ME 100 Mechanical Engineering Communication and Professionalism
An introduction to some of the basic methods and principles used by mechanical engineers. Material covered includes fundamentals of technical communication, measurement and analysis, and the design process, as well as engineering professionalism, safety, and intellectual property. Engineering graphics fundamentals of multi-view, isometric, oblique, and perspective projections are also covered while developing skills in computer-aided drawing (CAD), freehand sketching, and the interpretation of technical drawings. Written, graphical, and oral communications are emphasized. Examples drawn from Mechanical Engineering.
ME 123 Electrical Engineering for Mechanical Engineers
Definitions of electric and magnetic fields. Introduction to circuit theory: DC circuits, amplifiers, operational amplifiers, single and three phase AC circuits. Introduction to basic electronic devices.
ME 135 Materials Science and Engineering
The microstructure of crystalline and amorphous materials including metals, polymers and ceramics. Elastic and plastic deformation in metals, viscoelastic deformation of polymers and viscous deformation of ceramic glasses. Fracture of brittle and ductile solids. Phase equilibria, non-equilibrium behaviour, heat treatment of metals, diffusion, strengthening processes.
ME 200A Seminar
Discussion of the structure of and options within the Mechanical Engineering curriculum; of the operation of Department, Faculty, University, technical societies; of student team and graduate school opportunities; of safety training; and of subject material in support of core courses.
ME 200B Seminar
Discussion of the structure of and options within the Mechanical Engineering curriculum; of the operation of Department, Faculty, University, technical societies; of student team and graduate school opportunities; of safety training; and of subject material in support of core courses.
ME 201 Advanced Calculus
A continuation of First Year calculus, focusing on calculus of scalar and vector functions of several variables. Both classical calculus techniques and the computer implementation of numerical methods are discussed. Partial differentiation, total derivatives, chain rule, transformation of variables, Taylor series. Applications include geometrical problems, error estimation, maxima and minima, least squares curve fits. Multiple integration in standard coordinate systems, Jacobians. Vector calculus, divergence, curl, Laplacian, and Stokes', Green's and Divergence theorems. Scalar flux transport, work and energy, conservative force fields.
ME 202 Statistics for Engineers
Frequency distributions; measures of central tendency; standard deviation and other measures of dispersion. Probability. Binomial, Poisson, normal distributions. Techniques of sampling and statistical estimation. Tests of hypotheses; significance. The t-test and chi-squared test. Curve fitting by least squares. Statistical process control. Correlation and regression. Experimental design.
ME 203 Ordinary Differential Equations
Solution of ordinary differential equations. First and higher order differential equations. Nonlinear equations. Linear equations with constant and variable coefficients. Systems of linear equations. Applications involving simple dynamical systems and principles of mass, momentum and heat conservation will emphasize the role of ordinary differential equations in understanding the behaviour of physical systems. Introduction to the Laplace transform method for solving ordinary differential equations.
ME 212 Dynamics
An introduction to the kinematics of particle and rigid body motion. Impulse-momentum equations. Work-energy methods and Euler's equations. Simple gyroscopes. Vibrations.
ME 215 Structure and Properties of Materials
The relevance of materials to engineering practice. The microstructure of materials, crystallinity and crystal imperfections, glasses and amorphous solids. Elastic and plastic deformation in metals, viscoelasticity of plastics. Strengthening mechanisms in metals, polymers and ceramics. Fracture of brittle and ductile solids. Electrical and magnetic properties of materials.
ME 219 Mechanics of Deformable Solids 1
Concept of equilibrium, force analysis of structures and structural components, equilibrium of deformable bodies, stress and strain concepts, stress-strain relationships, stress analysis of prismatic members in axial, shearing, torsional and flexural deformations, shear force and bending moment diagrams.
ME 220 Mechanics of Deformable Solids 2
A general treatment of the behaviour of structural components from the study of stress and strain in solids. Topics include superposition, energy theorems, theories of failure, elastic and inelastic analysis of symmetrical bending, torsion of circular members, columns and stability, and virtual work.
ME 230 Control of Properties of Materials
Phase equilibria, non-equilibrium behaviour, heat treatment of metals, diffusion, strengthening processes. Alloying, composite materials, cold and hot working. Failure of engineering materials; creep, fatigue, corrosion and other environmental degradation processes. Prevention of service failures.
ME 250 Thermodynamics 1
The engineering science of energy. The scope and limitations of thermodynamics. Macroscopic approach to heat, work, energy and the First Law. Properties and state of simple substances. Control-mass and control-volume energy analysis. The Second Law of Thermodynamics, principle of increase of entropy, limiting cycle efficiencies, criteria for equilibrium.
ME 262 Introduction to Microprocessors and Digital Logic
Number systems, logic gates, Boolean algebra. Karnaugh maps and combinational logic design. Sequential logic and state machines. Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) and PLC programming using ladder logic and statement list. Microcomputer structure and operation, I/O and interfacing. Assembly language programming. Laboratory work includes microcomputer and PLC programming.
ME 269 Electromechanical Devices and Power Processing
Review of circuit analysis. Basic electromagnetic theory. DC machines, synchronous generators, transformers, and induction motors. Introduction to typical speed and torque control techniques of machines using power electronic based devices.
ME 300A Seminar
Discussion of the structure of and options within the Mechanical Engineering curriculum; of the operation of Department, Faculty, University, technical societies; of student team and graduate school opportunities; of safety training; and of subject material in support of core courses.
ME 300B Seminar
Discussion of the structure of and options within the Mechanical Engineering curriculum; of the operation of Department, Faculty, University, technical societies; of student team and graduate school opportunities; of safety training; and of subject material in support of core courses.
ME 303 Advanced Engineering Mathematics
A continuation of ME 201 and ME 203 in which both classical calculus techniques and the computer implementation of numerical methods are discussed. Partial differential equations of mathematical physics: wave, diffusion, Laplace, Poisson equations. Boundary and initial conditions. Separation of variables. Numerical methods for ordinary and partial differential equations. Applications will emphasize the role of ordinary and partial differential equations in understanding the behaviour of physical systems.
ME 321 Kinematics and Dynamics of Machines
Principles of the geometry of motion, Uniform and non-uniform motion, linkage, gears, cams. Synthesis and analysis of mechanisms. Consideration of the static and dynamic forces in machines. Vibration analysis, response to shock, motion and force transmissibility, vibration isolation.
ME 322 Mechanical Design 1
Adequacy assessment and synthesis of machine elements with a focus on the design process. Static failure of ductile and brittle materials, fatigue analysis of structures. Topics include the design of welds, bolted connections, springs and shafts.
ME 340 Manufacturing Processes
The principles of manufacturing unit processes including casting, forming, machining and joining. Interactions between design, materials (metals, polymers, ceramics) and processes. Advantages and limitations, relative cost, and production rates of competitive processes.
ME 351 Fluid Mechanics 1
Physical properties of fluids and fundamental concepts in fluid mechanics. Hydrostatics. Conservation laws for mass, momentum and energy. Flow similarity and dimensional analysis as applied to engineering problems in fluid mechanics. Laminar and turbulent flow. Engineering applications such as flow measurement, flow in pipes and fluid forces on moving bodies.
ME 353 Heat Transfer 1
Introduction to heat transfer mechanisms. The formulation and solution of steady and transient heat conduction. Radiant heat transfer including exchange laws and view factors. Introductory convective heat transfer.
ME 354 Thermodynamics 2
Emphasis on applications of thermodynamics to flow processes. Real fluids, evaluation of state functions of real fluids. Non-reacting mixtures, reacting mixtures, equilibrium considerations.
ME 360 Introduction to Control Systems
Open loop and feedback control. Laws governing mechanical, electrical, fluid and thermal control components. Analogies. Analysis of some engineering control systems using block diagram algebra, transient and steady-state operation. Different modes of control. Review of Laplace Transform methods. Concepts of stability. Principles of analog computer simulation. Brief treatment of linear flow graphs and bondgraphs.
ME 362 Fluid Mechanics 2
Basic equations of two-dimensional flow, potential flow, exact viscous solutions. Introduction to lubrication, boundary layers, turbulence, and compressible flow. Turbomachinery fundamentals and applications. Selected advanced topics.
ME 380 Mechanical Engineering Design Workshop
In this course, students study the design process, including needs analysis, problem definition; design criteria and critical parameter identification, generation of alternative solutions; conceptual design, detailed design, optimization; and implementation. Most of the term is devoted to a significant design project in which student groups work independently and competitively, applying the design process to a project goal set by the faculty coordinator. The design project typically includes construction of a prototype, and part of the course grade may depend on the performance of the prototype in a competitive test. In exceptional circumstances, the requirement for a prototype may be replaced by a computer simulation, or may be waived. Other Mechanical Engineering faculty members, particularly those teaching 3B courses, are available to provide advice and supervision to ME 380 students.
ME 400A Seminar
Research frontiers in Mechanical Engineering, specific discussion of research done at Waterloo, seminars by members of research groups.
ME 400B Seminar
Research frontiers in Mechanical Engineering, specific discussion of research done at Waterloo, seminars by members of research groups.
ME 401 Law for the Professional Engineer
The Canadian Legal System, Forms of Business Organizations, Tort Law, the role of the professional; Contract Law, the Elements of a Contract, Statute of Frauds, Misrepresentation, Duress and Undue Influence, Mistake, Contract Interpretation, Discharge of Contract; Breach of Contract and fundamental breach; Agreements between the client and Engineer; General Law, the Mechanics' Lien Act, comparative discussion of the Professional Engineers Act as it relates to the earlier statute, Intellectual Property and Industrial Property. It is intended to prepare the student for the examination in law which must be written for licensing by Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO).
ME 423 Mechanical Design 2
A continuation of the ME 322 course in analysis and synthesis of machinery, including advanced analysis of machine elements such as clutches, brakes, couplings, journal bearings and gears. Advanced machine design concepts such as reliability, optimization and techniques for stimulating innovative design. A synthesis project involving the machine elements studied is usually included.
ME 435 Industrial Metallurgy
This course is intended for those students interested in acquiring a working knowledge of metallurgy. It covers: metals and alloy systems, iron-carbon alloys, heat treatment and the function of alloying elements in steel, corrosion and scale resistant alloys, copper and nickel base alloys, light metals and their alloys; casting, hot and cold working of metals; soldering, brazing and welding; corrosion and oxidation; metal failure analysis.
ME 436 Welding and Joining Processes
Introduction to modern welding and joining processes for metals, polymers and ceramics. Fundamentals of the joining process and the influence of the process parameters on weld dimensions, strength and quality. Fusion welding processes such as shielded metal arc, gas tungsten arc, gas metal arc, submerged arc welding and others including electron beam and laser beam welding. Resistance welding processes, solid-state welding processes, soldering and brazing. Laboratory exercises will provide hands-on experience with a number of industrially significant welding processes.
ME 452 Energy Transfer in Buildings
Thermodynamic properties of moist air; psychrometric charts; humidity measurements; direct water contact processes; heating and cooling of moist air by extended surface coils; solar radiation; heating and cooling loads on buildings; effects of the thermal environment; air conditioning calculations.
ME 456 Heat Transfer 2
Selected topics in heat transfer fundamentals and applications. Topics to be covered include the fundamentals of convection with analytical solutions to simple laminar flow problems and approximate solutions to turbulent flow problems based on analogies between momentum and heat transfer. Also covered is radiant exchange in grey enclosures and in black enclosures containing emitting-absorbing gases. The remaining topics will be chosen from design of heat exchangers; condensation heat transfer; boiling heat transfer; and the treatment of problems in heat conduction.
ME 459 Energy Conversion
Review of reserves and consumption trends of Canada's and the world's energy resources. Design of fossil-fuel central power plants, including boiler efficiency calculations and advanced steam and binary cycles. Review of atomic physics including fission and fusion energy. Design of nuclear fission power plants including design of reactor core for critical conditions, fuel cycles and radiation hazards. Design considerations for solar energy conversion devices including: availability of solar energy, solar-thermal converters, thermal storage and photovoltaics. Principles of fuel cells and some aspects of their design. Other topics as appropriate.
ME 481 Mechanical Engineering Design Project
This course is intended to reinforce the concepts learned in ME 380 and to extend the significant design experience obtained. Students work individually or in small groups applying the principles of engineering design and problem-solving to a design project of their own choosing. All Mechanical Engineering professors are normally expected to participate in supervising the ME 481 projects, and each student (or group) is supervised by a faculty member assigned to serve as a faculty resource and to provide guidance. Projects are selected, approved, monitored and marked by a course coordinator, in consultation with each faculty supervisor.
ME 482 Mechanical Engineering Project
In this elective course, students apply Mechanical Engineering principles to a design or research project of their own choosing. Students may work individually or in small groups. Although each student is generally expected to select a project topic in the student's desired field of specialization, latitude is permitted in topic selection, where appropriate. In particular, ME 482 projects may continue work begun as ME 481 projects, and projects may involve other disciplines as well as Mechanical Engineering. All Mechanical Engineering professors are normally expected to participate in supervising the ME 482 projects, and each student (or group) is supervised by a faculty member assigned to serve as a faculty resource and to provide guidance. Projects are selected, approved, monitored and marked by a course coordinator, in consultation with each faculty supervisor.
ME 524 Advanced Dynamics
This course is a continuation of ME 212 and ME 321. Basic kinematic and dynamic concepts are extended. The emphasis is on vector methods, general kinematic relationships, planar and three-dimensional motion, gyroscopic effects, variational mechanics, Lagrange's equation and Hamilton's equations. Computer simulation of non-linear systems is discussed and a project involving computer simulation is usually assigned.
ME 526 Fatigue and Fracture Analysis
Fatigue and Fracture Analysis of metallic components including welded joints. Review of test and design procedures. Sources of cyclic loading. Cyclic counting procedures and cumulative damage. S-N curves and effects of mean, residual and multiaxial stressing. Stress Concentrations; scatter and fatigue life distributions. Transition temperature concepts. Linear elastic fracture mechanics analysis of fatigue crack propagation and fracture initiation. Crack arrest.
ME 531 Physical Metallurgy Applied to Manufacturing
This course will allow the student to develop a more in depth knowledge of physical metallurgy and its application in understanding and solving relevant manufacturing problems. It will begin with a treatment of solid-state diffusion, mass transport and the principles of solidification including constitutional supercooling. This knowledge will then be applied to understand the microstructural development (and resultant properties) which occur in materials during manufacturing processes including casting, solid-state heat treatments, laser processing and various joining operations. The course will include case studies aimed at providing the students with an opportunity to apply their knowledge in a practical way.
ME 533 Non-metallic and Composite Materials
This course is intended to provide an advanced treatment of the structure, properties and processing of non-metallic and composite materials based on polymers, metals and ceramics. The structure and properties of polymers and ceramics in bulk form and as matrices and reinforcements in composites will be covered. Processing methods for non-metallics and composites (example extrusion, injection molding etc.) will be considered. The geometrical arrangement of fibres within laminae and their influences on elastic and strength properties of composites will be described based on suitable micromechanical models. The role of the matrix and fibre/matrix interface in determining composite properties will be described.
ME 535 Welding Metallurgy
Metallurgy of welding of steels (carbon, microalloy, low alloy and stainless steels), cast irons, aluminum-based, copper-based, nickel-based, cobalt-based, titanium-based and other alloys, (including dissimilar combinations) to explain the effects of welding processes and conditions (including post-weld heat treating) on microstructure and properties; causes and prevention of defects and deficiencies which can occur in different alloys, including porosity, cracking, embrittlement (hydrogen, temper, strain aging, ductile-brittle transition temperatures), overaging; metallurgy of soldered and brazed joints. Laboratory experiments will demonstrate microstructural effects and defects in a range of alloys for different welding processes and conditions.
ME 538 Welding Design, Fabrication and Quality Control
Manufacturing principles of welded mechanical components, machinery, pressure vessels and structures subject to static or dynamic loading. Design of weld joints for structures made from ferrous alloys such as plain carbon and low alloy steels and non-ferrous alloys such as aluminum alloys. Residual stresses in weldments and distortion of weldments. Quality and quality control in welding fabrication; welding standards; welding procedure qualification; nondestructive examination methods for welds and brazed joints such as radiography, dye penetrant, magnetic particle, ultrasonic, and eddy current techniques.
ME 547 Robot Manipulators: Kinematics, Dynamics, Control
Homogeneous transformations, D-H convention, forward and inverse kinematics. Differential transformations and Jacobians. Robot dynamics. Programming, trajectory generation and joint control. End-of-arm sensing and outer loop control. Industrial applications.
ME 548 Numerical Control of Machine Tools 1
Operation fundamentals of NC machine tools. NC part programming: manual, and CAD/CAM methods. Mechanics of metal cutting: examples of turning, milling, and drilling. Tool wear and breakage. Optimum cutting conditions. Dimensional and form errors due to static deformations. Dynamics of machining. Laboratory work provides hands-on experience in tool path generation, machining, and measurements of cutting forces and vibration.
ME 555 Computer-Aided Design
Need for geometric modelling, historic developments; wire frame models; hidden line removed models; polyhedral models; surface models and solid models. Constructive solid geometry; boundary representation and decomposition modelling. Hybrid models. Data structures and their role in modelling. Curves and surfaces in modelling (Bezier, B-splines and NURBS). Geometric models and the role of engineers. Parametric and feature-based design. The course has a heavy lab component which provides exposure to solid modelling on SDRC IDEAS and PC-based CAD packages.
ME 557 Combustion 1
Combustion thermodynamics, introduction to chemical kinetics of combustion, combustion properties of fuels, flammability of combustible mixtures. Flame propagation mechanisms, pre-mixed and diffusional; stability of flames; introduction to combustion aerodynamics, jet flames; atomization; droplet and spray combustion. Elementary ignition concepts and theory. Basic detonation theory.
ME 559 Finite Element Methods
A course presenting the fundamental ideas involved in conventional finite element analysis in Mechanical Engineering. Domain discretization, interpolation and shape functions, element derivation and types, element stiffness or property equations, assembly procedure, boundary conditions, solution methods for the algebraic equation system, applications in heat transfer, fluid flow, and stress analysis. Students will, throughout the course, write and test their own finite element code through individual subroutine construction as the course progresses.
ME 561 Fluid Power Control Systems
Properties of hydraulic fluids. Design and function of conventional hydraulic and pneumatic circuits. Characteristics of flow and pressure control valves. Speed control in fluid power circuits. Performance of pumps and fluid motors. Hydrostatic and hydrokinetic transmission systems. Principles of sealing, filtration and heat control in hydraulic circuits. Industrial applications of fluid power systems.
ME 563 Turbomachines
Classification of turbomachines, performance parameters and laws of modelling. Basic equation of flow in turbomachines, compressible flow. Energy transfer in radial and axial turbomachines, performance characteristics, losses and efficiencies. Blade and cascade design, 3 dimensional effects.
ME 564 Aerodynamics
An introductory course in aerodynamics for engineers. Kinematics and dynamics of inviscid flow; airfoil dynamics including thin airfoil theory, finite wings, panel methods and airfoil parameters. Boundary layer theory and boundary layer control as applied in aerodynamics. Introduction to high speed aerodynamics. Introduction to dynamics of flight including stability and control.
ME 566 Computational Fluid Dynamics for Engineering Design
A course to develop the understanding required to simulate complex fluid flows, such as those found in turbo-machines, duct systems, and other engineering hardware. Course topics include: the physics of complex viscous fluid flows, first- and second-order finite control volume discretization methods, iterative algorithms for the solution of sparse matrix equation sets, including multi-grid acceleration, boundary condition modelling, two-equation and Reynolds stress turbulence models, and grid generation techniques. Computational fluid dynamics software is used throughout the course to simulate and analyse complex fluid flows relevant to engineering applications.
ME 567 Fire Safety Engineering
The art and science of fire safety engineering. Fundamentals of fire behaviour, fuels and flammability, heat transfer and fluid dynamics of fires and fire modeling. Practical issues and applications of fire safety, fire control and hazard assessment in the design of buildings, industrial environments and transportation systems.
ME 595 Special Topics in Mechanical Engineering
Various courses dealing with selected topics at the undergraduate level in automation and control, solid mechanics and machine design, materials engineering and processing, fluid mechanics, and thermal engineering. Courses offered when resources permit.
ME 596 Special Topics in Mechanical Engineering
Various courses dealing with selected topics at the undergraduate level in automation and control, solid mechanics and machine design, materials engineering and processing, fluid mechanics, and thermal engineering. Courses offered when resources permit.
ME 597 Special Topics in Mechanical Engineering
Various courses dealing with selected topics at the undergraduate level in automation and control, solid mechanics and machine design, materials engineering and processing, fluid mechanics, and thermal engineering. Courses offered when resources permit.
ME 598 Special Topics in Mechanical Engineering
Various courses dealing with selected topics at the undergraduate level in automation and control, solid mechanics and machine design, materials engineering and processing, fluid mechanics, and thermal engineering. Courses offered when resources permit.