Undergraduate Catalog 2023-2024
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Mechanical Engineering (ME)

ME 176    Mechanical Engineering Freshman Design    1 Hour

An introduction to mechanical engineering. The design process and basic professional tools are introduced through multiple projects. Permission of instructor only.

Prerequisite(s): (MATH 117 (may be taken concurrently) or MATH 136 (may be taken concurrently) or MATH 137 (may be taken concurrently) or MATH 237 (may be taken concurrently) or MATH 331 (may be taken concurrently))

Course Fee: $25

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021; fall 2021; spring 2022; fall 2022; spring 2023; fall 2023

ME 180    Freshman Design II    3 Hours

A continuation of the engineering design process, with an emphasis on electromechanical design and the use of professional engineering tools. Virtual and rapid prototypes will be developed through a series of integrated projects. Basic concepts in engineering experimentation will be introduced.

Prerequisite(s): ME 176 with a minimum grade of C and MATH 136 with a minimum grade of C

Course Fee: $275

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021; fall 2021; spring 2022; fall 2022; spring 2023; fall 2023

ME 200    Sophomore Design    3 Hours

Enhances design abilities through individual and team design projects, develops structured problem-solving techniques and written, oral and graphical communication skills. Note: Pre Major must be satisfied in iCAP.

Prerequisite(s): ME 180 with a minimum grade of C

Course Fee: $120

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021; fall 2021; spring 2022; fall 2022; spring 2023; fall 2023

ME 220    Engineering Thermodynamics I    3 Hours

Fundamental principles of thermodynamics, first law, physical properties, ideal and real gases, second law, reversibility and irreversibility, and consequences of thermodynamic cycles.

Prerequisite(s): (EM 221 or EM 222) and MATH 237 (may be taken concurrently)

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021; fall 2021; winter 2022; fall 2022; winter 2023; fall 2023

ME 240    Materials and Methods of Manufacturing    3 Hours

Introduction to the science of engineering materials including structures from the atomic to macroscopic scales, properties, strengthening mechanisms, phase diagrams, and correlation between processing and properties. Introduction to manufacturing process selection and properties of materials.

Prerequisite(s): MATH 136 and (CHEM 116 with a minimum grade of C or CHEM 120 with a minimum grade of C)

Corequisite(s): ME 241

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021; fall 2021; spring 2022; fall 2022; spring 2023; fall 2023

ME 241    Materials and Methods of Manufacturing Lab    1 Hour

Laboratory supporting ME 240. Experiments to develop understanding of materials science, engineering material properties and relationships between processing and properties. Exposure to manufacturing methods through experimentation and observation, including field trips to regional sites.

Prerequisite(s): (CHEM 106 or CHEM 121)

Corequisite(s): ME 240

Course Fee: $35

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021; fall 2021; spring 2022; fall 2022; spring 2023; fall 2023

ME 300    Junior Design    2 Hours

Introduces the concept of design methodologies: Design for Assembly, Design for Manufacturing, etc. and applies these techniques to design projects. Written, oral, and graphical communication skills will continue to be developed, including skills in working with vendors for production of components to engineering specifications.

Prerequisite(s): ME 200 with a minimum grade of C and ME 220 and ME 344

Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Mechanical Engineering (543)

Course Fee: $120

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021; fall 2021; spring 2022; fall 2022

ME 310    Engineering Instrumentation and Experimentation    3 Hours

The use of sensors and instruments to measure the behavior of mechanical systems is explored. Application of sensors, calibration of systems, and methods of data collection and analysis are covered with an emphasis on uncertainty analysis. Application of principals explored in corequisite laboratory, ME 347.

Prerequisite(s): EM 303 and EE 210 (may be taken concurrently)

Corequisite(s): ME 347

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021; spring 2022; spring 2023; fall 2023

ME 321    Engineering Thermodynamics II    3 Hours

Gas mixtures, air-water vapor mixtures. Air conditioning system design. Principles and design of energy conversion devices, power and refrigeration cycles. Principles of combustion, chemical equilibrium, one-dimensional gas dynamics. Nozzle design. Continuation of ME 220.

Prerequisite(s): ME 220 and MATH 331

Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2021; spring 2023

ME 325    Elements of Heat Transfer    4 Hours

Discussion of basic physical laws of heat transfer including steady-state and transient heat flow; one-,two-and three-dimensional heat conduction in solids, free or forced convection in fluids, radiation and phase change. Analysis of heat exchangers.

Prerequisite(s): ME 330 and MATH 331

Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2021; fall 2022; fall 2023

ME 330    Fluid Mechanics    3 Hours

An introduction of physical laws governing the mechanical behavior of liquids and gasses, with applications of conservation of mass, energy and momentum equations. Topics include fluid statics, internal and external fluid flow, flow measurement, scale modeling and similtude, hydraulic machinery analysis and pipe networks.

Prerequisite(s): ME 220 with a minimum grade of C and MATH 331 (may be taken concurrently) and MATH 237

Corequisite(s): ME 332

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021; spring 2022; spring 2023; summer 2023

ME 332    Fluid Mechanics Laboratory    1 Hour

An applied laboratory in the modeling, prediction, and measurement of fluid mechanics components and systems, with emphasis on the preparation of engineering reports, uncertainty analysis, and the experimental design plan process. System level experiments include fluid property measurements, pipe flow and turbomachinery characteristics.

Prerequisite(s): ME 310

Corequisite(s): ME 330

Course Fee: $25

Recent Term(s) Offered: None

ME 333    Thermo-Fluids Laboratory    1 Hour

An applied laboratory in the modeling, prediction, and analysis of thermal fluid systems, with an emphasis on the preparation of engineering reports, uncertainty, and the experimental design process. System level experiments include fluid property measurements, pipe flow, turbomachinery, heat transfer principles and heat exchanger characteristics.

Prerequisite(s): ME 310 and ME 330

Corequisite(s): ME 325

Course Fee: $25

Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2021; fall 2022; fall 2023

ME 344    Mechanical Design    3 Hours

Fundamentals of design with methods of approximation. Introduction to optimum design considerations. Synthesis and problems on the design of various mechanical elements.

Prerequisite(s): EM 303 with a minimum grade of C and ME 240 with a minimum grade of C

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021; fall 2021; spring 2022; fall 2022; fall 2023

ME 347    Mechanical Systems Laboratory    1 Hour

Implementation of fundamental principles and physical laws governing the response of mechanical system components to external forces and constraints. Students will learn how to plan, conduct, and report on a variety of experiments and projects to measure the performance characteristics of mechanical systems.

Prerequisite(s): ME 241 and MATH 331 (may be taken concurrently)

Corequisite(s): ME 310

Course Fee: $35

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021; spring 2022; spring 2023; fall 2023

ME 366    Mechanics for Electrical Engineers    3 Hours

A combined course in statics and dynamics. Topics from statics include vector algebra, distributed and internal forces, trusses, frames, and beams. Topics from dynamics include kinematics/kinetics in various reference systems, work/energy, and impulse/momentum. (This course is not for civil or mechanical engineering majors.)

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 255 and MATH 237 (may be taken concurrently)

Recent Term(s) Offered: None

ME 400    Mechanical Engineering Design    2 Hours

A formal introduction to product development methodologies and project management techniques, building upon experiences in previous design courses. Students will perform team design projects as well as complete the design specifications for their senior capstone project.

Prerequisite(s): ME 300

Recent Term(s) Offered: None

ME 412    Mechanical Engineering Senior Project    3 Hours

Students work in design teams to develop a robust solution to a complex system design problem. Focus will be on the design-build-test of the proposed solution. Students expected to demonstrate all aspects of professional engineering practice.

Prerequisite(s): ME 400 and ME 325 (may be taken concurrently)

Recent Term(s) Offered: None

ME 416    UK-Dynamic Systems Elective    3 Hours

Advanced special topics delivered in the program by UK faculty to acquaint the undergraduate student with significant problems and developments of current interest in the dynamic systems area of mechanical engineering.

Prerequisite(s): EM 313 and MATH 331

Course Fee: $120

Recent Term(s) Offered: None

ME 494    WKU ME Selected Topics    2 Hours (repeatable max of 6 hrs)

Advanced special topics delivered in the fall semester by WKU faculty to acquaint the undergraduate student with significant problems and developments of current interest in mechanical engineering. Course is repeatable (with different topics) two times. Note: Permission of instructor is required.

Recent Term(s) Offered: None

ME 495    WKU ME Selected Projects    1 Hour (repeatable max of 3 hrs)

An advanced special project course delivered by WKU faculty to allow undergraduate students the opportunity to execute a relevant project of current interest in mechanical engineering. This course accompanies a ME 494 course, and together will satisfy one technical elective requirement. Course is repeatable (with different topics) two times. Note: Permission of instructor is required.

Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2023

ME 496    WKU – ME Selected Topics (Fall)    3 Hours (repeatable max of 9 hrs)

Advanced special topics delivered in the fall semester by WKU faculty to acquaint the undergraduate student with significant problems and developments of current interest in mechanical engineering. Course is repeatable (with different topics) two times. Note: Permission of instructor required.

Recent Term(s) Offered: summer 2021; fall 2021; summer 2022; fall 2022; fall 2023

ME 497    WKU – ME Selected Topics (Spring)    3 Hours (repeatable max of 9 hrs)

Advanced special topics delivered in the spring semester by WKU faculty to acquaint the undergraduate student with significant problems and developments of current interest in mechanical engineering. Course is repeatable (with different topics) two times. Note:Permission of instructor is required.

Recent Term(s) Offered: winter 2021; spring 2021; winter 2022; spring 2022; spring 2023

ME 498    UK – ME Selected Topics (Fall)    3 Hours (repeatable max of 9 hrs)

Advanced special topics delivered in the fall semester by UK faculty to acquaint the undergraduate student with significant problems and developments of current interest in mechanical engineering. Course is repeatable (with different topics) two times. Note: Permission of instructor is required.

Recent Term(s) Offered: None

ME 499    UK – ME Selected Topics (Spring)    3 Hours (repeatable max of 9 hrs)

Advanced special topics delivered in the spring semester by UK faculty to acquaint the undergraduate student with significant problems and developments of current interest in mechanical engineering. Course is repeatable (with different topics) two times. Note: Permission of instructor is required.

Recent Term(s) Offered: None