Mechanical Engineering

The baccalaureate program in mechanical engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org.

FACULTY Professors: Abou-Hanna (chair), Elbella, Fakheri, Morris, Nair, Zietlow; Associate Professors: Henderson, Kim, Reyer, Timpe; Assistant Professor: Vafaei; Assistant Professor in Residence: Moeckel; Emeritus Professors Hurt, Johnson, Mehta, Okamura, Wessler; Emeritus Associate Professors: Deller, Podlasek.

The department offers one baccalaureate degree program and four concentrations:

Mechanical Engineering (B.S.M.E.)
- Biomedical Concentration
- Energy Concentration
- Chemical Engineering Concentration
- Robotics and Autonomous Vehicles Concentration

Mission and Objectives

The mission of the Mechanical Engineering Department is to produce mechanical engineering graduates who possess the acumen, competence, and skills needed to enter, succeed, and lead in professional practice and/or graduate school. The goal is to provide a learning and nurturing environment that stimulates faculty and students to collaborate in solving practical problems, motivates lifelong learning, and helps them reach their highest potential.

The program educational objectives of the department are that alumni meet the following goals within 3 to 5 years after graduation from the mechanical engineering program:

Are in professional practice or are pursuing advanced studies in mechanical engineering or related fields.
Are using their educational foundation to engage in lifelong learning
Are involved in local, regional, national or international practice to meet global technological and societal changing needs.

Student Outcomes

In order to meet these program educational objectives, students graduating from Bradley’s mechanical engineering program will attain the following outcomes.

an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies

Mechanical engineering is the broadest and most versatile of the engineering professions. Mechanical engineers are particularly concerned with the application of science and technology to translate ideas and theories into realistic engineering solutions that satisfy the needs of society, by using a combination of human, material, and economic resources. The broad discipline of mechanical engineering can be organized into two main branches, namely mechanical systems and thermal systems.

-Within mechanical systems, the following specialties may be pursued: applied mechanics, dynamic and control systems including robotics, materials, nanotechnology, and micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS).

-Within thermal systems, the following specialties may be pursued: energy systems, including aerospace, diesel and gasoline engine power, gas turbines, and solar energy, fluid dynamics, heat transfer, and air pollution control.

-Spanning both branches are the following specialties: bioengineering and computer and microprocessor applications

The undergraduate program also offers a broad technical background for persons wishing to enter graduate programs in different areas of mechanical engineering, business, law and medicine.

The faculty believes that engineers must be firmly grounded in the fundamentals of their field and the supporting areas of mathematics, communication, and the sciences, so that graduates will be able to adapt quickly to the rapid changes occurring in our technological society. Therefore, the curriculum has been designed to stress the basic tools of knowledge and practice essential to launch one’s professional career and a lifelong process of continued learning.

The spectrum of mechanical engineering includes innovation and creation, research, design and synthesis, analysis, development, evaluation, production, and the marketing of machines, systems, and processes. Central to this activity is the design process which leads to the creation of solutions to real-world problems. Therefore, the mechanical engineering curriculum integrates design experiences into all levels of the program and into a majority of the technical electives.. This culminates in a required comprehensive experience which is satisfied by a yearlong senior project and by the selection of technical electives identified as satisfying the design requirement in the program. The department offers the general Mechanical Engineering degree as well as four concentrations in Biomedical, Chemical, Energy and Robotics.

In addition to the specific requirements listed for the Caterpillar College of Engineering and Technology, a minimum grade point average of 2.25 in mechanical engineering courses must be achieved in order to graduate.

Mechanical Engineering Program

The academic advisors work closely with students on their BSME program of study tailored to their academic background, interest and career goals. Students have the option to complete the Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering program with or without declaring an area of concentration. The listed courses, an expected total of 127 hours, leading to the Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. The Mechanical Engineering curriculum consists of (1) Bradley Core Curriculum, (2) Mathematics and Basic Science courses, (3) the required courses, and (4) the technical elective courses.

Bradley Core Curriculum (BCC) 18 hours

BCC Communications (BCC – CM) COM 103 Oral Communications Process - 3 hrs.
BCC Communications (BCC – W1) ENG 101 English Composition - 3 hrs.
BCC Communications (BCC – W2) ENG 300, 301, 305, or 306 Advanced Writing - 3 hrs.
BCC Fine Arts (BCC – FA) - 3 hrs.
BCC Global Perspectives (BCC – GP) - 3 hrs.
BCC Humanities (BCC – HU) - 3 hrs

Mathematics and Basic Sciences 30 hours:

CHM 110 General Chemistry I (BCC – NS1) - 3 hrs.
CHM 111 General Chemistry I Lab - 1 hr.
Chemistry 2: CHM 112 or CHM 116 – 3 hrs.
MTH 121 Calculus I (BCC – QR1) - 4 hrs.
MTH 122 Calculus II (BCC – QR2) - 4 hrs.
MTH 223 Calculus III – 4 hrs.
MTH 224 Differential Equations - 3 hrs.
PHY 110 University Physics I (BCC – NS2) - 4 hrs.
PHY 201 University Physics II – 4 hrs.

Required Courses 64 hours:

CE 150 Mechanics I (Statics) - 3 hrs.
CE 250 Mechanics II (Dynamics) - 3 hrs.
CE 270 Mechanics of Materials - 3 hrs.
ECE 227 Electrical Engineering Fundamentals - 4 hrs.
ECO 100, 221 or 222 - 3 hrs. (BCC – SB)
IME 301 Engineering Economy I —3 hrs. (BCC – MI)
ME 101 Foundations of ME - 2 hrs.
ME 102 Engineering Design Graphics - 2 hrs.
ME 273 Computational Methods in ME - 3 hrs.
ME 301 Thermodynamics I - 3 hrs.
ME 302 Thermodynamics - 2 hrs.
ME 303 Instrumentation and Measurement - 3 hrs.
ME 308 Thermodynamics of Fluid Flow - 4 hrs.
ME 341 Engineering Systems Dynamics - 3 hrs.
ME 342 Design of Machine Elements - 3 hrs.
ME 344 Kinematics and Dynamics of Machines - 3 hrs.
ME 351 Engineering Materials Science I - 3 hrs.
ME 403 Mechanical Engineering Systems Lab - 3 hrs.
ME 415 Heat Transfer - 3 hrs.
ME 441 Mechanical Control Systems - 3 hrs.
ME Senior Capstone Project I^**: ME 410 or ME 498 - 3 hrs. (BCC - WI and IL tags)
ME Senior Capstone Project II^**: ME 411 or ME 499 - 2 hrs. (BCC - WI and IL tags)

Technical Elective Courses 15-16 hours

Approved Technical Elective or Concentration Courses, see below —15-16 hrs.

**ME Senior Capstone Projects require a 2-semester sequence of either an industrial based or academic research based design project - either ME 410 and 411 or ME 498 and 499—Enrollment in these courses is restricted to mechanical engineering students who are within the three semesters of graduation from the program.

Approved Technical Elective Courses

Students with a concentration should see the specific list of technical elective courses under their concentration.
For students without a concentration, at least four of the technical electives (12 hrs.) must be
Mechanical Engineering Technical Elective courses from the following list:

ME 354, ME 407, ME 409, ME 448, ME 491,
All 500 level ME courses.

ME 409 may be repeated; only 6 hours of ME 409 will count towards the degree completion. ME 491/ME 591 may be repeated up to three (3) times (different topics) for technical elective credit.

The remaining elective requirement (3 hrs.) may be satisfied by ME courses from the above list or by non-required courses from other disciplines as listed below.

Biology: BIO 310 to BIO 599
Chemistry: CHM 252, 256, and CHM 316 to CHM 599
Computer Science: C S 210, 321 to CS 599
Computer Information Systems: CIS 377 to 446, CIS 545
Mathematics: MTH 207, MTH 302 to MTH 599
Physics: PHY 202, PHY 305 to PHY 599
Civil Engineering: CE 310 to CE 599
Electrical Engineering: ECE 301 to ECE 599
Industrial and Manufacturing Engr: IME 311 to IME 325, IME 341 to IME 599
Entrepreneurship: ENT 381, ENT 385
Business: BUS 361, BUS 362
Turner School of Entrepreneurship and Innovation: SEI 330

Biomedical Concentration

Biomedical Engineering integrates physical, chemical, mathematical, and computational sciences and engineering principles to study biology, medicine, behavior, and health. It advances fundamental concepts, creates knowledge from the molecular to the organ-system level, and develops innovative biologics, materials, processes, implants, devices and informatics approaches for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, for patient rehabilitation, and for improving health. For engineering students who would like to have education in this expanding field, the Mechanical Engineering Department offers a Biomedical concentration that is embedded within the traditional Mechanical Engineering program. This concentration will require an additional one credit hour for graduation.

The Biomedical Engineering concentration requires the complete Mechanical Engineering curriculum with the following exceptions:

Approved Biomedical Concentration Technical Electives (16 hrs.):
- BIO 230 Human Anatomy and Physiology – 3 hrs.
- BIO 231 Human Anatomy and Physiology Lab – 1 hr.
- ME 280 Introduction to Biomedical Engineering – 3hrs.
- Approved mechanical engineering biomedical electives: ME 580, ME 582, ME 588 - 6 hrs.
- Approved mechanical engineering technical electivefrom the list above - 3 hrs.

The biomedical concentration program advisors may recommend that students take some of these courses earlier in their degree program than the last year. Students will work closely with their advisor in choosing the proper time and order for their coursework.

Energy Concentration

Energy is the lifeblood of industrial economies and is essential for economic growth. Today, some of the biggest engineering challenges are related to the production and efficient use of limited energy resources. This concentration prepares students to identify and analyze strategies to produce energy and to use energy resources in more economically efficient and environmentally responsible ways.

In emerging industrial economies, the demand for new energy sources is growing at a faster rate than in more mature industrial economies. This has stimulated the demand for engineers and creative solutions. Energy production resources are often not located in areas of the world with high energy demand, thus energy production and use have huge geopolitical implications. Accordingly, engineers must be aware of the robust set of relevant governmental rules and regulations.

Students selecting the Energy Concentration within Mechanical Engineering can select courses from a broad array of fundamental and applied courses related to solar energy, energy management, renewable energy, nuclear energy, electrical power plant design, energy conservation, and energy production. The energy concentration will require no additional hours over the basic mechanical engineering degree for graduation.

The Energy Concentration follows the complete Mechanical Engineering curriculum but with restrictions to the topics of the technical electives:

Approved Energy Concentration Technical Electives (15 hrs.):
- Energy Electives - 12 hrs.
  - Choose from: ME 407, ME 409, ME 491, ME 501, ME 503, ME 507, ME 509, ME 515, ME 520, ME 521, ME 533, ME 534, ME 535, ME 536, ME 537, and ME 591(depending on the topic)
- Technical Elective - 3 hrs.
  - See list above under Approved Technical Electives Courses

Chemical Engineering Concentration

The concentration in chemical engineering is designed to introduce principles of chemical engineering to students majoring in Mechanical Engineering and other disciplines. Completing this concentration will help students to understand chemical engineering aspects of industrial processes and pursue careers in process industries or enter a graduate program in chemical engineering. This concentration will require an additional two credit hours for graduation (132 credit hours).

The Chemical Engineering Concentration requires the complete Mechanical Engineering curriculum with the following exceptions:

The Chemical Engineering concentration replaces the following courses:
- Second chemistry course: must be CHM 116 General Chemistry II – 3 hrs.
- ME 301 is replaced with CHE 301 Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics – 3 hrs.
- ME 302 is replaced with CHE 302 Material and Energy Balances – 3 hrs
- ME 415 is replaced with CHE 415 Transport Phenomena I – 3 hrs.
Approved Chemical Engineering Concentration Technical Electives (16 hrs.):
- CHM 117 General Chemistry II Lab - 1 hr.
- Organic Chemistry - 3 or 4 hrs. Choose from:
  - CHM 250 Concepts in Organic Chemistry - 3 hrs.
  - CHM 252 Organic Chemistry I - 4 hrs.
- CHM 253 Organic Chemistry Lab – 1 hr.
- CHE 321 Chemical Reaction Engineering – 3 hrs.
- CHE 416 Transport Phenomena II – 3 hrs.
- Additional technical electives – 4 or 5 hrs, depending on Organic Chemistry. Choose from
  - See list above under Approved Technical Elective Courses
  - CHM 256 Organic Chemistry II – 3 hrs.
  - CHM 325 Analytical Chemistry – 4 hrs.
  - CHM 360 Biochemistry – 3 hrs.
  - CHM 416 Environmental Chemistry – 3 hrs.
  - CHM 420 Instrumental Analysis – 4 hrs.
  - CHM 440 Materials Chemistry – 3 hrs.
  - CHM 470 Physical Chemistry I – 3 hrs.
  - CHM 558 Topics in Organic Chemistry: Polymer Chemistry – 3

Robotics and Autonomous Vehicles Concentration

The concentration in Robotics and Autonomous Vehicles is designed to provide the most essential and practical knowledge/skills in robotics and autonomous vehicles to students majoring in Mechanical Engineering and other disciplines. Completing this concentration will prepare students for careers in this area or to pursue graduate education in Robotics and Autonomous Vehicles.

The Robotics and Autonomous Vehicles concentration requires the complete Mechanical Engineering curriculum with the following exceptions:

Approved Robotics and Autonomous Vehicles Concentration Technical Electives (15 hrs.):
- ME 561/ECE 444 Introduction to Robotics - 3 hrs.
- ME 562 Dynamics, Modeling, and Control of Robots - 3 hrs.
- ME 564 Sensor, Actuators, and Computer Vision - 3 hrs.
- Cognition Elective - 3 hrs. Choose one from:
  - CS 461 Artificial Intelligence
  - CS 462 Machine Learning
  - CS 463 Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining
- Mechatronics Elective - 3 hrs. Choose one from
  - ME 549 Microprocessor Interfacing in Mechanical Systems
  - ECE 468 Introduction to Mechatronics

Plan of Elective Study

To allow a student to earn a second major, a minor, and/or increase flexibility in developing an area of specialization, exceptions to the four ME tech electives policy may be granted on petition to the Mechanical Engineering Curriculum Committee. Students requesting an exception must submit a Plan of Elective Study with a recommendation from their advisor. This plan should outline the student’s professional goals, their relationship to the courses in their plan and further documentation and evidence justifying proposed elective courses. This plan is then submitted to the Mechanical Engineering Curriculum Committee. Only courses on the individual student’s Plan and approved no later than the first day of classes of the semester in which they are taken will count as technical electives.

Elective Plan Appeals Process

Appeal requests of the approval decisions should be sent to the ME Curriculum Committee by the student. If the Curriculum Committee’s decision is not satisfactory, the Mechanical Engineering Faculty must approve any petition for exceptions to the Technical Elective Policy stated above.

Introductory Course Exception

Students who do not earn credit for ME 101 at Bradley may be required to take a 6th technical elective to replace those credit hours. Introductory courses from other engineering departments or EGT 100 are accepted in lieu of ME 101.

This is the official catalog for the 2023-2024 academic year. This catalog serves as a contract between a student and Bradley University. Should changes in a program of study become necessary prior to the next academic year every effort will be made to keep students advised of any such changes via the Dean of the College or Chair of the Department concerned, the Registrar's Office, u.Achieve degree audit system, and the Schedule of Classes. It is the responsibility of each student to be aware of the current program and graduation requirements for particular degree programs.

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