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Department ofMechanical Engineering

Course Description

MECH 200. Advanced Engineering Mathematics I
Method of solution of the first, second, and higher order differential equations (ODEs). Integral transforms including Laplace transforms, Fourier series and Fourier transforms. Cross-listed with AMTH 200. (2 units)

MECH 201. Advanced Engineering Mathematics II
Method of solution of partial differential equations (PDEs) including separation of variables, Fourier series, and Laplace transforms. Introduction to calculus of variations. Selected topics from vector analysis and linear algebra. Cross-listed with AMTH 201. Prerequisite: AMTH/MECH 200. (2 units)

MECH 202. Advanced Engineering Mathematics I and II
Method of solution of the first, second, and higher order ordinary differential equations, Laplace transforms, Fourier series and Fourier transforms, method of solution of partial differential equations including separation of variables, Fourier series, and Laplace transforms. Selected topics from vector analysis, linear algebra, and calculus of variations. Also listed as AMTH 202. (4 units)

MECH 205. Aircraft Flight Dynamics I
Review of basic aerodynamics and propulsion. Aircraft performance, including equations of flight in vertical plane, gliding, level, and climbing flight, range and endurance, turning flight, takeoff and landing. Prerequisite: MECH 140. (2 units)

MECH 206. Aircraft Flight Dynamics II
Developing a nonlinear six-degrees-of-freedom aircraft model, longitudinal and lateral static stability and trim, linearized longitudinal dynamics including short period and phugoid modes. Linearized lateral-directional dynamics including roll, spiral, and Dutch roll modes. Aircraft handling qualities and introduction to flight control systems. Prerequisite: MECH 140 or MECH 205. (2 units)

MECH 207. Advanced Mechatronics I
Theory of operation, analysis, and implementation of fundamental physical and electrical device components: basic circuit elements, transistors, op-amps, sensors, electro-mechanical actuators. Application to the development of simple devices. Also listed as ELEN 460. Prerequisite: MECH 141 or ELEN 100. (3 units)

MECH 208. Advanced Mechatronics II
Theory of operation, analysis, and implementation of fundamental controller implementations: analog computers, digital state machines, microcontrollers. Application to the development of closed-loop control systems. Also listed as ELEN 461. Prerequisites: MECH 207 and 217. (3 units)

MECH 209. Advanced Mechatronics III
Electro-mechanical modeling and system development. Introduction to mechatronic support subsystems: power, communications. Fabrication techniques. Functional implementation of hybrid systems involving dynamic control and command logic. Also listed as ELEN 462. Prerequisite: MECH 208. (2 units)

MECH 210. Advanced Mechatronics IV
Application of mechatronics knowledge and skills to the development of an industry- or laboratory-sponsored mechatronics device/system. Systems engineering, concurrent design, and project management techniques. Performance assessment, verification, and validation. Advanced technical topics appropriate to the project may include robotic teleoperation, human-machine interfaces, multi-robot collaboration, and other advanced applications. Prerequisite: MECH 209. (2 units)

MECH 214. Advanced Dynamics
Partial differentiation of vector functions in a reference frame. Configuration constraints. Generalized speeds. Motion constraints. Partial angular velocities and partial linear velocities. Inertia scalars, vectors, matrices, and dyadics; principal moments of inertia. Generalized active forces. Contributing and non contributing interaction forces. Generalized inertia forces. Relationship between generalized active forces and potential energy; generalized inertia forces and kinetic energy.  Prerequisites: MECH 140 and AMTH 106. (4 units)

MECH 217. Introduction to Control
Laplace transforms, block diagrams, modeling of control system components and kinematics and dynamics of control systems, and compensation. Frequency domain techniques, such as root-locus, gain-phase, Nyquist and Nichols diagrams used to analyze control systems applications. Prerequisite: AMTH 106. (2 units)

MECH 218. Guidance and Control I
Modern and classical concepts for synthesis and analysis of guidance and control systems. Frequency and time domain methods for both continuous-time and sampled data systems. Compensation techniques for continuous-time and discrete-time control systems. Prerequisite: MECH 217, 142, or instructor approval. (2 units)

MECH 219. Guidance and Control II
Continuation of MECH 218. Design and synthesis of digital and continuous-time control systems. Nonlinear control system design using phase plane and describing functions. Relay and modulator controllers. Prerequisite: MECH 218. (2 units)

MECH 220. Orbital Mechanics
This course provides the foundations of basic gravitation and orbital theory. Topics include the two-body problem, three-body problem, Lagrangian points, orbital position as a function of time, orbits in space and classical orbital elements, launch window, and calculating launch velocity. Rocket dynamics and performance, orbital maneuvers, preliminary orbit determination including Gibbs and Gauss methods, Lambert’s problem, relative motion and Clohessy-Wiltshire equations, and interplanetary flight. Prerequisites: MECH 140 or equivalent and AMTH 118 or equivalent. (4 units)

MECH 222. Aircraft and Rotorcraft System Identification
Theory and application of frequency domain system identification, collection of data, numerical Fourier Transform techniques, auto-spectra determination and frequency response identification, effect of noise and cross-control correlation, transfer function modeling, and determination of state space models, model structure selection and theoretical accuracy analysis. Prerequisites: MECH 142 or equivalent. (2 units)

MECH 225. Gas Dynamics
Flow of compressible fluids. One-dimensional isentropic flow, normal shock waves, frictional flow. Prerequisites: MECH 121 and 132. (2 units)

MECH 228. Energy Conversion and Conservation
Principles of thermodynamic laws and their application to energy conversion technologies. Concept of exergy, power generation from cycles, and improvement of modern power plants will be covered. Prerequisite: MECH 121 (4 units)

MECH 230. Statistical Thermodynamics
Kinetic theory of gases. Maxwell-Boltzmann distributions, thermodynamic properties in terms of partition functions, quantum statistics, and applications. Prerequisites: AMTH 106 and MECH 121. (2 units)

MECH 232. Multibody Dynamics
Kinematics (angular velocity, differentiation in two reference frames, velocity and acceleration of two points fixed on a rigid body and one point moving on a rigid body, generalized coordinates and generalized speeds, basis transformation matrices in terms of Euler angles and quaternions), Newton-Euler equations, kinetic energy, partial angular velocities and partial velocities, Lagrange’s equation, generalized active and inertia forces, Kane’s equation and its operational superiority in formulating equations of motion for a system of particles and hinge-connected rigid bodies in a topological tree. Linearization of dynamical equations, application to Kane’s formulation of the equations of motion of beams and plates undergoing large rotation with small deformation, dynamics of an arbitrary elastic body in large overall motion with small deformation and motion-induced stiffness, computationally efficient, recursive formulation of the equations of motion of a system of hinge-connected flexible bodies, component elastic mode selection, recursive formulation for a system of flexible bodies with structural loops, variable mass flexible rocket dynamics, modeling large elastic deformation with large reference frame motion. Prerequisite: MECH 140 or equivalent. (4 units)

MECH 239. Solid State Power Generation and Energy Harvesting
Introduction to unconventional power generation technologies via solid state energy conversion, such as photovoltaic (solar cells); thermoelectric; piezoelectric; and fuel cells. The course involves a term project as well as in-class lab activities to design an energy harvester by exploring practical issues. (4 units)

MECH 241. Approximation and Design of Heat Transfer System
Introduction to concepts of heat transfer mechanisms. Back-of-the-envelope style approximation for heat transfer system design problems. . Prerequisite: MECH 123. (4 units)

MECH 242. Advanced Heat Transfer
Conservation equations to derive governing relations for fundamental heat transfer phenomena. More in-depth approach for Conduction; Convection; and Radiation. Prerequisite: MECH 123 or Undergraduate Heat Transfer. (4 units)

MECH 251. Finite Element Methods I
Introduction to finite elements; direct and variational basis for the governing equations; method of weighted residuals; elements and interpolating functions. Applications to general field problems: elasticity, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer. Extensive use of software packages. Cross-listed with MECH151. Prerequisites: MECH 45 or equivalent and AMTH 106. (4 units)

MECH 252. Finite Element Methods II
Solution of nonlinear problems using finite element analysis. Methods for solving nonlinear matrix equations. Material, geometrical, boundary condition (contact) and other types of nonlinearities and application to solid mechanics. Transient nonlinear problems in thermal and fluid mechanics. Application of commercial FF codes to nonlinear analysis. Prerequisite: MECH 251. (4 units)

MECH 257. Engineering Simulations and Modeling
Simulation and modeling of solids and fluids using modern computational methods. Application of finite element modeling techniques to analyze mechanical systems subjected to various types of loading. Heat conduction and fluid interaction effects with solids. Transient problems including vibrations. Practical experience gained in using commercial simulation packages and interacting with CAD systems. Review of basic finite element theory with particular attention to modeling loads, constraints and materials. Prerequisites: CENG 43, MECH 122, MECH 123 (can be taken concurrently) or equivalent knowledge. (4 units)

MECH 266. Viscous Flow & Advanced Fluid Mechanics
Mathematical formulation of the conservation laws and theorems applied to flow fields. Potential flow, creeping flow, and physical phenomena. Derivation of the Navier-Stokes equations. The boundary layer approximations for high Reynolds number flow. Exact and approximate solutions of laminar flows.  Prerequisite: MECH 122. (4 units)

MECH 268. Computational Fluid Mechanics I
Introduction to numerical solution of fluid flow. Application to general and simplified forms of the fluid dynamics equations. Discretization methods, numerical grid generation, and numerical algorithms based on finite difference techniques. Prerequisite: MECH 266. (2 units)

MECH 269. Computational Fluid Mechanics II
Continuation of MECH 268. Generalized coordinate systems. Multidimensional compressible flow problems, turbulence modeling. Prerequisite: MECH 268. (2 units)

MECH 271. Turbulent and Convective Flow
Similarity solutions, instability, fundamentals of turbulence, convective heat transfer. Analytical and approximate solution techniques. Prerequisite: MECH 270. (4(?) units)

MECH 275. Design for Competitiveness
Overview of current design techniques aimed at improving global competitiveness. Design strategies and specific techniques. Group design projects in order to put these design ideas into simulated practice. (2 units)

MECH 276. Design for Manufacturability
Design for manufacturability and its applications within the product design process. Survey of design for manufacturability as it relates to design process, quality, robust design, material and process selection, functionality, and usability. Students will participate in group and individual projects that explore design for manufacturability considerations in consumer products. (2 units)

MECH 281. Elasticity, Fracture, and Fatigue
Fundamentals of the theory of linear elasticity, formulation of boundary value problems, applications to torsion, plane stress & strain, flexure, and bending of plates. Introduction to three-dimensional solutions. Fracture mechanics evaluation of structures containing defects. Theoretical development of stress intensity factors. Fracture toughness testing. Relationships among stress, flaw size, and material toughness. Emphasis on design applications with examples from aerospace, nuclear, and structural components. Prerequisite: Instructor approval. (4 units)

MECH 285. Computer-Aided Design of Mechanisms
Kinematic synthesis of mechanisms. Graphical and analytical mechanism synthesis techniques for motion generation, function generation, and path generation problems. Overview of various computer software packages available for mechanism design. (2 units)

MECH 286. Introduction to Wind Energy Engineering
Introduction to renewable energy, history of wind energy, types and applications of various wind turbines, wind characteristics and resources, introduction to different parts of a wind turbine including the aerodynamics of propellers, mechanical systems, electrical and electronic systems, wind energy system economics, environmental aspects and impacts of wind turbines, and the future of wind energy. Also listed as ELEN 286. (2 units)

MECH 287. Introduction to Alternative Energy Systems
Assessment of current and potential future energy systems; covering resources, extraction, conversion, and end-use. Emphasis on meeting regional and global energy needs in a sustainable manner. Different renewable and conventional energy technologies will be presented and their attributes described to evaluate and analyze energy technology systems. Also listed as ELEN 280. (2 units)

MECH 290. Graduate Research/Project
Research into topics of mechanical engineering; topics and credit to be determined by the instructor, report required, cannot be converted into Master or Ph.D. research. By arrangement. Prerequisites: instructor and department chair approval. (1–6 units)

MECH 291. Special Topics in Aerospace Engineering
Topics vary each quarter. (2-4 units)

MECH 292. Special Topics in Mechatronic Systems Engineering
Topics vary each quarter. (2-4 units)

MECH 293. Special Topics in Mechanics and Materials
Topics vary each quarter. (2-4 units)

MECH 294. Special Topics in Design and Manufacturing
Topics vary each quarter. (2-4 units)

MECH 295. Special Topics in Thermofluids and Energy
Topics vary each quarter. (2-4 units)

MECH 296. Special Topics in Dynamics and Controls
Topics vary each quarter. (2-4 units)

MECH 297. Seminar
Discrete lectures on current problems and progress in fields related to mechanical engineering. P/NP grading. (1 unit)

MECH 298. Independent Study
By arrangement. (1–6 units)

MECH 299. Master’s Thesis
By arrangement. May be repeated up to 6 units. (1–3 units)

MECH 305. Advanced Vibrations
Response of single and two-degrees-of-freedom systems to initial, periodic, nonperiodic excitations. Reviewing the elements of analytical dynamics, including the principle of virtual work, Hamilton’s principle and Lagrange’s equations. Response of multi-degree-of-freedom systems. Modeling and dynamic response of discrete vibrating elastic bodies. Analytical techniques for solving dynamic and vibration problems. Vector-tensor-matrix formulation with practical applications to computer simulation. Dynamic response of continuous elastic systems. Strings, membranes, beams, and plates exposed to various dynamic loading. Applications to aero-elastic systems and mechanical systems. Modal analysis and finite element methods applied to vibrating systems. Prerequisite: MECH 141. (4 units)

MECH 311. Modeling and Control of Telerobotic Systems
Case studies of telerobotic devices and mission control architectures. Analysis and control techniques relevant to the remote operation of devices, vehicles, and facilities. Development of a significant research project involving modeling, simulation, or experimentation, and leading to the publication of results. Prerequisite: Instructor approval. (4 units)

MECH 313. Advanced Aerospace Structures
Advanced aircraft, spacecraft structural design and analysis. Airworthiness requirements and load factors. Stress analysis of aircraft components including wing spars and box beams, fuselage structures, and structural materials. Defection analysis of structural systems. Conventional, stiffened, sandwich, and laminated composite structures. Thermal effects. Prerequisite: MECH 153. (4 units)

MECH 323. Modern Control Systems I
Concept of state-space descriptions of dynamic systems. Relations to frequency domain descriptions. State-space realizations and canonical forms. Stability. Controllability and observability. State feedback and observer design. Also listed as ELEN 236. Prerequisite: MECH 142 or 217. (2 units)

MECH 324. Modern Control Systems II
Shaping the dynamic response, pole placement, reduced-order observers, LQG/LTR, introduction to random process and Kalman filters. Prerequisite: MECH 323. (2 units)

MECH 325. Computational Geometry for Computer-Aided Design and Manufacture
Analytic basis for description of points, curves, and surfaces in three-dimensional space. Generation of surfaces for numerically driven machine tools. Plane coordinate geometry, three-dimensional geometry and vector algebra, coordinate transformations, three-dimensional curve and surface geometry, and curve and surface design. (2 units)

MECH 330. Atomic Bonding, Crystal Structure, and Material Properties
Structure of crystalline materials and the relationship between structure and mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties. For all engineering disciplines. Prerequisites: AMTH 245 or MECH 200 or 202. (4 units)

MECH 331. Equilibrium Thermodynamics and Phase Transformations
Thermodynamics of multi-component systems and phase diagrams. Diffusion and phase transformations. For all engineering disciplines. (4 units)

MECH 333. Experiments in Materials Science
This course is an introduction into experimental methods in materials science with the focus on the evaluation of structural and physical properties, especially at the nanoscale. A review of the fundamentals of X-ray, SEM, EDS, and TEM microanalysis represents the core of the course.  The main AFM imaging modes and their applications are covered. Practical implementation concepts of Optical, Electron and Atomic Force Microscopes are given along with sample preparation techniques, calibration methods, image analysis, and AFM artifacts. (2 units)

MECH 335. Adaptive Control I
Overview of adaptive control, Lyapunov stability theory, direct and indirect model-reference adaptive control, least-squares system identification technique, neural network approximation, and neural-network adaptive control. Prerequisites: MECH 324, ELEN 237, and knowledge of Matlab/Simulink. (2 units)

MECH 336. Adaptive Control II
Stability and robustness of adaptive controller, robust modification, bounded linear stability analysis, metrics-driven adaptive control, constraint-based optimal adaptive control, and advanced topics in adaptive control. Prerequisite: MECH 335 or instructor approval, ELEN 237. (2 units)

MECH 337. Robotics I
Overview of robotic systems and applications. Components. Homogeneous transforms. Denavit-Hartenberg representation. Forward and inverse kinematics. Manipulator Jacobian. Singular configurations. Also listed as ELEN 337. Prerequisites: AMTH 245 and MECH 217. (2 units)

MECH 338. Robotics II
Newton-Euler Dynamics. Trajectory planning. Linear manipulator control. Nonlinear manipulator control. Joint space control. Cartesian space control. Hybrid force/position control. Obstacle avoidance. Robotic simulation. Also listed as ELEN 338. Prerequisite: MECH 337. (2 units)

MECH 339. Robotics III
Advanced topics: parallel manipulators, redundant manipulators, underactuated manipulators, coupled manipulator/platform dynamics and control, hardware experimentation and control, dextrous manipulation, multi-robot manipulation, current research in robotic manipulation. Also listed as ELEN 339. Prerequisite: MECH 338. (2 units)

MECH 345. Instrumentation and Design of Experiments
Overview of sensors and experimental techniques. Fundamentals of computer-based data acquisition and control, principles of operation of components in a data acquisitions system. Design and analysis of engineering experiments with emphasis on practical applications. Characterization of experimental accuracy, error analysis, and statistical analysis. Experiments involving measurements and control of equipment. (2 units)

MECH 350. Composite Materials
Design, analysis, and manufacturing of composite materials. Characterization of composites at the materials and substructural levels. Hyperselection. Manufacturing technology and its impact on design. (2 units)

MECH 371. Space Systems Design and Engineering I
A review of the engineering principles, technical subsystems, and design processes that serve as the foundation of developing and operating spacecraft systems. This course focuses on subsystems and analyses relating to orbital mechanics, power, command and data handling, and attitude determination and control. Also listed as ENGR 371. Note: MECH 371 and 372 may be taken in any order. (4 units)

MECH 372. Space Systems Design and Engineering II
A review of the engineering principles, technical subsystems, and design processes that serve as the foundation of developing and operating spacecraft systems. This course focuses on subsystems and analyses relating to mechanical, thermal, software, and sensing elements. Also listed as ENGR 372. Note: MECH 371 and 372 may be taken in any order. (4 units)

MECH 377. Continuum Mechanics
General introduction to the mechanics of continuous media. Topics include the kinematics of deformation, the concept of stress, and the balance laws for mass, momentum, and energy. This is followed by an introduction to constitutive theory with applications to established models for viscous fluids and elastic solids. Concepts are illustrated through the solution of tractable initial-boundary-value problems. Prerequisites: MECH 122, CENG 43, AMTH 106. (4 units)

MECH 379. Satellite Operations Laboratory
Introduces analysis and control topics relating to the operation of on-orbit spacecraft. Several teaching modules address conceptual topics to include mission and orbit planning, antenna tracking, command and telemetry operations, resource allocation, and anomaly management. Students will become certified to operate real spacecraft and will participate in the operation of both orbiting satellites and ground prototype systems. (1 unit)

MECH 399. Ph.D. Thesis Research
By arrangement. May be repeated up to 40 units. (1–9 units)

MECH 415. Optimization in Mechanical Design
Introduction to optimization: design and performance criteria. Application of optimization techniques in engineering design, including case studies. Functions of single and multiple variables. Optimization with constraints. Prerequisites: AMTH 106 and 245. (2 units)

MECH 420. Model Predictive Control
Review of state-space model in discrete time, stability, optimal control, prediction, Kalman filter. Measurable and unmeasurable disturbance, finite and receding horizon control, MPC formulation and design. Also listed as ELEN 238. Prerequisite: MECH 323 or ELEN 236. (2 units)

MECH 423. Nonlinear Control I
Introduction to nonlinear phenomena, planar or second-order systems: qualitative behavior of linear systems, linearization, Lyapunov stability theory, LaSalle’s invariance principle, small gain theorem, and input-to-state stability. Prerequisite: MECH 323 or equivalent. (2 units)

MECH 424. Nonlinear Control II
Continuation of MECH 423. Stabilization via linearization, Integral control, integral control via linearization, feedback linearization including input-output, input-state, and full-state linearization, sliding mode control, back-stepping, controllability and observability of nonlinear systems, model reference and self-tuning adaptive control. (2 units)

MECH 429. Optimal Control I
Introduction to the principles and methods of the optimal control approach: performance measure criteria including the definition of minimum-time, terminal control, minimum-control effort, tracking, and regulatory problems, calculus of variations applied to optimal control problems including Euler-Lagrange equation, transversality condition constraint, Pontryagin’s minimum principle (PMP), linear quadratic regulator (LQR) and tracking control problems. Also listed as ELEN 237. Prerequisite: MECH 323 or an equivalent course in linear system theory. Students are expected to be proficient in MATLAB/Simulink or MECH 142 or equivalent. (2 units)

MECH 430. Optimal Control II
Continuation of Optimal Control I, control with state constraints, minimum-time and minimum-fuel problems, singular arcs, Bellman’s principle of optimality, dynamic programming, the Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman (H-J-B) equation, and introduction to differential game theory including zero-sum game and linear quadratic differential game problem. Prerequisite: MECH 429 or an equivalent course. Students are expected to be proficient in MATLAB/Simulink. (2 units)

MECH 431. Spacecraft Dynamics and Control
Kinematics and Attitude dynamics, gravity-gradient stabilization, single and dual-spin stabilization, control laws with momentum exchange devices, momentum wheels. Time-optimal slew maneuvers, momentum-biased attitude stabilization, reaction thruster attitude control, introduction to dynamics of flexible spacecraft and liquid sloshing problem. Prerequisites: MECH 140 and AMTH 106. (4 units)

Contact Us

Interim Chair: Michael Taylor
Department Manager: Gina Orais

408-554-4937

Mechanical Engineering
Santa Clara University
500 El Camino Real
Santa Clara, CA 95053