The George W. Woodruff School of

Mechanical Engineering

Georgia Tech

• Woodruff School Overview• Mechanical Engineering Overview• Student Activities

– Student Organizations– Academic and Work Opportunities

• Senior Design Projects• Mechanical Engineering Program

– 2009 – 2010 ME Curriculum– Prerequisites– Transfer Credit Substitutions– Final Advice

• Contact Information

Agenda

Woodruff School Overview

• Undergraduate – BSME: Mechanical Engineering– BSNRE: Nuclear & Radiological Engineering

• Masters– MSME: Mechanical Engineering– MSMP: Medical Physics– MSNE: Nuclear Engineering– MSBIOE: Bioengineering– MSPSE: Paper Science & Engineering

• Doctoral– Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Woodruff School Degrees

• Atlanta, GA• Savannah, GA

– Junior and senior level ME classes– Some MS level classes

• Lorraine, France– Junior year option for ME students– Summer program for all

undergraduate majors– Graduate option

Woodruff School Campuses

U.S. News & World Report• Georgia Tech

– In top ten for public universities

• College of Engineering – Ranked 4th or 5th in Schools of Engineering

• Mechanical Engineering – 4th – 6th best undergraduate program over last 5

years – 6th or 7th best graduate program over last 4 years

Woodruff School Enrollment*

* Includes co-op students at work.

Woodruff School Degrees Awarded

Esti

mate

…

Mechanical Engineering Overview

• Broad curriculum – One of the broadest engineering majors. – Leads to many career opportunities.– Very strong technical curriculum without being too

specialized.– Can specialize at the graduate level if desired.

• Almost every industry needs ME’s. – ~75% of all companies who hire on campus hire MEs.

• Long term job projections are good. • Pay is very competitive.

Why Mechanical Engineering?

• Finding creative solutions to problems!• Working with motion, energy, forces, and

materials. • Concerned with analysis, design, manufacture

and operation of areas such as: – Energy– Defense– Environment– Health & Bio– Manufacturing– Transportation

Mechanical Engineering Is…

SourceL: http://www.discoverengineering.org/Engineers/mech_engineering.asp

“Scientists discover the world that exists; engineers create the world that never was.”

-Theodore Von Karman

• Design– Product Design– Machine Design– System Design

• Manufacturing, Process Development & Quality• Maintenance and Operations• Research and Development• Project Management• Testing• Sales or Technical Sales• Other

– Law– Management– Business– Medical Schools

What are general things ME’s do?

• Automotive & OEM Suppliers• Construction Equipment• Construction Companies • Ship & Railroad Companies• Airplane Manufacturing• Power Generation / Nuclear• Alternative Fuel / Energy • Utility Companies• Oil and Gas Companies• Chemical Companies • Pharmaceutical &Health Care• Biomedical • Sports Equipment Mfg.• Computer-Aided Design• Automation & Robotics

What Industries Hire ME’s?• Electronics Industries• Appliance Manufacturers• HVAC & Refrigeration• Toy Manufacturing• Furniture Manufacturing• Paper Industry• Food & Beverage Industry• Telecommunications• Amusement Parks• National Labs• Aeronautical (NASA, etc.)• Government Agencies• Academia (Teaching)• Financial Companies• Consulting Companies

Student Activities Student Organizations

Student Organizations in ME• Professional

– American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)– American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning

Engineers (ASHRAE)– Acoustical Society of America (ASA)– Pi Tau Sigma (PTS)– Woodruff School Student Advisory Committee (WSSAC)

• Competitive– gt Motorsports (Formula One, SAE)– GT Off-Road (mini-baja)– Wreck Racing– RoboJackets– Echo Car Challenge– Solar Jackets

Student OrganizationsAmerican Society of Mechanical Engineers• ASME is open to all ME students• Meets once a week during the

club period • Companies give presentations

about what ME’s do at their company

• Why attend ASME meetings?– It is a great way to learn more about

Mechanical Engineering– Opportunity to network with potential

employers– Free pizza lunch

Student Organizationsgt Motorsports

Student OrganizationsGT Off-Road

Student OrganizationsWreck Racing

Student OrganizationsRoboJackets

Student ActivitiesAcademic and Work

Experiences

Student Activities• Academic Experiences

– Exchange Programs– Study Abroad Programs– International Program (Degree Designator)– BS/MS Program– Undergraduate Research

• Work Experiences– Co-op Program (Degree Designator)– Professional Internship Program– Work Abroad (Internship or Coop)

1. Students may participate in any combinations of the above.2. Co-op and BS/MS program may both be done together.

Opportunities Abroad• Exchange Program

– Classes are taken with students of the host university– Foreign language skills are required– Most out-of-state students pay reduced tuition rates– Credits must be pre-approved for transfer to GT

• Study Abroad– Courses are taught by GT faculty– Courses are GT courses, so there are no problems

with transferring credits– All courses are taught in English (except for foreign

language classes)– Most out-of-state students pay reduced tuition rates

• Summer Study Abroad – Georgia Tech Lorraine in Metz, France

• 4 day class schedules to allow weekend travel

• Many class options available– Shanghai, China

• ME classes, humanities & social sciences

• Junior Year Study Abroad– Georgia Tech Lorraine in Metz, France

• Students can take their entire junior year abroad

• Students can attend for one junior level semester

• Small class sizes

• Other: Programs exist all over the world

Opportunities Abroad - Examples

The International Program• What is the International Plan?

– A challenging academic program for highly capable students which develops global competence within the context of a student’s major.

• International Plan Requirements:– Second language proficiency (determined by testing, not class

time)– International Coursework: Three required courses– International Experience: Two terms abroad (not less than 26

weeks) engaged in any combination of study abroad, research or internship

– Culminating Course: Course relating the international studies to a student’s major

• Application Requirements:• Apply between 30 – 75 credit hours

• Transfer students over 75 credit hours can apply after completing 12 hours at GT semester (must have GT GPA)

• Minimum GT GPA of 3.5 to apply• Must maintain 3.0 GPA after accepted

• Advantages:• Allows students to take 6 hours of grad

classes their senior year, which will count towards both the BS & MS degrees

• Facilitates undergraduate research• Students are not required to take GRE

for admission to graduate school at GT

BS/MS ProgramTommy Newton BSME ‘06 MSME ‘08Application Engr. AccuSentry, Inc.

The best part about the BS/MS program is that I was able to take a "test drive" before committing.  By the time I officially became a graduate student, I had performed undergrad research with my advisor for almost a year- and-a-half. 

The main reasons I opted to do the BS/MS Program at Georgia Tech were as follows: The application was easy; I did not have to take the GRE; instead of paying for school, school paid me (GRA); I was able to take graduate classes and do research ahead of time; Georgia Tech was familiar to me; and there would never be an "easier" opportunity to obtain a master's degree.

Undergraduate Research• What is Undergraduate Research?

– Undergraduate research is a single or multiple semester project working with a professor his/her research or special project.

• Research Requirements– Typical research is a 3 credit hours class– A 3 credit hour class requires 9 hours of work per week (14

hours during summer term) – Students are responsible for finding faculty members to

sponsor the research– The student can be paid or receive credit towards the BSME – Most research opportunities exist for juniors & seniors

• Research AreasAutomation and Mechatronics

Mechanics of MaterialsMicroelectromechanical Systems (MEMS)

Heat Transfer, Combustion and Energy Systems

Acoustics & Dynamics Computer Aided Design Fluid Mechanics

Bioengineering Manufacturing Tribology

The Cooperative Program• What is the Cooperative Program?

– Multiple semester major related work experiences (with the same company each semester) in a professional setting.

– Students are expected to alternate between work and school for a minimum of 3 work semesters.

• Program Requirements– Completion of 1 full-time semester at GT– Minimum GPA of 2.00 and in good academic standing– Must apply and be accepted into Co-Op Program

• Approximately 35% of undergraduate ME students are in the Cooperative Program

Georgia Tech Internship Program• Georgia Tech Internship Program

– Single semester major related work experiences in a professional setting

– Opportunities available during summer, fall, or spring– Must work a minimum of 16 weeks during spring and fall

semesters, and 12 weeks during summer semester

• Program Requirements– Transfer Students: Completion of one full-time semester at GT– Minimum GPA of 2.00 and in good academic standing– Must apply and be accepted into UPI Program

Senior Design Projects

• Problem: Current fret board manufacturing process has ~25% scrap rate.

• Project Objective: Find a more reliable, faster and cheaper method to manufacture fret boards for guitars.

Senior Design – Case Study 1

• 12 Inch Radius• .070 Depth Cut• Multiple Scale

Lengths

Senior Design – Case Study 1

• Results:– Removed 2 process steps from

the manufacturing process.– Designed and built prototype of

the newly designed machine.

Senior Design – Case Study 1

• Background: There are 4 “check valves” in the heart– Approximately

150,000 valves implanted per year

– Aortic valve is the most often replaced valve (90%)

• Project Objective: Design a replacement aortic valve with less stress on the heart

Senior Design – Case Study 2

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aortic_valve

Ball-Cage Bi-Leaflet Contour

• Types of check-valves

Senior Design – Case Study 2

Ball-Cage Bi-Leaflet Contour

• Wall shear stress comparison for each valve type

Senior Design – Case Study 2

Senior Design – Case Study 3• Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT)

– PIT is the use of physical force from the police vehicle to the target vehicle with the intention to stop the target car

– Problems with PIT• Potential collision with bystanders• Potential Roll over of the target car

• Design Project Objectives– Prove the PIT maneuver does not cause

rollover when performed under the proper conditions

– Prove the PIT maneuver is a controllable when executed properly

– Compare both experimental and theoretical results

• Design and build an apparatus to experimentally measure the force applied from the police car onto the target car

• Model the PIT in MSC Adams Software

Senior Design – Case Study 3

Load Cell

Clamp-on Collar

Flange Mount Shaft Support and Linear Bearings

Button and Solid Shaft

• Designed apparatus to measure force during test simulation

• Load cell used to measure force on car

• Experiment Video

Senior Design – Case Study 3• PIT simulated in MSC Adams

Car Simulation Software • Theoretical Video

Simulated Force vs. Time 45 mph

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2

Time (sec)

Fo

rce

(lb

f)

    Car Type

   Demo

Vehicle

1998 Ford

Explorer

1998 Ford F150

1992 Ford

Taurus

1977 Ford E250

1988 Isuzu

Trooper

Gra

de %

Minimum Coefficient of FrictionRequired to Roll Over

0 1.74 1.07 1.18 1.39 1.08 0.96

8.7 1.65 0.97 1.09 1.30 0.99 0.87

18 1.54 0.88 0.99 1.19 0.89 0.77

• General Conclusions– Maneuver is safe, predictable and

controllable under the conditions used• Smooth flat road, wet and dry

conditions• Up to 120 mph with a low center-of-

gravity vehicle

– High center-of-gravity vehicles are more prone to rollover

Senior Design – Case Study 3Force Theoretical and Experimental

Results

Rollover Theoretical Results

The Mechanical Engineering Program

2009-2010 ME Curriculum

Mechanical Engineering Program of Studyhttp://www.me.gatech.edu/undergraduate/degrees_bsme_curr.shtml

Mechanical Engineering Classes• The 2009-2010 ME Program of Study is at:

www.me.gatech.edu/undergraduate/degrees_bsme_curr.shtml

• Mechanical Engineering Course Syllabi:www.me.gatech.edu/undergraduate/curricula_me.shtml

• ME Class Pre-Req Information:– Class pre-reqs are on the program of study or at:

www.me.gatech.edu/undergraduate/degrees_bsme.shtml

– ME electives available each semester are at:www.me.gatech.edu/undergraduate/registration.shtml#sp

The Mechanical Engineering ProgramPre-Requisite Chain

• The ME curriculum contains a 7 semester pre-req chain!! Pre-Requisite Warning

Upon completion of these classes, you will have a minimum of (…) semesters remaining until graduation.

Min.Sem

Students Selecting ME 3180 (Machine Design)

as the Design Elective

Students Selecting ME 4315 (Energy Systems)

as the Design Elective

Min.Sem

7   MATH 1501 7

6 MATH 1501 MATH 1502, PHYS 2211 6

5 MATH 1502, PHYS 2211 COE 2001 5

4 COE 2001, PHYS 2212, CS 1371ME 2202, MATH 2403, PHYS 2212, CS 1371

4

3ME 1770, ME 2016, ME 2202, ECE 3710, CHEM 1310, MATH 2403

ME 1770, ME 2016, ME 3322, ME 3340, CHEM 1310, ECE 3710

3

2ME 2110, ME 3015, ME 3322, ME 3340, COE 3001, MSE 2001, MATH 2401

COE 3001, ME 2110, ME 3015, ME 3345, MSE 2001, MATH 2401

2

1ME 3180, ME 3057, ME 3345, MATH/ISYE 3770

ME 4315, ME 3057, MATH/ISYE 3770 1

0ME 4182, ME 4053, ME 4210, ME Electives, ECE 3741, ISYE 3025

ME 4182, ECE 3741, ISYE 3025 ME Electives, ME 4053, ME 4210 0

The Mechanical Engineering Program

Transfer Student Issues

Transfer Credit Substitutions• Math

– MATH transfer credit substitutions:• MATH 1502 (4) = MATH 15X2 (2) + MATH 1522 (2)• MATH 2401 (4) = MATH 24X1 (3) + 1 hr free elective• MATH 2403 (4) = MATH 24X3 (3) + 1 hr free elective

– MATH classes in their order at Georgia Tech are: 1 - MATH 1501, Calculus 1

2 - MATH 1502, Calculus 2

3 - MATH 1522, Linear Algebra (Only req’d if MATH 15X2 transferred in)

4 - MATH 2401, Calculus 3

5 - MATH 2403, Differential Equations

• Free Electives (6 hrs total)– Free electives are any 2000 level class or higher which does not

duplicate any material required for the BSME. – Free electives may be combined to create 3 hours.

• HPS 1040 (Wellness/Fitness)– HPS 11XX (2 hours or above) will satisfy the wellness

requirement– HPS 1XXX (2) will NOT satisfy the wellness requirement

• Science Elective (3)– All science electives must contain a lab component, except

PHYS 2213, Modern Physics.– The following are valid science electives if it contains a lab

component:• CHEM 1XXX (4), CHEM 2XXX (4), BIOL 1XXX (4), EAS 1XXX (4)

Transfer Credit Substitutions

Transfer Credit Substitutions• Statistics (ISYE/MATH 3770)

– MGT 2250 does not satisfy ISYE/MATH 3770 and may NOT be used as a free elective

• Chemistry– CHEM 12X1 (4) is a valid substitution for CHEM 1310– CHEM 1XXX is NOT a valid substitution for CHEM 1310– CHEM 1XXX (4) is a valid Lab Science Elective

• CS 1371, Intro to Computing (MATLAB)– CS 1301 (3) does not satisfy CS 1371: CS 1301 + CS 1171 = CS

1371

– CS 1171 • One hour self-study class - students given aids to learn Matlab

• Students with CS 1301 must pass CS 1171 before moving to ME 2016

– CS 1371 ME 2016 ME 3015 ME 3057 ME 4053

Transfer Credit• Ethics

– If ethics is transferred into Georgia Tech, it must be one of:• PST 3105, PST 3109, PST 3127, PST 4176, INTA 2030 or HTS 2084

• Preapproved transfer credit is at:– oscar.gatech.edu -> select Transfer Equivalencies and follow

instructions– Detailed instructions are at:

http://www.me.gatech.edu/undergraduate/transferring_credit.shtml#proc

• Each department evaluates their own transfer credit – Example: If you have a question about MATH transfer credit,

you need to talk to the MATH department. – http://www.registrar.gatech.edu/docs/pdf/

transfer_credit_information.pdf

The Mechanical Engineering Program

Final Advice…

Before Coming to Georgia Tech…• Get your final transcripts sent to GT ASAP.

• Follow the ME curriculum as much as possible (while still completing all admissions requirements).

• Understand the pre-req chain through our curriculum and plan accordingly. Pre-req overrides are NOT given in ME.

• Do not take all your electives before you come to GT.• Respond to my email the semester before you come to

GT. • Attend FASET – our orientation program!! WHY??

– I will give you a custom schedule at FASET.– You will have a chance to register for classes.– All departments will be available to answer questions in 1 room.

This will never happen again in your career at Georgia Tech! – You will learn more about how GT works. It is probably slightly

different than your previous school…

Contact Information

Contact Information• ME Office of Student Services

– MRDC 3112 (building 135 on campus map)– Office Hours 8 – 12 and 1 – 5 M-F

• Norma Frank – Academic Advisor – All students with less than 45 credit hours (including transfer credits)– Norma.Frank@me.gatech.edu– 404-894-3203– MRDC 3112, Office Hours 9:30 - 12 and 1 – 5 M-F

• Kristi Mehaffey – Academic Advisor – All students with 45 credit hours or more (including transfer credits)– Kristi.Mehaffey@me.gatech.edu (best way to contact)– MRDC 3112, Office Hours 9 - 12 and 1 – 4 M-F

• Walk-ins on Wednesdays• Appointments on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday

• Mechanical Engineering Advisement Web Page– http://www.me.gatech.edu/– Select Undergraduate Programs -> Advisement

Questions?Questions?