Mechanical Engineering Courses | 2026-2027 Graduate Catalog | SIU

This course creates computer programs to solve complex problems in thermodynamics relating to vapor power cycles, gas power cycles, refrigeration cycles, and psychrometric evaluations. The course also covers advanced thermodynamic relations involving equations of state and chemical equilibrium. Prerequisite: ME 400 or equivalent or consent of instructor.

Credit Hours: 3

Engineering considerations involving the construction of mathematical and numerical models of conduction heat transfer and the interpretation of results of analyses. Prerequisite: ME 302.

Credit Hours: 3

Laminar and turbulent forced convection heat transfer over surfaces and inside tubes, including non-circular cross sections. Developing flows. Laminar free convection. Emphasis throughout is on the analytical approach. Prerequisite: ME 302.

Credit Hours: 3

X-ray and neutron physics. Geometry of crystals. Scattering of X-rays and neutrons by atoms, crystals, and noncrystalline matter. Kinematical theory of diffraction. Powder method, Laue method. Formation and analysis of diffraction patterns. Analysis of crystal defects. Mechanical property measurement. Residual Strain measurement. Stress-Strain analysis. Thermal property measurement. Prerequisite: ME 312 with a grade of C+ or better or instructor permission.

Credit Hours: 3

To provide an introductory coverage of dynamics of vehicle systems. The topics include mainly automotive systems but others such as aircraft and train systems may be discussed. Students will become familiar with issues related to tire behavior, vehicle suspension design, steering, vehicle and load transfer. Prerequisite: ENGR 261.

Credit Hours: 3

Review of limitations of macroscopic energy transport models; Energy transport and conversion mechanisms at the micro/nano/molecular scale; Energy transfer in nanostructured energy devices; Related topics on the transport of electrons, phonons and molecules; Molecular Dynamics simulation. Restricted to graduate standing or consent of the instructor.

Credit Hours: 3

This course is designed to cover the fundamentals and operation of various aerospace propulsion systems, including propellers, turbines, chemical rockets, electric and nuclear propulsion, and advanced concepts. Emphasis is placed on energy-to-momentum conversion via gas dynamics, propulsion system integration, testing, and mission-based system selection. This course includes semester projects on advanced aerospace propulsion technologies for graduate students. Restricted to Graduate Standing in MAME.

Credit Hours: 3

Introduction to the performance, stability, and control of aircraft. Fundamentals of configuration aerodynamics. Methods for analyzing the dynamics of physical systems. Characterization of modes of motion and desirable flying qualities. Case studies in aircraft stability and control. A term project is required for the class. Restricted to graduate standing.

Credit Hours: 3

Natural behavior of planets and moons in the solar system as well as spacecraft motion: orbit dynamics, two-body problem, perturbations, and stability; trajectory generation and control, on-orbit maneuvers, and transfers. A term project is required for the class. Restricted to graduate standing.

Credit Hours: 3

(Same as BME 540) Fundamentals of tissue engineering will be discussed. Developing biomaterials for artificial scaffolds and cell populations within the scaffolds will be discussed. Stem cells for cell-based therapy will be highlighted. Design of various organ-on-chips will be covered. Other topics include recent advances in 3D bioprinting for organ engineering/regenerative medicine. Advances in in-vitro tumor models will be discussed. Ethical considerations will be emphasized.

Credit Hours: 3

Space missions and how pointing requirements affect attitude control systems. Rotational kinematics and attitude determination methods. Modeling and analysis of the attitude dynamics of space vehicles. Rigid body dynamics, effects of energy dissipation. Gravity gradient, spin, and dual spin stabilization. Rotational maneuvers. Impacts of attitude stabilization techniques on mission performance. A term project is required for the class. Restricted to graduate standing.

Credit Hours: 3

Course covers fundamentals of mechanics of elastic and inelastic solids in contact. Although the primary focus is on elastic contact, topics involving plastic flow, thermo-elastic effects and contact of rough surfaces are included in the content. Restricted to graduate standing.

Credit Hours: 3

Analytical techniques for the vibration of discrete, continuous, and hybrid discrete-continuous systems; Vibration of conservative and nonconservative systems with focus on their representation in terms of linear operators; Properties of vibrating systems; Discretization methods for the analysis of continuous and nonlinear systems; Vibration and stability of gyroscopic systems. Prerequisite: ME 470 with a grade of C or better or graduate standing.

Credit Hours: 3

Course to cover a multitude of topics in the processing of metals, ceramics and, to a lesser extent, polymers. Examples are: materials benificiation, extraction, solidification, sintering and thin film deposition; topics for which the scientific basis for the processes is well established. Prerequisite: ME 312 and 410 or consent of instructor.

Credit Hours: 3

Ceramic materials contribute essential passive functions as components for a wide range of electronic applications related to sensors and energy converters. Ceramic material's electronic properties, electronic and ionic conduction in ceramic oxides; processing, properties and applications of ceramic materials for electronics, solid-oxide fuel cells, properties, fabrication and performance will be covered in this course. Prerequisite: ME 312, 463 or consent of instructor.

Credit Hours: 3

(Same as CE 551) Finite element analysis as a stress analysis or structural analysis tool. Derivation of element stiffness matrices by various means. Application to trusses, plane stress/strain and 3-D problems. Dynamic and material nonlinearity problems. Restricted to graduate standing in engineering or consent of instructor.

Credit Hours: 3

(Same as CE 557) Advanced topics in mechanics of materials including: elasticity equations; torsion of non-circular sections; generalized bending including curved beams and elastic foundations; shear centers; failure criteria including yielding, fracture and fatigue; axisymmetric problems including both thick and thin walled bodies; contact stresses; and stress concentrations. Restricted to graduate standing in engineering or consent of instructor.

Credit Hours: 3

The course covers the alternatives for energy resources and the impact of the human growth on the energy usage and its environmental consequences. The course describes the fossil fuel era, renewable energy resources, and hydrogen fuel era. The fundamentals of each of these fuel types, their conversion to usable energy and the potential of each of these fuels for the future is discussed. Prerequisite: ME 300 and 400, or instructor's consent.

Credit Hours: 3

Course to cover a multitude of topics in non-destructive evaluation (NDE) techniques with emphasis on recent advancements in the field. Introduction to the field of NDE. Overview of common NDE techniques, such as visual inspection, eddy current, X-ray and ultrasonics. Recent development and research areas in NDE.

Credit Hours: 3

Presentations of topics in the broad areas of mechanical engineering such as thermal, mechanics, materials and acoustics. Restricted to enrollment in program leading to Master of Science of Mechanical Engineering.

Credit Hours: 1

This course provides an introduction to Microrobotics which is a newly emerging robotics field. Since the micro/nano-scale technologies have been improved dramatically, the microrobot has been highlighted for applications in healthcare, biotechnology, etc. Topics covered: the forces and its effects on microrobots at the micron scale, the fabrication methods, control/sensing methods for microrobots, microrobots actuation methods, and locomotions in low Re number regime. In addition, the course will summarize and describe the near-future challenges in Microroborics. Restricted to graduate standing.

Credit Hours: 3

Topics important to engineering graduate students engaging in research. These topics include: laboratory safety, statistical data analysis, experimental design, library research and chemical hygiene. Restricted to graduate enrollment in Engineering.

Credit Hours: 1

Analysis of technical and scientific writing: journal article, thesis, research paper. Guidelines and principles for writing engineering research literature and proposals. Term project involving thesis or research paper proposal to meet department requirements. Prerequisite: ME 582. Special approval needed from the instructor.

Credit Hours: 1

(Same as BME 585) Mechanics of living cells at the micron/ nanoscale level. Molecular forces, bond dynamics, force-induced protein conformational changes. Structural basis of living cells, contractile forces, mechanics of biomembranes, the nucleus, the cytoskeletal filaments- actin, microtubule, intermediate filaments. Active and passive rheology, microrheological properties of the cytoskeleton. Active cellular processes such as cell adhesion, cell spreading, control of cell shape, and cell migration. Discussion on the experimental techniques including single-molecule approaches to understanding these key cellular processes. Discussion of theoretical models that predict these cellular processes and their limitations. Introduction to mechanobiology. A term project is required for the class. Restricted to graduate standing.

Credit Hours: 3

Overview of common additive manufacturing (AM) systems, such as stereolithography (STL), fuse deposition modeling (FDM), powder bed fusion, laminated object manufacturing (LOM), etc. Application of AM in aerospace, automobile, medical, and bioengineering. Material selection and processes for AM. Lab fee: $25.

Credit Hours: 3

Advanced topics in thermal and environmental engineering. Topics are selected by mutual agreement of the student and instructor. Four hours maximum course credit. Special approval needed from the instructor and department chair.

Credit Hours: 1-4

Studies of special topics in various areas in mechanical engineering. Such topics as coal refining, energy conversion, thermal systems, mechanics, robotics, CAD/CAM, TOM and engineering materials. Special approval needed from the instructor.

Credit Hours: 3

Research paper on a topic approved by a faculty advisor and committee in Mechanical Engineering. This course is restricted to graduate students in the non-thesis option. Restricted to graduate standing in Mechanical Engineering. Special approval needed from the instructor or department.

Credit Hours: 3

Six hours maximum course credit.

Credit Hours: 1-6

Dissertation research. Hours and credit to be arranged by director of graduate studies. Graded S/U only. Restricted to admission to Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering program.

Credit Hours: 1-16

For those graduate students who have not finished their degree programs and who are in the process of working on their dissertation, thesis, or research paper. The student must have completed a minimum of 24 hours of dissertation research, or the minimum thesis, or research hours before being eligible to register for this course. Concurrent enrollment in any other course is not permitted. Graded S/U or DEF only.

Credit Hours: 1