Subject content The subject content of mechanical engineering can be divided into the following aspects according to the nature of work: ① Establish and develop the engineering theoretical basis that can be directly applied to mechanical engineering. Such as engineering mechanics, fluid mechanics, engineering materials science, material mechanics, combustion science, heat transfer, thermodynamics, tribology, mechanism, mechanical principle, mechanical parts, metal technology, non-metal technology and so on. ② Research, design and develop new mechanical products, improve existing mechanical products and produce a new generation of mechanical products to meet current and future needs. (3) the production of mechanical products, such as the planning and realization of production facilities, the formulation of production plans and production schedules, the formulation and implementation of manufacturing processes, the design and manufacture of process equipment, the determination of labor quota and material quota, processing, assembly, packaging and inspection. ④ Management of machinery manufacturing enterprises, such as determining production mode, product sales, production operation management, etc. The application of mechanical products, such as the selection, ordering, acceptance, installation, adjustment, operation, maintenance and transformation of mechanical products and complete sets of mechanical equipment used in various industries. ⑥ Study the environmental pollution and excessive consumption of natural resources of mechanical products in the process of manufacturing and using, and the control measures.
Subject branch machinery can be divided into power machinery, crushing machinery, transportation machinery and material handling machinery according to its functions. According to the service industry, it can be divided into agricultural machinery, chemical machinery, mining machinery and textile machinery. According to working principle, it can be divided into thermal machinery, turbine machinery, bionic machinery and fluid machinery. Machines with the same working principle, the same function or serving the same industry have the same problems and characteristics, so mechanical engineering has several different branches. In addition, in the process of research, development, design, manufacture and application, all machines have to go through several stages with different working properties. Accordingly, mechanical engineering can be divided into several interrelated and coordinated subsystems, such as mechanical research, mechanical design, mechanical manufacturing, mechanical application and maintenance. These interdisciplinary systems intersect and overlap with each other, which makes it possible for mechanical engineering to be divided into hundreds of disciplines. For example, power machinery is divided into thermal machinery, fluid machinery, turbine machinery, reciprocating machinery, steam power plant, nuclear power plant, internal combustion engine and gas turbine according to functions, and has complex overlapping and overlapping relations with central power station equipment, industrial power plant, railway locomotive, marine engineering and automobile engineering according to industries. Marine steam turbines are power machinery, thermal machinery, fluid machinery and turbine machinery, belonging to marine power plants, steam power plants and possibly nuclear power plants. Clockwork and hammer devices used to drive clocks and watches are also power machines, but they are not thermal machines, fluid machines, turbine machines or reciprocating machines. Other branches have similar overlapping and overlapping relationships. It is of certain knowledge significance to analyze this complex relationship and study the most reasonable branch system of mechanical engineering, but it is of little practical value.
The AP curriculum of each school is different, so you should make a decision according to your future professional direction.
Detailed explanation of mechanical engineering specialty division
Because the professional settings in China are somewhat different from those in American universities, applicants need to decide what direction to choose according to their own background and 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:
Energy, mainly involving disciplines: energy, friction, combustion, fluid.
Materials mainly relate to nano-micron materials, polymerization engineering and bio-machinery in the mechanical field.
Manufacturing mainly includes design and manufacturing.
Control category, including computer-aided engineering, system and automatic control, microelectronics system.
1, energy, mainly involving disciplines: energy, friction, combustion and fluid.
The main research direction 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The main research direction 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.
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.
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.
3. Manufacturing, mainly including design and manufacturing.
The main research direction 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, suitable applicants generally have the mechanical theory foundation (divided into two aspects: specific organization and overall manufacturing process theory), and also have the design foundation-including a certain artistic foundation (sketch) and the use of computer drawing software (Photoshop, ProE, etc. ).
The main research direction 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.
4. Control category, including computer-aided engineering, system and automatic control, and microelectronic system.
The main research direction 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, computational engineering, 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.
The main research direction 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.
The main research direction of microelectronic system;
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.
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.