1. Mechanical Engineering?
What is
Mechanical Engineering?
Jeff Rhoads and Terry Ballinger
MSU
2006

2. Outline What is Engineering? Intro to Engineering Movie
What is Mechanical Engineering?
Sample ME Topics
Alternative Energy Sources
MEMS
Lesson Overview

3. What is Engineering?

4. What is Engineering?
The application of science & mathematics to design, build, and maintain devices and processes that are useful to humankind.

5. What is Engineering?
Useful Things
Stuff
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6. What is Engineering? Useful Things Stuff Matter Sources of Energy …
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Matter
Sources of Energy …
Cars
Air Conditioners
Bridges
Clean Water …
…useful to humankind

7. What is Engineering?

8. Mechanical Engineering?
What is
Mechanical Engineering?
Non-Mechanical Energy
Mechanical Energy
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9. Mechanical Engineering?
What is
Mechanical Engineering?
Non-Mechanical Energy
Mechanical Energy
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Electrical
Chemical
Thermal
Nuclear …

10. Mechanical Engineering?
What is
Mechanical Engineering?
Non-Mechanical Energy
Mechanical Energy
convert
Electrical
Chemical
Thermal
Nuclear …
Potential
Kinetic

11. Mechanical Engineering?
What is
Mechanical Engineering?
Non-Mechanical Energy
Mechanical Energy
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Conversion involves the design and manufacture of:
Tools
Machines
Engines …

12. Examples

13. Examples

14. Examples

15. What do ME’s Study? Mechanics: machines, structures, …
Fluids: aerodynamics, pumps/fans, …
Thermal Sciences: heating/cooling, energy, …
Controls: interface electronics, …
Manufacturing: matl’s handling/processing, …
More…

16. Modern Mechanical Engineering

17. THE FUTURE: ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

18. Alternative Energy - Motivation
In the United States…
2% of the Worlds Oil Reserves

19. Alternative Energy - Motivation
In the United States…
2% of the Worlds Oil Reserves
8% of World Oil Production

20. Alternative Energy - Motivation
In the United States…
2% of the Worlds Oil Reserves
8% of World Oil Production
5% of Worlds Population

21. Alternative Energy - Motivation
In the United States…
2% of the Worlds Oil Reserves
8% of World Oil Production
5% of Worlds Population
31% Total Oil Consumption
(2/3 imported)

22. Wood  Coal  Oil/Gas  Nuclear
Why Oil?
Historical sources of energy:
Wood  Coal  Oil/Gas  Nuclear

23. Wood  Coal  Oil/Gas  Nuclear
Why Oil?
Historical sources of energy:
Wood  Coal  Oil/Gas  Nuclear
One barrel of oil
12 person-years of manual labor =

24. Global Oil Production & Demand

25. Energy Consumption

26. What Should We Do? Increase nuclear energy output?
Increase alternative energy output (solar, wind, wave, geothermal, …)
Reduce consumption?
All of the above?
OR: Go back to the caves? We can’t!

27. Alternative Energy Sources…
Nuclear
Hydroelectric
Geothermal
Wind
Biomass, Agricultural Sources, and Waste
Solar
Hydrogen from Renewables

28. Complications…. Environmental Impact Cost Safety Technology
Will it make a dent?

29. So Why Try…. Application Specific Energy Solar Panels
Hydroelectric Power
Hydrogen Powered Cars

30. Solar Power
Semiconductor
(Silicon)

31. Hydrogen from Renewables
DOE/EPA, 2005

32. Pushing the Envelope…

33. MEMS Micro-Electro-Mechanical-Systems
Small devices that integrate electronics, mechanics, and computing
Existing products: sensors for acceleration (air bags), pressure (tires), temperature, ear implants, etc
The future: biotech applications, sorting of stem cells, biohazard sensors, etc

34. MEMS Micro-Electro-Mechanical-Systems
Small devices that integrate electronics, mechanics, and computing
Existing products: sensors for acceleration (air bags), pressure (tires), temperature, ear implants, etc
The future: biotech applications, sorting of stem cells, biohazard sensors, etc
This is what I frequently work on!

35. How Small is Small?

36. How Small is Small?
200 People

37. How Small is Small?
650,000 Cans of Soda

38. How Small is Small?
30,000,000 #2 Pencils

39. How Small is Small?
>1x1015 MEMS Devices
(Quadrillions)

40. Tire Pressure Sensors

41. Cochlear Implants

42. Cochlear Implant

43. Micromachines

44. Micromachines

45. What Else Does the Future Hold?
Nanotechnology – very small machines (one-billionth of a meter!)
Biotech Advances
‘Space Age’ Materials
More – just use your imagination!

46. Lesson Overview MST@MSU ME What is Mechanical Engineering?
Design: A Creative Problem-Solving Process (Straw Structure)
Dynamics: Gravity is Holding us Down! (Popsicle Stick Slingshot)
Why Things Float and Fly: Buoyancy and Aerodynamics (Airplanes)
Out of Control: The Need for Control System (Popsicle Stick Slingshot)
Manufacturing Madness (Assembly Line)
Energy and Work: Sources and Conversion (?)
Propulsion: How Fast Can You Go? (CO2 Propelled Boat)
Electromechanical Systems (Electric Motor)
Mechanical Vibrations: What’s Shaking?

47. Straw Structure DESIGN Lesson 2 Activity Objective
Create a structure that will hold a bottle of water as high as possible.
DESIGN

48. Popsicle Stick Slingshot
Lesson 3-5 Activity
Popsicle Stick Slingshot
Objective
Create a ground level launching slingshot that will propel a plastic ball as far as possible.
CONTROLS / DYNAMICS
Objective
Calibrate the slingshot from Lesson 3 to accurately propel a plastic ball to a target at an arbitrary distance.

49. BOUYANCY & AERODYNAMICS
Lesson 4 Activity
Airplanes!
BOUYANCY & AERODYNAMICS
Objective
Design a set of paper airplanes which will fly the furthest/stay aloft the longest

50. Assembly Line MANUFACTURING Lesson 6 Activity Objective
Create an assembly line that will produce eight bean-filled fish as quickly as possible.

51. Assembly Line MANUFACTURING Lesson 6 Activity Objective
Create an assembly line that will produce eight bean-filled fish as quickly as possible.

52. Lesson 7 Activity
Energy and Work
ENERGY & WORK
Objective
TBD

53. CO2 Propelled Boat PROPULSION Lesson 8 Activity Objective
Create a CO2 propelled boat that travels the greatest distance in the minimum amount of time.

54. CO2 Propelled Boat PROPULSION Lesson 8 Activity Objective
Create a CO2 propelled boat that travels the greatest distance in the minimum amount of time.

55. Electromechanical Systems
Lesson 9 Activity
Electric Motor
Electromechanical Systems
Objective
Create a CO2 propelled boat that travels the greatest distance in the minimum amount of time.