About Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science
The Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science (MEMS) offers the Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (BSME) and the Bachelor of Science in Applied Science (Mechanical Engineering). In addition, minors in aerospace engineering, energy engineering, environmental engineering science, materials science & engineering, nanoscale science & engineering, robotics, mechatronics, and mechanical engineering as well as in related scientific and engineering fields are available to students.
The MEMS curriculum emphasizes the core principles of mechanics (i.e., the study of forces, materials and motion) that underlie mechanical engineering. The common curriculum during the student's early academic development encourages breadth of understanding, interdisciplinary thinking and creativity. During their first, sophomore and early junior years, students are focused on learning fundamental concepts in statics, dynamics, fluid mechanics and thermodynamics. During the junior and senior years, students choose electives that emphasize their specific interests and prepare them for a particular professional or academic career. The undergraduate curriculum for the BSME degree provides MEMS students with a strong base in fundamental mathematics, science and engineering. It exposes the students to diverse applications of mechanics and materials, and it provides them with the flexibility to explore creative ideas through undergraduate research and project-based courses.
Mechanical engineering is critical to a variety of important emerging technologies. Mechanical engineers design and develop artificial organs, prosthetic limbs, robotic devices, adaptive materials, efficient propulsion mechanisms, high-performance aerospace structures, and advanced renewable energy systems. The core concepts of mechanics, thermal systems and materials science are at the heart of these technologies.
Mission Statement
The MEMS faculty is committed to providing the best possible undergraduate mechanical engineering education possible. We strive to nurture the intellectual, professional and personal development of the students, to continually improve the curriculum, to be professionally current, and to maintain state-of-the-art facilities for teaching and learning.
We seek to prepare students for professional practice with a scientifically grounded foundation in the major topics of mechanical engineering: solid mechanics, mechanical design, dynamics and vibrations, systems control, fluid mechanics, thermal science and materials science.
Graduate Programs
The department offers programs for graduate study at both the master's and doctoral levels. All programs are designed to direct advanced study into an area of specialization and original research that includes recent scientific and technological advances.
A graduate degree can provide significant advantages and rewards to a mechanical engineer, including increased income and a wider range of career options. Graduate programs include professional, course-option master's degrees (MS and MEng) as well as research-based master's (MS) and doctoral (PhD) degrees. The undergraduate curriculum provides an excellent foundation for graduate study, and a careful selection of electives during the third and fourth years can facilitate the transition to graduate work. The master's degrees can be pursued on a part-time or full-time basis, whereas the PhD degrees are typically pursued by full-time students.
Contact Info
| Website: | https://mems.wustl.edu/academics/undergraduate/index.html |
Department Chair
James Friend
Stephen F. and Camilla T. Brauer Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering
PhD, Missouri University of Science and Technology
Small-scale acoustic phenomena
Associate Chair of Education
Emily J. Boyd
PhD, University of Texas at Austin
Thermofluids
Associate Chair of Research
Spencer P. Lake
PhD, University of Pennsylvania
Soft-tissue biomechanics
Endowed Professors
Ramesh K. Agarwal
William Palm Professor of Engineering
PhD, Stanford University
Computational fluid dynamics, computational physics
Philip V. Bayly
The Lee Hunter Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering
PhD, Duke University
Nonlinear dynamics, vibrations, biomechanics
Katharine M. Flores
Christopher I. Byrnes Professor of Engineering
PhD, Stanford University
Mechanical behavior of structural materials
Guy M. Genin
Harold & Kathleen Faught Professor of Mechanical Engineering
PhD, Harvard University
Solid mechanics, fracture mechanics
Jianjun Guan
Earl E. & Myrtle E. Walker Professor of Engineering
PhD, Zhejiang University
Biomimetic biomaterials synthesis, scaffold fabrication
David A. Peters
McDonnell Douglas Professor of Engineering
PhD, Stanford University
Aeroelasticity, vibrations, helicopter dynamics, aerodynamics
Srikanth Singamaneni
Lilyan and E. Lisle Hughes Professor of Mechanical Engineering
PhD, Georgia Institute of Technology
Microstructures of cross-linked polymers
Professors
Spencer P. Lake
PhD, University of Pennsylvania
Soft-tissue biomechanics
Amit Pathak
PhD, University of California, Santa Barbara
Cellular biomechanics
Jessica E. Wagenseil
DSc, Washington University
Arterial biomechanics
Associate Professors
Xianglin Li
PhD, University of Connecticut
Multiphase heat and mass transfer in energy systems; computational fluid dynamics
J. Mark Meacham
PhD, Georgia Institute of Technology
Micro-/nanotechnologies for thermal systems and the life sciences
Rohan Mishra
PhD, The Ohio State University
Computational materials science
Sara Roccabianca
PhD, University of Trento
Biomechanics of the urinary tract and cardiovascular systems
Patricia B. Weisensee
PhD, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Thermal fluids
Assistant Professors
Sang-Hoon Bae
PhD, University of California, Los Angeles
Materials growth, optoelectronics, renewable energy
Matthew R. Bersi
PhD, Yale University
Biomedical engineering
Christopher Cooper
PhD, Stanford University
Responsive, soft materials for application in energy storage
Fanwei Kong
PhD, University of California, Berkeley
Develop machine learning and computational methods
Francisco Lagunas Vargas
PhD, University of Illinois Chicago
Developing structure-property relationships in functional materials
Professors of Practice
Swami Karunamoorthy
DSc, Washington University
Helicopter dynamics, engineering education
Ed Whalen
PhD, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Aerospace engineering
Louis G. Woodhams
BS, University of Missouri–St. Louis
Computational biomechanics
Teaching Professors
Emily J. Boyd
PhD, University of Texas at Austin
Thermofluids
Ruth J. Okamoto
DSc, Washington University
Biomechanics, solid mechanics
Research Professor
Anders E. Carlsson
PhD, Harvard University
Biophysical Modeling, Mechanobiology
Joint Faculty
Richard L. Axelbaum (Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering)
Stifel & Quinette Jens Professor of Environmental Engineering Science
PhD, University of California, Davis
Combustion, nanomaterials
Christopher Cooper (Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering)
PhD, Stanford University
Responsive, soft materials for applications in energy storage, environmental sustainability and human health
Elliot L. Elson (Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics)
Professor Emeritus of Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics
PhD, Stanford University
Biochemistry, molecular biophysics
Michael D. Harris (Physical Therapy, Orthopaedic Surgery, and Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science)
PhD, University of Utah
Whole body and joint-level orthopaedic biomechanics
Kenneth F. Kelton (Physics)
Arthur Holly Compton Professor of Arts & Sciences
PhD, Harvard University
Study and production of titanium-based quasicrystals and related phases
Eric C. Leuthardt (Neurological Surgery and Biomedical Engineering)
MD, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Neurological surgery
Lori Setton (Biomedical Engineering)
Lucy and Stanley Lopata Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering
PhD, Columbia University
Biomechanics for local drug delivery, tissue regeneration specific to the knee joints and spine
Matthew J. Silva (Orthopaedic Surgery)
Julia and Walter R. Peterson Orthopaedic Research Professor
PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Biomechanics of age-related fractures and osteoporosis
Simon Tang (Orthopaedic Surgery and Biomedical Engineering)
PhD, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Biological mechanisms
Senior Professors
Phillip L. Gould
PhD, Northwestern University
Structural analysis and design, shell analysis and design, biomechanical engineering
Mark J. Jakiela
PhD, University of Michigan
Mechanical design, design for manufacturing, optimization, evolutionary computation
Kenneth L. Jerina
DSc, Washington University
Materials, design, solid mechanics, fatigue, fracture
Shankar M.L. Sastry
PhD, University of Toronto
Materials science, physical metallurgy
Barna A. Szabo
PhD, State University of New York at Buffalo
Numerical simulation of mechanical systems, finite-element methods
Senior Lecturers
Afaque Manzoor
PhD, Jeju National University
Soft robotics and flexible electronics
J. Jackson Potter
PhD, Georgia Institute of Technology
Senior design
Lecturers
Chiamaka Asinugo
MS, Washington University
Mechanical engineering design
Sharniece Holland
PhD, University of Alabama
Additive manufacturing, mathematics
Jeffery Krampf
MS, Washington University
Fluid mechanics, modeling, design
H. Shaun Sellers
PhD, Johns Hopkins University
Mechanics, materials
Adjunct Instructors
Derek Barkey
MS, University of Southern California
Structures, numerical methods and simulation
Robert G. Becnel
MS, Washington University
FE review
Andrew W. Cary
PhD, University of Michigan
Computational fluid dynamics
Keith Coleman
MS, Missouri University of Science and Technology
Aerospace defense and project management
Joshua Dustin
PhD, Purdue University
Structures and materials
Richard S. Dyer
PhD, Washington University
Propulsion, thermodynamics, fluids
Richard R. Janis
MS, Washington University
Building environmental systems
Krishnan K. Sankaran
PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Metallic materials
Michael C. Wendl
DSc, Washington University
Mathematical theory, computational methods in biology and engineering
MEMS 1000 Introduction to Mechanical Engineering and Mechanical Design
Mechanical engineers face new challenges in the areas of energy, materials, and systems. This course introduces students to these areas through team-based, hands-on projects that emphasize engineering design, analysis, and measurement skills.
Credit 2 units.
Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring
MEMS 1100 Machine Shop Practicum
Operation of basic machine tools including: lathe, drill press, grinder and mill. Machine tool use and safety are covered. Student shop privilege requires completion of this practicum.
Credit 1 unit.
Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring
MEMS 1110 Advanced Machine Shop Practicum
Students will learn to use the vertical machining centers (LPM and 2op), bed mill, and CNC Lathe. Conversation programming and CAD/CAM programming will be taught. Learning to load and unload tooling, set tooling offset, reconcile tools within a program, satisfy machine operational requirements, and complete safety checks will be part of the learning experience. You will learn to read G-Code and M-Code generated by the CAM program and recognize machining events in real time.
Credit 1 unit.
Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring
MEMS 1150 Computer-Aided Design
An introduction to computer aided engineering design in the context of mechanical and structural engineering. Students learn the fundamentals of spatial reasoning and graphical representation. Freehand sketching skills, including pictorial and orthographic views, are applied to the design process. Computer modeling techniques provide accuracy, analysis, and visualization tools necessary for the design of structures, devices and machines. Topics include: detailing design for production, fasteners, dimensioning, tolerancing, creation of part and assembly drawings, computer aided design, analysis and optimization of parts and assemblies; solid modeling of complex surfaces, assembly modeling, assembly constraints, and interference checking.
Credit 2 units.
Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring
MEMS 1160 Computer Aided Design - AutoCAD
AutoCAD is the most used two-dimensional drawing software for Architectural and Engineering production drawings. Introduction to AutoCAD, title blocks, drawing setup, absolute and relative coordinates, drawing entities, layouts, drafting geometry, dimensioning, plotting drawings to scale, sectional and other special views, isometric pictorial views. Classwork involves typical drawings from industry.
Credit 1 unit.
Typical periods offered: Fall
MEMS 2000 Introduction to Electrical and Electronic Circuits for Mechanical Engineering
The purpose of the course is to introduce and expand student knowledge of the field of electrical circuits. The course will be tailored to better meet the needs of Mechanical Engineering students and should not be a substitution for the traditional ESE students. The course will be a lecture/lab environment and introduce students to various concepts necessary to analyze basic electrical circuits. The main objective is to give each student a comfort level in the subject of electrical circuits, which will serve as both a basis for further study and a valuable life-long asset. Topics to be covered include: electrical energy and power, current, voltage, and circuit elements (resistors, capacitors, inductors, diodes, transistors, and operational amplifiers), Ohm's law, magnetic fields and motors, Kirchhoff's laws, Thevenin/Norton, superposition, circuit analysis, maximum power transfer, RL circuits, RC circuits, RLC circuits, filters, basic operational amplifier circuits, AC/DC power supplies, Arduino microcontroller, level shifters, I2C bus interface, stepper motor drivers, servo motor/encoder system, and PWM. The class format will be a lecture/lab combination where major lab projects will be the basis for lecture material.
Credit 3 units.
Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring
MEMS 2050 Mechanics and Materials Science Laboratory
Laboratory experiments and exercises focusing on mechanical properties of engineering materials; metallography; heat treatment; beam deflection; stress and strain measurement; properties and structure of engineering materials; calibration and use of instrumentation; acquisition, processing, and analysis of data; principles of experimentation and measurement; statistical analysis of data; preparation of laboratory reports; and presentation of data.
Credit 2 units.
Typical periods offered: Spring
MEMS 2150 Advanced Computer-Aided Design
Topics covered will include computer-aided design, analysis, and optimization of parts and assemblies; solid modeling of complex surfaces, creation of detail drawings, and dimensioning and tolerancing; assembly modeling, assembly constraints, and interference checking; motion constraints, force and acceleration analysis, and thermal analysis; and part optimization for weight, strength, and thermal characteristics using SOLIDWORKS software.
Credit 3 units.
Typical periods offered: Spring
MEMS 2210 Numerical Methods and Matrix Algebra
This course provides students with computational tools for solving mechanical, structural, and aerospace engineering problems. An introduction to MATLAB will be presented, including data input/output, program flow control, functions and graphics. Topics covered include matrices, determinants, rank, vector spaces, solutions of linear systems, interpolation and curve fitting, numeric differentiation and integration, eigenvalue and initial-value problems, nonlinear equations, and optimization. Each topic will be treated in the context of a typical engineering application.
Credit 3 units.
Typical periods offered: Spring
MEMS 2510 Statics and Mechanics of Materials
Principles of statics, solid mechanics, force systems and equilibrium. Equivalent systems of forces and distributed forces. Applications to trusses, frames, machines, beams, and cables. Mechanics of deformable solids and indeterminate problems. Stress, strain, deflection, yield and failure in beams, columns, and torsion members. * MEMS 2510 has mandatory evening exams; the specific days and times will be listed under assessments on the course section once confirmed.
Credit 3 units.
Typical periods offered: Fall
MEMS 2520 Dynamics
Review of vector algebra and calculus. Kinematics of a particle. Newton's laws and the kinetics of a particle. Work and energy. Impulse and momentum. Kinematics of rigid bodies. General theorems for systems of particles. Kinetics of rigid bodies. The inertia tensor. Computer problems form a significant part of the class.
Credit 3 units.
Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring
MEMS 2610 Materials Science
Introduction to properties, chemistry and physics of engineering materials; conduction, semiconductors, crystalline structures, imperfections, phase diagrams, kinetics, mechanical properties, ceramics, polymers, corrosion, magnetic materials, and thin films; relationship of atomic and molecular structure to physical and chemical properties; selection of materials for engineering applications; relationships between physical properties, chemical properties and performance of engineering materials.
Credit 3 units.
Typical periods offered: Spring
MEMS 3050 Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer Laboratory
Laboratory experiments and exercises focusing on fluid properties, flow phenomena, thermal science and heat transfer phenomena; calibration and use of instrumentation; acquisition, processing, and analysis of data; principles of experimentation and measurement; statistical analysis of data; preparation of laboratory reports; and presentation of data.
Credit 2 units.
Typical periods offered: Spring
MEMS 3110 Machine Elements
This course includes weekly lectures and a bi-weekly lab. Lectures introduce the engineering design process, review stresses and failure theories, and present a variety of machine elements (such as bearings, shafts, gears, belts, springs, etc.) and their governing equations. In lab, students use a commercial CAD package (SolidWorks) to create and constrain models of machine assemblies, analyze stresses in machine components, and create animations to demonstrate machine motion. Course material is presented in the context of a semester-long engineering design problem that culminates in a final group project. Student teams generate their own design concept to embody in CAD and characterize it with engineering and analytical models.
Credit 3 units.
Typical periods offered: Spring
MEMS 3120 Multidisciplinary Design & Prototyping
This hands-on course introduces students to the engineering design process and a variety of prototyping tools and techniques. Skills are developed through weekly workshops, online exercises, and design projects. Lectures focus on design principles and real-world issues for engineered products. This semester's theme is "sound machines," exploring the intersection of acoustics and mechatronics.
Credit 3 units.
Typical periods offered: Fall
MEMS 3400 Thermodynamics
This course of classical thermodynamics is oriented towards mechanical engineering applications. It includes properties and states of a substance, processes, cycles, work, heat, and energy. Steady-state and transient analyses utilize the First and Second Laws of Thermodynamics for closed systems and control volumes, as well as the concept of exergy.
Credit 3 units.
Typical periods offered: Fall
MEMS 3410 Fluid Mechanics
Fundamental concepts of fluids as continua. Topics include: viscosity, flow fields, velocity, vorticity, streamlines, fluid statics, hydrostatic forces, manometers, conservation of mass and momentum, incompressible inviscid flow, dimensional analysis and similitude, flow in pipes and ducts, flow measurement, boundary-layer concepts, flow in open channels.
Credit 3 units.
Typical periods offered: Fall
MEMS 3420 Heat Transfer
This course provides an introductory treatment of the principles of heat transfer by conduction, convection, or radiation; analysis of steady and unsteady conduction with numerical solution methods; analytical and semi-empirical methods of forced and natural convection; boiling and condensation heat transfer; and radiation heat transfer.
Credit 3 units.
Typical periods offered: Spring
MEMS 3430 Design of Thermal Systems
Analysis and design of advanced thermo-fluid and energy systems, including power generating cycles, refrigeration and air conditioning cycles, thermodynamic cycles used for transportation (e.g., jet propulsion, internal combustion engine), phase change and heat exchangers (including boilers, condensers, and HVAC systems), and different renewable energy sources that use thermal energy. Students work on thermodynamic design projects, both individually and as groups. Final group project involves research, design synthesis, environmental impact analysis, a written report, and a group presentation.
Credit 3 units.
Typical periods offered: Spring
MEMS 3530 Solid Mechanics
A continuation of MEMS 253 containing selected topics in the mechanics of deformable solids, presented at a level intermediate between introductory strength of materials and advanced continuum mechanics. Lectures will discuss elastic and elasto-plastic response, failure criteria, composites, beams, and structural stability, as well as an introduction of the tensorial formulation of stress and strain and the governing equations of 3-D linear elasticity. Mathematical methods from calculus, linear algebra and linear differential equations will be used. Computer problems form a significant part of the class. MEMS 255 not required.
Credit 3 units.
Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring
MEMS 4001 Fundamentals of Engineering Review
A review and preparation of the most recent NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam specifications is offered in a classroom setting. Exam strategies will be illustrated using examples. The main topics for the review include: engineering mathematics, statics, dynamics, thermodynamics, heat transfer, mechanical design and analysis, material science and engineering economics. A discussion of the importance and responsibilities of professional engineering licensure along with ethics will be included.
Credit 1 unit.
Typical periods offered: Spring
MEMS 4050 Vibrations and Data Analysis Lab
Laboratory experiments, data analysis, and simulation, focusing on vibration of mechanical systems and the management and interpretation of large spatiotemporal data sets. Physical experiments will involve: kinematic and dynamic response; measurement of dynamic forces, displacements, velocities, and accelerations; transient and steady state responses of mechanical systems to static and dynamic loads. Topics will include: calibration and use of instrumentation; conversion, acquisition and processing of sensor data; principles of experimentation and measurement; statistical characterization of data; machine learning methods for data analysis; preparation of laboratory reports and presentations. High-level programming language and computational environment (MATLAB or equivalent) will be used for data analysis and simulation.
Credit 2 units.
Typical periods offered: Fall
MEMS 4110 Mechanical Engineering Design Project
Student groups work on an open-ended mechanical design problem and finish the semester by presenting a physical prototype and a formal report to an external review board. Groups are guided through the engineering design process by completing a set of project deliverables. The quality of these deliverables provides a basis for evaluation of individual and team performance. This course emphasizes the importance of user-centric design, communication and presentation skill, consideration of real-world constraints, sketching and creativity, prototyping, and data-driven decision making using engineering models and analyses.
Credit 3 units.
Typical periods offered: Fall
MEMS 4120 Manufacturing Processes
Manufacturing processes and machinery are explained and described. Topics include: analytical tools of machine science, heat transfer, vibrations and control theory are applied to the solution of manufacturing problems, analytical development and application of engineering theory to manufacturing problems, machine tools and automated production equipment.
Credit 3 units.
Typical periods offered: Fall
MEMS 4240 Introduction to Finite Element Methods in Structural Analysis
Application of finite element methods to beams, frames, trusses and other structural components. Modeling techniques for different types of structural engineering problems. Topics in stress analysis, applied loads, boundary conditions, deflections and internal loads, matrix methods, energy concepts, structural mechanics and the development of finite element modeling methods.
Credit 3 units.
Typical periods offered: Spring
MEMS 4310 Vibrations
Introduction to the analysis of vibrations in single- and multi- degree of freedom systems; free and forced vibration of multi-degree of freedom and distributed parameter mechanical systems and structures; methods of Laplace transform; complex harmonic balance; matrix formulation; Fourier series; and transient response of continuous systems by partial differential equations.
Credit 3 units.
Typical periods offered: Fall
MEMS 4320 Modeling, Simulation and Control
Introduction to simulation and control concepts. Topics include: block diagram representation of single-and multi-loop systems, control system components, transient and steady-state performance, stability analysis, Nyquist, Bode, and root locus diagrams, compensation using lead, lag and lead-lag networks, design synthesis by Bode plots and root-locus diagrams, state-variable techniques, state-transition matrix, state-variable feedback.
Credit 3 units.
Typical periods offered: Spring
MEMS 4999 Independent Study
Independent investigation on topic of special interest. Students must complete the Independent Study Approval Form available in the department office.
Credit 3 units.
Typical periods offered: Fall, Spring, Summer