This document provides an overview of mechanical engineering, including what topics are covered, related fields, career prospects, and examples of famous mechanical engineers. It discusses the fundamental areas studied such as mechanics, thermodynamics, and materials science. It also outlines specialized topics including robotics, mechatronics, nanotechnology, and production engineering. The document concludes by wishing the reader best of luck in their studies and providing an example of the speaker working with a renowned mechanical engineer.

1. Dr. C. B. Sobhan
Professor , Department of Mechanical Engineering
and School of Nano Science andTechnology
National Institute ofTechnology Calicut , India
Affiliate Faculty
GWWoodruff School of Mechanical Engineering
Georgia Institute ofTechnology
Atlanta,Georgia, USA

2.  What is Mechanical Engineering?
 What will you learn?
 Streams in Mechanical Engineering
 Related Areas
 Basic Subjects
 Advanced Subjects
 Applied and SpecialTopics
 Practical Study
 Production and Industrial Engineering
 Brief view of Some Subjects
 Sub-disciplines
 Career Prospects and Higher Study Options

3.  It is one of the oldest and broadest of
Engineering branches.
 Applies the principles of
Physics and Materials Science for conceptual
design, production and maintenance
of Mechanical Systems
 Analyzes, Designs and Synthesizes
Mechanical Processes.
 Oriented towards IndustrialApplications and
Research

4.  The fundamental principles
 To analyze existing mechanisms
 To use the knowledge to propose and design
new systems appropriate for specific end uses or
applications.
 To forecast the performance of what is going to
be constructed
 To bring up optimal designs, while conserving
energy and resources
 To fabricate and maintain mechanical systems
or the mechanical components of interactive
systems.

5. “The scientist seeks to understand what is; the engineer seeks to create what
never was” …..Theodore von Kármán (Austrian-American
Aeronautical Engineer and Scientist, 1881-1963)
Mechanical engineers apply the principles of mechanics and energy, and
make machines, engines and devices.

6. DE P TH
DESIGN
PRODUCTION
THERMAL
Machinery
Machine Design
Systems Design
Manufacturing Processes
Materials
Industrial Engineering
Optimization
Management
Fluids and Fluid Systems
Heat and Heat Engineering
Thermal Phenomena
Basic Needs: Physics, Mathematics, Graphics, and IMAGINATION..!

7.  Production Engineering
 Industrial Engineering
 Automobile Engineering
 Metallurgy
 Aerospace Engineering
 ShipTechnology
 Chemical Engineering
 TextileTechnology
 Ceramic Engineering
Some of these which were earlier part of Mechanical Engineering have
grown into separate branches of studies

8.  Mathematics: In the Engineering B.Tech.
curriculum, you study Mathematics equivalent
to the M.Sc (Mathematics) level. Calculus is the
most important topic.
 Graphics (Engineering Drawing) the language of
the Engineer. In Mechanical Engineering you do
a lot of Machine Drawing too.
 Fundamentals of Mechanics is required for all
Branches of Engineering.
 Mechanical Engineering is built around Applied
Physics. Basic courses in Physics and Chemistry
are part of the curriculum.

9.  Mechanics of Solids
 Mechanics of Fluids
 Thermodynamics
 Heat and MassTransfer
 Materials Science
 Principles of Management

10.  In the Production Engineering Branch,
compared to Mechanical Engineering, more
emphasis is given to ProductionTechnology,
Industrial Engineering and Management.
Less focus onThermal stream.
 The basic subjects are the same in both
branches.

11.  Advanced Solid Mechanics
 Machinery: Kinematics and Dynamics
 Design and Analysis of Machine Elements
 Manufacturing Processes
 ProductionTechnology (Elaborated in Production Branch)
 Industrial Engineering and Management
 Materials Engineering and Metallurgy
 Thermal Engineering: Steam Power
 InternalCombustion Engines and Automobiles
 Hydraulics andTrubomachinery
 GasTurbines, Propulsion, Jet Engines,AerospaceTechnology
 Advanced Fluid dynamics and Compressible/supersonic flows

12.  Advanced Machining Methods
 Instrumentation and Measurement
 Refrigeration and Air conditioning
 Polymers, Ceramics, Composites
 OptimizationTechniques
 Mechatronics
 Biomechanics
 Nanotechnology

13.  Workshops: A taste ofVarious Manufacturing
Methods such as Carpentry, Smithy,Welding,
Foundry and Machining
 Laboratory: Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulic
Machines, HeatTransfer,Thermal
Engineering, ProductionTechnology,
Instrumentation and Measurements,
Computer Aided Design, Industrial
Engineering

14. 14
Production engineering is a combination of
manufacturing technology with management
science.
A production engineer typically has a wide
knowledge of engineering practices and is aware of
the management challenges related to production.
The goal is to accomplish the production process in
the smoothest, most-judicious and most-
economic way.

15. 15
 It integrates people into the
design and development
of systems,
thus requiring an
understanding of the
physical, physiological,
psychological, and other
characteristics
that govern and affect the
performance of
individuals and groups in
working environments.
Engineering is a Teamwork

16. 16
 Mechanics
In the most general sense, it is
the study of forces and their
effect upon matter.
Mechanics is used to analyze and
predict the acceleration and
deformation of objects under
known forces (also called loads)
or stresses.

17. 17
 Kinematics
It is the study of the motion of
bodies and systems, while
ignoring the forces that cause the
motion.
 Example: The movement of a
crane and the oscillations of a
piston in an engine

18. 18
 Thermodynamics
 Engineering thermodynamics is
concerned with converting energy
from one form to another.
 Engines, for instance, convert the
stored energy in molecules, into heat
and then into mechanical work that
eventually turns the wheels.

19. 19
 Engineering Graphics
 Drafting or technical drawing is the means by which
mechanical engineers create instructions for
manufacturing. Graphics is the language of the
engineer.
Computer-Aided Drafting (CAD) programs allow the
designer to create three dimensional drawings.

20. 20
 Mechatronics
It is an inter-disciplinary branch of
mechanical engineering, electronics
engineering and software engineering that
is concerned with integrating electronics
and mechanical engineering to create
hybrid systems.
 A good example is a CD-ROM drive.
 Mechanical systems open and close
the drive, spin the CD and move the
laser
 An optical system reads the data on
the CD and converts it to bits.
 Integrated software controls the
process and communicates the
contents of the CD to the computer.

21. 21
 Robotics
It is the interdisciplinary area which
manufactures robots, to perform tasks that they
are trained to do. Robots may be of any shape
and size. They are
 preprogrammed and
 interact physically with the world.
To create a robot, an engineer typically uses
kinematics, mechanics, control systems and
manufacturing techniques.

22. 22
 It is a technology that produces miniaturized mechanical and
electro-mechanical devices and structures that are made using the
techniques of microfabrication.
Examples:
 MEMS accelerometers have displaced conventional accelerometers
for crash air-bag deployment systems in automobiles.
 Pressure sensors (in the medical sector) are disposable sensors used
to monitor blood pressure in IV lines of patients in intensive care.
 MEMS gyroscopes (i.e., rate sensors) have been developed for both
automobile and consumer electronics applications (Global position
system sensors).
 Sensors built into the fabric of an airplane wing so that it can sense
and react to air flow by changing the wing surface resistance.
 Optical switching devices that can switch light signals over
different paths at 20-nanosecond switching speeds.

23. 23
Nanotechnology
It is the engineering of functional systems at the molecular scale.
It focuses on tailor making materials and systems with desired
properties by modifying the fundamental building blocks of
matter, that is , molecules and atoms.
Example of Application of Nanotechnology in Engineering:
A medical device that travels through the human body to seek out
and destroy small clusters of cancerous cells before they can
spread.

24. 24

Mechanical and Production Engineers are needed in all
types of industries
Motivating factors:
 Versatility
Job Security
Management Skills
Interdisciplinary Skills: Example: Medical/Bio-
Engineering , Nanotechnology, Robotics,
Instrumentation

25. 25
 Industry: Almost all industries need
Mechanical Engineers
 Consulting
Handle multi-disciplinary projects
 Entrepreneurs
Broad knowledge base: more options, more
applications for creativity
 Academia
Teaching , Research and Development
Career choices

26. 26
Masters Degree Programs
 Design
 Energy Engineering and Management
 Industrial Engineering and Management
 ManufacturingTechnology
 Materials Science andTechnology
 Thermal Science
 Other Interdisciplinary areas such as
Nanotechnology, MEMS, Robotics

27. 27
• Soichiro Honda Founded the Honda Motor Company
• Wright Brothers First practical airplane
• Leonardo da Vinci Tank, Helicopter, Sculpture, Art
Some Famous Mechanical Engineers

28. 28
• Henry Ford First affordable car
• Rudolf Diesel Rudolf Diesel was the inventor
of the diesel fueled engine.
• Ludwig Prandtl The Father of Modern Aerodynamics.
• A PJ Abdul Kalam

29. BestWishes. Enjoy your studies..!
The NanotechnologyGroup at
NIT Calicut. School of Nano
Science andTechnology.
29
In the Lab:The speaker with
renowned Mechanical
Engineer, ProfessorG. P. Bud
Peterson, President,Georgia
Institute ofTechnology,USA