The Ohio State University

Students who study mechanical engineering at Ohio State choose a concentration for their studies in their last year.  Students choose technical courses based on their concentration, but also have the flexibility to include courses in other concentrations in order to maintain their broad education and to allow them to explore a wide variety of interests. 

The Department of Mechanical Engineering at OSU offers 8 concentrations in the following areas, as well as an advanced technical elective track for qualified students:

1. Applied Mechanics
2. Automotive Engineering
3. Biomechanical Systems
4. Design & Manufacturing
5. Dynamics, Vibrations, & Controls
6. Energy Systems
7. Nuclear Engineering

__________________________________________________________________________________________

1.  Are in interested in:

• Understanding the forces in structural components of a truss or crane...
• ...or on a smaller scale, in a prosthetic joint?
• Understanding why and how objects break, and how to prevent failure?

 Applied Mechanics is the theoretical, numerical, and experimental study of the response of solids and fluids to external forces.  Students who concentrate in this area can take courses in finite element analysis, fracture mechanics, advanced strength of materials, and system vibrations. 

_________________________________________________________________________________________

2.  Are you interested in:

• Understanding the operation of an internal combustion engine, and making it efficient?
• Hybrid electric vehicles?
• Fuel cell systems?
• Automobile dynamics?

A concentration in Automotive Engineering will prepare you for work in the automotive industry, one of the traditional branches of mechanical engineering which remains of great importance.  It is concerned with the design and operation of all kinds of engines and vehicle dynamics, and is rapidly expanding to include the research, design, and testing of alternative energy sources for vehicles.  Students who pursue this concentration can take courses in land vehicle dynamics, powertrain dynamics, the study of internal combustion engines, modeling of hybrid-electric vehicles, and fuel cell systems. 

_________________________________________________________________________________________

3.  Are you interested in:

• Understanding the mechanical functions of muscles, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and bones?
• Physical disabilities, and how to design products to help people with disabilities?
• Understanding how different injury mechanisms (impact, sport, trauma) affect the human body?
• The design of medical devices? 

Biomechanics is the science that examines forces acting upon and within a biological structure and the effects produced by such forces.  A concentration in Biomechanical Systems prepares students for work in the medical industry or in any other area where their is a need to study the effects of forces on the human body. 

_________________________________________________________________________________________

4.  Are you interested in:

• Designing and prototyping new products?
• Learning to program CNC machines?
• Robotics?
• Using computer graphics to model new products and systems?

A concentration in Design & Manufacturing is appropriate for students who are interested in the design, testing, and manufacturing of consumer products.  Students in this concentration can take courses in product design, tool engineering, machine tool control and programming, and rapid prototyping. 

________________________________________________________________________________________

5.  Are you interested in:

• Learning how mechanical, electrical, thermal, and fluid systems work together?
• Controlling these systems and preventing unwanted ysstem vibrations and noise?

A concentration in Dynamics, Vibrations, and Controls prepares students to understand various system components and how they interact as parts of a mechanical system.  Students in this concentration can take courses in control systems design, mechatronics, fracture mechanics, and engineering acoustics. 

__________________________________________________________________________________________

6.  Are you interested in:

• Learning to efficiently harness energy from raw materials?
• Learning how to efficiently heat, ventilate, and cool structures?
• The uses of turbomachinery?

The study of Energy Systems concentrates on the production of useful energy from raw materials (i.e. electricity from coal) as well as the process of transforming energy into useful work (i.e. electricity driving a motor), and the optimization of these processes.  Students who concentrate thier studies in Energy Systems can take courses in turbomachinery, HVAC (heating, ventilating, and air conditioning), combustion and jet propulsion. 

_________________________________________________________________________________________

7.  Are you interested in:

• Helping to develop nuclear energy as a safe and affordable alternative to fossil fuels?
• Studying how nuclear power plants affect their surrounding environments?
• The possible uses of radiation in medicine?
• Using radiation to make measurements?

The field of Nuclear Engineering is experiencing a resurgence as we investigate the option of nuclear power as an alternative to our society's dependence on fossil fuels.  Students who concentrate in this area take an introductory course in nuclear science and engineering, and can take courses in reactor theory, nuclear power plants, and radiological safety, as well as reliability engineering. 

_________________________________________________________________________________________

 Are you interested in:

• Completing research as an undergraduate?
• Preparing for graduate school?
• Graduating "With Distinction in Mechanical Engineering?"

There is an advanced technical elective track for qualified students.  Students in this area of study are either mechanical engineering honors students or students who are pursuing the BS/MS option.  These students work with a faculty advisor to choose their areas of research and study to reflect their interests and the scope of their future graduate work.