2 materials, mainly involving nano-micron materials, polymerization engineering and bio-machinery in the mechanical field.
Manufacturing, mainly including design and manufacturing.
4 control categories, including computer-aided engineering, systems and automatic control, and microelectronic systems.
Detailed analysis of branches of medical engineering;
Because there are some differences in professional settings between China and American universities. So we need to decide which direction to choose according to our own background experience.
Generally speaking, the applicant should have a good engineering background, that is, excellent performance in mathematics and physics, good hands-on ability, that is, the operation of experimental instruments, and skilled use of commonly used computer software. However, according to the different emphases, ME majors can be subdivided into the following categories:
(1) energy, mainly involving energy, friction, combustion, fluid and other disciplines.
◆ Main research directions of energy:
Energy and fluid mainly include energy conversion of wind energy and water energy, design and manufacture of energy conversion system and equipment, energy system and thermodynamics, energy application (energy for heating/ventilation/air conditioning and refrigeration), energy and environment, environmental energy technology assessment, thermophysics, solar energy, clean energy and clean energy technology.
Relevant background required for application: a strong physical foundation is required for application in this direction; When some fluid science is relevant, then the applicant's corresponding background in fluid mechanics, aerodynamics, thermodynamics, etc. If we have a comprehensive study of energy system, we need to have good mathematical modeling ability; In the field of energy conversion system equipment manufacturing, a good design and manufacturing background is needed.
Difficulties in application: At present, energy issues are highly valued by all countries, and the main research on energy focuses on the development of new energy and the design and manufacture of various energy conversion equipment. The funds mainly come from the federal government. Due to the strategic significance and research difficulty in this field, schools with research strength are in the top of the comprehensive ranking, so it is difficult to apply, but once accepted, the chances of getting an offer are very high.
◆ Main research directions of friction:
The energy conversion in the friction process is closely combined with thermophysics and the development of new materials, and the related friction properties of some materials are studied.
Related background required for application: one of the research contents of physics, so applying for this major must have a good physical background. In addition, according to different directions, there should be relevant background in thermodynamics or material science.
Application difficulty: Generally speaking, the applicants in this field are mostly physical theory researchers, and the number of applicants is small, which belongs to the better category of ME major.
◆ Main research directions of combustion:
Combustion, combustion and propulsion, combustion and energy, energy conversion, combustion and heat transfer, electric propulsion, turbine and propulsion, combustion research of internal combustion engine in automobile engineering, etc.
Related background required for application: Like friction, physical background is essential and thermodynamics is very important. Of course, if you are biased towards equipment, then you need the background of mechanical design, manufacturing and control.
Application difficulty: the combination of combustion and energy is extremely close, but it is more closely combined with the application of practical engineering, so there are more applicants and the competition is more intense than energy and friction.
◆ Main research directions of fluids:
Mainly aimed at two main directions: the aerospace field and the energy field. The former has aerodynamics, propulsion and space exploration systems, while the latter has fluid energy conversion based on water power and wind power. In addition, there are specialties such as environment and biofluid mechanics, fluid dynamics, fluid physics, thermodynamics and materials.
Relevant background required for application: If you are engaged in theoretical research, you will have very high requirements for physics, mathematical modeling and fluid mechanics; if you are engaged in the research of some related equipment, you need a good mechanical background.
Application difficulty: AME in the United States is in great need of theoretical research talents in this field, most of whom were originally engaged in physics and fluid mechanics to apply for this direction. Generally, purely mechanical applicants have no advantage in applying in these fields. Generally speaking, if you have a theoretical foundation, you will be very competitive in the application.
It is suggested that applicants with theoretical research background in physics, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics and aerodynamics choose the above direction.
(2) Materials, mainly involving nano-micron materials in the mechanical field, polymerization engineering and bio-machinery.
◆ Main research directions of nano-micron mechanical materials:
The continuous development of nanotechnology provides new possibilities for material selection in the mechanical field. At present, the research fields intersecting with machinery mainly focus on: advanced materials science, materials and solid mechanics, materials and mechanical systems, materials processing, mechanical properties of materials, materials mechanics, materials mechanics and manufacturing.
Relevant background required for application: Strong background in materials science, solid mechanics, material mechanics and engineering mechanics is required.
Application difficulty: Because many students who study materials turn to these subjects that are very related to them, the chances of success of all applicants with purely mechanical background are very small. Moreover, nanotechnology, as a new technology, has attracted the attention of all countries, and American students will apply in large numbers. Therefore, the application for this major is very difficult. Please don't try it easily without a strong background.
◆ Main research directions of polymerization engineering:
Mainly through molecular polymerization technology to provide new materials for the mechanical field.
Relevant background required for application: Good polymer material background is required, and the requirements for material mechanics are also relatively high.
Application difficulty: Generally speaking, polymer students will still choose chemistry department for research. After all, there are still a few people who transferred to me from the university, so if you have a good polymer background and a certain mechanical foundation, the chances of success will be high. Generally speaking, it is easy to apply for this direction as long as the background is good.
◆ Main research directions of bio-machinery:
Biomechanics, Biomechanics, Biomechanical Engineering, Biomaterials and Equipment, Material Mechanics, Biosensors, Nanotechnology, Living Cell Packaging, Engineering Biomechanics, Biomedical Mechanical Engineering, Neuroengineering, Plastic Surgery Engineering, Sensory and Nervous System Research, Sports Biomechanics, Artificial Heart.
Relevant background required for application: This is a combination of typical emerging disciplines and traditional basic disciplines. Generally speaking, this direction requires knowledge background of biology, mechanical engineering and medical knowledge. Simple biological or medical background is difficult to adapt to the requirements of this discipline, and it is necessary to have biological or medical knowledge, especially biological knowledge, as well as mechanical background. The mechanical background mentioned here mainly refers to the basic manufacturing, mechanics and material background of machinery. However, the requirements are not as high as those of pure mechanics or material background in previous disciplines. Besides medical, biological and engineering knowledge, we also need a good EE background (signal simulation, signal transmission, etc.). ) used in neuroengineering, sensory and nervous system research and artificial heart.
Application difficulty: This subject is new and all American students apply. Moreover, because it is an interdisciplinary subject, researchers from the three fields can apply as long as they have a certain background in the other two related fields, so the competition for application is very fierce. Students who graduated from domestic pure mechanical engineering colleges had better not try this direction, and the chances of success are slim.
(3) Manufacturing, mainly including design and manufacturing.
◆ Main research directions of design:
Mechanical design, product design, design methodology, computer aided design, engineering design.
Relevant background required for application: Design is mainly established in the form of industrial design institute in China. For the design in ME, the suitable applicants generally have mechanical theory foundation (including specific mechanism and overall manufacturing process theory) and design foundation? Including a certain art foundation (sketch), the use of computer drawing software (Photoshop, ProE, etc. ).
Application difficulty: For domestic ME students, if they apply for design independently, the main defect lies in the backwardness of design concept and theory, and the grasp of overall technology is far from that of applicants from industrialized countries. However, engineering design students lack the basic knowledge of mechanical theory, so there are not many recent graduates who can successfully apply. Most of the applicants who are admitted are applicants with certain work experience, so the number of people participating in the competition is small, and it is easier to apply if they have relevant background.
◆ Main research directions of manufacturing industry:
Computer aided manufacturing, product realization, advanced manufacturing, manufacturing science, manufacturing system, nano-manufacturing.
Relevant background required for application: The main application directions of domestic ME students are concentrated here, mostly focusing on mechanical manufacturing and computer-aided manufacturing. For students of this major, the application first requires a basic background of mechanical engineering, including: mechanical principle, mechanical manufacturing, solid mechanics background. In addition, for product realization, advanced manufacturing and computer-aided manufacturing, we should have a strong computer background, including programming and designing software with computer language; Nano-manufacturing must first have a good application background of nanotechnology, and then have certain engineering knowledge.
Application difficulty: Most domestic ME students are suitable for this direction, so the number of applicants is very large and the competition is fierce. However, few American universities set manufacturing as the main subject, and most of them focus on design &; Manufacturing exists, and the competition among domestic students in the field of pure manufacturing is very fierce. If you have enough computer design background, the chances of successful admission will be very high.
(4) Control category, including computer-aided engineering, system and automatic control, and microelectronic system.
◆ Main research directions of computer-aided engineering:
Computational fluid mechanics, computational engineering and information technology, computational mechanics, computational science and engineering, computer-aided engineering, computer-aided design, mechanical modeling, mathematical computational modeling, digital propulsion, digital methods, digital simulation and virtual reality applications.
Relevant background required for application: strong mathematical background? Applied mathematics, mathematical modeling and computational engineering also need computer language ability and computer software application ability. If you can have these abilities and have other corresponding backgrounds (such as applying for computational fluid dynamics with fluid mechanics background, applying for computer-aided design with design experience, and applying for computer engineering and information technology with EE background), you will get great points in the application.
Application difficulty: because of the preference for CS and EE, American applicants and international students like this major very much, so the application difficulty is greatly increased. Although not as good as EE and CS, many applicants of EE and CS have turned to this direction which is closely integrated with their majors and has good employment prospects, which makes this direction much more difficult than the first three directions.
◆ Main research directions of system and automatic control:
System control, control/design/manufacturing, control and dynamics, control/robot/instrument, dynamic system and control, dynamic system/control and robot, rotating machinery dynamics, dynamics/vibration/acoustics, system dynamics and control, system identification and control, system/measurement/control, intelligent mechanical system, intelligent transportation system, mechanical system, nonlinear dynamics and adaptive control, nonlinear flight control.
Relevant background required for application: mathematics, computer language programming, basic EE related background (electronic circuit knowledge), robust and optimal control of control, robust multivariable control system, large-scale dynamic system, multivariable system identification, minimax control and dynamic game, adaptive system of control and signal processing, stochastic system, design of linear and nonlinear evaluation, random and adaptive control, etc. At the same time, according to different emphases, the corresponding design and manufacture are carried out.
Application difficulty: Compared with computer-aided system, the research content in this direction is closer to the most difficult professional EE in science and engineering. Moreover, all ME and EE majors in China will offer courses in automatic control. Therefore, this direction is the most concentrated professional direction for China students of ME, as well as American and international students. In addition, the transfer of applicants from EE and CS is also the most difficult direction for me to apply.
◆ Main research directions of microelectronic systems:
MEMS, nano-manufacturing, micro-mechanical and nano-mechanical devices, ultrasonic micro-jet and micro-scale motor, nano-scale heat flow, micro-fluid, microgravity, micro-scale heat transfer, micro/nano-system, nano-tribology and nano-mechanics.
Related background: MEMS is an extremely cross-cutting field, and the most basic aspects are the processing knowledge of micro-manufacturing technology and the method of manufacturing microstructure, which are closely combined with nanotechnology, so powerful nanotechnology is essential. At the same time, according to different emphases, it is necessary to have basic knowledge of mechanical theory, fluid and mechanics.
Application difficulty: this is also a new interdisciplinary subject, which is very attractive to American students. In addition, because the EE discipline has set this direction, the application difficulty is second only to the system and automatic control. Applicants with a strong background in nanomaterials will have an advantage in the application.
(5) Acoustics and optics, mainly including laser technology, photoelectric measurement, acoustic dynamics, road noise control and vibration.
Main research directions of acoustics: acoustic dynamics, road noise control and vibration.
Relevant background required by the application: physical background, acoustic dynamics, and application background of acoustic sensors.
Application difficulty: most applicants are pure physics researchers, so the number of applicants is small, the application competition is not fierce, and it is easy to be admitted.
◆ Main research directions of optics:
Laser technology, photoelectric devices, ultrafast electronics, nonlinear optics, micro-anatomy, three-dimensional vision, optical communication, soft X-ray and extreme ultraviolet optics, optical printing, optical data processing, optical communication, optical calculation, optical data storage, optical system design and holography, volume holography research, composite optical digital data processing, image processing and material optical characteristics research.
Relevant background required for application: strong optical background, measurement technology and image technology.
Application difficulty: Although the combination of optics and optoelectronics is very close in the United States, the combination of these two disciplines in China is far less close than that in the United States. Most of the people who apply for this direction in China are basic physics researchers, but the setting of EE major in China is not heavy, so few people apply for this direction in China. The competition is not fierce, so it is easier to apply.
Generally speaking, the application difficulty of ME major is as follows:
The most difficult to apply for: system and automatic control, MEMS, computer-aided engineering.
Secondly: manufacturing and design.
Easy to apply: nano-materials, bio-machinery, polymerization engineering.
The easiest to apply: acoustics, optics, friction, combustion, energy, fluid.