Undergraduate Course: Mechanical Engineering 1 (MECE08007)
Course Outline
| School | School of Engineering |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 1 Undergraduate) |
Credits | 20 |
| Home subject area | Mechanical |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | This 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 gearboxes, engines and pumps. |
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
It is RECOMMENDED that students have passed
Engineering 1 (SCEE08001)
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Summary of Intended 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.
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Assessment Information
Coursework (33.33%)
- 2 x Measurement on-the-day pro-forma lab reports (each 10% of coursework total)
- 2 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).
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Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
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.
On the Monday following each tutorial, you will be required to submit the last two questions on the tutorial sheet for grading. Your graded solutions will be returned to at your next tutorial session. In this way we hope to give you a weekly indication of your progress with the course and to spot anyone with particular problems so that remedial action can be instigated. This is of particular importance in this course as there is no other means to gauge progress along the way.
Laboratories
There are eight three hour practical lab sessions.
2 x Measurement labs from the following:
- Strain
- Acceleration
- Temperature
- Moment of Inertia
- Flow
2 x Strip and Rebuild labs from the following:
(Students with experience should discuss alternatives with the lecturer)
- Single cylinder 4-stroke
- Single cylinder 2-stroke
- Simple gearbox and differential
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
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| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| 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)
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| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Alistair Elfick
Tel: (0131 6)50 7254
Email: |
Course secretary | Miss Lucy Davie
Tel: (0131 6)50 5687
Email: |
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