Mechanical Engineering

University of California, Berkeley

This is an archived copy of the 2014-15 guide. To access the most recent version of the guide, please visit http://guide.berkeley.edu/.

About the Program

Bachelor of Science (BS)

Mechanical engineers serve society by solving problems in transportation, energy, the environment, and human health. The activity of mechanical engineers extends from investigation of physical phenomena governing the behavior of our surroundings to the manufacture and evaluation of products. The technical domain of the mechanical engineering profession encompasses topic areas, including acoustics, automatic control, bioengineering, combustion, cryogenics, design, dynamics, energy conversion, engines, environment, heat transfer, lubrication, mass transfer, manufacturing and sustainability, materials processing, mechanics of solids and fluids, mechanisms, petroleum, plasma dynamics, propulsion, thermodynamics, vibration, and wave propagation.

The undergraduate program in mechanical engineering seeks to provide students with a broad education emphasizing an excellent foundation in scientific and engineering fundamentals. The objectives of the undergraduate program are to prepare undergraduate students for employment or advanced studies with four primary constituencies: industry, the national laboratories, state and federal agencies, and academia (graduate research programs).

Accreditation

Our programs are accredited by ABET , a non-profit and non-governmental accrediting agency for academic programs in the disciplines of applied science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology. ABET is a recognized accreditor in the United States (U.S.) by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation . For information about how the program achieves ABET course outcomes, please see the Department's website .

Admission to the Major

Prospective undergraduates to the College of Engineering will apply for admission to a specific program in the College. For further information, please see the College of Engineering's website .

Admission to Engineering via a Change of College application for current UC Berkeley students is highly unlikely and very competitive as there few, if any, spaces that open in the College each year to students admitted to other colleges at UC Berkeley. For further information regarding a Change of College to Engineering, please see the College's website .

Five-Year BS/MS Program

This program is for Berkeley ME Undergraduates who wish to broaden their education experiences at Berkeley. In contrast to the existing Berkeley Mechanical Engineering MS program, it is a course-based program. Students in the 5 year BS/MS program are also able to take some courses in professional disciplines such as business or public policy. This two semester program is not for students with the desire to continue to the PhD. These students are advised to apply directly to the MS/PhD or PhD program. For further information regarding this program, please see the Department's website .

Minor Program

The Department offers a minor program in Mechanical Engineering. For admission to the minor, students must have a minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 as well as a minimum 3.00 GPA in the prerequisite courses. For information regarding the prerequisites, please see the Minor Requirements tab on this page.

After completion of the prerequisite courses, students will need to complete and submit to the Undergraduate Office of Mechanical Engineering (Room 6195 Etcheverry) a Petition for Admission form which can be found here . The Department will verify the completion of the minor and send the paperwork to the appropriate parties after final grades are available.

Joint Majors

The Department of Mechanical Engineering also offers two joint majors, with other departments in the College of Engineering. For further information on these programs, please click the links below:
Materials Science and Engineering/Mechanical Engineering (Department of Materials Science and Engineering)
Mechanical Engineering/Nuclear Engineering (Department of Nuclear Engineering)

Visit Department Website

Major Requirements

In addition to the University, campus, and college requirements, listed on the College Requirements tab, students must fulfill the below requirements specific to their major program.

General Guidelines

  1. All technical courses (courses in engineering, mathematics, chemistry, physics, statistics, biological sciences, and computer science) must be taken for a letter grade.

  2. No more than one upper-division course may be used to simultaneously fulfill requirements for a student’s major and minor programs.

  3. A minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 is required for all work undertaken at UC Berkeley.

  4. A minimum GPA of 2.0 is required for all technical courses taken in satisfaction of major requirements.

For information regarding residence requirements and unit requirements, please see the College Requirements tab.

For a detailed plan of study by year and semester, please see the Plan of Study tab.

Lower-division Requirements

MATH 1ACalculus4
MATH 1BCalculus4
MATH 53Multivariable Calculus4
MATH 54Linear Algebra and Differential Equations4
CHEM 1A
  & 1AL		General Chemistry
   and General Chemistry Laboratory 1		4
or CHEM 4A General Chemistry and Quantitative Analysis
PHYSICS 7APhysics for Scientists and Engineers4
PHYSICS 7BPhysics for Scientists and Engineers4
ENGIN 7Introduction to Computer Programming for Scientists and Engineers4
ENGIN 25Visualization for Design 22
ENGIN 26Three-Dimensional Modeling for Design 32
ENGIN 27Introduction to Manufacturing and Tolerancing 32
MEC ENG 40Thermodynamics3
MEC ENG C85Introduction to Solid Mechanics3
EL ENG 40Introduction to Microelectronic Circuits4
1

 CHEM 4A is intended for students majoring in Chemistry or a closely-related field.

2

 Junior transfers are exempt from completing ENGIN 25.

3

 Junior transfer who have completed the equivalent of ENGIN 28 are exempt from ENGIN 26 and  ENGIN 27.

Upper-division Requirements

In addition to the requirements listed below, students may need to choose up to two Free Electives, in order to meet the 120 units required for graduation. Free electives can be any technical or non-technical course of the student's interest, offered by any department at UC Berkeley, with no restrictions.

MEC ENG 102AIntroduction to Mechanical Systems for Mechatronics4
MEC ENG 102BMechatronics Design4
MEC ENG 104Engineering Mechanics II3
MEC ENG 106Fluid Mechanics3
MEC ENG 107Mechanical Engineering Laboratory3
MEC ENG 108Mechanical Behavior of Engineering Materials4
MEC ENG 109Heat Transfer3
MEC ENG 132Dynamic Systems and Feedback3
Technical Electives: Minimum 18 units
Select at least one course from the Design Elective list:
Advanced Engineering Design Graphics
Introduction to Lean Manufacturing Systems
Introduction to Product Development
Structural Aspects of Biomaterials
Introduction to MEMS (Microelectromechanical Systems)
Computer-Aided Mechanical Design
Design of Planar Machinery
Design of Microprocessor-Based Mechanical Systems
Energy Conversion Principles
Ocean-Environment Mechanics
Orthopedic Biomechanics
Select at least one course from Quantitative Science Elective list:
Methods of Engineering Analysis
Advanced Programming with MATLAB
Numerical Analysis
Computational Biomechanics Across Multiple Scales
Engineering Analysis Using the Finite Element Method
The remaining three Technical Electives may be chosen from courses in engineering, physics, chemistry, biochemistry, chemical engineering, biological sciences, math or statistics 1, 2
1

Only one lower division course, chosen from the approved list below, can be used toward the technical elective requirement. Approved lower division courses include: any lower division technical course required by another major in the College of Engineering; ASTRON 7A, BIOLOGY 1A, BIOLOGY 1B, CHEM 1B, CHEM 3A, CIV ENG 70, ENGIN 45, MCELLBI 32, and STAT 20.

2

Technical Electives cannot include:

Minor Requirements

Minor programs are areas of concentration requiring fewer courses than an undergraduate major. These programs are optional but can provide depth and breadth to a UC Berkeley education. The College of Engineering does not offer additional time to complete a minor, but it is usually possible to finish within the allotted time with careful course planning. Students are encouraged to meet with their ESS Adviser to discuss the feasibility of completing a minor program.

All the engineering departments offer minors. Students may also consider pursuing a minor in another school or college.

General Guidelines

  1. All courses taken to fulfill the minor requirements must be taken for graded credit.

  2. A minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 and a minimum GPA of 3.0 in the prerequisite courses is required for acceptance into the minor program.

  3. A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 is required for courses used to fulfill the minor requirements.

  4. No more than one upper-division course may be used to simultaneously fulfill requirements for a student’s major and minor programs.

  5. Completion of the minor program cannot delay a student’s graduation.

Requirements

Prerequisites
PHYSICS 7APhysics for Scientists and Engineers4
MEC ENG 40Thermodynamics3
MEC ENG 104Engineering Mechanics II3
MEC ENG C85Introduction to Solid Mechanics 13
Upper-division Requirments
Select three additional uppe-division technical courses in Mechanical Engineering
1

CIV ENG 130 Course Not Available and ENGIN 36 Course Not Available together may be subsituted

College Requirements

Students in the College of Engineering must complete 120 semester units with the following provisions: 

1.        Completion of the requirements of one Engineering major program  of study. 

2.        A minimum overall grade point average of 2.000 (C average) and a minimum 2.000 grade point average in upper division technical course work required of the major. 

3.        The final 30 units must be completed in residence in the College of Engineering on the Berkeley campus in two consecutive semesters. 

4.        All technical courses (math, science & engineering), required of the major or not, must be taken on a letter graded basis (unless they are only offered P/NP). 

5.        Entering freshman are allowed a maximum of eight semesters to complete their degree requirements.  Entering junior transfers are allowed a maximum of four semesters to complete their degree requirements. Summer terms are optional and do not count toward the maximum. Students are responsible for planning and satisfactorily completing all graduation requirements within the maximum allowable semesters. 

Humanities and Social Science Requirement
To promote a rich and varied educational experience outside of the technical requirements for each major, the College of Engineering has a Humanities and Social Sciences breadth requirement, which must be completed to graduate. This requirement is built into all the Engineering programs of study. The requirement includes two approved reading and composition courses and four additional approved courses, within which a number of specific conditions must be satisfied. 

1.        Complete a minimum of six courses (3 units or more) from the approved Humanities/Social Sciences (H/SS) lists . 

2.        Two of the six courses must fulfill the  Reading and Composition Requirement. These courses must be taken for a letter grade (C- or better required), and MUST be completed by no later than the end of the sophomore year (4th semester of enrollment). The first half of R&C, the “A” course, must be completed by the end of the freshman year; the second half of R&C, the “B “course, by no later than the end of the sophomore year. For detailed lists of courses that fulfill Reading and Composition requirements, please see the Reading and Composition page in this bulletin. 

3.        The four additional courses must be chosen from the H/SS comprehensive list. These courses may be taken on a Pass/Not Passed Basis (P/NP).

4.        At least two of the six courses must be upper division (courses numbered 100-196).

5.        At least two courses must be from the same department and at least one of the two must be upper division. This is called the *Series requirement. AP tests can be combined with a course to complete the series requirement. For example, AP History (any) combined with an upper division History course would satisfy the series requirement

6.        One of the six courses must satisfy the campus American Cultures Requirement. For detailed lists of courses that fulfill American Cultures requirements, please see the American Cultures page in this bulletin. 

7.        A maximum of two exams (Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or A-Level) may be used toward completion of the H/SS requirement. Visit this link

8.        No courses offered by an Engineering department (IEOR, CE, etc.) other than BIOE 100, CS C79, ENGIN 125, ENGIN 130AC, 157AC, ME 191K and ME 191AC may be used to complete H/SS requirements.

9.        Courses may fulfill multiple categories. For example, if you complete City and Regional Planning 115 and 118AC that would satisfy the series requirement, the two upper division courses requirement and the American Cultures Requirement.

10.     The College of Engineering (COE) uses modified versions of five of the College of Letters and Science (L&S) breadth requirements lists to provide options to our students for completing the Humanities and Social Science requirement. Our requirement is different than that of L & S, so the guidelines posted on the top of each L & S breadth list do NOT apply to COE students.

11.     Foreign language courses MAY be used to complete H/SS requirements. L & S does not allow students to use many language courses, so their lists will not include all options open to Engineering students. For a list of language options, visit http://coe.berkeley.edu/FL

*NOTE: for the Series Requirement: The purpose of the series requirement is to provide depth of knowledge in a certain area. Therefore, a two-course sequence not in the same department may be approved by petition, in cases in which there is a clear and logical connection between the courses involved. 

Sample Plan of Study

For more detailed information regarding the courses listed below (e.g., elective information, GPA requirements, etc.), please see the Major Requirements tab.

Freshman
FallUnitsSpringUnits
Chemistry: CHEM 1A & CHEM 1AL, or CHEM 4A4PHYSICS 7A4
Reading & Composition course from List A4ENGIN 74
MATH 1A4MATH 1B4
Optional Freshman Seminar or ENGIN 920-1Reading & Composition course from List B4
ENGIN 252Optional Freshman Seminar or ENGIN 920-1
 14-15 16-17
Sophomore
FallUnitsSpringUnits
ENGIN 262MATH 544
MATH 534MEC ENG C853
ENGIN 272Humanities/Social Science course3-4
PHYSICS 7B4MEC ENG 403
Humanities/Social Sciences course3-4 
 15-16 13-14
Junior
FallUnitsSpringUnits
MEC ENG 1043EL ENG 404
Technical Elective3MEC ENG 1093
Humanities/Social Sciences course3-4MEC ENG 1323
MEC ENG 1063Technical Elective3
MEC ENG 1084Humanities/Social Science course3-4
 16-17 16-17
Senior
FallUnitsSpringUnits
MEC ENG 102A4MEC ENG 102B4
Technical Electives6MEC ENG 1073
Free Elective3-4Technical Electives6
 Free Elective3
 13-14 16
Total Units: 119-126

Student Learning Goals

Learning Goals for the Major

The objectives of the Mechanical Engineering undergraduate program are to produce graduates who do the following:

  1. Vigorously engage in post-baccalaureate endeavors, whether in engineering graduate study, in engineering practice, or in the pursuit of other fields such as science, law, medicine, business or public policy
  2. Apply their mechanical engineering education to address the full range of technical and societal problems with creativity, imagination, confidence and responsibility
  3. Actively seek out positions of leadership within their profession and their community
  4. Serve as ambassadors for engineering by exhibiting the highest ethical and professional standards,== and by communicating the importance and excitement of this dynamic field
  5. Retain the intellectual curiosity that motivates lifelong learning and allows for a flexible response to the rapidly evolving challenges of the 21st century

Skills

The Department of Mechanical Engineering has adopted the ABET Outcomes as its Program Outcomes. Mechanical Engineering graduates have the following:

  1. An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering
  2. An ability to design and conduct experiments as well as to analyze and interpret data
  3. An ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability
  4. An ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams
  5. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems
  6. An understanding of professional and ethical responsibility
  7. An ability to communicate effectively
  8. The broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context
  9. A recognition of the need for and an ability to engage in life-long learning
  10. A knowledge of contemporary issues
  11. An ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice.

Advising

Students in Mechanical Engineering have a number of advising options, listed in sequential order:

College of Engineering (COE)

For Freshmen, Sophomores and transfer students, the adviser at the COE will be the best resource regarding courses and degree requirements. They are keepers of students' academic record and the primary enforcers of COE's academic policies. They are also the first stop for students who wish to file a petition. Each individual student has an advisor at the College - assignments are made alphabetically. Students who are unsure of who their adviser is should refer to the COE's undergraduate advising information page .

ME Student Services Office

This office should be students' primary source of department-specific administrative information. If students are not sure if they should come here, they should go to the COE office.

ME Faculty Adviser

Faculty advisers for new students will be assigned by the beginning of October and a listing will be available online. Faculty are great sources for information regarding classes, research opportunities, and career planning. Furthermore, all ME students are required to see their Faculty Advisers (or go to Drop-In Advising) to get their advising codes before signing up for the next semester's courses.

Vice Chair for Undergraduate Matters

The Vice Chair handles all undergraduate student petitions and can serve as a liasion between students and their respective advisors as well as students and the ME Chair. He is also responsible for the ME undergraduate curriculum and heads the Committee on Undergraduate Study.

Department Chair

In rare instances when issues cannot be resolved by the Vice Chair, the ME Chair may become involved.

Advising Staff and Hours

Undergraduate Student Services Adviser:
Shareena Sampson
shareena@me.berkeley.edu
6193 Etcheverry Hall
510-642-4094
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday: 9:00am-12:00pm and 1:00pm-4:00pm
Thursday: 1:00pm-4:00pm

Academic Opportunities

Student Groups and Organizations

For more information about student groups, please see the Department's website .

Courses

Mechanical Engineering

MEC ENG 24 Freshman Seminars 1 Unit

The Berkeley Seminar Program has been designed to provide new students with the opportunity to explore an intellectual topic with a faculty member in a small-seminar setting. Berkeley Seminars are offered in all campus departments, and topics vary from department to department and semester to semester.

MEC ENG 40 Thermodynamics 3 Units

This course introduces the fundamentals of energy storage, thermophysical properties of liquids and gases, and the basic principles of thermodynamics which are then applied to various areas of engineering related to energy conversion and air conditioning.

MEC ENG C85 Introduction to Solid Mechanics 3 Units

A review of equilibrium for particles and rigid bodies. Application to truss structures. The concepts of deformation, strain, and stress. Equilibrium equations for a continuum. Elements of the theory of linear elasticity. The states of plane stress and plane strain. Solution of elementary elasticity problems (beam bending, torsion of circular bars). Euler buckling in elastic beams.

MEC ENG W85 Introduction to Solid Mechanics 3 Units

A review of equilibrium for particles and rigid bodies. Application to truss structures. The concepts of deformation, strain, and stress. Equilibrium equations for a continuum. Elements of the theory of linear elasticity. The states of plane stress and plane strain. Solution of elementary elasticity problems (beam bending, torsion of circular bars). Euler buckling in elastic beams.

MEC ENG 98 Supervised Independent Group Studies 1 - 4 Units

Organized group study on various topics under the sponsorship and direction of a member of the Mechanical Engineering faculty.

MEC ENG 101 Introduction to Lean Manufacturing Systems 3 Units

Fundamentals of lean manufacturing systems including manufacturing fundamentals, unit operations and manufacturing line considerations for work in process (WIP), manufacturing lead time (MLT), economics, quality monitoring; high mix/low volume (HMLV) systems fundamentals including just in time (JIT), kanban, buffers and line balancing; class project/case studies for design and analysis of competitive manufacturing systems.

MEC ENG 102A Introduction to Mechanical Systems for Mechatronics 4 Units

The objectives of this course are to introduce students to modern experimental techniques for mechanical engineering, and to improve students' written and oral communication skills. Students will be provided exposure to, and experience with, a variety of sensors used in mechatronic systems including sensors to measure temperature, displacement, velocity, acceleration and strain. The role of error and uncertainty in measurements and analysis will be examined. Students will also be provided exposure to, and experience with, using commercial software for data acquisition and analysis. The role and limitations of spectral analysis of digital data will be discussed.

MEC ENG 102B Mechatronics Design 4 Units

Introduction to design and realization of mechatronics systems. Micro computer architectures. Basic computer IO devices. Embedded microprocessor systems and control, IO programming such as analogue to digital converters, PWM, serial and parallel outputs. Electrical components such as power supplies, operational amplifiers, transformers and filters. Shielding and grounding. Design of electric, hydraulic and pneumatic actuators. Design of sensors. Design of power transmission systems. Kinematics and dynamics of robotics devices. Basic feedback design to create robustness and performance.

MEC ENG 104 Engineering Mechanics II 3 Units

This course is an introduction to the dynamics of particles and rigid bodies. The material, based on a Newtonian formulation of the governing equations, is illustrated with numerous examples ranging from one-dimensional motion of a single particle to planar motions of rigid bodies and systems of rigid bodies.

MEC ENG 106 Fluid Mechanics 3 Units

This course introduces the fundamentals and techniques of fluid mechanics with the aim of describing and controlling engineering flows.

MEC ENG 107 Mechanical Engineering Laboratory 3 Units

Experimental investigation of engineering systems and of phenomena of interest to mechanical engineers. Design and planning of experiments. Analysis of data and reporting of experimental results.

MEC ENG 108 Mechanical Behavior of Engineering Materials 4 Units

This course covers elastic and plastic deformation under static and dynamic loads. Failure by yielding, fracture, fatigue, wear, and environmental factors are also examined. Topics include engineering materials, heat treatment, structure-property relationships, elastic deformation and multiaxial loading, plastic deformation and yield criteria, dislocation plasticity and strengthening mechanisms, creep, stress concentration effects, fracture, fatigue, and contact deformation.

MEC ENG 109 Heat Transfer 3 Units

This course covers transport processes of mass, momentum, and energy from a macroscopic view with emphasis both on understanding why matter behaves as it does and on developing practical problem solving skills. The course is divided into four parts: introduction, conduction, convection, and radiation.

MEC ENG 110 Introduction to Product Development 3 Units

Provides project-based learning experience in innovative new product development, with a focus on mechanical engineering systems. Design concepts and techniques are introduced, and the student's design ability is developed in a design or feasibility study chosen to emphasize ingenuity and provide wide coverage of engineering topics. Relevant software will be integrated into studio sessions, including solid modeling and environmental life cycle analysis. Design optimization and social, economic, and political implications are included. All product ideas will be evaluated against the "triple bottom line": economic, societal, and environmental. Both individual and group oral presentations are made, and participation in a final tradeshow type presentation is required.

MEC ENG C115 Molecular Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of the Cell 4 Units

This course applies methods of statistical continuum mechanics to subcellar biomechanical phenomena ranging from nanoscale (molecular) to microscale (whole cell and cell population) biological processes at the interface of mechanics, biology, and chemistry.

MEC ENG C117 Structural Aspects of Biomaterials 4 Units

This course covers the structure and mechanical functions of load bearing tissues and their replacements. Natural and synthetic load-bearing biomaterials for clinical applications are reviewed. Biocompatibility of biomaterials and host response to structural implants are examined. Quantitative treatment of biomechanical issues and constitutive relationships of tissues are covered in order to design biomaterial replacements for structural function. Material selection for load bearing applications including reconstructive surgery, orthopedics, dentistry, and cardiology are addressed. Mechanical design for longevity including topics of fatigue, wear, and fracture are reviewed. Case studies that examine failures of devices are presented. This course includes a teaching/design laboratory component that involves design analysis of medical devices and outreach teaching to the public community. Several problem-based projects are utilized throughout the semester for design analysis. In addition to technical content, this course involves rigorous technical writing assignments, oral communication skill development and teamwork.

MEC ENG 118 Introduction to Nanotechnology and Nanoscience 3 Units

This course introduces engineering students (juniors and seniors) to the field of nanotechnology and nanoscience. The course has two components: (1) Formal lectures. Students receive a set of formal lectures introducing them to the field of nanotechnology and nanoscience. The material covered includes nanofabrication technology (how one achieves the nanometer length scale, from "bottom up" to "top down" technologies), the interdisciplinary nature of nanotechnology and nanoscience (including areas of chemistry, material science, physics, and molecular biology), examples of nanoscience phenomena (the crossover from bulk to quantum mechanical properties), and applications (from integrated circuits, quantum computing, MEMS, and bioengineering). (2) Projects. Students are asked to read and present a variety of current journal papers to the class and lead a discussion on the various works.

MEC ENG 119 Introduction to MEMS (Microelectromechanical Systems) 3 Units

Fundamentals of microelectromechanical systems including design, fabrication of microstructures; surface-micromachining, bulk-micromachining, LIGA, and other micro machining processes; fabrication principles of integrated circuit device and their applications for making MEMS devices; high-aspect-ratio microstructures; scaling issues in the micro scale (heat transfer, fluid mechanics and solid mechanics); device design, analysis, and mask layout.

MEC ENG 120 Computational Biomechanics Across Multiple Scales 3 Units

This course applies the methods of computational modeling and continuum mechanics to biomedical phenomena spanning various length scales ranging from molecular to cellular to tissue and organ levels. The course is intended for upper level undergraduate students who have been exposed to undergraduate continuum mechanics (statics and strength of materials.)

MEC ENG 122 Processing of Materials in Manufacturing 3 Units

Fundamentals of manufacturing processes (metal forming, forging, metal cutting, welding, joining, and casting); selection of metals, plastics, and other materials relative to the design and choice of manufacturing processes; geometric dimensioning and tolerancing of all processes.

MEC ENG 127 Composite Materials--Analysis, Design, Manufacture 3 Units

Properties and microstructure of high-strength fiber materials (glass, carbon, polymer, ceramic fibers) and matrix materials (polymer, metal, ceramic, and carbon matrices). Specific strength and stiffness of high-performance composites. Stress, strain and stiffness transformations. Elastic properties of a single orthotropic ply. Laminated plate theory. Failure criteria. Short fiber composites. Manufacturing processes. Sandwich panels. Joints. Design of composite structures and components. Sustainability and recycling. Laboratory sessions on manufacturing processes and testing. Assigned class design projects on design and manufacturing of composites.

MEC ENG 128 Computer-Aided Mechanical Design 3 Units

Introduction to design (not drafting) via computers. Using MATLAB and other Finite Element software, students will be introduced to a variety of mechanical design techniques and apply those techniques to the design of beams, automobile engine components, planar machine elements, linkages, and flexure hinges. These techniques include ad-hoc methods, exhaustive numeration, grid studies, and informal optimizations.

MEC ENG 130 Design of Planar Machinery 3 Units

Synthesis, analysis, and design of planar machines. Kinematic structure, graphical, analytical, and numerical analysis and synthesis. Linkages, cams, reciprocating engines, gear trains, and flywheels.

MEC ENG 131 Vehicle Dynamics and Control 3 Units

Physical understanding of automotive vehicle dynamics including simple lateral, longitudinal, and ride quality models. An overview of active safety systems will be introduced including the basic concepts and terminology, the state-of-the-art development, and basic principles of systems such as ABS, traction control, dynamic stability control, and roll stability control. Passive, semi-active, and active suspension systems will be analyzed. Concepts of autonomous vehicle technology including drive-by-wire and steer-by-wire systems, adaptive cruise control, and lane keeping systems. Upon completion of this course, students should be able to follow the literature on these subjects and perform independent design, research, and development work in this field.

MEC ENG 132 Dynamic Systems and Feedback 3 Units

Physical understanding of dynamics and feedback. Linear feedback control of dynamic systems. Mathematical tools for analysis and design. Stability. Modeling systems with differential equations. Linearization. Solution to linear, time-invariant differential equations.

MEC ENG 133 Mechanical Vibrations 3 Units

An introduction to the theory of mechanical vibrations including topics of harmonic motion, resonance, transient and random excitation, applications of Fourier analysis and convolution methods. Multidegree of freedom discrete systems including principal mode, principal coordinates and Rayleigh's principle.

MEC ENG C134 Feedback Control Systems 4 Units

Analysis and synthesis of linear feedback control systems in transform and time domains. Control system design by root locus, frequency response, and state space methods. Applications to electro-mechanical and mechatronics systems.

MEC ENG 135 Design of Microprocessor-Based Mechanical Systems 4 Units

This course provides preparation for the conceptual design and prototyping of mechanical systems that use microprocessors to control machine activities, acquire and analyze data, and interact with operators. The architecture of microprocessors is related to problems in mechanical systems through study of systems, including electro-mechanical components, thermal components and a variety of instruments. Laboratory exercises lead through studies of different levels of software.

MEC ENG 138 Introduction to Micro/Nano Mechanical Systems Laboratory 3 Units

This hands-on laboratory course focuses on the mechanical engineering principles that underlie the design, fabricaton, and operation of micro/nanoscale mechanical systems, including devices made by nanowire/nanotube syntheses; photolithography/soft lithography; and molding processes. Each laboratory will have different focuses for basic understanding of MEMS/NEMS systems from prototype constructions to experimental testings using mechanical, electrical, or optical techniques.

MEC ENG 140 Combustion Processes 3 Units

Fundamentals of combustion, flame structure, flame speed, flammability, ignition, stirred reaction, kinetics and nonequilibrium processes, pollutant formation. Application to engines, energy production and fire safety.

MEC ENG 146 Energy Conversion Principles 3 Units

This course covers the fundamental principles of energy conversion processes, followed by development of theoretical and computational tools that can be used to analyze energy conversion processes. The course also introduces the use of modern computational methods to model energy conversion performance characteristics of devices and systems. Performance features, sources of inefficiencies, and optimal design strategies are explored for a variety of applications, which may include conventional combustion based and Rankine power systems, energy systems for space applications, solar, wind, wave, thermoelectric, and geothermal energy systems.

MEC ENG 150A Solar-Powered Vehicles: Analysis, Design and Fabrication 3 Units

This course addresses all aspects of design, analysis, construction and economics of solar-powered vehicles. It begins with an examination of the fundamentals of photovoltaic solar power generation, and the capabilities and limitations that exist when using this form of renewable energy. The efficiency of energy conversion and storage will be evaluated across an entire system, from the solar energy that is available to the mechanical power that is ultimately produced. The structural and dynamic stability, as well as the aerodynamics, of vehicles will be studied. Safety and economic concerns will also be considered. Students will work in teams to design, build and test a functioning single-person vehicle capable of street use.

MEC ENG 151 Advanced Heat Transfer 3 Units

Basic principles of heat transfer and their application. Subject areas include steady-state and transient system analyses for conduction, free and forced convection, boiling, condensation and thermal radiation.

MEC ENG 163 Engineering Aerodynamics 3 Units

Introduction to the lift, drag, and moment of two-dimensional airfoils, three-dimensional wings, and the complete airplane. Calculations of the performance and stability of airplanes in subsonic flight.

MEC ENG 164 Marine Statics and Structures 3 Units

Terminology and definition of hull forms, conditions of static equilibrium and stability of floating submerged bodies. Effects of damage on stability. Structural loads and response. Box girder theory. Isotropic and orthotropic plate bending and bucking.

MEC ENG 165 Ocean-Environment Mechanics 3 Units

Ocean environment. Physical properties and characteristics of the oceans. Global conservation laws. Surface-waves generation. Gravity-wave mechanics, kinematics, and dynamics. Design consideration of ocean vehicles and systems. Model-testing techniques. Prediction of resistance and response in waves--physical modeling and computer models.

MEC ENG 167 Microscale Fluid Mechanics 3 Units

Phenomena of physical, technological, and biological significance in flows of gases and liquids at the microscale. The course begins with familiar equations of Newtonian fluid mechanics, then proceeds to the study of essentially 1-D flows in confined geometries with the lubrication equations. Next is a study of the flow of thin films spreading under gravity or surface tension gradients. Lubrication theory of compressible gases leads to consideration of air bearings. Two- and 3-D flows are treated with Stokes' equations. Less familiar physical phenomena of significance and utility at the microscale are then considered: intermolecular forces in liquids, slip, diffusion and bubbles as active agents. A review of relevant aspects of electricity and magnetism precedes a study of electrowetting and electrokinetically driven liquid flows.

MEC ENG 168 Mechanics of Offshore Systems 3 Units

This course covers major aspects of offshore engineering including ocean environment, loads on offshore structures, cables and mooring, underwater acoustics and arctic operations.

MEC ENG 170 Engineering Mechanics III 3 Units

This course builds upon material learned in 104, examining the dynamics of particles and rigid bodies moving in three dimensions. Topics include non-fixed axis rotations of rigid bodies, Euler angles and parameters, kinematics of rigid bodies, and the Newton-Euler equations of motion for rigid bodies. The course material will be illustrated with real-world examples such as gyroscopes, spinning tops, vehicles, and satellites. Applications of the material range from vehicle navigation to celestial mechanics, numerical simulations, and animations.

MEC ENG 171 Dynamics of Charged Particulate Systems: Modeling, Theory and Computation 3 Units

Introduction to the dynamics of small-scale charged particle systems.

MEC ENG 173 Fundamentals of Acoustics 3 Units

Plane and spherical sound waves. Sound intensity. Propagation in tubes and horns. Resonators. Standing waves. Radiation from oscillating surface. Reciprocity. Reverberation and diffusion. Electro-acoustic loud speaker and microphone problems. Environmental and architectural acoustics. Noise measurement and control. Effects on man.

MEC ENG 175 Intermediate Dynamics 3 Units

This course introduces and investigates Lagrange's equations of motion for particles and rigid bodies. The subject matter is particularly relevant to applications comprised of interconnected and constrained discrete mechanical components. The material is illustrated with numerous examples. These range from one-dimensional motion of a single particle to three-dimensional motions of rigid bodies and systems of rigid bodies.

MEC ENG C176 Orthopedic Biomechanics 4 Units

Statics, dynamics, optimization theory, composite beam theory, beam-on-elastic foundation theory, Hertz contact theory, and materials behavior. Forces and moments acting on human joints; composition and mechanical behavior of orthopedic biomaterials; design/analysis of artificial joint, spine, and fracture fixation prostheses; musculoskeletal tissues including bone, cartilage, tendon, ligament, and muscle; osteoporosis and fracture-risk predication of bones; and bone adaptation. MATLAB-based project to integrate the course material.

MEC ENG C180 Engineering Analysis Using the Finite Element Method 3 Units

This is an introductory course on the finite element method and is intended for seniors in engineering and applied science disciplines. The course covers the basic topics of finite element technology, including domain discretization, polynomial interpolation, application of boundary conditions, assembly of global arrays, and solution of the resulting algebraic systems. Finite element formulations for several important field equations are introduced using both direct and integral approaches. Particular emphasis is placed on computer simulation and analysis of realistic engineering problems from solid and fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and electromagnetism. The course uses FEMLAB, a multiphysics MATLAB-based finite element program that possesses a wide array of modeling capabilities and is ideally suited for instruction. Assignments will involve both paper- and computer-based exercises. Computer-based assignments will emphasize the practical aspects of finite element model construction and analysis.

MEC ENG 185 Introduction to Continuum Mechanics 3 Units

Kinematics of deformation, the concept of stress, conservation of mass and balance of linear momentum, angular momentum and energy. Mechanical constitutive equations for ideal fluid, linear elastic solid.

MEC ENG 190A Rapid Prototyping of Mechanical Systems 2 Units

Design, optimization, rapid prototyping, assembly, test and evaluation of mechanical components and sub-systems used in mechanical systems.

MEC ENG 190K Professional Communication for Mechanical Engineers 1 Unit

The course emphasizes understanding of and performance in professional speaking situations, including presentations, meetings, interviews, and informal business conversations. It emphasizes collaborative projects with distance partners. It combines theory and practice, integrating extensive speaking practice and individual critiques from instructor and students. The purpose is to advance students' ability to collaborate and communicate effectively in a variety of professional environments.

MEC ENG 190L Practical Control System Design: A Systematic Loopshaping Approach 1 Unit

After a review of basic loopshaping, we introduce the loopshaping design methodology of McFarlane and Glover, and learn how to use it effectively. The remainder of the course studies the mathematics underlying the new method (one of the most prevalent advanced techniques used in industry) justifying its validity.

MEC ENG 190M Model Predictive Control 1 Unit

Basics on optimization and polyhedra manipulation. Analysis and design of constrained predictive controllers for linear and nonlinear systems.

MEC ENG 190Y Practical Control System Design: A Systematic Optimization Approach 1 Unit

The Youla-parametrization of all stabilizing controllers allows certain time-domain and frequency-domain closed-loop design objectives to be cast as convex optimizations, and solved reliably using off-the-shelf numerical optimization codes. This course covers the Youla parametrization, basic elements of convex optimization, and finally control design using these techniques.

MEC ENG 191AC Cases and Conflicts in Engineering Ethics 3 Units

Engineering is challenged by issues of security, poverty and under-development, and environmental sustainability. These issues intersect with those of race, class, and culture in U.S. society. This course focuses on engineering ethics case studies as they apply to issues of workplace diversity, sustainable practices, economic impacts on neighborhoods and nations, and issues of security and identity. The goal of this course is to broaden the understanding of engineering ethics from individual and business-based practices to those affecting communities and nations. This class cannot be used to satisfy any Engineering requirement (technical electives, engineering units, or courses).

MEC ENG 191K Professional Communication 3 Units

This course is designed to enhance students' written and oral communication skills. Written work consists of informal documents--correspondence, internal reports, and reviews--and formal work--proposals, conference papers, journal articles, and websites. Presentations consist of informal and formal reports, including job and media interviews, phone interviews, conference calls, video conferences, progress reports, sales pitches, and feasibility studies.

MEC ENG H194 Honors Undergraduate Research 2 - 4 Units

Final report required. Students who have completed a satisfactory number of advanced courses may pursue original research under the direction of one of the members of the faculty. A maximum of three units of H194 may be used to fulfill technical elective requirements in the Mechanical Engineering program (unlike 198 or 199, which do not satisfy technical elective requirements). Students can use a maximum of three units of graded research units (H194 or 196) towards their technical elective requirement.

MEC ENG 196 Undergraduate Research 2 - 4 Units

Students who have completed a satisfactory number of advanced courses may pursue original research under the direction of one of the members of the staff. A maximum of three units of 196 may be used to fulfill technical elective requirements in the Mechanical Engineering program (unlike 198 or 199, which do not satisfy technical elective requirements). Students can use a maximum of three units of graded research units (H194 or 196) towards their technical elective requirement. Final report required.

MEC ENG 197 Undergraduate Engineering Field Studies 1 - 4 Units

Supervised experience relative to specific aspects of practice in engineering. Under guidance of a faculty member, the student will work in industry, primarily in an internship setting or another type of short-time status. Emphasis is to attain practical experience in the field.

MEC ENG 198 Directed Group Studies for Advanced Undergraduates 1 - 4 Units

Group study of a selected topic or topics in Mechanical Engineering. Credit for 198 or 199 courses combined may not exceed 4 units in any single term. See College for other restrictions.

MEC ENG 199 Supervised Independent Study 1 - 4 Units

Supervised independent study. Enrollment restrictions apply; see the introduction to Courses and Curricula section of this catalog.

Faculty

Professors

Alice M. Agogino, Professor. New product development, computer-aided design & databases, theory & methods, intelligent learning systems, information retrieval & data mining, digital libraries, multiobjective & strategic product, nonlinear optimization, probabilistic modeling, supervisory.
Research Profile

Van P. Carey, Professor. Mechanical engineering, non-equilibirum thermodynamics, statistical thermodynamics, microscale thermophysics, biothermodynamics, computer aided thermal design, thermodynamic analysis of green manufacturing.
Research Profile

James Casey, Professor. Bioengineering, mechical engineering, continuum mechanics, finite elasticity, continuum thermodynamics, plasticity, viscoplasticity, approximate theories of elastic, theories of elastic-plastic materials, history of mechanics, dynamics.
Research Profile

Jyh-Yuan Chen, Professor. Computational modeling of reactive systems, turbulent flows, combustion chemical kinetics.
Research Profile

Hari Dharan, PhD, Professor. Mechanical behavior, composite materials structures, manufacturing processes.
Research Profile

David A. Dornfeld, Professor. Precision manufacturing processes, green and sustainable manufacturing, intelligent sensors and signal processing, mechanical engineering design, flexible/lean manufacturing systems, process modeling.
Research Profile

Carlos Fernandez-Pello, PhD, Professor. Biofuels, heat transfer, fire, combustion, ignition and fire spread, wildland fire spotting, smoldering and flaming, small scale energy generation.
Research Profile

Michael Frenklach, Professor. Silicon carbide, chemical kinetics; computer modeling; combustion chemistry; pollutant formation (NOx, soot); shock tube; chemical vapor deposition of diamond films; homogeneous nucleation of silicon, diamond powders; interstellar dust formation.
Research Profile

Costas P. Grigoropoulos, Professor. Heat transfer, laser materials processing, nano-manufacturing, energy systems and technology.
Research Profile

J. Karl Hedrick, Professor. Nonlinear control, automotive control systems, aircraft control.
Research Profile

Roberto Horowitz, Professor. Adaptive control, learning and nonlinear control, control of robot manipulators, computer mechatronics systems, micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS), intelligent vehicle, highways systems.
Research Profile

George C. Johnson, Professor. X-rays, plasticity, elasticity, instrumentation, sensors, acoustoelasticity, materials behavior, materials characterization, texture analysis, thin shells deformation, ultrasonic stress analysis.
Research Profile

Homayoon Kazerooni, Professor. Robotics, bioengineering, design, control systems, mechatronics, automated manufacturing, human-machine systems.
Research Profile

Tony M Keaveny, Professor. Biomechanics of bone, orthopaedic biomechanics, design of artificial joints, osteoporosis, finite element modeling, clinical biomechanics.
Research Profile

Kyriakos Komvopoulos, Professor. Contact mechanics, fracture and fatigue of engineering materials, finite element modeling of surface contact and machining, thin-film processing and characterization, adhesion and fatigue of MEMS devices, plasma-assisted surface functionalization of biomaterials, surface patterning for cell adhesion and growth control, mechanics & tribology of magnetic recording devices, mechanotransduction effects in natural cartilage, microfibrous scaffolds for tissue engineering, surface nanoengineering techniques, tribology and mechanics of artificial joints.
Research Profile

Dennis K. Lieu, Professor. Actuators, magnetics, acoustics, electromechanical devices, rolling elements, spindle motors, structural mechanics.
Research Profile

Liwei Lin, Professor. Nanotechnology, MEMS (microelectromechanical systems), NEMS (nanoelectromechanical systems), design and manufacturing of microsensors, microactuators, development of micromachining processes, silicon surface/bulk micromachining, micromolding process.
Research Profile

Fai Ma, Professor. Dynamical systems with inherent uncertainties, vibration, stochastic simulation.
Research Profile

Philip S. Marcus, PhD, Professor. Algorithms, fluid mechanics, nonlinear dynamics, atmospheric flows, convection, ocean flows, numerical analysis, turbulence, planet formation, internal gravity waves, inertial waves, desalination.
Research Profile

Stephen Morris, Professor. Continuum mechanics, micro mechanics of solid-solid phase changes, interfacial phenomena (evaporating thin films), electroporation.
Research Profile

Oliver M. O'Reilly, Professor. Continuum mechanics, vibrations, dynamics.
Research Profile

Andrew Packard, Professor. Design, robustness issues in control analysis, linear algebra, numerical algorithms in control problems, applications of system theory to aerospace problems, flight control, control of fluid.
Research Profile

Panayiotis Papadopoulos, Professor. Continuum mechanics, computational mechanics, contact mechanics, computational plasticity, materials modeling, solid mechanics, applied mathematics, dynamics of pseudo-rigid bodies.
Research Profile

Albert P. Pisano, PhD, Professor. Microfabrication, microsensors, strain sensors, drug delivery, microsystems, MEMS, biosensors, additive manufacturing, Harsh Environment Wireless Microsensors, nanoimprinting, nanoprinting, MEMS RF components, micro power generation, micro inertial instruments, disk-drive actuators and nanowire sensors.
Research Profile

Kameshwar Poolla, Professor. Cybersecurity, modeling, control, renewable energy, estimation, integrated circuit design and manufacturing, smart grids.
Research Profile

Lisa Pruitt, Professor. Tissue biomechanics, biomaterial science, fatigue and fracture micromechanisms, orthopedic polymers for total joint replacement, cardiovascular biomaterials, synthetic cartilage, acrylic bone cements, tribology of diamond and DLCs.
Research Profile

Omer Savas, Professor. Fluid mechanics.
Research Profile

David Steigmann, Professor. Finite elasticity, mechanics, continuum, shell theory, variational methods, stability, surface stress, capillary phenomena, mechanics of thin films.
Research Profile

Masayoshi Tomizuka, Professor. Mechatronics, control systems theory, digital control, dynamic systems, mechanical vibrations, adaptive and optimal control, motion control.
Research Profile

Kazuo Yamazaki, Engd, Professor. Etc., micro custom diamond tool design and fabrication system, CNC machine tool control software and hardware system, ultrasonic milling, intelligent manufacturing systems, mechatronics control hardware and software for manufacturing processes and equipment, computer aided manufacturing system for five axis, milling - turning integrated machining process, nano/micro mechanical machining processes and equipment, precision metrology for nano/micro mechanical machining, Non-traditional manufacturing processes such as electric discharge machining, laser machining and electron beam finishing.
Research Profile

Ronald W. Yeung, Professor. Mathematical modeling, hydromechanics, naval architecture, numerical fluid mechanics, offshore mechanics, ocean processes, separated flows, wave-vorticity interaction, vortex-induced vibrations, stratified fluid flow, ocean energy, green ships, tidal energy, multi-hull flow physics, Helmholtz resonance, ship motion instabilities, tank resonance.
Research Profile

Xiang Zhang, Professor. Mechanical engineering, rapid prototyping, semiconductor manufacturing, photonics, micro-nano scale engineering, 3D fabrication technologies, microelectronics, micro and nano-devices, nano-lithography, nano-instrumentation, bio-MEMS.
Research Profile

Tarek I. Zohdi, PhD, Professor. Finite element methods, micro-structural/macro-property inverse problems involving optimization and design of new materials, modeling and simulation of high-strength fabric, modeling and simulation of particulate/granular flows, modeling and simulation of multiphase/composite electromagnetic media, modeling and simulation of the dynamics of swarms.
Research Profile

Associate Professors

Francesco Borrelli, PhD, Associate Professor. Automotive control systems, distributed and robust constrained control, manufacturing control systems, energy efficient buildings, model predictive control.
Research Profile

Chris Dames, Associate Professor.
Research Profile

Sara Mcmains, Associate Professor. Virtual reality, geometric and solid modeling, general purpose computation on the GPU (GPGPU), CAD/CAM/CAPP, layered manufacturing, computer graphics and visualization, virtual prototyping.
Research Profile

Lydia Sohn, Associate Professor. Micro-nano engineering.
Research Profile

Assistant Professors

M.-Reza Alam, PhD, Assistant Professor. Theoretical Fluid Dynamics, Nonlinear Wave Mechanics, Ocean and Coastal Waves Phenomena, Ocean Renewable Energy (Wave, Tide and Offshore Wind Energy), Nonlinear Dynamical Systems, Fluid Flow Control, ocean renewable energy.
Research Profile

Grace O'Connell, Assistant Professor. Tissue engineering, biomechanics, intervertebral disc, cartilage.
Research Profile

Shawn Shadden, PhD, Assistant Professor.

Hayden Kingsley Taylor, Assistant Professor.

Adjunct Faculty

Samuel Mao, Adjunct Faculty. Mechanical engineering, processing, materials, energy transport, conversion and storage, nano, micro and meso scale, phenomena and devices, laser-material interactions, nonlinear science.
Research Profile

Lecturers

George Anwar, Lecturer.

Kourosh (Ken) Youssefi, Lecturer.

Contact Information

Department of Mechanical Engineering

6141 Etcheverry Hall

Phone: 510-642-1338

Fax: 510-642-6163

Visit Department Website

Department Chair

David Dornfeld, PhD

6143 Etcheverry Hall

Phone: 510-643-7013

dornfeld@berkeley.edu

Vice Chair of Undergraduate Instruction

Jyh-Yuan Chen, PhD

6193 Etcheverry Hall

Phone: 510-642-3286

jychen@berkeley.edu

Director of Academic and Student Affairs

Donna Craig

6189 Etcheverry Hall

Phone: 510-642-5085

dcraig@me.berkeley.edu

Undergraduate Student Affairs Officer

Shareena Sampson

6193 Etcheverry Hall

Phone: 510-642-4094

shareena@me.berkeley.edu

College of Engineering Student Services

230 Bechtel Engineering Center

Phone: 510-643-7594

Fax: 510-643-8653

ess@ce.berkeley.edu

Undergraduate Student Adviser, Last names A-G, Joint Majors

Mitzi Stevens

stevens3@berkeley.edu

Undergraduate Student Adviser, Last names H-S

Kathy Barrett

kbarrett@berkeley.edu

Undergraduate Student Services Adviser, Last names T-Z

Sharon Mueller

smueller@berkeley.edu

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