Advanced Mechanical Engineering MSc

• Dr Imma Bortone

To provide a theoretical and applied understanding of fluid mechanics and fluid loading on structures.

Principles of fluid dynamics:

• Properties of fluids: Control volumes & fluid elements, Continuity, Momentum & Energy equations, stream function & velocity potential, Bernoulli’s equation.
• Flow structures: Boundary layer theory, laminar & turbulent flow, steady & unsteady flow, flow breakdown & separations, vortex formation & stability
• Lifting flows: Circulation theory, Prandtl’s lifting-line theory, sources of drag,  aerofoil characteristics
• Fluid loading on horizontal and vertical axis turbines

Dynamics of floating bodies: from simple hydrostatics to complex dynamic response in waves.

• Hydrostatics of Floating Bodies; Buoyancy Forces and Stability, Initial stability, The wall sided formula and large angle stability, Stability losses, The Pressure Integration Technique
• Fluid loading on offshore structures and Ocean Waves Theory: The Added Mass Concept, Froude Krylov Force, Linear wave theory, Wave loading (Diffraction Theory & Morison Equation),
• Dynamics response of floating structures in waves: dynamic response analysis, application to floating bodies (buoys, semisub, TLP), effect of moorings.

On successful completion of this module a student should be able to:

• Explain how the wind, waves and tides are formed, factors that influence their distribution & predictability;
• Review the fundamental equations for fluid behaviour, characterisation of flow structures and forces and moments acting on lifting bodies;
• Evaluate and select the most appropriate model to assess and undertake the simulation of a floating structure static and dynamic stability.

• Dr Liyun Lao

To introduce fundamental concepts, principles, methodologies, and application for the design of advanced control systems for industrial applications.

• System dynamics: Modelling of typical physical systems. Operating point. Linearization. Differential equation representation. State space representation of systems. Laplace transforms. Transfer functions. Block diagrams. SISO and MIMO systems. Time and frequency domain responses of systems.
• Feedback control: Positive and negative feedback. Stability. Methods for stability analysis. Closed loop performance specification. PID controllers. Ziegler-Nichols. Self-tuning methods.
• Enhanced controllers: Cascade control. Feedforward control. Control of non-linear systems. Control of systems with delay.
• Digital controllers: Effects of sampling. Implementation of PID controller. Stability and tuning.
• Advanced control topics: Hierarchical control. Kalman filter. System Identification. Model predictive control. Statistical process control. The use of expert systems and neural networks in industrial control.
• Design packages for process control systems: Examples including Simulink and MATLAB.
• Case studies: Examples will be chosen from a range of industrial systems including mechanical, chemical and fluid systems.

On successful completion of this module a student should be able to:

• Evaluate and select appropriate modelling techniques for dynamic systems
• Formulate control methodologies in feedback, feedforward and cascade loops
• Recognise and critically appraise the key design tools and procedures for continuous and discrete controllers of dynamic systems.

• Dr Mahmood Shafiee

To introduce the principles of risk and reliability engineering and associated tools and methods to solve relevant engineering problems in industry.

• Introduction and fundamentals of risk management and reliability engineering.
• Failure distributions: how to analysis and interpret failure data, introduce the most commonly used discrete and continuous failure distributions (e.g. Poisson, Exponential, Weibull and Normal).
• Risk management process: hazard identification, assessment, evaluation and mitigation (risk acceptance, reduction, ignorance, transfer).
• Risk assessment techniques: risk matrix, Pareto analysis, fault tree analysis (FTA), event tree analysis (ETA), failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA), failure mode, effects and criticality analysis (FMECA), hazard and operability study (HAZOP).
• Reliability and availability analysis: system duty cycle, breakdown/shudown, MTTF/MTBF/MTTR, survival, failure/hazard rate.
• Reliability analysis techniques: reliability block diagram (RBD), minimal cut-set (MCS), series and parallel configurations, k-out-of-n systems, active and passive redundancies.  
• Introduction to structural reliability analysis: stress strength interference and limit state function, first-order / second-order reliability method (FORM/SORM), Damage accumulation and modelling of time-dependent reliability.
• Identification of the role of inspection and Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) in risk reduction and reliability improvement.
• Introduction to maintainability and its various measures
• Workshops and case studies: Work in groups to determine the risk and reliability of subsea production systems, power distribution networks, wind turbines, gas turbines, etc. 

On successful completion of this module a student should be able to:

• Identify and analyse the concepts and principals of risk and reliability engineering and their potential applications to different engineering problems;
• Assess and analyse appropriate approaches to the collection and interpretation of data in the application of risk and reliability engineering methods;
• Evaluate and select appropriate techniques and tools for qualitative and quantitative risk analysis and reliability assessment;
• Analyse and evaluate failure distributions, failure likelihood and potential consequences, and develop solutions for control/mitigation of risks.

• Dr Ali Mehmanparast

This module brings together theoretical and computational stress analysis through Finite Element simulations, allowing students to appreciate how the two disciplines interact in practice and what their strengths and limitations are. The examination of Finite Element Analysis (FEA) for various practical applications (e.g. engineering components, composite structures, rotating disks, cracked geometries) in conjunction with relevant case studies will allow students to combine theoretical understanding with practical experience in order to develop their skills to model and analyse complex engineering problems.

• Stress Analysis: Introduction to stress analysis of components and structures, Ductile and brittle materials, Tensile data analysis, Material properties, Isotropic/kinematic hardening, Dynamic strain aging, Complex stress and strain, Stress and strain transformation, Principal stresses, Maximum shear stress, Mohr’s circle, Constitutive stress-strain equations, Fracture and yield criteria, Constraint and triaxiality effects, Plane stress and plane strain conditions, Thin walled cylinder theory, Thick walled cylinder theory (Lame Equations), Compound cylinders, Plastic deformation of cylinders, Introduction to computational stress analysis.
• Finite Element Analysis: Introduction to FEA, Types of elements, Integration points, Meshing, Mesh convergence, Visualisation, Results interpretation, Beam structures under static and dynamic loading, stress concentration in steel and composite plates, tubular assemblies, 2D and 3D modelling of solid structures, axisymmetry and symmetry boundary conditions, CS1: Stress and strain variation in a pressure vessel subjected to different loading conditions, CS2: Prediction and validation of the stress and strain fields ahead of the crack tip. (case studies are indicative).

On successful completion of this module a student should be able to:

• Develop a strong foundation on stress analysis and demonstrate the ability to analyse a range of structural problems.
• Explain the fundamentals of Finite Element Analysis, be able to evaluate methodologies applied to the analysis of structural members (beams, plates, shells, struts), and critically evaluate the applicability and limitations of the methods and the ability to make use of original thought and judgement when approaching structural analysis.
• Provide an in-depth explanation of current practice through case studies of engineering problems.
• Use the most widely applied commercial finite element software package (ABAQUS) and some of its advanced functionalities.
• Evaluate the importance of mesh sensitivity in finite element simulations.
  
  

• Dr Patrick Verdin

To introduce the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) techniques and tools for modelling, simulating and analysing practical engineering problems related to renewable energy, with hands on experience using commercial software packages used in industry.

• Introduction to CFD & thermo-fluids: Introduction to the physics of thermo-fluids. Governing equations (continuity, momentum, energy and species conservation) and state of the art Computational Fluid Dynamics including modelling, grid generation, simulation, and high performance computing.  Case study of an Industrial problem and the physical processes where CFD can be used.
• Computational Engineering Exercise: specification for a CFD simulation. Requirements for accurate analysis and validation for multi scale problems. Introduction to Turbulence & practical applications of Turbulence Models: Introduction to Turbulence and turbulent flows. Traditional turbulence modelling. 
• Advanced Turbulence Modelling: Introduction to Reynolds-averaged Navier Stokes (RANS) simulations and large-eddy simulation (LES).
• Practical sessions: Offshore renewable energy problems (flow around wind and tidal turbines) will be solved employing the widely-used industrial flow solver software FLUENT.  These practical sessions will cover the entire CFD process including grid generation, flow solver, analysis, validation and visualisation.

On successful completion of this module a student should be able to:

• Assemble and evaluate the different components of the CFD process.
• Explain the governing equations for fluid flows and how to solve them computationally.
• Compare and contrast various methods for simulating turbulent flows applicable to civil and mechanical engineering, especially offshore renewable energy applications such as wind turbines and tidal turbines.
• Set up simulations and evaluate a practical problem using a commercial CFD package.
• Design CFD modelling studies of renewable energy devices.

• Dr Kumar Patchigolla

This module provides an understanding of the fundamentals of operation, configuration and characteristics of thermal systems. Students will also learn how to apply these for design of energy-efficient furnaces and boilers and key implementation issues of various types of power plant.

• Fuels and thermal conversion processes: primary solid and liquid fuels. Carbonisation of solid fuels. Thermodynamic equations. Dissociation and chemical equilibrium. Process efficiency, emission control and standards
• Furnaces and boilers: types of furnaces and classification. Heat transfer in furnaces, efficient furnace and boiler design. Boiler efficiency and part-load operation and its maintenance.
• Overview: World electricity demand and generation. Fuels. Environmental impacts.
• Steam power plants: Thermodynamic principles. Fuels. Steam power generation cycles.
• Gas turbine and combined-cycle power plants: Gas turbine engines and performance. Gas turbine cycles. Combined-cycle power plants.
• Diesel- and gas-engine power plants: Diesel engines. Fuels. Emission control. Heat recovery systems.
• Nuclear power generation: Basic nuclear physical processes (fission and fusion). Nuclear fuels. Types of reactors. Safety considerations in the nuclear industry. Developments in nuclear fusion. Decommissioning problems of nuclear sites. Nuclear‑waste disposal systems.
• Fuel cells: Definition and principles of operation. Losses and efficiency. Possible fuels. Fuel-cell technologies and applications (alkaline fuel cells, molten carbonate fuel cells, phosphoric acid fuel cells, solid oxide fuel cells, and regenerative fuel cells).
• CHP systems: CHP schemes (micro-scale CHP systems, small‑scale CHP systems, large‑scale CHP systems including district heating schemes). Application of CHP systems for the provision of heating, cooling and electric power. Selection criteria of CHP prime-movers. Integration of CHP systems into site services. Feasibility analysis of CHP schemes using spreadsheets/software tools. Case study (site appraisal for CHP scheme and evaluation of economic and environmental viability).
• Advanced power plants: geothermal plants and its applications. Solar thermal enhanced designs and new materials. Innovative SCO2 cycles to operate at higher temperatures, bringing higher energy output.

On successful completion of this module a student should be able to:

• Critically evaluate the fundamentals and laws governing energy conversion and appraise various fuels and their characteristics.
• Assess the operation of furnaces and boilers based on a fundamental understanding of the governing laws, and debate issues influencing the design/selection of furnaces and boilers and future trends
• Debate  issues related to the performance of conventional power-generation plants
• Propose appropriate  technologies  for improving energy-utilisation efficiency of power-generation plants
• Assess the need of a particular industrial/commercial site for a CHP system, identify the appropriate systems and undertake design, sizing and economic analyses
• Review critically technologies employed for advanced power generation systems (Geo-thermal, solar thermal, SCO2 cycle) and it's applications.

• Dr Ali Mehmanparast

To provide an understanding of pertinent issues concerning the use of engineering materials and practical tools for solving structural integrity and structural fitness-for-service problems.

• Introduction & Structural Design Philosophies
• Fatigue Crack Initiation
• Fracture Mechanics (1) – Derivation of G and K
• Fracture Mechanics (2) – LEFM and EPFM
• Fracture Mechanics (3) – Evaluation of Fracture Mechanics Parameters; K and J
• Fracture Toughness Testing and Analysis; KIC and JIC
• Creep Deformation and Crack Growth
• Non Destructive Testing Methods
• Inspection Reliability
• Defect Assessment, Fatigue and Fracture Mechanics of Welded Components
• Fracture of Composites
• Corrosion Engineering

On successful completion of this module a student should be able to:

• Assess fitness-for-service issues and propose appropriate structural integrity solutions.
• Judge the current component life assessment procedures and distinguish their limitations in aspects of structural integrity.
• Develop a critical and analytical approach towards the engineering aspects of structural integrity.
• Be able to confidently assess the applicability of the tools of structural integrity to new problems and apply them appropriately.

The importance of technology leadership in driving the technical aspects of an organisations products, innovation, programmes, operations and strategy is paramount, especially in today’s turbulent commercial environment with its unprecedented pace of technological development. Demand for ever more complex products and services has become the norm.  The challenge for today’s manager is to deal with uncertainty, to allow technological innovation and change to flourish but also to remain within planned parameters of performance.  Many organisations engaged with technological innovation struggle to find engineers with the right skills.  Specifically, engineers have extensive subject/discipline knowledge but do not understand management processes in organisational context.  In addition, STEM graduates often lack interpersonal skills.

• Engineers and Technologists in organisations: The role of organisations and the challenges facing engineers and technologies.
• People management: Understanding you. Understanding other people. Working in teams. Dealing with conflicts.
• The Business Environment: Understanding the business environment; identifying key trends and their implications for the organisation.
• Strategy and Marketing: Developing effective strategies; Focusing on the customer; building competitive advantage; The role of strategic assets.
• Finance: Profit and loss accounts. Balance sheets. Cash flow forecasting.Project appraisal.
• New product development: Commercialising technology. Market drivers. Time to market. Focusing technology. Concerns.
• 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.
• Negotiation: Preparation for Negotiations. Negotiation process. Win-Win solutions.
• Presentation skills: Understanding your audience. Focusing your message. Successful presentations. Getting your message across.

On successful completion of this module a student should be able to:

• Recognise the importance of teamwork in the performance and success of organisations with particular reference to commercialising technological innovation.
• Operate as an effective team member, recognising the contribution of individuals within the team, and capable of developing team working skills in themselves and others to improve the overall performance of a team.
• Compare and evaluate the impact of the key functional areas (strategy, marketing and finance) on the commercial performance of an organisation, relevant to the manufacture of a product or provision of a technical service.
• Design and deliver an effective presentation that justifies and supports any decisions or recommendations made
• Argue and defend their judgements through constructive communication and negotiating skills.