Basics Of Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical engineering is a broad and foundational branch of engineering that covers a wide range of subjects related to mechanics, thermodynamics, materials, manufacturing, and design. Here’s a comprehensive list of subjects typically covered in a mechanical engineering program:

Core Subjects

These are the fundamental building blocks of mechanical engineering:

1. Engineering Mechanics
   • Statics
   • Dynamics
   • Kinematics
   • Free-body diagrams
2. Strength of Materials (Mechanics of Materials)
   • Stress & strain
   • Bending, shear, and torsion
   • Beam and shaft design
3. Thermodynamics
   • Laws of thermodynamics
   • Heat and work interactions
   • Power cycles
4. Fluid Mechanics
   • Fluid properties
   • Flow dynamics
   • Bernoulli’s equation
   • Pipe and open channel flow
5. Heat and Mass Transfer
   • Conduction, convection, radiation
   • Heat exchangers
6. Machine Design
   • Design of gears, bearings, fasteners, shafts
   • Factor of safety
   • Fatigue and failure theories
7. Theory of Machines (Kinematics & Dynamics of Machinery)
   • Gears, cams, linkages
   • Balancing
   • Vibrations
8. Manufacturing Technology (or Processes)
   • Casting, welding, machining
   • CNC and automation
   • Additive manufacturing
9. Materials Science and Engineering
   • Types of materials (metals, polymers, ceramics)
   • Crystal structure
   • Phase diagrams and heat treatment
10. Engineering Drawing / CAD
    • Orthographic and isometric projections
    • GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing)
    • 2D/3D modeling using CAD software

Mathematics and Computing

Support the analytical and simulation work:

1. Engineering Mathematics
   • Calculus, differential equations
   • Linear algebra
   • Fourier/Laplace transforms
   • Numerical methods
2. Computational Methods / Programming
   • MATLAB / Python / C++
   • FEA (Finite Element Analysis)
   • CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics)

 Advanced / Applied Subjects

Usually studied in higher semesters or as electives:

1. Robotics and Mechatronics
2. Automobile Engineering
3. Aerospace Engineering
4. HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning)
5. Renewable Energy Systems
6. Control Systems
7. Industrial Engineering
8. Product Design and Development
9. Biomechanics / Biomedical Engineering

Management & Communication

Often included to prepare for real-world projects and leadership:

1. Engineering Economics
2. Project Management
3. Operations Research
4. Professional Ethics and Communication Skills