Advanced Mechanical Engineering MSc

Course Content

During the first two terms (September - March) you will take eight modules, out of which:

• Four are the same for both streams (compulsory modules - 15 credits each)
• The other four (15 credits each) are different for the two streams.

In May the final examinations for the taught modules will take place and in their third term (June - September) students will complete the final dissertation.

You have the option to choose one of two specialisations, or ‘streams,’ for your dissertation:

• Thermofluids, or
• Solid Body Mechanics.

The structure of the course is summarised in the scheme below:

Compulsory Modules Strategic Management, Innovation and Enterprise
Prepares graduate engineers to perform the managerial and business functions expected of staff in first level management positions in engineering organisations. Main topics include: financial ownership issues; human resources management; organisation of a business; marketing concept; ethical business; marketing communications.

Research Methods and Sustainable Engineering

Instil principles of good research practice and enable students to acquire skills to conduct scientifically-robust research with due consideration of engineering quality issues and environmental and health and safety risks. Students will develop a multi-disciplinary understanding of sustainable development and develop a portfolio of environmental impact appraisal tools to apply as future practicing engineers.

Main topics include: practical research issues; information retrieval; risk management; scientific communication, research dissemination; sustainable engineering, including but not limited to sustainable development concepts and policy drivers, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), environmental impact appraisal tools, with the help of case studies.

Advanced Modelling and Design
Provides students with the ability to employ advanced numerical models for the analysis of complex engineering problems. Main topics include: finite element analysis: two-dimensional elements: triangular, quadrilateral and isoparametric; applications to steady and transient heat transfer; applications to two-dimensional stress analysis; optimisation: types of optimisation problems; objective function; constrained and unconstrained optimisation; multivariate search methods, penalty function, Lagrange multipliers; applications to linkage synthesis; manufacture: computer applications in manufacturing practice, optimisation in design for manufacture, management procedures and quality requirements, application to company practice; design: use and application of Computer Aided Engineering Software in engineering manufacture; the integration of computer aided engineering and manufacturing methods in company practice.

Computer Aided Engineering 1
Shows how the entities points, edges, surfaces and solids are modelled for CAE and how to use their implementation on contemporary CAE software to create the computer model of a part or assembly. Covers some useful applications of computer models such as mechanism synthesis and analysis, NC manufacture and Rapid Prototyping. Provides the skill on the use of a contemporary CAE package for Mechanism Analysis, NC code generation and Rapid Prototyping. Main topics include:

• Representation and manipulation of the entities points, lines and curves, surfaces and solids (components and assemblies) for use in CAD/CAM applications, with a hands on training in a contemporary CAE system.
• Analysing the motion aspects (position, velocity and acceleration) and force aspects of connected links or chains used in products (Dynamics).
• The use of a CAE package for analysing mechanisms.
• Basics of NC manufacturing and the use of a contemporary CAE package for generating NC codes.
• Principles of Rapid Prototyping (RP) and the use of a RP system and a contemporary CAD software

Dissertation (Individual project)

Optional Modules

Choose one of the two themes below:

Theme 1 – Thermofluids

• Advanced Thermofluids: Includes advanced experimental and modelling research tools in thermofluids. Main topics include: methods and instruments in fluid flow measurements: laser doppler anemometry (LDA), particle image velocimetry (PIV), hot-wire anemometry (HWA); Fluid flow and heat transfer simulations by Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) modelling, large eddy simulation (LES) and direct numerical simulation (DNS).

• Advanced Heat and Mass Transfer*: Presents theory and practical concepts of single and two-phase heat transfer and applies this to heat and mass transfer equipment. Main topics include: concepts of heat transfer; boiling; condensation; heat exchangers; mass transfer concepts and equipment.

• Energy Conversion Technologies: Provides familiarisation with the principles and practice of modern energy conversion technologies. Main topics include: principal fuels for energy conversion; production of thermal energy; nuclear reactors; conversion of thermal to mechanical energy; environmental impacts of power plant operation; cooling and heating equipment.

• Renewable Energy Technologies: Introduces students to the principles of the main renewable resources and provides them with an understanding of renewable energy technologies. Main topics include: The role of Renewables: Economics; Renewable Energy Resource Assessment; National and European Policies; Barriers to implementation of Renewables; Case studies. Solar Thermal: Availability of solar radiation; Types of solar water heating systems; Solar water heating system design, sizing and performance; Solar Electricity: Introduction to Photovoltaics; Materials and Components; Photovoltaic system design and sizing. Wind Power Generation: Availability of Wind; Turbine types; Electricity generation; Planning issues; Turbine sizing and economics. Hydro Electricity: Types of hydro-electric installations; Power generation from waves and tides; Turbines. Environmental considerations. Biofuels: Sources of fuel. Energy extraction techniques; Case-studies. Building Integrated Renewables: Case studies.

Theme 2 – Solid Body Mechanics

• Advanced Solid Body Mechanics: Covers specialist advance research topics in solid body mechanics and introduces further techniques and analytical topics in experimental stress analysis. Main topics of study include: applications of contact mechanics; time dependent fracture mechanics; engineering design and analysis of silos; biomechanics; biomaterials; experimental stress analysis; strain gauges, photoelasticity, brittle coatings; stress functions in Cartesian and polar coordinates; plasticity in structural elements; analysis of plates in bending.

• Dynamics and Modal Analysis*: Covers specialist advance research topics in dynamics and modal analysis based on our recent and current research work. Main topics include: matrix treatment of mechanisms both open and closed loop; optimisation and synthesis related to mechanism design; inverse dynamics applied to human body motion.

• Structural Design and FEA: Gives students advanced theoretical knowledge in Finite Element Analysis, Structural Design and Design of Components. Main topics include: structural design: statically determinate and statically indeterminate structures; energy methods: strain energy, external work, Castigliano's theorems; the principles of virtual work, forces and displacements; unit load method; plasticity and instability of columns; beams and plates; optimum structural design, limit analysis, dynamic programming; FEA: fundamental concepts, theory of elements and applications of finite element method on stress analysis and modal analysis of real world problems; introduction to the FEA software; problem formulation and guidance on the solution methodology using the software; application on stress and frequency analyses.

• Human Factors in Design: Main topics include: introduction to human factors in design, anthropometry, biomechanics, metabolism, subjective evaluation, whole-body vibration, hand-arm vibration; designing to fit body posture; designing for movement and design of controls and displays.

* If the number of students that choose this stream is low this module may be replaced with an alternative related module.

Read more about the structure of postgraduate degrees at Brunel and what you will learn on the course.