Design. Systems involving the interconnection of electrical, mechanical, and electromechanical components are discussed. The behavior of systems is described by the use of mathematical modeling techniques and computer simulation. The main emphasis in the course is placed on execution of a semester-long design project. Prerequisite: Mechanical Engineering 80 or equivalent. Members of the department
193, 194 Special Topics. Guided study of an approved topic. Prerequisite: consent. Credit as arranged. Members of the department
212 Computational Thermal-Fluid Dynamics. (Cross-listed as Chemical and Biological Engineering 212.) Numerical solution techniques of fluid flow and heat transfer problems that arise in engineering research and practice. Overview of spatial and temporal discretization strategies. Numerical solution of relevant equations with emphasis on finite volume formulations. Stream-function vorticity approach. Pressure-based solution of incompressible fluid flow and heat/mass transfer problems. Numerical models of turbulence, including introduction to direct numerical simulation techniques. Generation of structured grids. Overview of commercial codes and applications. Prerequisites: Engineering Science 101 and Mechanical Engineering 165 or equivalent. Manno
213 Radiative Transfer. (Cross-listed as Chemical and Biological Engineering 213.) Physics of radiation treated from microscopic and macroscopic viewpoints, surface characteristics, analysis of radiant heat transfer, luminous and nonluminous gaseous radiation, solar radiation, applications. Prerequisite: consent. Members of the department
221 Introduction to Solid Mechanics. (Cross-listed as Civil and Environmental Engineering 221.) A study of the mechanics of deformable bodies based on equilibrium, geometry of strain, and properties of materials. Relations among stresses, strains, and displacements are studied in detail. Introduction to the theory of elasticity, plasticity, viscoelasticity, and creep. Kachanov
222 Applied Solid Mechanics. (Cross-listed as Civil and Environmental Engineering 222.) Applications of the theory of elasticity and plasticity to problems of engineering interest. Perlman
225 Advanced Structural Dynamics. Study of free and forced vibration of continuous structures such as plates and shells. Laplace transform and Fourier series, Rayleigh-Ritz and Galerkin methods. The use of discrete techniques such as finite-difference and finite-element methods to solve practical problems in structural dynamics.
265 Flow of Real Viscous Fluids. Stress tensor in viscous fluids, incompressible boundary-layer equations, Blasius equation, Karman-Polhausen method, semiempirical and statistical theories of turbulence. Abedian, Rogers
268 Multiphase Fluid Mechanics. Dynamics effects at liquid-liquid and liquid-gas interfaces. The flow properties of multiphase fluids. Rogers
280 Advanced Engineering Controls. A case-study exploration of modern control design techniques for multidisciplinary engineering and manufacturing applications. State-space methods are implemented in linear systems for multivariable controller and observer design, as well as in nonlinear system analysis by describing functions and sliding mode control. Linear quadratic techniques in optimal and robust control of time-varying systems, as well as adaptive control algorithms with system identification are also introduced. Emphasis is placed on use of the computer as a real-time controller in laboratory projects related to the students' own research. Prerequisites: Mechanical Engineering 180 or consent. Members of the department
285 Thermal Manufacturing Processes. In-depth analysis and design of advanced thermal manufacturing processes with emphasis on Tufts research activities. Covers the principles, implementation, simulation, and control of thermal processes such as arc, plasma, laser, ultrasonics, and spray for cutting, joining, rapid prototyping, and rapid thermal processing of materials. Topics include thermal modeling, covering analytical, numerical, and experimental methods; control techniques including multivariable, distributed-parameter, and adaptive algorithms. Hands-on projects in the Thermal Manufacturing Laboratory. Prerequisite: undergraduate background in heat transfer, materials, and dynamics. Members of the department
291, 292 Graduate Seminar. Presentation of individual reports on basic topics to a seminar group for discussion and criticism. Credit as arranged. Members of the department
293, 294 Special Topics. Guided individual study of an approved topic. Credit as arranged. Members of the department
295, 296 Master's Thesis. Guided research on an approved topic suitable for a master's thesis. Credit as arranged. Members of the department
297, 298 Doctoral Thesis. Guided research on a topic suitable for a doctoral dissertation. Credit as arranged. Members of the department
299 Master of Engineering Project. Execution of a major project equivalent to one course credit under the guidance of a faculty adviser. Each project must address a substantive engineering analysis or design problem. Students are required to submit a written report and make an oral presentation of their project work. Students are expected to enroll in this course in the last term of their degree program. Enrollment is limited to and required for matriculated students in the master of engineering program. Members of the department
401PT Master's Continuation, Part-time.
402FT Master's Continuation, Full-time.
501PT Doctoral Continuation, Part-time.
502FT Doctoral Continuation, Full-time.