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Advanced Mechanical Engineering – (M.Sc.)
Cranfield University
School of Engineering| Annual Tuition Fee: | ≈ € 6,670 - ≈ € 17,950 (non-EEA) | ||
| Location: | Cranfield / United Kingdom / View location on map ▾ Hide location on map ▴ | ||
| Duration: | 12 months | Start Date: | October |
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| Languages: | English | ||
Location of Cranfield University
The PGDip/MSc in Advanced Mechanical Engineering was set up in 2008 to complement Cranfield’s existing excellent specialist courses through the provision of a general advanced mechanical engineering course for students who prefer a broad appreciation of a range of mechanical engineering topics. This course is differentiated from others in the UK primarily by its industrial context through the relatively strong links Cranfield University has with national and international industry.
The course is designed for students who wish to enhance their understanding of mechanical engineering with a view to management of large engineering projects. The course is also suitable for students as a conversion course from other branches of engineering and as an upskilling course for home and overseas graduates.
Stand out from the crowd
Cranfield is the only wholly postgraduate institution in the UK and is the first choice for ambitious and skilled individuals wishing to enrol on Masters’, Doctorate and professional development programmes. It is one of the top five research-intensive universities in the UK, alongside Oxford, Cambridge and London’s Imperial College. Over 10% of the UK’s engineering and sciences PhDs are awarded by Cranfield. 93% of students go on to relevant work or further study within 6 months of graduation. With only 2,000 students, Cranfield is a close-knit campus, offering a focused and mature atmosphere.
Benefit from our reputation
The School of Engineering (SoE) is one of four Cranfield University Schools based on Cranfield Campus and was established in January 2001 as the result of a merger of the College of Aeronautics (CoA) and the School of Mechanical Engineering (SME). This new School (SoE) combined the reputation and facilities of its component parts to create a super-school, focusing specifically on Cranfield’s strengths in the engineering and aeronautical sectors. The research and teaching of the School reflect the aim and mission of Cranfield University.
Meet employer requirements
The course content is regularly reviewed by an industrial advisory panel that also advise and suggest research and group assignment topics. These industrial members also directly recruit course graduates.
This course is accredited by the IMechE
Contents
The course includes a broad range of mechanical engineering topics including mechanical engineering design. It provides students with a knowledge and understanding of advanced aspects of mechanical engineering combined with numerical analysis, reliability and management.
The MSc course is run over twelve months beginning with a taught phase followed by a six month individual project. Eight compulsorily subjects are taught in modular form complemented by a group assignment which deals with an industrial problem requiring a team based multi-disciplinary solution.
In addition, students undertake a major individual research project. Research topics are varied and can be either selected from those put forward by the teaching team or chosen by students in agreement with the academic staff. The research topic is decided upon during the first teaching period and work towards an individual thesis during the second half of the MSc course. The research thesis allows students to develop their own particular area of interest, often providing an opportunity to collaborate with industry.
Structure
Course Modules (October – March):
* Structural Integrity
* Structural Mechanics
* Fluid Mechanics
* Finite Element Methods
* Computational Fluid Dynamics
* Steam Plant and Diesels
* Risk and Reliability
* Management for Technology.
Group Assignment (October – March).
Individual Research Project (April – September).
Structural Integrity
Professor F P Brennan 20 Lecture Hours
The aim of the Structural Integrity module is to provide a general understanding of pertinent issues concerning the use of Engineering Materials and practical tools for solving structural integrity and structural fitness-for–service problems. Topics include:
* Corrosion and protection: basic principles, types of corrosion, methods of protection including cathodic protection
* The metallurgy of welding: basic principles, influence of welding process on microstructure, including use of TTT diagrams to assist prediction of structure and properties, welding defects and their avoidance/mitigation. Emphasis upon steel, but coverage of other alloys
* Composites and new materials
* Failure Criteria & Stress Analysis
* Fatigue Crack Initiation
* Derivation of Strain Energy Release Rate and Stress Intensity Factor
* Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics and Elasto Plastic Fracture Mechanics
* Evaluation of Fracture Parameters
* Inspection Methods
* Inspection Reliability
* Defect Assessment
* Fatigue & Fracture Mechanics of Welded Components
* Fatigue & Fracture Mechanics of Notched Components.
Structural Mechanics
Mr J C Brown 20 Lecture Hours
The aim of the Structural Mechanics module is to provide students with a fundamental knowledge and understanding of structural mechanics and thin walled structures. Topics include:
* An introduction to structural mechanics
* Basic structural elements (bars, beams, plates, shells)
* Engineering bending theory
* Advanced bending theories
* Torsion for basic structural elements
* Analysis and design implications of statically indeterminate structures
* Energy methods of structural analysis
* Stress analysis of thin walled structures under axial, bending and torsion loads
* Warping and warping restraint effects
* Shear lag.
Fluid Mechanics & Loading
Dr F Trarieux 20 Lecture Hours
The aim of the Fluid Mechanics & Loading module is to provide a theoretical and applied understanding of fluid mechanics and fluid loading on structures. Topics include:
* Basic Fluid Mechanics * Frames of Reference
* Rotational and Irrotational Flow
* Stream Function and Velocity Potential
* Continuity and the Laplace Equation
* The Navier-Stokes Equation
* The Bernoulli Equation
* The Complex Potential
* Idealised flows
* Conformal Transformations
* The Added Mass Concept
* Added Mass Coefficient
* Body Forces due to Fluid Inertia
* Hydrostatics of Floating Bodies * Basic Properties of a Fluid at Rest
* Buoyancy Forces and Stability
* Initial stability
* The wall sided formula and large angle stability
* Stability losses
* The Pressure Integration Technique
* Dynamic Response of Floating Structures * Application to Floating Bodies
* Effects of Moorings
* Analysis with Multiple Degrees of Freedom
* Analysis of Continuously Flexible Structures
* Model Testing.
Finite Element Methods
Professor R Vignjevic, 20 Lecture Hours
The aim of the Finite Element Methods module is to give potential Finite Element users basic understanding of the inner workings of the method. The objective is to introduce users to the terminology, basic numerical and mathematical aspects. Basic guidelines are also given on how to approach the modelling of structures using the Finite Element Method. Topics include:
* Background, history, applicability to different physics problems
* Illustration of direct stiffness method based on 2 dimensional beam elements
* Introduction to the Principle of Minimum Potential Energy
* Development of Finite Element stiffness and mass matrix for a 2-dimensional membrane element
* Isoparametric 1,2 and 3D elements
* Numerical integration
* Meshing and postprocessing
* Problems and errors associated with applying FEM to the solution of actual problems
* The SAFESA approach
* NAFEMS
* SAFESA case study.
Computational Fluid Dynamics
Dr E L Shapiro, 20 Lecture Hours
The aim of the Computational Fluid Dynamics module is to introduce the foundations of fluid mechanics and the mathematical properties of the CFD governing equations, introduce the basics of numerical analysis and numerical methods for partial differential and algebraic equations, introduce the concepts of grid generation and to understand the CFD methods used for computing incompressible and compressible flows. Topics include:
* Introduction to fluid mechanics
* Introduction to numerical analysis
* Discretisation approaches: finite difference, finite element and spectral methods
* Geometry modelling and surface grids
* Algebraic mesh generation
* Overview of various numerical methods for compressible and incompressible flows
* Mathematical properties of hyperbolic systems.
Steam Plant and Diesels
Dr H Mashmoushy/Dr D Griffiths, 20 Lecture Hours
The aim of the Steam Plant and Diesels module is to familiarise students with steam plants and their properties, the Rankine and Diesel cycles, nuclear reactors and boilers and their performance parameters, and recent developments in engine design and performance. Topics include:
* Steam Plant: Steam properties, the Rankine cycle. The effects on cycle efficiency of steam temperature, boiler pressure and condenser pressure. Rankine cycle with superheat. Rankine cycle with superheat and reheat. Supercritical Rankine cycle. Efficiency and optimum reheat pressure. Regenerative cycle, single feed heater, regenerative cycle - multiple feed heaters. Steam turbines, simple impulse, velocity compounded, pressure compounded pressure velocity compounded. Reaction turbines, blading condensers;
* Nuclear Power Plant: Gas cooled reactors. Liquid cooled reactors. Boiler plant, fire tube boilers, water tube boilers, closed feed systems, feed water treatment, coal firing systems;
* Diesel Engine Performance:Performance parameters, Diesel cycle, distribution of heat in diesel engines, diesel engine operation, Mechanical details, auxiliary systems, fuel, lubricating oil and cooling water.
* Recent developments: Waste heat recovery systems. Single pressure cycles, dual pressure steam cycles, organic fluid cycles, CHP - process requirements, district heating, back pressure turbines.
Risk and Reliability
Dr Shaomin Wu 30 Lecture Hours
The aim of this module it to enable the student to understand and be able to apply the basic concepts of risk and reliability analysis in the offshore environment.
* Introduction: concept of risk, ALARP criteria, and reliability engineering.
* FMECA and HAZOPS: Use of Failure Modes and Effects Analysis to identify system and component failure, use of qualitative risk matrices. Hazard and operability studies to identify hazards in offshore processes.
* Reliability data: types, data collection methods and data sources. Examples of typical failure rate data. Weibull analysis and interpretation of data plots.
* Human Reliability Analysis and Accident causation: Major accident sequences, risk perception and control of risk. Introduce human reliability analysis techniques HEART and THERP.
* Offshore Safety Case and Formal Safety Assessments: Regulatory regime, safety case requirements, types of study, scenario development, examples of use of QRA methods, consequence analysis, vulnerability of essential systems, smoke and gas ingress, evacuation escape and rescue and typical output.
* Pipeline Corrosion Risk Analysis: corrosion of steel pipelines offshore. Use of stress strength interference for estimation of safe life and probability of failure
* Statistics and probability distributions : basic Boolean algebra, Bayes theorem and commonly used discrete and continuous probability distributions,
* Systems reliability techniques:reliability block diagrams and networks. Estimation of cut sets and tie sets. .
* Availability Modelling: system availability and impact of maintenance strategy and. component reliability. Markov state space models and use of availability simulators
* Review of Major Accidents Offshore: Offshore accidents: Sea Gem, Alexander Keilland, Star Canopus and Piper Alpha disaster.
* Diving Bell Risk Analysis Workshop: Work in groups to apply RBD, FTA, and ETA techniques to determine the cut sets for the failure of a Diving Bell Life Support system. Compare output with FMECA approach to assessment
* Introduction to Structural Reliability Analysis: stress strength interference and limit state concepts, FORM and SORM. Damage accumulation and modelling of time dependent failures.
Management for Technology
School of Management, 54 Lecture Hours
The aim of the Management for Technology module is to provide knowledge of those aspects of management which will enable an engineer to fulfil a wider role in a business organization more effectively. Topics include:
* Project management
* People management
* Marketing
* Negotiation
* New product development
* The environment
* Presentation skills
* Patents
* Finance
* Business game: Working in teams (companies), students will set up and run a technology company and make decisions on investment, R&D funding, operations, marketing and sales strategy.
Group Project
The aim of the group assignment is to provide the student with direct experience of applying knowledge to an industrially relevant problem in a team environment. The assignment will be performed in small groups of four to six students. Each group will be given an industrially relevant assignment to perform. Examples of group assignments could include:
* Reengineering a structural component to improve its crash or impact performance
* Investigate the technical and economic feasibility of a Combined Heat and Power installation
* Techno-economic assessment of low carbon energy options.
Research thesis
The aim of the individual research project is to provide the student with direct experience in undertaking a research/development project in a relevant industrial or research area. Research topics are varied and can be either selected from those put forward by the teaching team or chosen by students in agreement with the academic staff. The research topic is decided upon during the first teaching period and work towards an individual thesis during the second half of the MSc course. The research thesis allows students to develop their own particular area of interest, often providing an opportunity to collaborate with industry. Students will make a formal presentation their findings and submit a research thesis.
Assessment
Taught component 40% (assessed by a mixture of examinations and assignments), Group Project 20% and Individual Research Project 40%.
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Requirements
A 1st or 2nd class UK honours degree (or equivalent) in mathematics, physics or an engineering discipline.
Additional Requirements
| Minimal degree required: | Bachelor's degree |
| Minimal amount of work experience | Not specified |
Language Proficiency
| IELTS Band: | 6.5 |
| Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE): | Grade C (Score: 60) |
Accreditation
This course is accredited by the IMechE
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