Courses
2012/13 Course Schedules*
*All schedules subject to change
Course Announcements - Important Please Read!
- ME 12S MANDATORY Orientation Meeting for Spring '13, Friday, April 5, 2013, 4-5 pm
Course Resources
- For a current schedule of classes, login to GOLD and filter by the “ME” subject area
- UCSB Course Catalog
- The 2011-2012 College of Engineering Announcement (pdf) includes information about Admission, Degree Requirements, Advanced Placement, Academic Policies and Procedures, College Organizations and Resources, Departments, Programs, Courses, Engineering Major Sheets
- Department Electives (PDF)
- Course Descriptions from UCSB 2009-2010 Catalog
- List of ME undergraduate course websites
Undergraduate Course Descriptions
Lower Division
Engineering 3. Introduction to C Programming
(3) Staff
Prerequisites: open to College of Engineering freshmen only, except
computer science, pre-computer science, and computer engineering
majors.
Introduction to C programming language. Considers algorithms, data structures, debugging, and program design. (F,S)
6. Basic Electrical and Electronic Circuits
(4) Khammash, MacDonald, Soh
Prerequisites: Physics 3-3L; Mathematics 3C; open to ME majors only.
Not open for credit to students who have completed ECE 2A or 2B, or ECE 6A or 6B.
Introduction to basic electrical circuits and electronics. Includes
Kirchhoff's laws, phasor analysis, circuit elements, operational
amplifiers, and transistor circuits.
10. Engineering Graphics: Sketching, CAD, and Conceptual Design
(4) Laguette, Hare
Prerequisite: ME majors only.
Introduction to engineering graphics, CAD, and freehand sketching.
Develop CAD proficiency using advanced 3-D software. Graphical
presentation of design: views, sections, dimensioning, and tolerancing.
11. Introductory Concepts in Mechanical and Environmental Engineering
(1) Bothman, Fields, Evans, Bruch, Beltz
The theme question of this course is "What do mechanical engineers do?"
Survey of mechanical and environmental engineering applications.
Lectures by mechanical engineering faculty and practicing engineers.
12S. Introduction to Machine Shop
(1) Bothman
Prerequisite: ME majors only.
Basic machine shop skills course. Students learn to work safely in a
machine shop. Students are introduced to the use of hand tools, the
lathe, the milling machine, drill press, saws, and precision measuring
tools. Students apply these skills by completing a project.
14. Statics
(4) Milstein, Beltz, turner
Prerequisites: Physics 1 and Mathematics 3B; open to ME majors only.
Free-body principle and Newton's third law, general force systems,
distributed forces, internal forces, numerical and graphical solutions
to three-dimensional problems in statics.
15. Strength of Materials
(4) Beltz, Milstein, Kedward, Laguette
Prerequisites: ME 14; open to mechanical engineering majors only.
Hooke's law and properties of structural materials. Methods of sections
and virtual work and energy methods. Design applications to engineering
structures, problems of tension, torsion, flexure and combined loading.
Design beyond the elastic limit.
16. Engineering Mechanics: Dynamics
(4) Turner, McLean, Bamieh
Prerequisites: Physics 2; ME 14; and, Mathematics 5C; (may be taken concurrently); open to ME majors only.
Not open for credit to students who have completed ME 163A.
Vectorial kinematics of particles in space, orthogonal coordination
systems. Relative and constrained motions of particles. Dynamics of
particles and systems of particles, equations of motion, energy and
momentum methods. Collisions. Planar kinematics and kinetics of rigid
bodies. Energy and momentum methods for analyzing rigid body systems.
Moving frames and relative motion.
17. Mathematics of Engineering
(3) Moehlis, McLean, Homsy
Prerequisites: Engineering 3; Mathematics 5B (may be taken concurrently); open to ME majors only.
Engineering applications of mathematical methods. Topics include
ordinary differential equations, linear algebra, calculus, Fourier
analysis, and partial differential equations.
95. Introduction to Mechanical Engineering
(1-4) Staff
Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
May be repeated for credit to a maximum of 6 units.
Participation in projects in the laboratory or machine shop. Projects
may be student- or faculty-originated depending upon student interest
and consent of faculty member.
97. Mechanical Engineering Design Projects
(1-4) Staff
Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
May be repeated for maximum of 12 units, variable hours.
Course offers students opportunity to work on established departmental
design projects. P/NP grading, does not satisfy technical elective
requirement.
99. Introduction to Research
(1-3) Staff
Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
May be repeated for maximum of 6 units, variable hours.
Directed study to be arranged with individual faculty members. Course
offers exceptional students an opportunity to participate in a research
group.
Upper Division
Engineering 101. Ethics in Engineering
(3) Staff
Prerequisite: upper-division standing in engineering.
The nature of moral value, normative judgment and moral reasoning.
Theories of moral value. The engineer's role in society. Ethics in
professional practice. Safety, risk, responsibility. Morality and
career choice. Code of ethics. Case studies will facilitate the
comprehension of the concepts introduced.
Engineering 103. Advanced Engineering Writing
(4) Staff
Prerequisites: Engineering 2A-B-C or Writing 1 or 1E or 2 or 2E; and, Writing 50 or 50E; upper-division standing.
Practice in the forms of communicationcontractual reports, proposals,
conference papers, oral presentations, business plansthat engineers and
entrepreneurial engineers will encounter in professional careers. Focus
is on research methods, developing a clear and persuasive writing
style, and electronic document preparation.
100. Professional Seminar
(1) McMeeking, Milstein, Odette
Prerequisite: undergraduate standing.
May be repeated for up to 3 units. May not be used as a departmental elective.
A series of weekly lectures given by university staff and outside
experts in all fields of mechanical and environmental engineering.
104. Mechatronics
(3) Bamieh, Paden
Prerequisites: ME 6; open to ME majors only.
Interfacing of mechanical and electrical systems and mechatronics.
Basic introduction to sensors, actuators and computer interfacing and
control. Transducers and measurement devices, actuators,
A/D and D/A conversion, signal conditioning and filtering. Practical skills developed in weekly lab exercises.
105. Mechanical Engineering Laboratory
(4) Bennett, Matthys, Valentine
Prerequisites: ME 151B, 152B, 163; and, Materials 100B or 101; open to ME majors only.
Introduction to fundamental laboratory measurement techniques and
report writing skills. Experiments from thermosciences, fluid
mechanics, mechanics, materials science and environmental engineering.
Introduction to modern data acquisition and analysis techniques.
106A. Advanced Mechanical Engineering Laboratory
(3) Bamieh, Khammash
Prerequisite: ME 155A.
An advanced lab course with experiments in dynamical systems and
feedback control design. Students design, troubleshoot, and perform
detailed, multi-session experiments.
110. Aerodynamics and Aeronautical Engineering
(3) Beltz, Meinhart
Prerequisites: ME 14 and 152A.
Concepts from aerodynamics, including lift and drag analysis for
airfoils as well as aircraft sizing/scaling issues. Structural
mechanics concepts are applied to practical aircraft design. Intended
for students considering a career in aeronautical engineering.
112. Energy Conversion
(3) Matthys
Prerequisites: ME 151C and ME 152A; or, Chemical Engineering 110B and 120A.
Overview of energy usage and production from prehistory to present
times (technical, environmental, and societal issues). Technical
analyses of the modern means of energy production (fossil, nuclear,
hydro, wind, solar, geothermal, biomass, etc.): operating principles,
hardware, engineering issues, environmental impact, etc.
124. Advanced Topics in Transport Phenomena/Safety
(3) Banerjee
Prerequisites: Chemical Engineering 120A-B-C, or
ME 151A-B and ME 152A.
Same course as Chemical Engineering 124.
Hazard identification and assessments, runaway reactions, emergency
relief. Plant accidents and safety issues. Dispersion and consequences
of releases.
125AA-ZZ. Special Topics in Mechanical Engineering
(1-4) Staff
Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
May be repeated for credit to a maximum of 12 units, but only 4 units may be applied toward the major.
Individual courses each concentrating on one area in the following
subjects: applied mechanics, CAD/CAM, controls, design, environmental
engineering, fluid mechanics, materials science, mechanics of solids
and structures, ocean and coastal engineering, robotics, theoretical
mechanics, thermal sciences, and recent developments in mechanical
engineering.
128. Design of Biomedical Devices
(3) Laguette
Prerequisites: ME 10, 14, 15, and 16; open to ME majors only.
Introductory course addresses the challenges of biomedical device
design, protyping and testing, material considerations, regulatory
requirements, product documentation, and ethics.
134. Advanced Thermal Science
(3) Matthys, Yuen, Homsy
Prerequisite: ME 151C.
This class will address advanced topics in fluid mechanics, heat
transfer, and thermodynamics. Topics of interest may include
combustion, phase change, experimental techniques, materials
processing, manufacturing, engines, HVAC, non-Newtonian fluids, etc.
136. Introduction to Multiphase Flows
(3) Theofanous
Prerequisites: Chemical Engineering 120A-B-C; or, ME 151C and 152A.
Same course as Chemical Engineering 136.
Development from basic concepts and techniques of fluid mechanics and
heat transfer, to local behavior in multiphase flows. Key multiphase
phenomena, related physics. Extension of local conservation principles
to usable formulations in multiphase flows. Modelling approaches.
Practical examples.
138. Risk Assessment and Management
(3) Theofanous
Prerequisites: ME 151B and 152A, or Chemical Engineering 120A-B-C.
Same course as Chemical Engineering 138.
Conceptual foundations of risk and its utility for decision making.
Determinism, statistical inference, and uncertainty. Formulation of
safety goals and approaches to risk management. Generalized methodology
and tools for assessing risks in the industrial, ecological, and public
health context.
140A. Numerical Analysis in Engineering
(3) Homsy, Moehlis
Prerequisites: ME 17; open to ME majors only.
Building upon calculus and computer programming, the course covers
basic numerical methods, including linear and nonlinear algebraic
equations, interpolation and approximation, ordinary differential
equations, numerical integration and differentiation, finite element
and perturbation. Weekly assignments involve both pencil-and-paper and
computer work.
140B. Theoretical Analysis in Mechanical Engineering
(3) Bruch, Moehlis, Gibou
Prerequisites: ME 140A; open to ME majors only.
Analysis of engineering problems formulated in terms of partial
differential equations. Solutions of these mathematical models by means
of analytical and numerical methods. Physical interpretation of the
results.
141A. Introduction to MicroElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS)
(3) MacDonald, Turner
Prerequisites: ME 104 and 163.
Analysis of MEMS actuators and displacement sensors with emphasis on
the analysis of capacitor-based sensing and actuation. Analysis and
design of operational-amplifier models and circuits for capacitor
sensors including feedback concepts. Vibration analysis of MEMS
structures including wave equations for
'string' and bar structures. MEMS scaling concepts.
141B. MEMS: Semiconductor Processing and Device Characterization with Laboratory
(4) MacDonald, Turner
Prerequisites: ME 141A; and, Chemistry 1B-BL.
Lectures and laboratory on semiconductor processing for MEMS.
Description and analysis of key semiconductor and equipment used for
MEMS. Design and fabrication of MEMS capacitor-actuator and
accelerometers, includes a description of MEMS characterization tools.
141C. Introduction to Microfluidics and BioMEMS
(3) Meinhart
Prerequisites: ME 141A and 152A; open to ME majors only.
Introduces physical phenomena associated with microscale/nanoscale
fluid mechanics, microfluids, and bioMEMS. Analytical methods and
numerical simulation tools are used for analysis of microfluids.
146. Molecular and Cellular Biomechanics
(3) Valentine
Course introduces fundamental concepts in molecular and cellular biomechanics. Will consider the role of physical, thermal and chemical forces, examine their influence on cell strength and elasticity, and explore the properties of enzymatically-active materials.
151A. Thermosciences 1
(4) Bennett, Homsy, Yuen
Prerequisites: Physics 2; ME 14; and, Mathematics 5C; open to ME majors only.
Basic concepts in thermodynamics, system analysis, energy, thermodynamic laws, and cycles.
151B. Thermosciences 2
(4) Yuen, Bennett
Prerequisites: ME 151A and 152A; open to ME majors only.
Introduction to heat transfer process, steady and unsteady state
conduction, multidimensional analysis. Introduction to convective heat
transfer.
151C. Thermosciences 3
(3) Homsy, Bennett
Prerequisites: ME 151B and 152B; open to ME majors only.
Convective heat transfer, external and internal flow, forced and free
convection, phase change, heat exchangers. Introduction to radiative
heat transfer.
152A. Fluid Mechanics
(4) Homsy, Meinhart
Prerequisites: Mathematics 5C, ME 16, and ME 151A (may be taken concurrently); open to ME majors only.
Introduction to the fundamental concepts in fluid mechanics and basic
fluid properties. Basic equations of fluid flow. Dimensional analysis
and similitude. Hydrodynamics.
152B. Fluid Mechanics
(3) Meinhart
Prerequisite: ME 152A; open to ME majors only.
Incompressible viscous flow. Boundary-layer theory. Introductory considerations for one-dimensional compressible flow.
153. Introduction to Mechanical Engineering Design
(3) Beltz, Turner, Kedward, Laguette
Prerequisites: ME 10 and 16; open to ME majors only.
Design methods. Creative thinking. Introduction to manufacturing
processes, design for manufacturing. Project planning and teamwork.
Applications of engineering software. Application of engineering
principles to practical problem solving. Codes and standards.
Engineering ethics.
154. Design and Analysis of Structures
(3) McMeeking, Kedward
Prerequisites: ME 15 and 16; open to ME majors only.
Introductory course in structural analysis and design. The theories of
matrix structural analysis and finite element analysis for the solution
of analytical and design problems in structures are emphasized. Lecture
material includes structural theory compatibility method, slope
deflection method, displacement method and virtual work. Topics include
applications to bars, beams, trusses, frames, and solids.
155A. Control System Design
(3) Bamieh, Astrom, Bullo
Prerequisite: ME 17; ME 140A (may be taken concurrently).
The discipline of control and its application. Dynamics and feedback.
The mathematical models: transfer functions and state space
descriptions. Simple control design (PID). Assessment of a control
problem, specification, fundamental limitations, codesign of system and
control.
155B. Control System Design
(3) Paden, Bullo
Prerequisite: ME 155A.
Application of analytical methods to control system modeling and
design. State-space modeling, controllability and observability. System
specification and limitations, loop gain, classical design and the
optimal linear quadratic regulator. Sampled-data implementation.
156A. Mechanical Engineering Design I
(3) Lucas, Evans
Prerequisites: ME 151C, 152B, 153 and 154; and, Materials 100B or 101; open to ME majors only.
The rational selection of engineering materials, and the utilization of
Ashby-charts, stress, strain, strength and fatigue failure
consideration as applied to the design of machine elements. Lectures
also support the development of system design concepts using assigned
projects and involve the preparation of engineering reports and
drawings.
156B. Mechanical Engineering Design II
(3) Kedward
Prerequisites: ME 156A; open to ME majors only.
Machine elements including gears, bearings, and shafts. Joint design
and analysis: bolts, rivets, adhesive bonding and welding. Machine
dynamics and fatigue. Design for reliability and safety. Codes and
standards. Topics covered are applied in practical design projects.
158. Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing
(3) Bothman
Prerequisites: ME 10; open to ME majors only.
Engineering applications using advanced 3-D CAD software for plastic
part designs and tooling. Topics include an overview of the design for
injection molded plastic parts, material selections and electronic
tooling design via CAD and CNC system software. Emphasis is put into
final design projects that are designed to be functional,
manufacturable, and esthetically pleasing.
162. Introduction to Elasticity
(3) McMeeking, Beltz, Milstein
Prerequisites: ME 140A; and, ME 165 or 15.
Equations of equilibrium, compatibility, and boundary conditions.
Solutions of two-dimensional problems in rectangular and polar
coordinates. Eigen-solutions for the wedge and Williams' solution for
cracks. Stress intensity factors. Extension, torsion and bending.
Energy theorems. Introduction to wave propagation in elastic solids.
(May not be offered each year.)
163. Engineering Mechanics: Vibrations
(3) McMeeking, Bruch
Prerequisites: ME 16; open to ME majors only.
Not open for credit to students who have completed ME 163B.
Topics relating to vibration in mechanical systems; exact and
approximate methods of analysis, matrix methods, generalized
coordinates and Lagrange's equations, applications to systems. Basic
feedback systems and controlled dynamic behavior.
166. Advanced Strength of Materials
(3) Turner
Prerequisite: ME 15.
Analysis of statically determinate and indeterminate systems using
integration, area moment, and energy methods. Beams on elastic
foundations, curved beams, stress concentrations, fatigue, and theories
of failure for ductile and brittle materials. Photoelasticity and other
experimental techniques are covered, as well as methods of interpreting
in-service failures.
167. Structural Analysis
(3) Yang
Prerequisites: ME 15 or 165; and ME 140A.
Presents introductory matrix methods for analysis of structures. Topics
include review of matrix algebra and linear equations, basic structural
theorems including the principle of superposition and energy theorems,
truss bar, beam and plane frame elements, and programming techniques to
realize these concepts.
168. Applied Finite Element Analysis
(3) Bruch, McMeeking
Prerequisites: ME 15 or 165; and ME 140A.
Recommended preparation: ME 167.
Introductory course in use of finite elements to solve analytical and
design problems. Topics include energy-based formulation, finite
element discretization (nodes, elements); interpolating polynomials;
applications to elasticity and heat transfer problems in two- and
three-dimensions; isoparametric formulation, practical considerations
in modeling and interpretation of results using FEM codes.
169. Nonlinear Phenomena
(4) Mezic, Khammash
Prerequisites: Physics 105A or ME 163; or upper-division standing in ECE.
Same course as ECE 183 and Physics 106. Not open for credit to students who have completed ME 163C.
An introduction to nonlinear phenomena. Flows and bifurcation in one
and two dimensions, chaos, fractals, strange attractors. Applications
to physics, engineering, chemistry, and biology.
170A. Introduction to Robotics: Robot Mechanics
(4) Paden, Bullo
Same course as ECE 181A.
Recommended preparation: ME 16.
Overview of robot kinematics and dynamics. Structure and operation of
industrial robots. Robot performance: workspace, velocity, precision,
payload. Comparative discussion of robot mechanical designs. Actuators.
Robot coordinate systems. Kinematics of position. Dynamics of
manipulators.
170C. Introduction to Robotics: Robot Control
(4) Paden
Prerequisites: ECE 2A-B-C with a minimum grade of C-; or ME 104.
Same course as ECE 181C.
Overview of robot control technology from open-loop manipulators and
sensing systems, to single-joint servovalves and servomotors, to
integrated adaptive force and position control using feedback from
machine vision and touch sensing systems. Design emphasis on accurate
tracking accomplished with minimal algorithm complexity.
185. Materials in Engineering
(3) Levi, Odette
Prerequisite: Materials 100B or 101.
Same course as Materials 185.
Introduces the student to the main families of materials and the
principles behind their development, selection, and behavior. Discusses
the generic properties of metals, ceramics, polymers, and composites
more relevant to structural applications. The relationship of
properties to structure and processing is emphasized in every case.
186. Manufacturing and Materials
(3) Levi
Prerequisites: ME 151C; and, ME 15 or 165; and Materials 100B or 101.
Same course as Materials 186.
Introduction to the fundamentals of common manufacturing processes and
their interplay with the structure and properties of materials as they
are transformed into products. Emphasis on process understanding and
the key physical concepts and basic mathematical relationships involved
in each of the processes discussed.
189A-B-C. Capstone Mechanical Engineering Design Project
(2-2-2) Laguette
Prerequisites: ME 153; and ME 156A (may be taken concurrently).
A three-quarter in-progress sequence with grades for all courses issued
upon completion of ME 189C. Students may not concurrently enroll in ME
197 and ME 189A-B-C with the same design project.
Students work in teams under the direction of a faculty advisor to
tackle an engineering design project. Engineering communication, such
as reports and oral presentations are covered. Course emphasizes
practical, hands-on experience, and integrates analytical and design
skills acquired in the companion ME 156 courses.
193. Internship in Industry
(1) Staff
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Prior departmental approval needed. Cannot be used as a departmental elective. May be repeated to a maximum of 2 units. Students obtain credit for a mechanical engineering related internship and/or industrial experience under faculty supervision. A 6-10 page written report is required for credit. It may NOT be used to satisfy the engineering elective requirement for ME majors.
197. Independent Projects in Mechanical Engineering Design
(1-4) Staff
Prerequisites: ME 16; consent of instructor.
May be repeated for a maximum of 12 units, variable hours. No more than 4 units may be used as departmental electives.
Special projects in design engineering. Course offers motivated
students opportunity to synthesize academic skills by designing and
building new machines.
199. Independent Studies in Mechanical Engineering
(1-5) Staff
Prerequisites: consent of instructor; upper-division standing;
completion of two upper-division courses in mechanical and
environmental engineering.
Students must have a minimum of 3.0 grade-point average for the
preceding three quarters and are limited to 5 units per quarter and 30
units total in all 98/99/198/199/199DC/199RA courses combined. No more
than 4 units may be used as departmental electives. May be repeated to
12 units.
Directed individual study.





