Mechanical Engineering

History and Practice

Carlos Vctor & Rashi Sarraff
13-0874 & 13-0614
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Introduction

Mechanical Engineering involves application of the principles of physics for the
analysis, design, manufacture, and maintenance of mechanical systems.

Mechanical engineers use these principles and others in the design and analysis of
automobiles, heating and cooling systems, industrial equipment, and more. In this
report, together with the exposition, were going to talk about the history and
practice of Mechanical engineering.
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Mechanical Engineering

History
Mechanical Engineering is the engineering discipline that involves application of
the principles of physics for the analysis, design, manufacture, and maintenance of
mechanical systems.

It requires a solid understanding of concepts including mechanics,
thermodynamics, and engineering design; as well as solid grounding in physics and
math. Mechanical engineers use these principles and others in the design and
analysis of automobiles, heating and cooling systems, industrial equipment, and
more.

The beginnings of mechanical engineering go back to the craftsmen and inventors
of the rst tools and basic machineries powered by human or animal labor, water,
wind energy, or their combination. As a eld of engineering study, however, it
didnt start until the advent of the Industrial Revolution with the demand for the
steam engine.

The rst professional society for mechanical engineers, the Institute of Mechanical
Engineers, was formed in the United Kingdom in 1847. Since then, advancements
in the eld of mechanical engineering have lead to breakthroughs as the internal
combustion engine, which made heavier-than-air powered ight possible and would
also lead to the development of the automobile, air conditioning and more.
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Practice
The eld of mechanical engineering can be viewed as a collection of many sub
disciplines that are typically taught at the undergraduate level. Most work that a
mechanical engineer does uses skills and techniques from several of these sub
disciplines, as well as cross-over works with other engineering disciplines. These sub
disciplines are:

Mechanics: Physical science that deals with the state of rest or motion of
bodies under force.
Structural Analysis: Branch of engineering devoted to examining why and
how parts fail.
Thermodynamics: Is the study of energy, and its relationship with properties
of matter
Drafting or Technical Drawing: It is the means by which mechanical
engineers create instructions for manufacturing parts

With these sub disciplines, together with cross-disciplinary topics, a mechanical
engineer can achieve the ve main phases to meet certain demands in the best way
possible. These are:

Design Concept
Systems Engineering: Function, safety, reliability, maintainability
Design of Elements: Size, shape, material, life
Manufacturability: Ease/difculty with which a part can be made
Cost: Planning, materials, construction
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Conclusion

The role that mechanical engineering has played over the years makes it one of the
most important engineerings in the world, meeting the demands the human race
has been needing since the advent of the Industrial Revolution.

Mechanicals engineers play an important role when it comes to developing new
technologies that aim to ease and optimize (not only the industrial ones) processes
we make in our daily lives. Therefore, a mechanical engineer (as well as other
engineers) must need a strong foundation on his/her education.

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