1.3 Four Main Branches of Engineering: Mechanical Engineering

1.3 Four Main Branches of Engineering

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Watch a clip of the 2016 Shell Eco-Marathon Asia held in Manila, and have a glimpse of what awaits you in your mechanical engineering journey.

Are you interested in seeing mechanical parts coming into action and fulfilling their purpose? One of the good ways to exercise mechanical engineering sense is by joining competitions such as the Shell Eco-Marathon, an annual challenge for young engineers from around the world in designing, building and driving energy efficient vehicles.

definition

Mechanical Engineering is a field of engineering that focuses on the design, construction, operation and maintenance of machines and mechanical systems. Machines and mechanical systems include anything that moves, including the human body! Other examples which were the results of problems solved by mechanical engineers are steam engines, robots, airplanes, and biomechanical suits.

A Manila Railroad Porter 65 in Caloocan. This locomotive was built in 1919.

KEPCO SPC Power PlantNaga, Cebu (Coal)

definition

Mechanical Engineering, being one of the oldest engineering disciplines, has many sub-branches of specialization. In this lesson, we will subdivide it according to the University of California Davis categorization of the areas of interest in mechanical engineering.

Mechanical EngineeringAREAS OF INTERESTS

is the field of applying biomedical and engineering theories, concepts and ideas using the fundamentals of fluid dynamics, some of these applications include the materials transport and distribution in the human body, and production of devices that can mimic how the fluid flow in the body works

Biomedical and Engineering Fluid Dynamics

Paralympic Athletes with Prosthetic Legs

Powered Exoskeleton named "The Future Soldier" designed by the United States

An industrial furnace is a device used to provide heat for an industrial process, typically higher than 400 degrees Celsius.

Mechanical EngineeringAREAS OF INTERESTS

Combustion is widely used for energy generation, propulsion, heating and waste disposal, as well as for many other applications. Mechanical engineers are often heavily involved with the design of combustion systems (internal combustion engines, gas turbines, furnaces, etc.) and deal with aspects of combustion ranging from increasing efficiencies to reducing pollutant emissions.

Combustion and the Environment

Delegates from the Philippines in Shell Eco-Marathon 2016

Mechanical EngineeringAREAS OF INTERESTS

is the field of study that focuses on the design of ground vehicles at lower resource cost while keeping them environment-friendly. Interested engineers should have competencies in vehicle dynamics, propulsion and engine concepts, control of power transmission and construction of lightweight manufacturable structures and systems.

Ground Vehicle Systems

University of the Philippines - Diliman

Polytechnic University of the Philippines

Shell Eco-Marathon Delegates

Industrial boilers are used to produce steam or heat water for space and process heating and for the generation of mechanical power and electricity.

Mechanical EngineeringAREAS OF INTERESTS

is field of study which uses the basics of heat transfer and thermodynamics. These are then applied to advanced engineering systems. Interested engineers in this area are required to design the systems to be efficient, reliable and cost-effective while maintaining low environment pollution and impact.

Heat Transfer, Thermodynamics, and Energy Systems

Automobile Manufacturing

Mechanical EngineeringAREAS OF INTERESTS

is the process of converting raw materials into usable outputs. Mechanical engineers in this field have to study and work with production methods and techniques. They are expected to have solid background in manufacturing processes and systems, statistics, design, controls and application of microprocessors.

Manufacturing

Mechanical EngineeringAREAS OF INTERESTS

is the primary activity of a mechanical engineer to create and improve products, or processes that can be considered to be mechanical. Mechanical design involves product development from concept generation to detailed design, manufacturing process selection and planning, quality control and assurance and life-cycle considerations

Mechanical/Machine Design

To complete our lesson, watch the clip below to see some Mechanical Engineering Marvels.