Undergraduate Course: Mechanical Engineering 1 (MECE08007)
Course Outline
| School | School of Engineering |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 1 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | Mechanical Engineering 1 is currently only available to students who are enrolled on or considering transferring to a Mechanical Engineering or Electrical & Mechanical Engineering degree programme. Due to the number of students who will be taking Mechanical Engineering 1 as a compulsory course in their degree programme, we need to give priority to these student to ensure that we have sufficient capacity in the labs associated with this course. Students wishing to enrol on Mechanical Engineering 1 are normally expected to take Engineering 1 in first semester and should ask their Personal Tutor to contact the Engineering Teaching Organisation (eto@eng.ed.ac.uk) to secure a place.
This is an introduction to the principles of Mechanical Engineering. The topics covered include: Analysis of Static Structures, Stress and Strain, Dynamic Analysis of Bodies in Simple Linear and Rotational Motion, Energy Conversion. Practical work includes an introduction to engineering drawing and a series of laboratory experiments. |
| Course description |
Solid Mechanics
Review of Statics
Scalars and Vectors. Newton's Laws. Units. Gravity
Forces and Equilibrium
Force. 2-D Systems. Components. Moments and Couples. Resultants.
Equilibrium in 2-D. Free Body Diagrams. System Isolation. Internal Forces. Plane Trusses: Method of Joints. Methods of Sections. Quasi-Static Mechanisms. Equilibrium in 3-D.
Distributed Forces
Centroid in simple distributions.
Internal Forces in Determinate Beams
The concept of forces within beams; the stress resultant. Shear forces and shear force diagram.
Bending Moments in determinate beams
Bending moments; significance of bending moment inside a beam; calculation in simple cases.
Shear Force and Bending Moment Diagrams
The bending moment diagram; worked examples of aligned loadings; shear force and bending moment diagrams. Equilibrium of a section of a beam, and its significance for rapid construction of shear force diagrams and bending moment diagrams from the loading.
Dynamics
Non equilibrium Systems
Newton's Laws of Motion reviewed; internal and external forces; effect of friction
D'Alembert Approach
System force and motion analysis using 'inertia forces'; Application to coupled systems, power transmission
Systems of Bodies
Kinematic relations between interacting bodies: circular motion, gear drives, belts and pulleys,
Work - Energy Approach
Kinetic and potential energy; work and power; work-energy theorems applied to system calculations; the conservative system.
Energy
Introduction
Demand, supply, changing patterns; energy scales
Basic Thermodynamic Systems and Properties
Isolated, closed and open systems; Intensive, extensive, specific properties; energy, temperature, pressure.
Basic Thermodynamic Processes
Heat, work; conservation of energy; non-flow energy equation; steady-flow energy equation; specific heats, phase change
Basic Thermodynamic Cycles
Introduction, energy conversion processes for power; combustion chemistry; heat engines; heat engine efficiency; steam cycle; gas (turbine) cycle; petrol (internal combustion) engines, diesel engines.
Power Stations
Anatomy of modern coal-fired and gas-fired power stations; combined heat and power; nuclear fission; nuclear reactor principles; reactor types (including PWR, AGR, pebble bed)
Renewable Energy
Context (climate change, etc); solar energy (photovoltaics, direct solar); hydro-power (resource, basic calculations); wind energy (onshore, offshore; basic calculations, wider issues); wave energy (resource, technologies, issues); tidal energy (resource, technologies, issues); climate change impacts on renewable energy generation.
Tutorials
You should attempt to answer all the questions before you attend your weekly tutorial. The tutorials are design to aid your understanding of the material presented in the lecture course and its application to engineering problems and this process is greatly assisted if you can discuss your solutions to the tutorial problems with the tutors. The tutorial problems are graded with simpler problems at the start leading up to examination grade questions at the end.
Laboratories
There are eight three hour practical lab sessions.
3 x Measurement labs students choose from the following:
- Strain
- Acceleration
- Temperature
- Moment of Inertia
- Flow
- Forces
1 x Strip and Rebuild lab of a single cylinder 4-stroke engine
4 x Drawing sessions:
- Isometric and orthographic projection
- 3D visualisation
- Drawing of simple engineering part
- Engineering drawing
Accreditation of Higher Education Programmes Learning Outcomes: EL2, EL4, P3, G1, G4. Also has SM1b, EA1b, EA3b, P11.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- To provide a solid foundation of core knowledge in Statics and Dynamics. This basis is essential for proceeding to more advanced studies in these and other topics in forthcoming years, and for underpinning applications in design and project work.
- To provide through coursework the development of practical laboratory skills and procedures and the development of written communication skills through report writing.
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Reading List
Recommended textbooks that you might find useful:
Meriam & Kraige, Engineering Mechanics - Statics SI Version (Wiley)
Meriam & Kraige, Engineering Mechanics - Dynamics SI Version (Wiley)
G. Boyle (Editor), Renewable Energy, 2nd Edition (Oxford Univ. Press)
G. Boyle, B. Everett, J. Ramage (Editors), Energy Systems and Sustainability (Oxford Univ. Press) |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Hannah Chalmers
Tel: (0131 6)50 5694
Email: hannah.chalmers@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Jennifer Yuille
Tel: (0131 6)51 7073
Email: Jennifer.Yuille@ed.ac.uk |
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