THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2015/2016

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Engineering : Mechanical

Undergraduate Course: Mechanical Engineering 1 (MECE08007)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Engineering CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 8 (Year 1 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThis 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 measurement techniques and the construction of machines such as engines and gearboxes.
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 from the following:
- Strain
- Acceleration
- Temperature
- Moment of Inertia
- Flow

1 x Strip and Rebuild lab of a single cylinder 4-stroke engine

4 x Drawing sessions:
(Students with suitable, formally-recognised experience may be partially-exempted from this part of the course. Please discuss with the lecturer)
- Isometric and orthographic projection
- 3D visualisation
- Drawing of simple engineering part
- Engineering drawing
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2015/16, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  170
Course Start Semester 2
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 30, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 10, Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 24, Formative Assessment Hours 1, Summative Assessment Hours 8.6, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 122 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 67 %, Coursework 0 %, Practical Exam 33 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Coursework (33.33%)

- 3 x Measurement on-the-day pro-forma lab reports (each 10% of coursework total)

- 1 x Strip and Rebuild on-the-day pro-forma lab reports (each 10% of coursework total)

- 1 x Formal technical lab report based on Measurement lab (18% of coursework total)

- 3 x Technical drawing (in class) exercises (each 8% of coursework total)

- 1 x Formal technical drawing assignment (18% of coursework total)


Degree Examination (66.67%)

The Degree Examination consists of one paper and is held in April/May, with a resit in August. The paper is 2 hours long, and consists of three sections - Solid Mechanics (3 questions); Dynamics (2 questions) and Energy (2 questions). Students are required to answer four questions, including at least one from each section (Note that this differs from years prior to 2006/07).
Feedback Not entered
Exam Information
Exam Diet Paper Name Hours & Minutes
Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May)2:00
Resit Exam Diet (August)2:00
Learning Outcomes
- 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.
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
KeywordsNot entered
Contacts
Course organiserProf Jason Reese
Tel: (0131 6)51 7081
Email:
Course secretaryMiss Megan Inch
Tel: (0131 6)50 5687
Email:
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