Mechanical Engineering
Basics of Engineering
Mechanical engineering, as the name implies, deals with the mechanics of operation
of mechanical systems. The various functions that fall within the scope of this branch of engineering
are designing, manufacturing and maintenance of mechanical systems. For this purpose it uses the various
laws of physics and applies them to different systems to analyze their performance and map out ways to improve
their efficiency.
History of Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineering experienced its growth during the time of the World Wars.
This growth can be attributed to the need for building newer war machines during that time.
As a result of this need, more money was allocated towards research in this field and hence
it began to develop as a unique area of study. Over the years, mechanical engineering has expanded
its scope and it now has a noteworthy role to play in all other areas of engineering also.
Applications of Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineers are involved in the design and construction of various pieces of equipment
like aircrafts, spacecrafts, and automobiles, stationary structures like building and bridges and
industrial machinery. Due to the fact that mechanical engineers have to deal with a wide range of issues
relating to different fields during the course of their work, the mechanical engineering program is prepared
to provide them with the basic knowledge of different areas of study.
Areas of Study Of Mechanical Engineering
The main areas of study that mechanical engineering looks into are:
- Design
- Drafting and analysis � For this purpose it uses design softwares like Pro-E, Catia, Ansys and AutoCAD.
- Manufacture
- Solid Mechanics
- Strength of Materials
- Statics and Dynamics
- Heat-related Studies
- Thermodynamics
- Heat Transfer
- Energy Conversion
- Refrigeration and Air Conditioning
- Fluid Mechanics, Hydraulics and Pneumatics
- Instrumentation and Measurement
Mechanical engineering is finding more and more
applications these days in other areas of engineering also. The most
significant of these is the field of robotics. Robotics has become an
important area of study due to the fact that more and more processes are
getting automated these days. Mechanical engineers are handed the task of
manufacturing assembly lines of robots for different operations and controlling
them through pre-written programs to make the process of manufacture less human
dependant, and more efficient and economical.
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