Knowra Mechanical engineering Mechanical engineering Mechanical engineering applies mechanics, materials science, and energy principles to design, analyze, manufacture, and maintain machines and mechanical systems.
Classical mechanics : The study of motion and forces on bodies at speeds far below the speed of light. Its laws underpin mechanical analysis of structures, machines, and moving parts.
Computer-aided design : The use of software to create, modify, and document digital designs. Engineers use it to define component geometry and prepare designs for analysis and manufacture.
Internal combustion engine : An engine that converts fuel energy into mechanical work by burning fuel inside its working chamber. It is a major application of thermodynamics, combustion, materials, and machine design.
James Watt : A Scottish inventor and engineer whose improvements made the steam engine substantially more efficient. His engine helped expand the use of mechanical power during industrialization.
Electrical engineering : The engineering discipline concerned with electrical and electronic systems, devices, and power. It focuses on electrical phenomena, though many products combine electrical and mechanical systems.
Thermodynamics : The study of heat, work, temperature, and energy transformations. It governs engines, refrigerators, power plants, and thermal systems.
Finite element method : A numerical method that approximates solutions to engineering problems by dividing a domain into smaller elements. It predicts stresses, deformations, temperatures, and vibrations in complex parts.
Gas turbine : A rotary engine that extracts work from hot, expanding gas. Its compressors, combustors, and turbines bring mechanical and thermal design together.
Sadi Carnot : A French physicist whose analysis of ideal heat engines helped establish thermodynamics. His work set theoretical limits for converting heat into mechanical work.
Civil engineering : The engineering discipline concerned with infrastructure and the built environment, including structures, transport, and water systems. Its central objects are infrastructure and buildings rather than machines and mechanical systems.
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