Mechanical Engineering - MEng (Hons)

Anglia Ruskin University

Building on previous modules here you will continue applying mathematics to express and solve engineering problems, moving on to include more complex mathematical concepts. You'll be introduced to calculus, complex numbers, and Laplace transforms, helping you to develop an appreciation of the overwhelming influence that these concepts have had on engineering analysis and design, particularly with their application to specialist software. You'll learn to apply differentiation and integration technics to solve engineering problems in dynamics, control, structural analysis, engineering optimisations, and computational engineering. You'll also learn to analyse engineering concepts through solving complex equations and differential equations using analytical and numerical techniques. Coding is also used to develop your problem-solving skills and create solutions to complex mathematical problems, you'll apply this to engineering problems to create a logical sequence of steps or solutions after which you'll develop tests to check the solution is correct.

This project-based module follows the theme of improving the design of an existing mechanical appliance/product using the design concepts for enhanced performance metrics (eg, reduced cost, ease of manufacture, reduced lead time). Designed to give you the opportunity to work in groups in the multi-disciplined area of mechanical engineering you will work to achieve a common goal. You'll use specialised engineering software packages eg, Autodesk Inventor and ANSYS to design parts for a product and apply appropriate constraints in assembly environment of a 3D CAD package, utilising design concepts (eg, design for manufacture/assembly) for enhanced product performance. You'll be introduced to the concepts of structural design, materials, mechanical integrity and their importance while designing a product. This module will help you to understand and apply theoretical concepts related to statistics, process quality assurance and the implications of legal as well as ethical issues. You'll also focus on the application of finite element analysis (FEA) and its use in the numerical analysis of integrity in mechanical products to assess applicability in engineering related uses. You will learn to plan the manufacturing method of your chosen product (using suitable modern manufacturing and prototyping methods e.g., CNC machining, 3D printing), use mechanical testing methods (e.g., tensile test, bend test) and validate your work through numerical analysis.

Ruskin Modules are designed to prepare our students for a complex, challenging and changing future. These interdisciplinary modules provide the opportunity to further broaden your perspectives, develop your intellectual flexibility and creativity. You will work with others from different disciplines to enable you to reflect critically on the limitations of a single discipline to solve wider societal concerns. You will be supported to create meaningful connections across disciplines to apply new knowledge to tackle complex problems and key challenges. Ruskin Modules are designed to grow your confidence, seek and maximise opportunities to realise your potential to give you a distinctive edge and enhance your success in the workplace.

Gain the foundations in the theoretical and applied aspects of combined thermodynamics, fluid mechanics and heat transfer, allowing you to be able to identify and analyse engineering problems related to systematic and local thermal and fluid mechanics engineering. Here you will develop your learning, using applied and real-world problems and applying a combined system-analysis approach of thermodynamics as well as a detailed analysis of heat transfer and fluid mechanics on various problems. The systematics approach to the real-world problems will cover thermofluid topics such as the concept of work and heat, first and second law of thermodynamics, thermodynamics cycles, properties of gas and vapour, and an introduction to combustion. Fluid mechanics will cover fluid static, conservation of mass and momentum leading to Bernoulli?s equation, fluid flow classification and regimes, dimensional analysis, and fluid forces. The heat transfer will include overview of complex heat transfer problems and discussing possibility of simplifications to one-dimension conduction, convection, and radiation.

This project based module will help you to prepare for real scale industrial projects involving practical activities with wide versatility. In groups of 3-4 people, you will be expected to perform a team work study looking at feasibility, create/source the required CAD files, and perform FE and CFD analysis to design a scaled-down product that works under specified and realistic specifications. The product will need to be optimised by consistent iterations within FEA and CFD and the finalised proposal will be prototyped. Once the product is manufactured you'll need to perform experiments and use the test data compare to the ones from the numerical analysis, giving a report to demonstrate your achievements.

This module is your opportunity to carry out an individual piece of research in an engineering topic of your choosing, leading to a substantial outcome using a single or combination of experimental, numerical, or analytical methods related to your branch of engineering. You'll develop your critical thinking skills and ability to independently manage and conduct research. You'll attend workshops to help you develop a proposal, identifying a problem, undertake a literature review, create a research strategy and methods, research ethics and impacts, and develop a project plan. You'll work under the guidance of an academic staff member, specialised in your area of research. You'll receive a minimum of four supervision tutorials, spread throughout the duration of the module.

Here you'll explore the different aspects of a mechatronics system, covering sensing, programming, data acquisition, signal conditioning, control and actuation (electrical/mechanical/hydraulic/pneumatic) through a mixture of lectures and lab sessions. This will give you the change to apply your knowledge to real systems, giving you hands-on experience. In sensing, you'll cover the basic types of sensors, their working mechanisms and applications. Programming deals with the different modes currently available eg, manual and automatic programming, allowing you to explore Arduino Uno. You'll be introduced to Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) to help you understand their applicability in industrial applications. In data acquisition you'll look at analogue-to digital and digital-to-analogue conversion, digital data representation and circuit analysis of useful conversion stages.

Mechanical engineering systems, structural or machinery, often experience problems associated with vibration which may lead to failure of design and product. Part of this module will provide you with a fundamental understanding of problem of vibration and analytical tools necessary to model the problem in an engineering system. This will include classifications of vibration and analytical analysis of free and forced vibration in single degree of freedom systems. You will discuss the methods of vibration control as well as vibration measurements with emphasise on applied engineering. The second part of the module will provide you with fundamentals and classifications of control systems, including feed forward vs feedback and open vs closed loop controls as well as use of Laplace transform methods to analyse linear control systems.

Learn to understand the advanced concepts of material processes and their importance in the mechanical behaviour, integrity and performance of structures. We will cover durability concepts involving fatigue, crack generation and stress flow in the parts initially, and later extend the concepts to include structural analysis and stability evaluation of mechanical systems. We will explain the concept of non-linear behaviour of engineering materials as a common phenomenon in the structural behaviour of load-bearing members. The module is formed within industrial needs and standards to highlight the necessity of feasible and applied part design.

In this module we will focus on the area of smart automation technology and robots in conjunction with intelligent systems and adaptive machine communication. You will benefit from a comprehensive overview of technical aspects and the state-of-the art methods in design and operation, acquiring knowledge and concepts for automation, programming and interaction of these intelligent systems in Flexible Manufacturing cell. We will also give further consideration of their adaptability to change of settings. You will explore the capabilities, limitations and future trends in robot systems in order to specify and plan robot installations with major phase in design and operation of automated industrial applications for manufacturing functions.

This module will give you an in-depth understanding of the theories and methods in research design, and allow you to undertake an independent research project. The first part of module will lead you to develop a research proposal as well as a successful research ethics application. The second part of the module includes the supervisory support for you to carry out an independent research related to your individual discipline, leading to a practical, conceptual, or technological advancement in a complex, multi-factor problem.

You will be provided with an in-depth knowledge of innovative design methods together with time compression technologies that will reduce the time of delivering new products to market. You will use a range of design tools to apply innovative design methods and to improve the design of an existing product, such that it can be manufactured and assembled at a minimum cost and yet maintain the level of quality and reliability demanded by customers. Tools such as 3-D solid modelling and engineering software tools will be extensively used throughout the module. Our module will also enable you to plan the method of manufacture of a product using suitable modern manufacturing and prototyping methods. You will be introduced to modern equipment, such as CNC machines, rapid prototyping machines and automated inspection.