The Department offers a Master of Science (M.S.) in
Mechanical Engineering degree. This program emphasizes
design and application in four main areas of
specialization: aerospace, mechanical systems, dynamics and
control, and thermal-fluid systems. Faculty research
interests focus on these and other areas including air
pollution, bioengineering, computational fluid dynamics,
energy processes, fluid mechanics, heat transfer,
computer-aided design and manufacturing, and mechatronics.
Practicing engineers can choose from many elective courses
to meet their professional needs.
The Mechanical Engineering Department has multiple design
and simulation laboratories as well as a subsonic wind
tunnel, a rocket engine test cell, a manufacturing
facility, and an environmental test chamber. All
laboratories employ advanced Computer-Aided Engineering
tools to provide the students with real-world design
experiences.
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING (MSME) DEGREE
REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION TO THE PROGRAM
1. Satisfaction of all requirements for admission to the
University (see University section regarding Graduate
Programs provided elsewhere in this catalog).
2. Approval by the College of Engineering and Computer
Science and the Department Graduate Coordinator.
3. Note: Graduate courses can be taken through the Tseng
College of Extended Learning without formal admission to
the MS program. Up to 9 of these units can be transferred
into the program following admission.
FOR ADVANCEMENT TO CLASSIFIED GRADUATE
STATUS
1. Upon completion of 12 units and satisfaction of
University requirements for classified status (see
University section regarding Graduate Programs provided
elsewhere in this catalog).
2. Completion of all requirements noted on individual
admissions documents.
3. Submission of a tentative program of study to the
graduate coordinator.
4. Approval by the Department Graduate Coordinator.
For the Degree
- Completion of 30 units under the Thesis Plan, or 33 units under the Comprehensive Examination Plan.
- Thesis Plan
- 24 units of course work applicable to the M.S. degree, of which at least 18 units must be Engineering courses at the 500 or 600-level. All course work in the student’s graduate program must be completed with a C or better.
- 6 units of Thesis, and successful defense of Thesis.
- 24 units of course work applicable to the M.S. degree, of which at least 18 units must be Engineering courses at the 500 or 600-level. All course work in the student’s graduate program must be completed with a C or better.
- Comprehensive Examination Plan
- 30 units of course work applicable to the M.S. degree, of which at least 21 units must be Engineering courses at the 500 or 600-level. All course work in the student’s graduate program must be completed with a C or better.
- 3 units of Directed Comprehensive Study, and successful passage of a comprehensive examination.
- 30 units of course work applicable to the M.S. degree, of which at least 21 units must be Engineering courses at the 500 or 600-level. All course work in the student’s graduate program must be completed with a C or better.
- Thesis Plan
- Formal approval of granting of the degree by the Mechanical Engineering faculty.
Required Courses (9-21 Units)
The number of required units depends on the number of “Expected Background” courses taken previously as part of a B.S. program, and whether the Thesis or Comprehensive Examination Plan is chosen. Any “Expected Background” courses not taken are required in the M.S. program. The “Prerequisites” courses or their equivalents are required if they have not been taken previously, but they do not count as part of the M.S. program. Students interested in this program, who do not have an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering, should contact the Graduate Coordinator regarding prerequisite requirements.
1. Required Core MS Program
Select one of the following:
- ME 501A Seminar in Engineering Analysis I (3)
- ME 501B Seminar in Engineering Analysis II (3)
Select one of the following:
- AE 697 Direct Comprehensive Studies (3)
- AE 698 Thesis (6)
- ME 697 Direct Comprehensive Studies (3)
- ME 698 Thesis (6)
Select at least one course from three of the four emphasis groups shown below. Students may select appropriate experimental or special topics courses in an emphasis that are not shown on the list below, with the approval of their advisor and the Graduate Coordinator.
2. Electives (12-18 Units):
The number of required units of elective courses depends on the number of units of required courses, described above. The total number of units in the MS program, both required and elective, must be at least 30 (33 with comprehensive examination option). Students are expected to have the prerequisite courses listed below upon admission to the program. If they do not have these courses (or appropriate transfer courses) they will have to take the courses when then enter the MS program. Since these prerequisite courses are all 300-level courses they carry no credit towards the MS degree. The courses listed below as expected background must also be completed as part of the MS program if students have not already taken them (or appropriate transfer courses) as part of their undergraduate degree. Students can take a maximum of 6 units (thesis option) or 9 units (exam option) of 400-level courses as part of their MS program. The 400-level courses in “expected background” list, which are taken as part of the MS program, will be part of this six- or nine-unit maximum. The elective courses in the MS program are generally selected with the approval of an advisor, to be consistent with the chosen emphasis. With the approval of an advisor, courses taken outside of the Department are eligible for graduate credit. The elective courses in the MS program are normally chosen from the “Suggested Electives,” for each emphasis.
A. Aerospace Emphasis
Prerequisites: ME 309, 370, 375, 390
Expected BackgroundAE 472 Aero-Propulsion Systems (3)
AE 480 Fundamentals of Aerospace Engineering (3)
AE 589 Aerodynamics (3)Suggested Electives
AE 572 Rocket Propulsion (3)
AE 586 Aircraft Design (3)
AE 672 Advanced Aero Propulsion (3)
AE 680 Flight Vehicle Performance (3)
AE 689 Advanced Aerodynamics. (3)
B. Mechanical Systems Design Emphasis
Prerequisites: ME 309, 330, 370, 375, 384, 390
Expected Background
AM 410 Vibration Analysis (3)
ME 415 Kinematics of Mechanisms (3)
ME 430 Machine Design Applications (3)
Suggested Electives
ME 409 Computer-aided Mechanical Engineering (3)
ME 515 Dynamics of Machinery (3)
ME 560 Automotive Engineering (3)
ME 562 Internal Combustion Engines (3)
ME 630 Computer-Aided Machine Design (3)
ME 686A Advanced Modeling, Analysis and optimization I (3)
ME 686B Advanced Modeling, Analysis and Optimization II (3)
C. System Dynamics and Controls Emphasis
Prerequisites: ME 309, 330, 370, 375, 384, 390
Expected Background
AM 410 Vibration Analysis (3)
ME 415 Kinematics of Mechanisms (3)
ME 484 Control of Mechanical Systems (3)Suggested Electives
ME 501B Seminar in Engineering Analysis II (3)
ME 503 Biomedical Instrumentation (3)
ME 520 Mechanics and Control (3)
ME 584 Simulation of Dynamic Systems (3)
ME 684 Design and Control of Dynamic Systems (3)
D. Thermofluid Systems Emphasis
Prerequisites: ME 309, 370, 375, 390
Expected Background
ME 470 Thermodynamics II (3)
ME 490 Fluid Dynamics (3)
ME 575 Applied Heat and Mass Transfer (3)Suggested Electives
ME 485 Introduction to Environmental Engineering (3)
ME 493 Hydraulics (3)
ME 501B Seminar in Engineering Analysis II (3)
ME 573 Chemical Reaction Engineering (3)
ME 583 Thermal-Fluids System Design (3)
ME 590 Advanced Fluid Dynamics (3)
ME 670 Advanced Topics in Thermodynamics (3)
ME 675A Conductive and Radiative Heat Transfer (3)
ME 675B Convective Heat and Mass Transfer (3)
ME 678 Transport Phenomena (3)
ME 683 Energy Processes (3)
ME 692 Computational Fluid Dynamics (3)
Total Units Required: 30-33
Course
Descriptions
(300-level courses in Mechanical Engineering do not
carry credit for a Master’s degree in Mechanical
Engineering)
ME 501A. SEMINAR IN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS
(3)
Analytic and numerical methods applied to the solution of engineering problems at an advanced level. Solution methods are demonstrated on a wide range of engineering topics, including structures, fluids, thermal, thermal energy transport, and mechanical systems. This course emphasizes physical phenomena that can be described by systems of Ordinary Differential Equations.
ME 501B. SEMINAR IN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS
(3)
Analytic and numerical methods applied to the solution of engineering problems at an advanced level. Solution methods are demonstrated on a wide range of engineering topics, including structures, fluids, thermal, thermal energy transport, and mechanical systems. This course emphasizes physical phenomena that can be described by Partial Differential Equations.
ME 503. BIOMEDICAL INSTRUMENTATION (3)
Preparatory: Senior-standing. Covers the
design of medical instrumentation, specifically Biosensors,
Therapeutic and Prosthetic Devices, Biopotential
Amplifiers, and Lab Instrumentation. Applications to
associated human organ systems are also covered.
Multidisciplinary analysis, design, and simulation of
bioengineering instrumentation are studied and implemented
using computer methodology and techniques from engineering,
physics, and mathematics. (Crosslisted with ECE 503)
ME 515. DYNAMICS OF MACHINES (3)
Prerequisite: ME 415. Recommended Corequisite: ME
501A. Forces, motion and inertia in machines.
Analysis of linkages, cams, rotor dynamics, reciprocal and
rotational balancing, whirl modes and orbits, signature
analysis of machine elements. Computer simulation of
machinery dynamics, including the inverse dynamics.
ME 520. ROBOT MECHANICS AND CONTROL (3)
Prerequisite: ME384 or equivalent; Corequisite:
ME415 or consent of instructor. Overview of the
state of the art of robotics and tele-robotics. Analysis,
modeling, and simulation of motions, differential motions,
and dynamics of robots. Emphasis will be placed on various
aspects of robot controls: position and force. Experience
in robot design will be gained through course projects.
ME 560. AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING (3)
Prerequisite: ME 330. Introduction to
automotive engineering. Design and Analysis of automotive
chassis, suspension, steering, brakes, power plants and
drive system. Vehicle dynamics, performance, and system
optimization. Design project required.
ME 562. INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES (3)
Recommended Corequisite: ME 470.
Characteristics and Performance of internal combustion
engines; emphasis on Otto and Diesel types, alternative
cycles considered. Thermodynamics of cycles, combustion,
emissions, ignition, fuel metering and injection, friction,
supercharging and engine compounding. Three hours lecture
per week.
ME 563. FLUID POWER SYSTEMS (3)
Prerequisite: ME 390. Recommended corequisite: ME
384. Analysis and design of fluid power systems.
Incompressible fluid mechanics, fluid power hydraulics.
Hydraulic system components: pumps, accumulators,
reservoirs, valves, filters, tubing and connectors.
Operation and control of hydraulic power transmission
systems. Applications in aircraft control, robotics,
manufacturing equipment, mobile heavy machinery, etc.
ME 571. POWER PLANT SYSTEM DESIGN (3)
Prerequisites: ME 309; 370. Simulation and
design optimization of power generating systems. Steam
generating systems, turbines, cooling towers and
condensers. Environmental impact, air pollution, water
quality, and toxic material control. Impact of multi-unit
power dispatching on system performance.
ME 573. CHEMICAL REACTION ENGINEERING (3)
Prerequisite: ME 370. Analysis and process
design of engineering systems involving chemical reactions
for which the rate of reactions must be considered. Rates
of physical and chemical processes are considered;
processes introduce where energy and mass transfer as well
as chemical kinetics are important. Thermodynamics and
chemical kinetics involved in the design of homogeneous and
heterogeneous reactors. Application to combustion systems
and other environmental engineering systems.
ME 575. APPLIED HEAT AND MASS TRANSFER (3)
Prerequisite: ME 375 or equivalent.
Continuation of ME 375 with emphasis on the convective
modes of heat and mass transfer. Heat exchangers,
evaporation, boiling, condensation, high speed flows and
combined processes are considered application to design.
ME 583. THERMAL-FLUID SYSTEMS DESIGN (3)
Preparatory: ME 470; 490. System design
and optimization course that integrates the disciplines of
fluid mechanics, thermodynamics and heat transfer. Intent
is to build upon and extend information previously acquired
in these courses. Emphasis is placed on the synthesis of
components into a thermal-fluid system to accomplish a
specified task with technical, economical, and social
constraints. Series of design problems are assigned to the
class as homework. These problems require students to
incorporate design methodology into their work.
ME 584. MODELING AND SIMULATION OF DYNAMIC SYSTEMS
(3)
Prerequisites: AM 316; ME 501A.
Comprehensive and advanced treatment of the modeling
techniques and response analyses of engineering dynamic
systems. Both linear and nonlinear dynamic behavior of
physical systems of different technical disciplines are
studied with the aid of computer simulation. Mixed systems
composed of electromechanical, fluid-mechanical and
electrohydraulic components are also investigated.
Computational and visualization tools, such as MATLAB and
SIMULINK, are used to enhance analyzing and understanding
of system performance.
ME 590. ADVANCED FLUID DYNAMICS (3)
Prerequisite: ME 490. Analytical and
computational techniques for the solution of fluid dynamic
problems. Topics include: generalized One-dimensional
compressible flows, unsteady and two-dimensional
compressible flows, method of characteristics, compressible
laminar and turbulent boundary layers, transition to
turbulence, turbulent stress models and application of
computational codes to the solution of practical problems.
ME 595A-Z. EXPERIMENTAL TOPICS COURSES IN
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING (3)
ME 630. COMPUTER-AIDED DESIGN OF MACHINERY
(3)
Prerequisites: ME 330; 415. Presentation
and discussion on design of complex machinery based on
closed or open-chain mechanisms. System approach to the
design and analysis of practical systems with emphasis on
the use of computer-aided engineering. Iterative design
processes are exercised through completing design projects
with steps of component selection and design optimization
included. Pro-Engineer and Pro-Mechanica software are used
to facilitate design processes.
ME 670. ADVANCED TOPICS IN THERMODYNAMICS
(3)
Prerequisite: ME 470; 390. Advanced topics
in thermodynamics emphasizing real fluid behavior and
modeling. Interaction between thermodynamics, chemical
kinetics, fluid mechanics and transport processes. Selected
topics from microscopic thermodynamics applied to both
equilibrium and non-equilibrium processes. Applications to
real engineering systems are stressed.
ME 675A. CONDUCTIVE AND RADIATIVE HEAT TRANSFER
(3)
Prerequisite: ME 375. Theory and
applications of the conductive and radiative modes of heat
transfer. Analytical and numerical methods for single and
multi-dimensional steady state and transient conduction.
Numerical and analytical techniques as applied to radiative
exchanges between diffuse and specular surfaces and
transfer through absorbing-transmitting media.
ME 675B. CONVECTIVE HEAT AND MASS TRANSFER
(3)
Preparatory: ME 575. Theory and
application of convective heat and mass transfer. Free and
forced convection in laminar and turbulent flows. Heat
transfer with change of phase. Mass transfer applications
including ablation and transpiration cooling, condensation,
and evaporation.
ME 678. TRANSPORT PHENOMENA (3)
Preparatory: ME 575; 675B. Basic equations
of heat mass and momentum transfer. Mass transfer in binary
and multicomponent systems. Analysis of combined heat,
mass, momentum-transfer problems. Turbulence.
Chemically-reacting flows.
ME 683. ENERGY PROCESSES (3)
Preparatory: ME 575; 670. Application of
thermodynamic and transport processes to a design system
for the development of energy resources. Emphasis is placed
on new methods for the development of basic energy
resources, and systems for the use and development of
alternative energy sources. Topics to be considered
include: Enhanced oil recovery, alternative resource
technology (shale, tar sands, etc.), synthetic fuels,
geothermal energy development, and other application topics
at the of the instructor. Processes for improved efficiency
in utilization of energy resources are also considered.
ME 684. DESIGN AND CONTROL OF DYNAMIC SYSTEMS
(3)
Prerequisite: ME 484. Design and control
of mechanical systems. Time-domain, and state space methods
integrated into the design of dynamic processes.
Application to automotive, aircraft, spacecraft, robots and
related mechanical/aerospace systems. Digital simulations.
ME 686A. ADVANCED MODELING, ANALYSIS AND
OPTIMIZATION I (3)
Prerequisite: ME501A or equivalent.
Modeling of engineering system performance and constraints;
formulating systems of design rules; rules solving and
optimization algorithms, and solver software. Students work
as an integrated conceptual design team and share
information at a CSUN Internet Virtual Design Portal.
Students conduct broad based research on the selected
system to harvest formulas, information and requirements
needed to model the system and produce a joint report. Past
systems have included solar systems and fuel cell systems.
ME 686B. ADVANCED MODELING, ANALYSIS AND
OPTIMIZATION II (3)
Prerequisite: M501A, ME686A. Review report
produced in ME686A. Continued system modeling, conduct
simulations of system missions, trade-studies and
optimization; application of latest integrated design
methods and supporting software and apply integrated design
techniques to the design of the selected engineering
system. Establish Integrated Collaborative Environment
(ICE) on CSUN Virtual Design Portal for team information
sharing and passing design parameters between ICE Stations.
ME 692. COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS (3)
Prerequisites: ME 309; 490. Introduction
to the numerical analysis of fluid flows. Special
techniques required for solution of the governing equations
for viscous, inviscid and boundary layer flows.
Applications to convective heat and mass transfer.
Turbulence modeling and other submodels for complex
engineering applications.
ME 694. SEMINAR IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
(1-3)
Prerequisite: Instructor consent. Advanced studies in
selected areas of the field of Mechanical Engineering.
ME 695A-Z. EXPERIMENTAL TOPICS COURSES IN
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING (1-4)
ME 696A-Z. DIRECTED GRADUATE RESEARCH (3)
ME 697. DIRECTED COMPREHENSIVE STUDIES (3)
(Credit/No Credit Only)
ME 698. THESIS OR GRADUATE PROJECT (1-6)
ME 699A-C. INDEPENDENT STUDY (1-3)