Mechanical Engineering

Programs of Study

The Mechanical Engineering Department offers two graduate degree options:

Admission Requirements

For the M.S. program, applicants should have a B.S. in mechanical engineering or in a related field (i.e., other engineering disciplines, physics, mathematics, etc.).

The standards are the same for admission into the thesis and non-thesis options of the M.S. program. At the time of application to the master’s program, the student must specify his/her option (thesis or nonthesis) of choice.

For the Ph.D., a bachelor’s or master’s degree in mechanical engineering or in a related field (i.e., other engineering disciplines, physics, mathematics, etc.) is required.

The Mechanical Engineering Department reserves its financial aid for graduate students in the Ph.D. program or in the thesis option of the M.S. program.

Degree Requirements

M.S. Program

When applying to the master of science program, students must specify their intention to pursue either the thesis or non-thesis M.S. option. Both the thesis and non-thesis options require the completion of 30 graduate credit hours. Students in the thesis option must complete 12 credits of thesis research (ME 599), whereas students in the non-thesis option may complete up to 9 credits of directed research (ME 598). The result of the research credits (ME 599) in the thesis option must be a completed master’s thesis. The number of directed research credits (ME 598) completed in the non-thesis option can range from 0 to 9.

In the thesis option, the distribution of credits is as follows:

In the non-thesis option, the distribution of credits is as follows:

In either option, all full-time students are required to register for the graduate seminar (ME591) every semester.

Academic Advising

Upon admission to the M.S. program, each student is assigned or may select a temporary advisor to arrange an academic plan covering the first 9 credits of study. This plan must be made before the first registration. Prior to registering for additional credits, the student must specify an academic advisor with whom the remaining course of study is arranged. The plan must be approved by the mechanical engineering graduate committee.

For students in the thesis option, the academic advisor is the thesis advisor. Prior to completing more than 18 credits, every student in the thesis option must form a thesis committee that consists of the thesis advisor and at least two other mechanical engineering faculty members from WPI with knowledge of the thesis topic.

The schedule of academic advising is as follows:

This schedule ensures that students are well advised throughout the program, and that students in the thesis option are actively engaged in their research at the early stages of their programs.

Thesis Defense

Each student in the thesis option must defend his/her research during an oral defense, which is administered by an examining committee that consists of the thesis committee and a representative of the mechanical engineering graduate committee who is not on the thesis committee. The defense is open to public participation and consists of a 30-minute presentation by the student followed by a 30-minute open discussion. At least one week prior to the defense each member of the examining committee must receive a copy of the thesis. One additional copy must be made available for members of the WPI community wishing to read the thesis prior to the defense. Public notification of the defense must be given by the mechanical engineering graduate secretary. The examining committee will determine the acceptability of the student’s thesis and oral performance. The thesis advisor will determine the student’s grade.

Changing M.S. Options

Students in the non-thesis M.S. option may switch into the thesis option at any time by notifying the mechanical engineering graduate committee of the change, provided that they have identified a thesis advisor, formed a thesis committee, and have worked out a Plan of Study with their thesis advisor. Subject to the thesis advisor’s approval, directed research credits (ME 598) earned in the non-thesis option may be transferred to thesis research credits (ME 599) in the thesis option.

Any student in the thesis option M.S. program may request a switch into the non-thesis option by submitting the request in writing to the mechanical engineering graduate committee. Before acting on such a request, the graduate committee will require and seriously consider written input from the student’s thesis advisor. Departmental financial aid given to the thesis-option students who are permitted to switch to the non-thesis option will automatically be withdrawn. Subject to the approval of the mechanical engineering graduate committee, a maximum of 9 credits of thesis research (ME 599) earned by a student in the thesis option may be transferred to directed research credit (ME 598) in the non-thesis option.

Ph.D. Program

The course of study leading to the Ph.D. degree in mechanical engineering requires the completion of 90 credits beyond the bachelor’s degree, or 60 credits beyond the master’s degree. For students proceeding directly from B.S. degree to Ph.D. degree, the 90 credits should be distributed as follows:

Coursework:

Courses in M.E.(incl. Special Topics and ISP) 15 credits
Courses in or outside of M.E. 15 credits
Dissertation Research (ME 699) 30 credits

Other:

Additional coursework
Additional Dissertation
Research (ME 699) 30 credits

Supplemental Research
(ME 598, ME 698) _________TOTAL 90 credits

For students proceeding from master’s to Ph.D. degree, the 60 credits should be distributed as follows:

Coursework:
(incl. Special Topics and ISP) 12 credits
Dissertation Research
(ME 699) 30 credits

Other:

Additional coursework
Additional Dissertation
Research (ME 699) 18 credits

Supplemental Research

(ME 598, ME 698) ________TOTAL 60 credits

In either case, the result of the dissertation research must be a completed doctoral dissertation. Only after admission to candidacy may a student receive credit toward dissertation research under ME 699. Prior to admission to candidacy, a student may receive up to 18 credits of predissertation research under ME 698. All full-time students are reuired to register for the graduate seminar (ME591)every semester.

Academic Advising

Upon admission to the Doctoral Program, each student is assigned or may select a temporary advisor to arrange an academic plan covering the first 9 credits of study. This plan should be arranged before the first day of registration.

Prior to registering for any additional credits, the student must identify a permanent dissertation advisor who assumes the role of academic advisor and with whom a suitable dissertation topic and the remaining Plan of Study are arranged. Prior to completing 18 credits, the student must form a dissertation committee that consists of the dissertation advisor, at least two other mechanical engineering faculty members, and at least one member from outside the department. These committee members should be selected because of their abilities to assist in the student’s dissertation research.

The schedule of advising is as follows:

This schedule ensures that students are well advised and actively engaged in their research at the early stages of their programs.

Admission to Candidacy

Admission to candidacy will be granted when the student has satisfactorily passed a written exam intended to measure fundamental ability in three of the following five curriculum areas: fluids engineering, dynamics and controls, structures and materials, design and manufacturing, and biomechanical engineering. The three areas are selected by the student. The exam is given in January. For students who enter the program with a bachelor’s degree, the exam must be taken after three semesters if they began their studies in the fall, and after two semesters if they began in the spring. For students who enter the program with a master’s degree, the exam must be taken after one semester if they began in the fall, and after two semesters if they began in the spring. Students in the M.S. program who plan to apply for fall admission to the Ph.D. program are strongly advised to take the candidacy exam in January before that fall. The details of the examination procedure can be obtained from the mechanical engineering graduate committee.

Dissertation Proposal

Each student must prepare a brief written proposal and make an oral presentation that demonstrates a sound understanding of the dissertation topic, the relevant literature, the techniques to be employed, the issues to be addressed, and the work done on the topic by the student to date. The proposal must be made within a year of admission to candidacy. Both the written and oral proposals are presented to the dissertation committee and a representative from the mechanical engineering graduate committee. The prepared portion of the oral presentation should not exceed 30 minutes, and up to 90 minutes should be allowed for discussion. If the dissertation committee and the graduate committee representative have concerns about either the substance of the proposal or the student’s understanding of the topic, then the student will have one month to prepare a second presentation that focuses on the areas of concern. This presentation will last 15 minutes with an additional 45 minutes allowed for discussion. Students can continue their research only if the proposal is approved.

Dissertation Defense

Each doctoral candidate is required to defend the originality, independence and quality of research during an oral dissertation defense that is administered by an examining committee that consists of the dissertation committee and a representative of the mechanical engineering graduate committee who is not on the dissertation committee. The defense is open to public participation and consists of a one-hour presentation followed by a one-hour open discussion. At least one week prior to the defense, each member of the examining committee must receive a copy of the dissertation. At the same time, an additional copy must be made available for members of the WPI community wishing to read the dissertation prior to the defense, and public notification of the defense must be given by the mechanical engineering graduate secretary. The examining committee will determine the acceptability of the student’s dissertation and oral performance. The dissertation advisor will determine the student’s grade.

The Combined Bachelor’s/ Master’s Program

The Mechanical Engineering Department offers a B.S./Master’s program for currently enrolled WPI undergraduates. Students in the B.S./Master’s program may choose either the thesis or non-thesis M.S. option. The department’s rules for these programs vary somewhat from the Institute’s rules. For students in the B.S./Master’s program, a minimum of two courses and a maximum of four courses may be counted toward both the undergraduate and graduate degrees. At least two must be graduate courses (including graduate-level independent study and special topics courses), and none may be lower than the 4000- level. No extra work is required in the 4000- level courses. A grade of B or better is required for any course to be counted toward both degrees.

The application for the B.S./Master’s program must include a list of four courses that the applicant proposes to count toward both his/her undergraduate and graduate degrees. In most cases, the list consists of courses that the applicant will take in the senior year.
Applications will not be considered if they are submitted prior to the second half of the applicant’s junior year. Ideally, applications (including recommendations) should be completed by the early part of the last term (usually D-term) of the junior year.

Acceptance into the B.S./Master’s program means that the candidate is qualified for graduate school, and signifies approval of the four courses listed for credit toward both the undergraduate and graduate degrees. However, admission is contingent upon the completion of two graduate courses (from the submitted list) with grades of B or better in each. If grades of C or lower are obtained in any other listed courses, then they are not counted toward the graduate degree, but the applicant is still admitted to the program.

Students in the B.S./Master’s program who choose the thesis M.S. option are encouraged to pick a thesis area of research that is closely related to the subject of their major qualifying project. Those students in the B.S./Master’s program who complete their B.S. degrees in May and choose the thesis option are encouraged to begin their thesis research during the summer immediately following graduation.
A detailed written description of the B.S./ Master’s program in mechanical engineering can be obtained from the mechanical engineering graduate secretary.

Areas of Research and Areas of Study

Active areas of research in the Mechanical Engineering Department include: theoretical, numerical and experimental work in rarefied gas and plasma dynamics, electric propulsion, multiphase flows, turbulent flows, fluid-structure interactions, structural analysis, nonlinear dynamics and control, random vibrations, biomechanics and biomaterials, materials processing, mechanics of granular materials, laser holography, MEMS, computer-aided engineering systems, reconfigurable machine design, compliant mechanism design, and other areas of engineering design.

The graduate curriculum is divided into five distinct areas of study:

These areas are parallel to the research interests of the mechanical engineering faculty. Graduate courses introduce students to fundamentals of mechanical engineering while simultaneously providing the background necessary to become involved with the ongoing research of the mechanical engineering faculty.

Students also receive credit for special topics under ME 593 and ME 693, and independent study under ISP. Faculty members often experiment with new courses under the special topics designation, although no course may be offered more than twice in this manner. Except for certain 4000-level courses permitted in the B.S./ Master’s program, no undergraduate courses may be counted toward graduate credit.

Mechanical Engineering Laboratories and Centers

The Mechanical Engineering Department provides a multidisciplinary research and education environment combining elements of mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering and materials science. The facilities are housed in the Higgins Laboratories and Washburn Shops.

Aerospace Laboratory

This laboratory includes a closed circuit, subsonic wind tunnel. This facility with a test section cross-section of 2’x 2’ is capable of speeds up to 60 mph. The laboratory includes a hot-wire anemometry system ultrasonic acoustic instruments, as well as ancillary laboratory equipment. Additionally, workshop areas are provided for model preparation and smaller scale experiment development.

Computational Fluid and Plasmadynamics Lab (CFPL)

CFPL is a modern computational facility in HL236 that includes workstations, a Linux cluster for high performance computing, peripherals and data storage devices. CFPL has access to Direct Simulation Monte Carlo, Particle-in-Cell, fluid dynamics, and MHD codes as well as visualization and data reduction software. Standard software also include MatLab, FLUENT for single and multi-phase CFD, and FEMLAB for investigation of problems with linked, multiple mode physical processes. Research conducted in CFPL entails the development and application of numerical simulation methods to spacecraft propulsion and micro-propulsion, spacecraft power, space environment/ spacecraft interactions, micro-fluidics, nano-fluidics, and fluid/structure interactions. The Satellite Tool Kit (STK) and FreeFlyer are also available for spacecraft orbital analysis.

Fluid Dynamics Laboratory

This laboratory provides experimental facilities and instrumentation for activities in the area of fluid dynamics. A small, open-return subsonic wind tunnel, hot wire anemometry system, computer data acquisition systems and high-speed flow visualization systems are available. Separate areas are provided for model preparation and small-scale experiments.

Fluid and Plasmadynamics Lab (FPL)

The FPL consists of several vacuum chambers and specialized test facilities in HL314 and HL016 for the investigation of plasma thruster, electrospray sources (for both propulsion and nano-fabrication applications), plume/spacecraft interactions and microfluidic devices. The laboratory includes an 18-inch diameter, 30-inch tall stainless steel vacuum chamber equipped with a 6-inch diffusion pump backed by a 17 cfm mechanical pump. The system is capable of an ultimate pressure in the low 10-6 Torr range. This chamber is used primarily for study of electrospray sources.

A 50-inch diameter, 72-inch long stainless steel vacuum chamber, scheduled to be complete in the Spring of 2006 will be used for the characterization of electric and chemical thruster performance as well as plume characterization. The system will include a Stokes rotary mechanical pump/ positive displacement blower combination to provide a pumping speed of over 560 liters/sec at low vacuum (10-2 - 10-3 Torr). For tests requiring higher vacuum at lower throughput, a 16-inch cryopump will provide an ultimate pressure in the low 10-6 Torr range.

For microfluidics research, FPL includes a calibrated flow system for delivery of liquid flowrates in the range of 75 – 250 micrograms/sec for studies of two phase flows in microchannels. Imaging of these flows is accomplished with a highresolution monochrome progressive scan Pulnix-1325 camera with computer based image-capture and processing software.

Hardware fabrication is supported by two machine shops within the Mechanical Engineering Department. FPL includes a variety of tools and specialized instrumentation including oscilloscopes, precision source meter, electrometer and digital multimeters. Data from these instruments is collected and stored on computer using a LabView based data acquisition system.

Controls and Mechatronics Lab (CML)

The CML housed in HL248 has stateof- the art data acquisition and control capabilities for experimental verification of intelligent control algorithms. Applications include, structural, structural-acoustic, fluid-structure and mechatronics systems in aerospace or mechanical engineering.

Equipment include several dSPACE and two QUANSER Hardware-in-The-loop Board with WinCon 4.1 Real-Time Control Software. To validate real-time vibration control experiments the lab has a TMC active vibration isolation table, four ACX single-channel high voltage/ low amps power amplifiers, one 2-channel Krohn-hite power amplifier, and one 6-channel rack mounted PCB power amplifier for piezoceramic patch actuation. For acceleration measurements CML has five PCB miniature (0.5g) shear ICP® accelerometers and PCB ICP® microphones for pressure measurements. For calibration and signal conditioning, CML has a Krohn-hite Low-Pass/High-Pass Butterworth/Bessel 4-Channel Filter, a PCB handheld shaker for accelerometer calibration, a 4-channel PCB line-powered sensor signal conditioner with gain 1x,10x and 100x, one PCB modally tuned Impact Hammer kit for vibration testing, and one dual-mode PCB vibration amplifier (velocity or position) single-channel. In addition, CML has an Agilent 20Mhz Function/Arbitrary waveform generator and dedicated workstations for control design and implementation accessing Matlab’s Real-Time Workshop, Optimization, Linear Matrix Inequalities and Robust Control toolboxes.

Hydrodynamics Laboratory

This laboratory provides experimental facilities and instrumentation for characterization of liquid flow phenomena. A free surface water tunnel with a 2x2-foot test section and vertical water tank are available. These facilities allow for flow visualization and are supported by data acquisition systems and various flow measurement devices.

Dynamic Simulation Laboratory (DYSIM Lab)

This is a general purpose PC laboratory that exposes large numbers of students to modern dynamic and geometric simulation techniques. Students use the DYSIM Lab to perform simulated experiments and observe demonstrations of course topics. The lab is equipped with 40 PCs that are connected through the computation network and direct links to other design process components.

Vibrations and Dynamics Laboratory

This facility houses equipment to support educational, project and research activities in the area of vibrations and controls. This is also a teaching laboratory for the development of analytical and experimental skills in modern engineering measurement methods, based on electronic instrumentation and computer-based data acquisition systems.

Biomechanical Engineering Laboratory

This laboratory provides experimental and computational facilities for research in the area of biomechanics and biofluids. Facilities include a hot wire anemometry system, PC-based computational facilities and ancillary equipment. The laboratory is also equipped with anatomical dissection facilities; kinematic data acquisition systems; instrumentation for measuring acceleration, velocity, force and pressure; and computer data acquisition systems. A MTS Mini Bionex testing machine is available to test materials in tension/ compression and torsion.

Rehabilitation Engineering Laboratory

This laboratory focuses on the development of assistive devices for persons with disabilities. The laboratory also conducts investigations involving prostheses and orthoses. The Assistive Technology Resource Center is associated with this laboratory.
Center for Holographic Studies and Laser Technology (CHSLT)

CHSLT is used for both research and educational activities. The laboratory is equipped with several systems utilizing He-Ne, Arion, and Nd:TAG Lasers.

The lab is supported by a self-contained network of computers and peripheral facilities, as well as supporting instrumentation systems. The lasers, computers and supporting instrumentation are used in studies of fundamental phenomena governing high-energy- density interactions in thin film imaging, with powder metal materials, plastics, ceramics and composites, micromachining, underwater propagation, holography, displacement and strain measurement, vibrations, fracture mechanics, mathematical modeling, numerical

computations and applications to other problems of modern science, engineering and technology. Keck Design Center – the Design Studios

These laboratories provide a prototype facility consisting of a design studio and a prototype production facility linked by computational equipment, and 20-30 high-end workstations with software support for video-picture-within-the-monitor teleconferencing to provide two-way communication of audio, video and data between the design studios and off-campus sites. In the computationally equipped studio, students have clustered seating around multiple workstations, and can discuss and/or analyze with remote sponsors or others in real time as changes are made. Part files can be ported to rapid prototyping machines or lithography units within the Design Center and beyond.

Other Facilities

The following laboratories, located in the Washburn Shops, are described in the Manufacturing Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering program descriptions:

Faculty

Gretar Tryggvason, Professor, Department Head; Ph.D., Brown University, 1985; Numerical modeling of multiphase flows.

Diran Apelian, Howmet Professor, Director of the Metals Processing Institute; Sc.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1971; Solidification processing, spray casting, molten metal processing, aluminum foundry processing, plasma processing and knowledge engineering in materials processing.

Holly K. Ault, Associate Professor; Ph.D., Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 1988; Geometric modeling, mechanical design, CAD, kinematics, biomechanics and rehabilitation engineering.

Isa Bar-On, Professor; Ph.D., Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 1984; Clean energy, economic impact of alternative energy systems, fuel cell technology, cost modeling, fatigue and fracture of ceramics, metals and composites

Daniel Backman, Research Professor, Sc.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1975; Materials modeling, solidification, and aerospace materials and processes.

John J. Blandino, Associate Professor; Ph.D. California Institute of Technology, 2001; Fluid mechanics and heat transfer in microdevices, plasma diagnostics, electric and chemical propulsion, propulsion system design for precision formation flying.

Christopher A. Brown, Professor; Ph.D., University of Vermont, 1983; Surface metrology, machining, fractal analysis, mechanics of skiing, tribology, axiomatic design, materials science, computational modeling in surface metrology.

Eben C. Cobb, Visiting Assistant Professor; Ph.D., University of Connecticut, 1985; Design of high-speed precision equipment, dynamics of high-speed rotating equipment, smart structures, vibration control.

Michael A. Demetriou, Associate Professor; Ph.D., University of Southern California, 1993; Control of intelligent systems, control of fluid structure interactions, fault detection and accommodation of dynamical systems, acoustic and vibration control.

Chrysanthe Demetry, Associate Professor, Director of the Center for Educational Development and Assessment; Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1993; Nanocrystalline materials and nanocomposites, materials processing, grain boundaries and interfaces in materials.

Mikhail F. Dimentberg, Professor; Ph.D., Moscow Institute of Power Engineering, 1963; Applied mechanics, random vibrations, nonlinear dynamics, rotordynamics, mechanical signature analysis, stochastic mechanics.

Mustapha S. Fofana, Associate Professor; Ph.D., University of Waterloo, Canada, 1993; Nonlinear chatter dynamics, delay systems, CAD/CAM, CIM/Networked manufacturing systems.

Cosme Furlong-Vasquez, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., WPI, 1999; MEMS and MOEMS, nanotechnology, mechatronics, laser applications, holography, computer modeling of dynamic systems

Nikolaos A. Gatsonis, Professor and Associate Department Head and Director, Aerospace Engineering Program; Ph.D, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1991; Development of numerical simulation methods and modeling of nonequilibrium, multi-component, multi-scale, gaseous and plasma flows; continuum/ atomistic simulation of macro-, microand nano-scale fluid transport processes; development of plasma diagnostics and microfluidic devices; spacecraft propulsion and micro-propulsion; spacecraft/environment interactions.

Allen H. Hoffman, Professor; Ph.D., University of Colorado, 1970; Biomechanics, biomaterials, biomedical engineering, rehabilitation engineering, biofluids and continuum mechanics.

Zhikun Hou, Professor; Ph.D., California Institute of Technology, 1990; Vibration and control, structural dynamics, structural health monitoring, smart materials and adaptive structures, stochastic mechanics, solid mechanics, finite elements, earthquake engineering.

Islam I. Hussein, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., University of Michigan, 2005; Cooperative control of multi-agent systems, optimal control theory, and nonlinear dynamics and control.

Robert N. Katz, Research Professor; Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1969; Materials science, ceramics, metal matrix composites, technology assessment, design with brittle materials, materials processing.

Diana A. Lados, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 2004; Design and optimization of materials, fatigue and fracture, physical metallurgy, solidification and microstructure characterization, corrosion, residual stress, and plasticity.

Jianyu Liang, Assistant Professor, Ph.D. (Electrical Engineering), Brown University 2004; Nonfabrication through nonlithographic approaches; heteroepitaxial growth of high quality quantum dots and semiconductor thin films on nanopatterned substrates for electronic, optic, and biomedical applications.

Makhlouf M. Makhlouf, Professor; Ph.D., Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 1990; Solidification of metals, heat, mass and momentum transfer in engineering materials problems, processing of ceramics materials.

Robert L. Norton, Professor; M.S., Tufts University, 1970; Mechanical design and analysis, dynamic signal analysis, computer- aided engineering, computer-aided design, finite element method, vibration analysis, engineering design, biomedical engineering.

David J. Olinger, Associate Professor; Ph.D., Yale University, 1990; Fluid mechanics, aero- and hydrodynamics, fluid structure interaction, fluid flow control, chaos theory.

Ryszard J. Pryputniewicz, Professor; Ph.D., University of Connecticut, 1976; MEMS, laser applications, holography, fiber optics, computer modeling of dynamic systems, bioengineering.

Mark W. Richman, Associate Professor, Graduate Committee Chair; Ph.D., Cornell University, 1984; Mechanics of granular flows, powder compaction, powder metallurgy.

Yiming (Kevin) Rong, Professor and Associate Director Manufacturing & Materials Engineering; Ph.D., University of Kentucky, 1989; Manufacturing systems and processes, heat treatment process modeling and simulation, CAD/CAM, computeraided fixture design and verification.

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Last modified: August 08, 2007 15:44:49