Chair   John A. Tichy
Associate Chair for Graduate Studies   Kevin C. Craig
Associate Chair for Undergraduate Studies   Henrik J. Hagerup

Please note: the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering & Mechanics is now the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Nuclear Engineering.

Department Home Page   http://www.rpi.edu/dept/mane/

Mechanical engineers are called upon for a wide range of activities. At one end of the spectrum, they are concerned with fundamental engineering science, especially energetics and mechanics; at the other end, with the hardware of various technologies—the design and manufacture of mechanical components and systems. Aeronautical engineering is a branch of mechanical engineering, with associated technologies that apply not only to aircraft and spacecraft, but to other vehicular systems such as submarines and hydrofoils. Mechanics is also viewed in the general framework of mechanical engineering, especially at the doctoral level.

Areas of Concentration

This department and others in the school provide expertise covering a wide range of subdisciplines. These subdisciplines, in various combinations, form several interacting areas of concentration: the technological areas of aeronautics, energy systems, manufacturing and space technology; design, a key function the engineer must be qualified to fulfill; and applied mechanics, which underlies all the above areas.

Aeronautics Concentration   This concentration is concerned with the analysis, design, development, and operation of flight vehicles and is fundamental for students interested in aeronautical engineering. The concentration provides a strong engineering and scientific foundation in fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, structural dynamics, vehicular mechanics, and control systems analysis. Student projects in recent years have involved spin prevention in fighter aircraft, trailing vortex dissipation, and helicopter maneuverability.

Applied Mechanics Concentration   This concentration provides the opportunity for fundamental study in fluid mechanics and solid mechanics. The objective is to develop broad analytical abilities and encourage critical inquiry. Programs in this area usually continue through the master’s level. Topics have included cellular heat convection, locally separated flow, and inelastic fatigue analysis and fracture. Biomechanics, especially the mechanics of musculoskeletal systems, is part of this concentration.

Design Concentration   This concentration is concerned with design methodology in general and mechanical design techniques in particular and is intended for mechanical engineering students interested in the design of machinery and mechanical systems. A student interested in the design of specialized mechanical equipment can develop a suitable program from courses in this and other mechanical engineering concentrations.

Energy Systems Concentration   This concentration is intended for those interested in energy conversion and the development of mechanical power. Students concerned with the design of equipment in this field should consider this concentration together with the design concentration. Those interested in the fundamentals should consider this concentration together with the applied mechanics concentration.

Manufacturing Concentration   This concentration is intended for the student of mechanical engineering who is interested in manufacturing and is planning a career designing manufacturing equipment, developing new manufacturing techniques, or operating manufacturing facilities.

Space Technology Concentration   This concentration is offered for students interested in the analysis, design, development, and operations required for space exploration and utilization. Space technology is inherently a multidisciplinary field. Current areas of particular emphasis in this concentration include the space environment, propulsion, orbital and structural dynamics, structures and control.

Areas of Advanced Research and Study

Opportunities for advanced study are delineated below. Opportunities for research may be theoretical, computational, and/or experimental. The New York State Center for Advanced Technology, the Scientific Computation Research Center, and the Center for Composite Materials and Structures offer additional research opportunities for the department’s students and their faculty advisers.

Aeronautics

• composite structures, optimization
• gas dynamics/hypersonics/transonics
• flight dynamics and controls
• unsteady subsonic aerodynamics
• structural/rotational dynamics
• aeroelasticity
• nonlinear rotor blade dynamic

Facilities include the composite materials and structures fabrication and testing laboratory; the 4-by-6-foot subsonic, closed-return wind tunnel; the 3-leg (subsonic, transonic, supersonic) blow-down wind tunnel; the 70-foot-long shock tunnel; the hypersonic shock tunnel; the rotor dynamics and computer-aided experimentation laboratory; and the symbolic computation laboratory.

Applied Mechanics/Mechanics of Materials

• acoustics
• finite element methods
• composites
• inelastic constitutive equations
• electromechanics
• plasticity
• fatigue/fracture
• thermoviscoplasticity
• finite deformation
• nonlinear vibrations

Facilities include the mechanics of materials laboratory with an MTS servo-controlled axialtorsion hydraulic testing system, the laboratory for noise control research with an anechoic chamber, the experimental mechanics laboratory, and the viscoelasticity laboratory.

Energy Systems

• computational methods
• mass transfer
• convective heat transfer and freezing
• electronic cooling
• multicomponent flows
• heat transfer augmentation
• fouling

Facilities include the gas turbine laboratory; the energy systems laboratory; subsonic, transonic, and supersonic wind tunnels; shock tubes; the heat transfer laboratory; and the laboratory for fouling research.

Manufacturing/Design

• CAD/CAM
• metrology
• controls
• robotics
• metal forming and cutting
• system integration

Facilities include the advanced manufacturing laboratory, the laboratory for intelligent machines, the robotics and mechanisms laboratory, the high-speed machining laboratory, and the computerintegrated manufacturing laboratory.

Space Technology

• advanced energetics
• structural dynamics
• controls
• structures

Facilities include microcomputer systems for space technology and the symbolic computation laboratory.

Tribology

• chemistry of lubrication
• surface mechanics
• fluid film lubrication
• wear control

Facilities include the fluid systems laboratory, the tribology laboratory, and the boundary layer analysis laboratory with unique instrumentation.

Faculty

Professors

Crespo da Silva, M.R.M.   Ph.D. (Stanford University); dynamics, nonlinear vibrations, perturbation methods, computerized symbolic manipulation.
Dvorak, G.J.   Ph.D. (Brown University); mechanics of solids, composite materials and structures, fracture and fatigue; (William Howard Hart Professor of Mechanics).
Fish, J.   Ph.D. (Northwestern University); computational mechanics, finite element methods, micromechanics, mathematical modeling; (joint appointment, Civil Engineering is home department).
Gabriele, G.A.   Ph.D. (Purdue University); design automation, design optimization; (Vice Provost for Administration, Dean of Undergraduate Education).
Hajela, P.   Ph.D. (Stanford University); optimum design, structural dynamics, aeroelasticity.
Jensen, M.K.   P.E., Ph.D. (Iowa State University); heat transfer, fluid mechanics, energy systems.
Krempl, E.   Dr.Ing. (Technical University of Munich); continuum mechanics, mechanics of materials, creep, fatigue, inelastic analysis; (Rosalind and John J. Redfern Jr. Professor of Engineering).
Lee, D.   Sc.D. (Massachusetts Institute of Technology); mechanics of materials, computer-aided manufacturing.
Li, C.J.   Ph.D. (University of Wisconsin-Madison); control of manufacturing process and equipment, machine condition monitoring, nonlinear system identification.
Rusak, Z.   D.Sc. (Technion-Israel Institute of Technology); theoretical aerodynamics, fluid mechanics.
Shephard, M.S.   Ph.D. (Cornell University); finite element analysis, computer graphics, computer-aided design; (joint appointment, Civil Engineering is home department); (Samuel A. Johnson ‘37 and Elizabeth C. Johnson Professor of Engineering).
Smith, R.N.   Ph.D. (University of California, Berkeley); energy systems.
Spilker, R.L.   Ph.D. (Massachusetts Institute of Technology); biomechanics, finite element methods; (joint appointment, Biomedical Engineering is home department).
Tichy, J.A.   Ph.D. (University of Michigan); tribology, non-Newtonian fluid mechanics, rheology.
Tiersten, H.F.   P.E., Ph.D. (Columbia University); continuum mechanics, continuum physics, electromechanical devices, structures.

Clinical Professor

Lemnios, A.Z.   Ph.D. (University of Connecticut); rotorcraft technology, aeroelasticity, unsteady aerodynamics, structural dynamics.

Associate Professors

Blanchet, T.A.   Ph.D. (Dartmouth College); tribology, solid lubrication, surface science, contact mechanics.
Craig, K.C.   Ph.D. (Columbia University); design, tribology, mechanics, controls.
Derby, S.J.   Ph.D. (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute); automation, mechanisms, robotics, design.
Hagerup, H.J.   Ph.D. (Princeton University); viscous flow.
Hirsa, A.   Ph.D. (University of Michigan); fluid mechanics, experimental gas dynamics.
Kaminski, D.A.   Ph.D. (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute); heat transfer, computational fluid mechanics, thermal radiation; (Chair, Engineering Science, and Director, Core Engineering).
Maniatty, A.M.   Ph.D. (Cornell University); continuum mechanics, mechanics of materials; (Clare Boothe Luce Professor).
Messac, A.   Ph.D. (Massachusetts Institute of Technology); optimal design, physical programming, design methodology, structural dynamics.
Myrabo, L.N.   Ph.D. (University of California, San Diego); energy systems, space technology.
Ostrogorsky, A.G.   Sc.D. (Massachusetts Institute of Technology); heat transfer and fluid mechanics, solidification, crystal growth.
Scarton, H.A.   Ph.D. (Carnegie Mellon University); biomechanics, wave phenomena, acoustics, noise control.
Sham, T.L.   Ph.D. (Brown University); applied mechanics, fracture technology.
Thompson, B.E.   Ph.D. (University of London); aerodynamics, fluid mechanics, multiphase flow.

Associate Clinical Professor

Steiner, M.W.   Ph.D. (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute); multidisciplinary design, product architecture, advanced design methods.

Assistant Professors

Anderson, K.S.   Ph.D. (Stanford University); multibody dynamics, parallel computing, vehicle dynamics.
Borca-Tasciuc, T.   Ph.D. (University of California, Los Angeles); heat transfer and energy conversion at nanotechnology, MEMS.
Castillo, L.   Ph.D. (University at Buffalo); fluid mechanics, turbulent boundary layers.
Koratkar, N.A.   Ph.D. (University of Maryland at College Park); smart materials and structures, rotorcraft, unsteady aerodynamics.
Jansen, K.   Ph.D. (Stanford University); computational mechanics, parallel computing, computational fluid dynamics.
Picu, C.R.   Ph.D. (Dartmouth College); mechanics of solids, micro-and nano-mechanics of crystalline defects, atomistic simulations.
Walczyk, D.F.   P.E., Ph.D. (Massachusetts Institute of Technology); rapid tooling, environmentally conscious design, machine design.

Senior Lecturer

Swersey, B.L.   B.S. (Cornell University); creativity in design, design methodology.

Lecturer

McDougall, R.   B.S. (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute); mechatronics.

Adjunct Faculty

Borton, D.N.   Ph.D. (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute); solar energy.
Feitelberg, A.S.   Ph.D. (Massachusetts Institute of Technology); combustion.
Ting, J.K.   M.S. (Massachusetts Institute of Technology); energy systems.
Vasilakis, J.D.   Ph.D. (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute); stress analysis.

Emeritus Faculty

Bergles, A.E.   P.E., NAE,   Ph.D. (Massachusetts Institute of Technology); heat transfer, two-phase flow.
Ettles, C.M.   McC.   Ph.D. (Imperial College), D.Sc. (University of London); mechanical design, machine dynamics, tribology.
Nagamatsu, H.T.   Ph.D. (California Institute of Technology); hypersonics, transonics, plasma dynamics, aeroacoustics, heat transfer.
Sneck, H.J., Jr.   P.E., Ph.D. (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute); viscous-fluid mechanics, bearing lubrication and design.
Somerscales, E.F.C.   Ph.D. (Cornell University); heat transfer.

Senior Research Engineer

Murray, S.F.   B.S. (Boston College); tribology.

Research Specialist

Calabrese, S.J.   tribology.

Technical Managers

Mielke, W.R., Jr.   B.S. (Union College)
Paedelt, V.

Undergraduate Programs

The baccalaureate programs for the B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and the B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering are listed below. Mechanical engineering majors may choose concentration electives to provide core breadth within the discipline or depth in an area of specialization. The aeronautical engineering degree allows core emphasis in either fluid mechanics or structural analysis, and an application emphasis in fixed-wing, rotary-wing, or space vehicle systems. Aeronautical engineering majors can pursue a program leading to the dual degree of B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering. A mechanical engineering major who wants greater exposure to the aeronautical engineering discipline may also choose a combined program, subject to careful advising and department approval.

Baccalaureate Programs   Freshmen and sophomores who already have identified mechanical engineering or aeronautical engineering as their major field may follow the corresponding baccalaureate program below in lieu of the general core engineering program presented earlier.

Mechanical Engineering

1. These required courses may be taken in any order.
2. Alternative: ENGR-1310 Intro. to Eng. Electronics.
3. Choice of Mechanical Design Module and Thermal & Fluids Module. Both modules are required for graduation; each module may be taken in either semester. The Mechanical Design Module consists of MEAE-4030 Elements of Mechanical Design and MEAE-4040 Mechanical Systems Laboratory, taken concurrently. The Thermal & Fluids Module consists of MEAE-4010 Thermal & Fluids Engineering II and MEAE-4020 Thermal & Fluids Laboratory, taken concurrently. Other third year courses may be taken in either semester.
4. This course will be fulfilled from a published list at the start of each semester. It must be completed before MEAE-4260.
5. Can be taken either semester senior year.

Criteria for Concentration Electives

Restricted Concentration Electives (2 courses)   The first course should be selected from the short list of courses, below, which defines the concentration areas available within the mechanical engineering discipline. Such a course will be termed a “concentration-defining elective.”

The second course may be selected either from:

a. a list of courses associated with the originally defined concentration area. Such courses will be termed “concentration-completing electives.” In this way, a student clearly identifies a concentration within the mechanical engineering major.

b. the original short list of concentration-defining electives. In this way, a student obtains greater breadth within mechanical engineering.

A student wishing to satisfy the Restricted Concentration Elective requirements in another way may first consult with his or her adviser and then propose a plan to the associate chair for undergraduate studies for approval. Students are reminded to consult the Catalog and the Class Hour Schedule as to the availability of a particular course any given semester.

Concentration—Defining Electives

Unrestricted Concentration Electives (2 courses)   These two courses are to be selected from any upper-level (4000 or above) course in science, engineering, or mathematics. One of these may be an independent study course, such as a design project or an undergraduate research project. The second course should not normally be a project; however, approval for an exception based on a particularly valuable research experience may be granted by the associate chair for undergraduate studies (Any number of free elective slots may of course be used for Independent Study). 2000-level courses may generally not be used except by specific approval of the associate chair for undergraduate studies. One course which has traditionally been explicitly approved for our students is ENGR-2710 General Manufacturing Processes.

Minimum Credit Hours   A student in the mechanical engineering curriculum must take at least 128 credit hours and fulfill the course requirements listed above.

Dual Majors   Dual major programs lead to a single baccalaureate degree embracing two fields. Special programs which can be completed in eight semesters have been developed. Examples include dual majors of Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Product Design and Innovation (STS), and others. Further information is available in the departmental office.

Humanities or Social Sciences Electives   The humanities and social sciences electives are based on the Institute and School of Engineering requirements for these electives. It is recommended that the student elect sequences in appropriate departments in order to provide adequate breadth and depth in subject areas. Students desiring minors must consult the school or department in which these courses are offered for specific requirements.

Aeronautical Engineering

1. These required courses may be taken in any order.
2. Alternative: ENGR-1310 Intro. to Eng. Electronics.
3. This course will be fulfilled from a published list at the start of each semester.
4. Choice of: MEAE-4800 Boundary Layers and Heat Transfer, MEAE-4900 Aeroelasticity and Structural Dynamics.
5. Can be taken either semester senior year.
6. Choice of: MEAE-4090 Flight Mechanics, MEAE-4100 Spaceflight Mechanics, MEAE-4200 Rotorcraft Performance, Stability and Control.
7. Choice of: MEAE-4910 Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (fall semester), MEAE-4920 Aerospace Structures and Controls Laboratory (spring semester).
8. Choice of: MEAE-4230 Fixed-Wing Aircraft Design, MEAE-4850 Transatmospheric Vehicle Design, MEAE-4860 Intro. to Helicopter Design.

Minimum Credit Hours   A student in the aeronautical engineering curriculum must take at least 128 credit hours and fulfill the course requirements listed above.

Dual Major in Aeronautical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering   A student who majors in aeronautical engineering can obtain a dual major in aeronautical engineering and mechanical engineering by following a prescribed program which can be completed in eight semesters. The student would choose ENGR-1600 as the first year science elective and ENGR-2350 and ENGR-4300 as free electives in the third or fourth year. The dual degree program must satisfy all aeronautical engineering program requirements as outlined above and must include either MEAE-4800 or MEAE-4010, either MEAE-4910 or MEAE-4020, and either MEAE-4920 or MEAE-4040 (the latter to be taken concurrently with MEAE-4030). General requirements and procedures for dual degrees are described under that heading. Information about other dual degree programs is available in the departmental office.

Humanities or Social Sciences Electives   The humanities and social sciences electives are based on the Institute and School of Engineering requirements for these electives. It is recommended that the student elect sequences in appropriate departments in order to provide adequate breadth and depth in subject areas. Students desiring minors must consult the school or department in which these courses are offered for specific requirements.

Graduate Programs

The department offers graduate programs in mechanical engineering, aeronautical engineering, and mechanics. To accommodate a student’s career plans and interests in these areas, the graduate programs are structured so that there is great flexibility in choosing appropriate courses while ensuring sufficient depth and breadth. The professor assigned to or chosen by a student as his or her adviser has the knowledge to make suggestions of specific courses to further the student’s educational goals.

The graduate programs available are: a Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) degree, which is perceived to be more practically oriented and consists of course work; a Master of Science (M.S.) Degree, which is considered more scholarly or fundamental and must include a thesis; and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree. Below are listed many of the requirements for these degrees; all Institute requirements also must be met. For all the degrees, full-time students must register each semester for the zero credit course MEAE-6900 Graduate Seminar.

Graduate Degree Requirements

Master of Science (M.S.)   A student works on a research project in conjunction with a professor who serves as the student’s academic adviser. The topic is chosen based on mutual interests and needs. Course work typically focuses on subjects related to the research project. In addition to the Institute requirements and those listed above, below are the requirements for the M.S.:

• Number of credits: 30
• Thesis of 6 credits required.
• Out of the 24 credits of course work, a minimum of 12 credits must be at the 6000-level with a minimum of nine credits of these 6000-level courses from MEAE (or cross listed).
• Out of the 24 credits of course work, a minimum of 15 credits must be from MEAE (or cross listed).
• Maximum of 6 credits from outside of Engineering or Science; courses outside of Management allowed only by pre-approval.

Master of Engineering (M.Eng.)   Students will primarily take courses to deepen and broaden their knowledge, usually in a focused area of study. If a project is included in the degree program, the student will need to have a professor involved as an adviser or overseer. In addition to the Institute requirements and those listed above, below are the requirements for the M.Eng.:

• Number of credits: 30
• Project may be done (but not required).
• If no project, a minimum of 18 credits at 6000-level with a minimum of 12 credits from MEAE (or cross listed); if project taken, a minimum of 12 credits must be at the 6000-level with a minimum of nine credits from MEAE (or cross listed). A minimum of 21 credits from MEAE (or cross listed).
• A culminating experience consisting of: an approved sequence of three integrated or related courses; at least two courses must be in MEAE; only one 4000-level course accepted. One of the courses must involve a project or design experience which integrates or synthesizes knowledge from the other courses taken in the master’s program.

OR

A six-credit project

OR

An internship/practicum—minimum of one summer/one semester full-time work in approved setting.

Doctor of Philosophy   For the doctoral degree, 90 credits past the bachelor’s or 60 credits past the master’s are required. Usually, between 15 and 20 formal courses beyond the bachelor’s degree are required, as specified by the adviser and doctoral committee, in addition to residency and thesis requirements. Advanced study and research are conducted under the guidance of a thesis adviser. If a student chooses to do a thesis with a thesis adviser from another department, a faculty member from the department must be appointed co-chair and the doctoral committee must contain at least two department faculty members. After approximately one year of full-time study, the student should have a research adviser and be advanced to doctoral student status. To attain this milestone, a qualifying examination may be required. When thesis research has begun and after approximately two years of full-time study, the candidacy examination is taken. At the completion of the research project and after the dissertation has been written, the student must defend the thesis in an open presentation to his or her committee.

Courses   Descriptions of courses in this department appear in this catalog under the department designation MEAE.