Mechanical Engineering

Subject abbreviation: ME The Marlan and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering

Guanshui Xu, Ph.D. Chair Department Office, A361 Bourns Hall

• (951) 827-2497; https://www.me.ucr.edu/

Professors

Reza Abbaschian, Ph.D. Distinguished Professor Chris Lynch, Ph.D., Dean, Bourns College

of Engineering Lorenzo Mangolini, Ph.D. Cengiz Ozkan, Ph.D. Fabio Pasqualetti, Ph.D. Marko Princevac, Ph.D. Thomas Stahovich, Ph.D. Kambiz Vafai, Ph.D. Distinguished Professor Akula Venkatram, Ph.D. Guanshui Xu, Ph.D.

Professor Emeritus

Guillermo Aguilar, Ph.D.

Associate Professors

Sinisa Coh, Ph.D. Heejung Jung, Ph.D. Chen Li, Ph.D. Masaru P. Rao, Ph.D. Hideaki Tsutsui, Ph.D. Richard Wilson, Ph.D.

Assistant Professors

Mona Eskandari, Ph.D. P. Alex Greaney, Ph.D. Kaveh Laksari, Ph.D. Tamar Mentzel, Ph.D. Erfan Nozari, Ph.D. Bhargav Rallabandi, Ph.D. Jonathan Realmuto, Ph.D. Luat Vuong, Ph.D.

Assistant Professors in Teaching

V. Sundar, Ph.D.

** Adjunct Professors

Guillermo Agular, Ph.D. Santiago Camacho-Lopez, Ph.D. Juan Hernandez-Cordero, Ph.D. Suveen Mathaudhu, Ph.D.

Adjunct Associate Professor

Khalid Hattar, Ph.D.

Lecturers

James Sawyer, Ph.D. Farbod Khashnoud, Ph.D.

Cooperating Faculty

Bahman Anvari, Ph.D. (Bioengineering) Matthew Barth, Ph.D. (Electrical and

Computer Engineering) Wei Ren, Ph.D. (Electrical and Computer

Engineering)

The design and production of machines requires a broad-based education. The Mechanical Engineering degree program has been structured to provide the necessary background in chemistry, physics, and advanced math to achieve success in the advanced engineering subjects. In addition, students are taught the basics of Mechanical Engineering while learning about the latest developments and experimental techniques. The Mechanical Engineering Program Educational Objectives are to prepare graduates to make a positive impact on society by being successful in:

• careers as mechanical engineers and as

engineering leaders

• graduate studies and research

• professional careers besides mechanical

engineering

• advocating for the engineering profession

and inspiring others to develop a passion for engineering profession.

The Mechanical Engineering B.S. degree program at UCR is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, abet.org. For more details see https://www.me.ucr.edu/.

All undergraduates in the College of Engineering must see an advisor at least annually. Visit student.engr.ucr.edu for details.

All students who request a change of major to Mechanical Engineering must meet the following requirements:

• Be in good academic standing

• Have no less than a C- in any Math,

Science and Engineering coursework

• Have a minimum 2.0 GPA in all Math,

Science and Engineering required coursework

• Be able to complete major within

maximum allowable units

• Complete all the courses listed below, based

on the total number of units earned, prior to submitting the major change request

• UCR transfer students interested in

changing to a BCOE major must have been admissible to the major at point of entry, or must satisfy transfer admission and change of major requirements before earning 120 units

• If changing in the 90-119 units category

student must have the ability to complete major within 5 years of entry as a Freshmen or 3 years after entry as a Transfer student

• Students who have earned 120 or more

units are not eligible for a change of major in BCOE. NOTE: AP/IB units are excluded from maximum unit calculation

Completed 0 to less than 45 units Completion of ENGL 001A with C or better and completion of the following with at least 2.500 GPA:

• MATH 009A or MATH 09HA

• MATH 009B or MATH 09HB

• PHYS 040A

Completed 45 to less than 90 units Completion of ENGL 001A with C or better and completion of the following with at least 2.500 GPA:

• ME 002

• ME 018A

• MATH 009A or MATH 09HA

• MATH 009B or MATH 09HB

• MATH 009C or MATH 09HC

• PHYS 040A Completed 90 to less than 120 units Completion of ENGL 001A and ENGL 001B with C or better and completion of the following with at least 2.500 GPA:

• ME 002

• ME 010

• ME 018A

• ME 018B

• MATH 009A or MATH 09HA

• MATH 009B or MATH 09HB

• MATH 009C or MATH 09HC

• PHYS 040A

• PHYS 040B

See Undergraduate Studies section.

See The Marlan and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering, Colleges and Programs section.

The Mechanical Engineering major uses the following major requirements to satisfy the college’s Natural Sciences and Mathematics breadth requirement.

• 1. MATH 009A

• 2. PHYS 040A, PHYS 040B, PHYS 040C

• 1. Lower-division requirements (78 units)

• a) CHEM 001A, CHEM 001B, CHEM 01LA,

CHEM 01LB

• b) EE 005

• c) MATH 009A, MATH 009B, MATH 009C,

MATH 010A, MATH 010B, MATH 046

• d) ME 002, ME 009, ME 010, ME 018A,

ME 018B

• e) PHYS 040A, PHYS 040B, PHYS 040C

• f) STAT 010

• 2. Upper-division requirements (72 units)

• a) ME 100A, ME 103, ME 110, ME 113, ME 114, ME 116A, ME 118, ME 120, ME 135, ME 170A, ME 170B, ME 174, ME 175A, ME 175B,

ME 175C

• b) Choose one Focus Area:

• (1) Materials and Structures

Sixteen (16) units of technical electives chosen from ME 100B, ME 116B, ME 121, ME 122, ME 134/MSE 134, ME 153, ME 156, ME 157/MSE 143, ME 158/ MSE 148, ME 180, ME 197

• (2) Energy and Environment

Sixteen (16) units of technical electives chosen from ME 100B, ME 116B, ME 117, ME 136, ME 137, ME 138, ME 197

• (3) Design and Manufacturing

Sixteen (16) units of technical electives chosen from ME 121, ME 122, ME 130, ME 131, ME 133, ME 140, ME 144/EE 144, ME 145, ME 153, ME 156, ME 175D, ME 176, ME 180, ME 197

• (4) General Mechanical Engineering

Sixteen (16) units of technical electives chosen from the following list, in consultation with an advisor: ME 100B, ME 116B, ME 117, ME 121, ME 122, ME 130, ME 131, ME 133, ME 134/MSE 134, ME 136, ME 137, ME 138, ME 140, ME 144/EE 144, ME 145, ME 153, ME 156, ME 157/MSE 143, ME 158/ MSE 148, ME 180, ME 175D, ME 176, ME 180, ME 197

Visit the Student Affairs Office in the College of Engineering or student.engr.ucr.edu for a sample program.

The Department of Mechanical Engineering offers graduate educational programs leading to M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Mechanical Engineering. Broad areas of research include

• 1) mechanics and materials, 2) fluids and

thermal sciences and 3) information computation and design. Specific research focus areas include the following:

• Air quality, small and large-scale pollutant

dispersion in urban flows, turbulent combustion and wildland fire behavior, engine emissions and nanoparticle science, thermal and electrical properties of nanowires and nanotubes, direct energy conversion, porous media and multiphase transport, bioheat transfer, biomedical optics, and medical laser applications

• Wafer fab processing, thin film mechanics

and nanotechnology, bio-inspired materials, mechanical behavior of thin films and other small-featured structures, mechanics of interfaces and surfaces, mechanical properties of carbon nanotubes and ferroelectric/piezoelectric materials, sensing and imaging, mechanics of geophysical materials, advanced material synthesis, composites, MEME, BioMEMS, biomedical devices, and processing of nanocrystalline materials

• Artificial intelligence, computer-aided

design or manufacturing, process planning, sensor networks, and distributed computing and control

Visit https://www.me.ucr.edu/research, for detailed information on the research programs of individual faculty members.

Combined B.S. + M.S. Five-Year Program The college offers a combined B.S. + M.S. program in Mechanical Engineering designed to lead to a Bachelor of Science degree as well as a Master of Science degree in five years. Applicants for this program must have a high school GPA above 3.6, complete the Entry Level Writing Requirement before matriculation, and have sufficient mathematics preparation to enroll in calculus in their first quarter as freshmen. Eight units of technical electives will count in both programs, reducing the total number of units required for the MS degree.

Interested students who are entering their junior year should check with their academic advisor for information on eligibility and other details. Admission In addition to the following requirements, all applicants must meet the general requirements of the Riverside Division of the Academic Senate and the UCR Graduate Council as set forth in this catalog under the Graduate Studies section.

Language Requirement All international students whose first language is not English must demonstrate proficiency in spoken English by securing at least a “conditional pass” score on the TAST or SPEAK test before they can be appointed as a TA. However, to be considered for subsequent TA appointments, they must secure a “clear pass” on the TAST or SPEAK. The fee associated with this test is paid by the department for the first attempt only. The TAST or SPEAK requirement is, however, waived for international students who are appointed as GSRs or are self-supported throughout their studies at UCR.

The Department of Mechanical Engineering offers the M.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Admission Applicants should have an undergraduate degree in engineering, physical sciences, or mathematics; a satisfactory GPA for the last two years of their undergraduate studies; and high scores on the GRE General Test. All official transcripts, official GRE reports and three letters of recommendation must be submitted for evaluation. Foreign students and permanent residents whose first language is not English must also submit an acceptable TOEFL test score prior to admittance; the minimum TOEFL exam score is 550 (paper-based), 213 (computer-based), or 80 (Internet-based).

The M.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering can be earned by either completing a thesis (Plan I), which reports a creative investigation of a defined problem, or passing a comprehensive examination (Plan II). A minimum of three quarters of residency is required. Students should enroll in 12 units each quarter unless the graduate advisor grants an exception.

Course work used to satisfy the student’s undergraduate degree requirements may not be applied toward the 36-unit M.S. requirement.

Plan I (Thesis) Requires completion of a minimum of 36 units of upper-division and graduate-level approved course work and submission of an acceptable thesis. At least 24 of these units must be in graduate courses (200-series courses), a minimum of twenty of these units being Mechanical Engineering graduate courses (ME 200 or higher, excluding ME 250, ME 290, ME 297, ME 2981, and ME 299). The student must take at least 3 units of seminar (ME 250) and at least 7 but no more than 11 units of directed or thesis research credits (ME 297 or ME 299). No more than 8 units of course work may be satisfied with directed studies (ME 290) or individual internship (ME 2981). Students must defend the thesis. An acceptable M.S. thesis must be submitted. The M.S. thesis may be based on:

• 1. A research or advanced design project,

either analytical, computational or experimental;

• 2. An extensive report consisting of theo

retical, computational or experimental contribution to mechanical engineering.

The student’s M.S. Thesis Committee is responsible for approving the thesis. The thesis committee is composed of three members (including the research advisor).

Plan II (Comprehensive Examination) Requires completion of a minimum of 36 units of upper-division and graduate-level approved course work and successfully passing a comprehensive examination. At least 24 of these units must be in graduate courses (200 series courses), a minimum of twenty of these units being Mechanical Engineering graduate courses (ME 200 or higher, excluding ME 250, ME 290, ME 297, ME 2981, and ME 299). The student must take I unit of seminar (ME 250) and no more than 7 units of directed studies (ME 290) or individual internship (ME 298I). Guidelines for preparation to the comprehensive examination are detailed in the Graduate Student Handbook.

Normative Time to Degree Two years

Refer to the department’s graduate program guidelines for further details.

The Department of Mechanical Engineering offers the Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Admission An M.S. or equivalent degree in engineering or physical sciences or mathematics is normally required for admission to the Ph.D. program, although applicants with exceptional undergraduate or research record may be admitted directly into the Ph.D. program without an M.S. degree. Applicants for the Ph.D. degree must also meet the same requirements as for the master’s programs. Students in the M.S. program of Mechanical Engineering who desire to pursue the Ph.D. degree must formally apply for admission to the Ph.D. program.

The procedure for satisfying the requirements for the Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering at UCR consists of four principal parts:

• 1. Successful completion of an approved

program of course work below

• 2. Passing a written and oral preliminary

examination

• 3. Successful oral defense of a written dis

sertation proposal

• 4. Defense and approval of the dissertation

Course Work A course work plan has to be formulated by the student in coordination with their research advisor or the program graduate advisor. It is understood that changes to this may occur as the student’s research progresses. These changes should be documented after consultation with the research advisor or the program graduate advisor. Core Course Work Before the oral defense of the dissertation proposal at least 32 units of course work must be completed. This is excluding seminar and research credits. Of these a minimum of twenty-four graduate units must be in Mechanical Engineering courses (ME 200 or higher, excluding ME 250, ME 290, ME 297, ME 298-I, and ME 299). Typically students also enroll in ME 250 and ME 297 units their first year. The student may be advised to take additional courses prior to advancement to candidacy.

Seminar Requirement The student must also complete 6 units of ME 250 (seminar) prior to graduation. One unit of ME 250 is offered each quarter. These units do not have to be completed before the dissertation proposal defense.

Research Units At least 36 units of directed or thesis research credits (ME 297 or ME 299) must be taken prior to graduation.

Courses taken as part of the Ph.D. requirement in Mechanical Engineering at UCR can be used to satisfy the course requirements for an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering at UCR and vice versa.

Normative Time to Degree Five years

Refer to the department’s graduate program guidelines for further details

Written and Oral Preliminary Examination The examination aims to screen candidates for pursuing doctoral studies. It is administered by the graduate program committee and is composed of two sessions:

Session 1: Written Examination

Session 2: Oral Examination

Normally, both sessions are completed within a four-week period. The written examination is designed to test understanding of graduate-level mechanical engineering concepts and methods. It covers three subject areas to be selected by the student among the following: materials structure & properties, control systems, engineering analysis, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, thermodynamics, solid mechanics. Students are strongly encouraged to complete the relevant graduate-level course work for the selected subject areas. For details, consult the departmental guidelines. The oral examination assesses the student’s ability to conduct independent research. Consult departmental guidelines for details. The preliminary examination is normally offered once every year at the beginning of the summer session.

Dissertation and Final Oral Examination After successfully completing the preliminary examination, the student, with advice from the advisor, recommends a qualifying committee and prepares a dissertation proposal. The dissertation proposal consists of a written document and an oral presentation or defense. Typically, the student submits a dissertation proposal to the qualifying committee within one year after successfully completing the preliminary examination and completion of the required 24 units of graduate core courses. The qualifying committee chair normally schedules an oral defense within one month of the written proposal submission. The presentation is given only to the qualifying committee members. The student is advanced to candidacy after successfully completing this examination and all coursework.

After completing the dissertation research, a written draft copy of the completed dissertation must be submitted to the dissertation committee for review, evaluation, and determination of whether the draft thesis is ready for oral defense. Once a draft has been approved for defense, an oral defense of the dissertation is scheduled and is open to the entire academic community. This defense consists of a presentation, followed by a question-and-answer period conducted by the dissertation committee and the audience. After successfully defending the dissertation, the candidate must submit final copies of the dissertation that comply with the format requirements set forth by the Graduate Division. Copies are given to the department and the dissertation advisor, in addition to those required by the Graduate Division.

Consult departmental guidelines for appointments to qualifying and dissertation committees.

Refer to the department’s graduate program guidelines for further details.