Mechanical Engineering is an engineering discipline that involves the application of principles of physics for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems It requires a solid understanding of key concepts including mechanics, kinematics, thermodynamics and energy. Mechanical engineers use these principles and others in the design and analysis of motor vehicles, aircraft heating and cooling systems, watercraft, manufacturing plants, industrial equipment and machinery, medical devices and more.

Mechanical engineers design and build engines and power plants

...structures and vehicles of all sizes...

...and moving mechanisms, machines, and robots.

Applications of mechanical engineering can be found in the records of many ancient and medieval societies throughout the globe. In ancient Greece, the works of Archimedes (287 BC–212 BC) and Heron of Alexandria(10–70 AD) deeply influenced mechanics in the Western tradition. In ancient China, there were also many notable figures, such as Zhang Heng(78–139 AD) and Ma Jun (200–265 AD). The medieval Chinese horologist and engineer Su Song (1020–1101 AD) incorporated an escapement mechanism into his astronomical clock tower two centuries before any escapement could be found in clocks of medieval Europe, as well as the world's first known endless power-transmitting chain drive.

During the early 19th century in Britain, the development of machine-tools led mechanical engineering to develop as a separate field within engineering, providing manufacturing machines and the engines to power them. The first British professional society of mechanical engineers was formed in 1847, making mechanical engineering the second-oldest branch of engineering behind civil, formed 30 years earlier. In the United States, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) was formed in 1880, becoming the third such professional engineering society, after the American Society of Civil Engineers (1852) and the American Institute of Mining Engineers (1871). The first schools in the United States to offer an engineering education were the United States Military Academy in 1817, an institution now known as Norwich University in 1819, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1825. Education in mechanical engineering has historically been based on a strong foundation in mathematics and science; this is followed by courses emphasizing the application of this knowledge and studies in the social sciences and humanities to give the engineer a broader education.

 Education

Degrees in mechanical engineering are offered at universities in most industrialized nations. In China, India, North America and elsewhere, mechanical engineering programs typically take 4 to 5 years and result in a Bachelor of Science(BSc), Bachelor of Technology (BTech), Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng), or a Bachelor of Applied Science(B.A.Sc.) with emphasis in mechanical engineering. In Spain, Portugal and most of South America where the (BSc) or (BTech) programs have not been adopted, the formal name for the degree is "Mechanical Engineer" and the course work is based on 5–6 years of training.

In the U.S., most undergraduate Mechanical Engineering programs are accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) to ensure similar course requirements and standards between universities. The ABET web site lists 276 accredited Mechanical Engineering programs as of June 19 2006Mechanical Engineering programs in Canada are accredited by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB),^[and most other countries offering engineering degrees have similar accreditation societies.

Some Mechanical Engineers go on to pursue a postgraduate degree such as a Master of Engineering, Master of Science, Master of Engineering Management(MEng.Mgt, MEM), a Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering (EngD, PhD) or an Engineer's degree The Master's and Engineer's degrees may consist of either research, coursework or a mixture of the two. The Doctor of Philosophy consists of a significant research component and is often viewed as the entry point to academia

[edit] Coursework

Mechanical engineering programs generally cover the same fundamental subjects, to meet standards set by each country's accreditation society. Engineering programs in the U.S., for instance, are required by ABET to show that their students can "work professionally in both thermal and mechanical systems areas."^[9] This is to ensure a minimum level of competence among graduating engineers and to maintain confidence in the engineering profession as a whole. The specific courses required to graduate, however, may differ from program to program. Universities will often combine multiple subjects into a single class or split a subject into multiple classes, depending on the faculty available and the university's major area(s) of research. Fundamental subjects of mechanical engineering usually include:

• statics and dynamics


• strength of materials and solid mechanics


• instrumentation and measurement


• thermodynamics, heat transfer, energy conversion, and HVAC


• fluid mechanics and fluid dynamics


• mechanism design (including kinematics and dynamics)


• manufacturing technology or processes


• hydraulics and pneumatics


• engineering design


• mechatronics and control theory


• drafting, CAD (usually including Solid modeling)