Mechanical Engineering

1. Mechanical Engineering By: Joe Cuniberti, Teya Tarver-Smith, and Own Pierce

2. Sub Disciplines • Some sub disciplines of mechanical engineering are robotics, biomechatronics, and nanotechnology. • Robotics is expanding as we speak with innovations such as robots that do surgery and robotic limbs for those people missing limbs. • Biomechatronics includes advances made in artificial organs and valves that can extend human life. • Nanotechnology is always booming because the call for new technology is always present in today’s time like new cosmetics.

3. Young Engineers • Since there is such a high demand for mechanical engineers, young engineers in this field can usually have their choice at good jobs and dive right into the field that they studied in college. • Young engineers start their careers by using skills they have learned, that provide an engineering service for a company. • Depending on the company, this service may include design, research, troubleshooting, analyzing, or problem solving. • Since mechanical engineering is the broadest discipline of engineering, young engineers could find themselves working with energy systems; applied mechanics; automotive design; manufacturing; materials; plant engineering and maintenance; pressure vessels and piping; and heating, refrigeration, and air-conditioning systems. They even work with programs such as computer aid design (CAD), and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM).

4. Jobs • The job outlook is very bright, and some job opportunities include ones with companies such as: Black & Veatch, Caterpillar, Dow, Entergy, Exxon-Mobil, Falcon Jet, Georgia Pacific, Honda, John Deere, Ford, General Motors and Chrysler, just to name a few. • A bachelor's degree in engineering is required for almost all entry-level engineering jobs. It includes instruction in various system components, from computer programming to power systems, and cover technical subjects, such as fluid mechanics, thermodynamics and hydraulics. • Mechanical engineering degree programs usually include courses in mathematics and life and physical sciences, as well as engineering and design courses. • The programs typically last 4 years, but many students take between 4 and 5 years to earn a degree. A mechanical engineering degree program may emphasize internships and co-ops to prepare students for work in industry.

5. Experience • As the career of Mechanical engineering develops opportunities that appear for senior engineers are possible advancements in the way we take advantage of technology to make tasks simpler and more precise. • For example, there are robots that make better precision cuts during surgery and cars that parallel park themselves. • If we can become more mechanically inclined we can cut down on fuel prices and usage. • Society is advancing in the technologies and there is nowhere to go but up.

6. Specializations • Rapid, Inexpensive Characterization of Composite Properties • Combustion, performance, fuel economy, emission controls, friction and wear, and simulation of automotive engines, alternate and renewable fuels, and biofuels • Acoustics, Vibration, and Noise Control (AVNC) Laboratory • Combustion and Energy Conversion, IC engine and Gas Turbine Combustion & Emission, Fuel Cells, Laser diagnostics in Thermal Fluid Engineering, Computational Fluid Dynamics Applications, Spray Systems in Automotive Engineering and Manufacturing Processes • Wave control and mechatronics of automotive powertrain systems, bridge vehicles dynamic interactions with emphasis in suspension controls and telemetry in transportation engineering, and dynamics and identification of combined systems with friction

7. Breakthroughs • Energy efficient elevators • Making boilers more efficient • Small wind turbines fulfill their promises

8. Bibliography • http://www.enerdyneengineering.com/mechanical_engineering_sub_disciplines.asp • http://www.asme.org/kb/news-articles • http://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/mechanical-engineers.htm#tab-4 • http://education-portal.com/mechanical_engineer.html • http://www.meeg.uark.edu/undergrad_job_ops.php • http://www.collegegrad.com/careers/proft17.shtml