Mechanical engineering

Mechanical engineering is a branch of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is one of the oldest and broadest of the engineering disciplines.

History

The field of mechanical engineering has its roots in the Industrial Revolution, with the invention of complex machinery and the need for specialists to design and maintain it. The first mechanical engineering degree program was established at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1865.

Principles

Mechanical engineering involves the application of several core concepts, including mechanics, dynamics, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and materials science. Mechanical engineers use these principles along with tools like computer-aided design, and product lifecycle management to design and analyze manufacturing plants, industrial equipment and machinery, heating and cooling systems, transport systems, aircraft, watercraft, robotics, medical devices, and more.

Subdisciplines

There are many subdisciplines within mechanical engineering, some of which are briefly described below:

• Robotics: This involves the design, construction, and use of robots, along with computer systems for their control, sensory feedback, and information processing.
• Automotive engineering: This is a branch of vehicle engineering, incorporating elements of mechanical, electrical, electronic, software, and safety engineering as applied to the design, manufacture, and operation of motorcycles, automobiles, and trucks and their respective engineering subsystems.
• Aerospace engineering: This is the primary field of engineering concerned with the development of aircraft and spacecraft.

Education and licensing

In most countries, it is a requirement that mechanical engineering students receive an accredited Bachelor's degree in engineering, followed by relevant work experience and additional examinations to become a licensed Professional Engineer.

See also

• List of mechanical engineering topics
• Glossary of mechanical engineering
• Timeline of mechanical engineering