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Michigan Engineering Bulletin 2006-07

Departments & Programs
College Bulletin  ::  Mechanical Engineering  ::  Overview

Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

The Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan reflects the broad aspects of the mechanical engineering field. As exhibited by our internationally recognized leadership in traditional fields such as manufacturing and automotive, to new enabling technologies of micro- and nanotechnology, biomechanics and biomaterials, and environmentally friendly product design, mechanical engineers are well positioned for the research, design, development and manufacture of a diverse set of systems and products.

The Mechanical Engineering program provides students with an excellent foundation in the core technical competencies of the discipline: thermal and fluid sciences, solid mechanics and materials, and dynamics and control. Built upon these strengths is a very strong focus on application of these technical abilities through our design and manufacturing sequence. In addition, an array of technical electives is offered to enable students to tailor their mechanical engineering education to best suit their career goals.

There are numerous programs offered to enrich your education, such as dual-degrees (ME degree and a second degree from another Engineering Honors program), Sequential Graduate/Undergraduate Studies (SGUS), the Engineering Global Leadership Honors Program (EGL), study abroad, and independent study opportunities with ME faculty. Students interested in any of these programs should contact the Mechanical Engineering Academic Services Office.

Students who do well in their undergraduate program are encouraged to consider graduate work and may take some of their electives in preparation for graduate study.

Information and assistance regarding fellowships and assistantships for graduate study may be obtained in the Academic Services Office of the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

Facilities

The laboratories of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, located in the George Granger Brown Laboratories, Walter E. Lay Automotive Laboratory, and H. H. Dow buildings on the North Campus provide facilities for both instruction and research.

The George Granger Brown Laboratories Building contains thermodynamics, heat transfer, and fluid mechanics laboratories; holographic measurements laboratory; and thermal systems research. Also located in this building are the biomechanics laboratory, the manufacturing processes and integrated manufacturing laboratories, and the materials laboratories, which provide facilities for investigations in such areas as adaptive controls, welding, acoustic emission, brittle fracture, heat treating, plasticity, surface phenomena, and mechanical properties.

The Walter E. Lay Automotive Laboratory houses the mechanical analysis laboratory with a wide variety of electromechanical instrumentation and computers for the experimental analysis of dynamics of mechanical systems; the cavitation and multiphase flow laboratory for theoretical and experimental investigations into many aspects of such phenomena; the automatic controls laboratory for demonstrating and investigating principles and applications of control systems; the combustion laboratory with a gas chromatograph and an infrared spectrometer; and the facilities for automotive engineering, which include a number of well-instrumented test cells for reciprocating engines, a test cell for a small aircraft gas turbine, and a number of single cylinder engines, including optical engines.

The Integrated Manufacturing Systems Laboratory (IMSL) in the H.H. Dow Building is one of the premiere manufacturing research laboratories in the U.S., with facilities to support machining, computer aided manufacturing, and precision engineering.

An up-to-date description of all facilities and procedures can be found on the departmental webpage.

Accreditation

This program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012, telephone (410) 347-7700.