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 Jason Rife, Robotics, navigation, and control theory
Professor Chris Rogers, Fluid dynamics experimentation and science
education
Professor Richard Wlezien, Fluid dynamics and thermal sciences
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
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
Lecturer Gary G. Leisk, Machine design,
non-destructive testing
Lecturer Kenneth James, Biomaterials
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
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.
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.
For more detailed information, please visit the website
http://ase.tufts.edu/mechanical/.
To view Course Descriptions, please go to: http://webcenter.studentservices.tufts.edu/courses/main.asp.