A broad introduction to numerical algorithms used in scientific computing. The course begins with a review of the basic principles of numerical analysis, including sources of error, stability, and convergence. The theory and implementation of techniques for linear and nonlinear systems of equations and ordinary and partial differential equations are covered in detail. Examples of the application of these methods to problems in engineering and the sciences permeate the course material. Issues related to the implementation of efficient algorithms on modern high-performance computing systems are discussed.

Power from the nucleus offers a low-carbon source of electricity. However, fission power also carries significant risks: nuclear proliferation (North Korea, Iran), major accidents (Chernobyl, Fukushima), and waste disposal (Yucca Mountain). Fusion carries fewer risks, but the timetable for its commercialization is uncertain. We will delve into the scientific underpinnings of these two energy sources, so you can assess them for yourselves. A benefit of this course is that you will expand your scientific and computational skills by applying them to important real-world problems.

This class will teach you about optical and photonic sensing technologies and their applications to environmental monitoring. The course will contain elements of atmospheric science and Earth observation, fundamentals of optics, photonics and laser physics, as well as a survey of modern optical and spectroscopic sensing applications. In this course students will be asked to prepare two oral presentations and there will be three laboratory assignments focused on fundamentals of optical sensing.

The goal of the course is to (1) learn basic principles underpinning energy systems, (2) learn the basic theory, modeling techniques, and software tools for optimization, (3) apply optimization methods to design and analyze energy systems.

This course provides an introduction to the electricity sector drawing on engineering, economics, and regulatory policy perspectives. It introduces the engineering principles behind various power generation technologies and transmission and distribution networks; the economics of electricity markets; and the regulation of electricity generation, transmission, distribution, and retail sales. Open challenges related to the growth of distributed energy resources, the transition to low-carbon electricity sources, and the role of the electricity sector in mitigating global climate change are also discussed.

This course provides an introduction to the electricity sector drawing on engineering, economics, and regulatory policy perspectives. It introduces the engineering principles behind various power generation technologies and transmission and distribution networks; the economics of electricity markets; and the regulation of electricity generation, transmission, distribution, and retail sales. Open challenges related to the growth of distributed energy resources, the transition to low-carbon electricity sources, and the role of the electricity sector in mitigating global climate change are also discussed.

Formulation and solution of equations governing the dynamic behavior of engineering systems. Fundamental principles of Newtonian mechanics. Two and three dimensional kinematics and kinetics of particles and rigid bodies. Motion relative to moving reference frames. Impulse-momentum and work-energy relations. Free and forced vibrations of mechanical systems. Introduction to dynamic analysis of mechanical devices and systems.

Introduction to the physical and analytical description of phenomena associated with the flow of fluids. Topics include the principles of conservation of mass, momentum and energy; lift and drag; open channel flow; dynamic similitude; laminar and turbulent flow.

Students will conduct a series of prepared experiments throughout the year that will culminate in an independent project of the students' design involving fluid mechanics, thermodynamics and data acquisition tools. Concepts learned will be applied in subsequent labs involving expanding flows and lift and drag measurements. Experiments will include internal and external flows.

This course will deal with issues of regional and global energy demands, sources, carriers, storage, current and future technologies and costs for energy conversion, and their impact on climate and the environment. Students will learn to perform objective cost-efficiency and environmental impact analyses from source to end-user on both fossil fuels (oil, coal, and natural gas), and alternative energy sources (bio-fuels, solar energy, wind, batteries, and nuclear). We will also pay particular attention to energy sources, technologies, emissions, and regulations for transportation. The course will also include tours to energy research labs.

A treatment of the theory and applications of ordinary differential equations with an introduction to partial differential equations. The objective is to provide the student with an ability to solve problems in this field.

This course covers a range of fundamental mathematical techniques and methods that can be employed to solve problems in contemporary engineering and the applied sciences. Topics include algebraic equations, numerical integration, analytical and numerical solution of ordinary and partial differential equations, harmonic functions and conformal maps, and time-series data. The course synthesizes descriptive observations, mathematical theories, numerical methods, and engineering consequences.

This course introduces the technical foundation and basic processes of Mechanical Design, which are appropriate for the design of both mechanical systems, and components. The emphasis is on designing for the complete product life-cycle. Topics in parametric design and design optimization using Finite Element Analysis (FEA), Computer Aided Design (CAD), and Manufacturing (CAM) are introduced in the classroom and online and then reinforced by team and individual assignments.

This course builds on the technical foundations established in MAE 321, and extends the scope to include a range of advanced mechanism design. Students, working in teams, will be challenged to design and fabricate a robotic system that will draw upon multidisciplinary engineering elements. The robot will be used to facilitate common daily tasks. The selected tasks vary each year. CAD, CAE, and CAM will be utilized in the design/simulation/prototype process. Labs are designed to reinforce and expand CAD and CAE skills. A final public competition will be held among the design teams. Judges from relevant industries will be present.

This course provides an overview of fundamental physical mechanisms behind sustainable energy technologies, including solar thermal, solar photovoltaic, wind, nuclear, and hydroelectricity. Physics of the greenhouse effect, projected Earth's climate changes, as well as socio-economic impacts on energy uses and greenhouse-gas emissions are reviewed. Variability, dispatchability, and areal power density of energy resources are discussed. Energy efficiency, energy storage, as well as transmission and distribution of electric power are touched upon.

This course discusses methods for the design of aircraft. Topics in aerodynamics, and structural design are emphasized in the context of a design project. Students will be required to complete a design project to fulfill the requirements of this class.

Independent work is a one term project. Student selects subject and advisor - defines problem to be studied and proposes work plan. A list of possible subjects of particular interest to faculty and staff members is provided. Written report and poster session due at end of semester to faculty, staff, fellow students and guests. 339 Fall Term project; 340 Spring Term project.

One semester independent work project similar to MAE 339-340. Principle difference is that the project must incorporate aspects and principles of design for a system, product, vehicle, device, apparatus, or other design element. Written report and poster session at end of semester to faculty, staff, fellow students and guests. 339D Fall Term project; 340D Spring Term project.

This course introduces engineering approaches to understanding and controlling cellular systems with special focus on the interface between mechanics, materials, and biomedical technology. In the first half, we establish a biomechanics framework to understand cells and tissues. In the second half, we learn how to apply this understanding to engineer cell and tissue behavior through biointerface design. Drawing on both historical and cutting edge findings and contemporary challenges, we will explore topics including: mechanobiology, lab-on-a-chip design, biofunctionalization, tissue engineering and biomaterials, and medical device design.

Introduction to microcomputers for measurement and control. This is a hardware course in the area of electro mechanical systems. Students build microcomputer controllers and apply them to the automation of various aspects of a model railroad. Students work in pairs on a term project. Projects involve mechanical design of mechanisms and structures, design of electronic circuits for sensing and control, and design of an 8-bit microcomputer that is integrated into a serial data network.

The study of principles, flight envelopes, and engine designs of rocket and ram/scramjet propulsion systems. Topics include jet propulsion theory, space mission maneuver, combustion control, and system components of chemical and non-chemical rockets (nuclear and electrical propulsion), gas turbine, ramjet, and scramjet engines. Characteristics, optimal flight envelopes, and technical challenges of combined propulsion systems will be analyzed.

Overview of energy utilization in and environmental impacts of propulsion systems for ground and air transportation. Roughly half of the course will be devoted to reciprocating engines for ground transportation, and the other half of the course will be devoted to gas turbine engines for air transportation. The course will focus on device efficiency/performance and emissions with future outlooks for improvements in these areas including alternative fuels and alternative device concepts. Relevant thermodynamics, chemistry, fluid mechanics, and combustion fundamentals will be reviewed or introduced and will permeate the course material.

This course provides an introduction to modern state-space methods for robust control system design and analysis. Applications include controlling the performance of a variety of dynamical systems. Topics include stability, controllability and observability, state feedback control, observers and output feedback control, linear matrix inequalities, and optimal and robust control design methods.

The course is intended for junior/senior students and it covers some critical aspects of hypervelocity flight related to manned and unmanned spacecrafts. In order to assimilate the material, the students will be engaged in a project that will culminate in a report and an oral presentation of the work. The course will first address inviscid and viscous hypersonic flows neglecting high temperature effects, and develop the classical approach based on "cold" hypersonics. Phenomena associated with high temperature effects will then be discussed. The design principles of spacecraft heat shielding will be presented in the final part of the course.

Senior independent work is the culminating experience for the mechanical and aerospace engineering programs. Students select a subject and adviser, define the problem to be studied and propose a work plan. Projects include elements of engineering design, defined as devising a system, component, or process to meet desired needs. A list of possible subjects of particular interest to faculty and staff members is provided. Students must submit a written final report and present their results to faculty, staff, fellow students, and guests at the end of the semester.

Senior thesis is a year-long independent study for individual students. It is the culminating experience for the mechanical and aerospace programs. Work begins in fall, but enrollment is in spring when a double grade is recorded. Projects include engineering design, defined as devising a system, component, or process to meet desired needs. Students develop their own topic or select a faculty proposed topic. Students create a work plan and select an adviser. A written progress report is expected at the end of the fall term. Students submit a written final report and make an oral presentation at the end of the spring term.

Senior project is a year-long independent study intended for students choosing to work in teams of two or more. It is the culminating experience in the mechanical and aerospace programs. Work begins in fall, but enrollment is in spring when a double grade is recorded. Projects include engineering design, defined as devising a system, component, or process to meet desired needs. Groups develop their own topic or select a faculty proposed topic. Groups create a work plan and select an adviser. A written progress report is due at the end of the fall term. Groups submit a written final report and make an oral presentation at the end of spring.

Topics in complex analysis and functional analysis, with emphasis on applications in physics and engineering. Topics include power series, singularities, contour integration, Cauchy's theorems, and Fourier series; an introduction to measure theory and the Lebesgue integral; Hilbert spaces, linear operators, and adjoints; the spectral theorem, and its application to Sturm-Liouville problems.

Under the direction of a faculty member, the student carries out a one-semester research project chosen jointly by the student and the faculty. Directed is normally taken during the first year of study. The project culminates in a written paper, in the style of a journal article, and presentation to at least one faculty member from the department who was involved in the research project. Students need to enroll at the beginning of the semester and must obtain permission from the instructor and the department. In the last week of the semester, students enrolled in the course meet once to present their research to the class.

Focus of this course is on fundamental processes in plasma thrusters for spacecraft propulsion with emphasis on recent research findings. Start with a review of the fundamentals of mass, momentum & energy transport in collisional plasmas, wall effects, & collective (wave) effects, & derive a generalized Ohm's law useful for discussing various plasma thruster concepts. Move to detailed discussions of the acceleration & dissipation mechanisms in Hall thrusters, magnetoplasmadynamic thrusters, pulsed plasma thrusters, & inductive plasma thrusters, & derive expressions for the propulsive efficiencies of each of these concepts.

Recent developments in combustion chemistry and aerodynamics. Possible topics include: reaction mechanism development of foundational and large hydrocarbon fuels; computational methods of CSP, DRG and CEMA in chemical kinetics analysis; low -temperature chemistry and flames; radical-induced explosion limits; canonical theory of flames; theory of edge flame stabilization; theory of flamefront instability and propagation; experimentation and modeling of wrinkled flame propagation in laminar and turbulent flows.

This course provides an introduction to the application of deep learning to physical problems. Topics include reinforcement learning, graph neural networks, and normalizing flows.

In this course we present a survey of problems at the interface of biology, physics and engineering to discuss how nature invented many tiny sensors, machines and structures that are important for functions of cells and organisms. Using this knowledge, we comment how to engineer and self-assemble tiny devices with DNA origami, how to design thin structures that can transform into specific shapes in response to external stimulus, how to make structures with tunable surface properties (drag, adhesion, hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity), how to make flexible electronics, how to make metamaterials with unusual properties, etc.

An introduction to the mechanics of viscous flows. The kinematics and dynamics of viscous flows. Exact solutions to the Navier-Stokes equations. Lubrication theory. The behavior of vorticity. The boundary layer approximation. Laminar boundary layers with and without pressure gradients. Introduction to stability. Introduction to turbulence. Several case studies will be introduced to expose students to fluid mechanics themes in biology, polymer processing, complex fluids and reacting flows.

The course deals with the fundamentals of turbulent flows and it is addressed to second year graduate students. Physical and statistical descriptions of turbulence are treated and phenomenological theories of turbulent flows are critically reviewed. The course examines scales of motion; correlations and spectra; homogeneous, isotropic turbulent flows; free shear flows (jets, mixing layers and wakes); wall bounded flows (pipe and channel flows, boundary layers); modeling and simulations of turbulent flows (turbulent viscosity models, Reynolds stress modeling, LES, DNS, RANS-LES); and current directions in turbulence research.

Bioengineering is proof that exciting developments happen at the interfaces between fields. This course introduces students to approaches spanning biomechanics and biophysics, biomaterials and tissue engineering, and biomedical device design. These approaches are explored in the context of single cells, tissues, and whole organisms. Sample topics include: mechanobiology, surface chemistry and the cell:material interface, the biomechanics of locomotion, and "lab on a chip"technologies. Special emphasis is placed on introducing practical biomedical examples from the bench to the operating room.

A seminar of graduate students and staff presenting the results of their research and recent advances in flight, space, and surface transportation; fluid mechanics; energy conversion; propulsion; combustion; environmental studies; applied physics; and materials sciences. There is one seminar per week and participation at presentations by distinguished outside speakers.

This course provides students with a basic technical understanding of the science and technology relevant to current and emerging national and global security issues. Topics covered in this course include nuclear weapons, biotechnology and biosecurity, delivery systems for weapons of mass destruction, cyberwarfare, global surveillance, quantum technologies, and artificial intelligence. In the second half of the semester, students work in small teams on in-depth case studies exploring a current or emerging global-security issue of their choice and combining both technical and policy analysis.