101 Engineering Science Complex
(915) 747-5450

CHAIRPERSON: W. Lionel Craver Jr.

PROFESSORS EMERITI: Kenneth Scott Edwards, John A. Whitacre, Jr.
PROFESSORS: Craver, Dowdy, Herrera, McLean, Swift
ASSOCIATE PROFESSORS: Bhaduri, Golding, Johnson, Villalobos, Zadoks
ASSISTANT PROFESSORS: Besterfield-Sacre, Hawkins, Quintana, Wicker

Mechanical Engineering (MECH) Courses

General Prerequisite: Junior standing for all 300 or 400 level courses.

3238 Engineering Mechanics II (2-3) (Common Course Number ENGR 2302)

Principles of dynamics and their application, work and energy, impulse and momentum, and kinetics and kinematics of particles and rigid bodies. Prerequisites: CE 3215 and MATH 3112 , each with a grade of "C" or better.

Applications of mathematical principles to the analysis of engineering problems; derivation and solution of mathematical models of physical systems occurring in the study of Mechanical Engineering. Prerequisites: CS 4120 and MATH 3213 , each with a grade of "C" or better .

Go to top

3305 Basic Measurements and Instrumentation (2-3)

The theory and fundamentals of physical measurements, study of characteristics of dynamics signals, study of basic detector-transducer elements, and applied mechanical measurements. Prerequisites: MATH 3226 , MECH 3238 , and CE 3234 , each with a grade of "C" or better. Fees required.

Analysis of displacement, velocity, and acceleration in mechanisms; technology and design of gears, gear trains, cams, and linkages. Prerequisites: MECH 3238 and MECH 3241 , each with a grade of "C" or better.

Fundamentals of vibration theory and system response. Single and multiple degrees of freedom, damping, and isolation. Prerequisites: MECH 3238 and MATH 3226 , each with a grade of "C" or better.

Principles of thermodynamics of single and multi-phase systems of pure substances. Prerequisites: MATH 3112 , CHEM 3105 , and PHYS 4210 , each with a grade of "C" or better.

Go to top

3376 Thermodynamics II (3-0)

Continuation of MECH 3375. Application of principles of cycles and reactive systems; energy relationships and equilibrium requirements. Prerequisite: MECH 3375 with a grade of "C" or better.

Fluid properties and definitions, fluid statics, fluid flow concepts and basic equations, dimensional analysis and dynamic similitude, viscous effects; fluid resistance, laminar and turbulent boundary layers, flow through pipes and fluid measurement. Prerequisites: MECH 3375 and MATH 3226 , each with a grade of "C" or better. Fees required.

Experiments including spring-mass-damped systems, internal structural damping, forced vibrations, open and closed loop pneumatic systems, servomotor control, and control simulator. Laboratory fee required. Prerequisite: MECH 3411 . MECH 3411 may be taken concurrently with MECH 1411 .

Introduction to the Engineering profession with emphasis on job placement, professional ethics, and an engineering field examination.

Go to top

3411 Automatic Controls (3-0)

A study of classical control theory including transfer functions, stability and time response, error analysis and sensitivity functions, root locus, Nyquist diagrams, and Bode Plots; the analog computer as a simulation tool particularly as pertains to non-linear control systems. Also, an introduction to modern control theory is presented. Prerequisite: MECH 3365 .

Fundamentals of fluid power system design; fluid power transmissions; basic circuit and control components; fluid power circuits and circuit design. Prerequisite: MECH 4354 .

The use of robots and other automated equipment in manufacturing including feeding systems, input-output mechanisms, and the design of parts for automatic assembly. Prerequisites: Senior standing in Engineering. Laboratory fee required.

A study of the flow of compressible fluids. One-dimensional steady flow, supersonic flow, normal and oblique shock, flow with heating and cooling, measurement of fluid properties and flow parameters. Prerequisite: MECH 3375 with a grade of "C" or better; MECH 4354 .

A study of the uses of solar energy with emphasis on the heating and cooling of residences and commercial buildings. Team projects in the design of systems and subsystems. Prerequisite: MATH 3226 with a grade of "C" or better or instructor approval.

Go to top

3464 Mechanical Design I (2-3)

Stress analysis; deflection analysis; strength of mechanical elements; design of screws, fasteners, and joints, clutches, brakes, and couplings, shafting. Prerequisites: CE 3234 with a grade of "C" or better.

A study of theory and practice leading to the design of heating and air conditioning systems to control the building environment for human comfort.

Original investigation of special problems in the student's field; the problems to be selected by the student with approval of the department chairperson. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Senior standing.

Selected topics of current interest in Mechanical Engineering. May be repeated once for credit when topic varies. Prerequisite: Senior standing in engineering.

Introduction to heat transfer by conduction, convection, and radiation; steady and transient states; steady periodic states. Heat transfer in engineering apparatus. Prerequisites: MECH 3241 with a grade of "C" or better, MECH 3305 , and MECH 4354 . Laboratory fee required.

Go to top

4466 Senior Design (2-6)

Conceptual, preliminary, and final design solutions to problems furnished by industry, handled on team basis. Prerequisite: Should be graduating senior.

See the Graduate Studies Catalog for graduate programs and courses.

Industrial Engineering (IE)

3216 Ergonomics (2-3)

Introduction to design of man-machine systems; application of ergonomics to manufacturing environment; use of anthropometric data in design; limitations of human performance; effects of environmental stress on work performance, safety, and health. Laboratory fee required. Prerequisites: CS 4120 and CE 3215 , each with a grade of "C" or better.

Theory and practice of metal cutting, finishing, product measurement and inspection; shop demonstrations and visits to area factories. Laboratory fee required.

Go to top

3326 Engineering Economy (3-0)

Application of economics to engineering and industrial problems which require a knowledge of engineering for their solution. Prerequisite: MATH 3112 with a grade of "C" or better.

Fundamental concepts of probabilistic engineering systems and random events, engineering data analysis, and applications in engineering systems design and industrial quality control. Prerequisite: MATH 3213 and CS 4120 , each with a grade of "C" or better.

Study of operations analysis, methods analysis, and work design techniques used in manufacturing and service industries. Macro and micro motion analyses, systematic time standards, labor standard data development, and their relations to line balancing, machine loading, and management control are studied. Prerequisites: IE 3236 and IE 3330 , each with a grade of "C" or better. Fees required.

An introduction to deterministic optimization models. These include the concepts of operations research modeling, classical optimization, linear and dynamic programming, and network analysis. Current topics in deterministic modeling are included. Prerequisite: MATH 3323 .

Go to top

1495 Senior Professional Orientation (1-0)

Introduction to the Engineering profession with emphasis on job placement, professional ethics, and an engineering field examination.

A study of classical control theory including transfer functions, stability and time response, error analysis and sensitivity functions, root locus, Nyquist diagrams, and Bode Plots; the analog computer as a simulation tool particularly as pertains to non-linear control systems. Also, an introduction to modern control theory is presented. Prerequisite: MECH 3365 .

A study of man-machine environment and the accident cause-effect relationship. Provides an analytic structure through which safety decision-making can be performed in light of changes in the legal, management, and technical aspects of industrial safety. Prerequisite: Senior standing.

The use of robots and other automated equipment in manufacturing including feeding systems, input-output mechanisms, and the design of parts for automatic assembly. Prerequisites: Senior standing in Engineering and instructor approval. Laboratory fee required.

Go to top

3453 Industrial Systems Simulation (3-0)

Introduction to systems simulation with special emphasis on: logic and methodologies of discrete event simulation, generation of random numbers and random deviates, survey of simulation languages. At the end of the course the student should be able to develop simulation models of industrial systems and to understand the issues involved in simulation studies. Prerequisites: (1) IE 3491 and IE 3492 or (2) instructor approval.

Original investigation of special problems in the student's field; the problem to be selected by the student with approval of the head of the department. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Senior standing.

The design, selection, and layout of buildings and equipment for proper utilization in manufacturing. Prerequisite: Senior standing. Laboratory fee required.

The statistical design of systems for prescribed quality levels and prevention of defects. Prerequisite: IE 3330 with a grade of "C" or better.

A study of the principles and theory used in the design and maintenance of production operations and inventory systems. These include forecasting techniques, inventory models, production control models, and assembly line balancing. Prerequisites: IE 3330 with a grade of "C" or better and IE 3389 .

Go to top

3492 Probabilistic Operations Research (3-0)

An introduction to probabilistic optimization including queuing theory, Monte Carlo techniques of simulation, project scheduling, and basic Markov processes. Current topics in probabilistic modeling are included. A project is an integral part of the course. Prerequisite: IE 3330 with a grade of "C" or better.

Study of industrial organizations, supervision and compensation of personnel, labor unions and group interaction, from the engineering management viewpoint. Prerequisite: Senior standing.

Selected topics of current interest in Industrial Engineering. May be repeated once for credit when topic varies. Prerequisite: Senior standing in engineering.

A detailed investigation and analysis of industrial engineering problems furnished by industry, handled on a team basis. A formal written report presenting the solution to the problem is required. Prerequisite: Should be graduating senior.

Go to top

See the Graduate Studies Catalog for graduate programs and courses.