Center for Holographic Studies and Laser micro-mechaTronics
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Courses

ES-3003 Heat Transfer

To provide an understanding of fundamental concepts of heat fluxes, to develop understanding of the coupling of fluid mechanics and thermodynamics, and to provide experience in modeling engineering systems and predicting their behavior.

Topics covered include: steady-state and transient conduction exemplified by heat transfer to and from buried pipes, heat losses through furnace walls, response of thermocouple devices, and the effect of adding fins to increase heat transfer rates. Contact resistance. Natural and forced convection. Heat exchanger analysis and design. Convection accompanied by boiling and condensation. Blackbody radiation. Thermal radiation within an enclosure including diffuse and gray surfaces. Radiation accompanied by conduction and with motion. Recommended background: Ordinary Differential Equations (MA 2051).

ME 4430 Integrated Thermomechanical Design and Analysis

Current state-of-the-art computer based methodologies used in the design and analysis of thermomechanical systems will be presented and illustrated by selected laboratory demonstrations, and used in projects. Projects will include thermal, mechanical, electronic, and photonic loads of steady state and dynamic nature and will integrate design, analysis, and testing. Students will prepare a technical report and present their results. Topics will include, but not be limited to, thermomechanics of fiber optic telecommunication cables, high-energy beam interactions with materials, shape memory alloys, microelectronics, MEMS and mechatronics.

Recommended background: MA 2051, ES 2001, ES 2502, ES 3003, ECE 3601, ME 3901, and an introduction to design.

ME 534 Laser Engineering, Science, and Applications

In this course, a unified account of the present-day knowledge of lasers and their applications in varied professional and industrial fields will be given through a series of in-class lectures and laboratory demonstration. Special attention will be given to factors that must be evaluated when a laser system is being devised for a specific application. Course coverage will include types of lasers and their characteristics, shaping of laser beams, measurement of laser beam parameters, transmission of laser beams, interaction of laser beams with materials, mathematical modeling of laser processes, laser processing of materials, fiber-optic applications of lasers, laser metrology and related topics.

ME 535 MEMS and Nanotechnology

No course description

ME 593N Laser Metrology and Nondestructive Testing

No course description

ME 593M MEMS and Micromechatronics

This course deals with micromechatronics and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). Micromechatronics is an emerging technology that couples the fields of mechanical, electrical, and computer engineering. MEMS are an enabling technology leveraging integrated circuit technology with mechanical actuation. Examples of micromechatronics/MEMS range from sensors that actuate automotive airbag deployment, to sophisticated microengine/transmission networks smaller than a gnat’s eye. This course will introduce students to classification, design issues, analysis, fabrication techniques, and testing methodologies of micromechatronics/MEMS devices. Applications of MEMS will be discussed and illustrated with representative examples.

Simple MEMS devices, such as pressure sensors, can transform mechanical energy into an electrical output. More sophisticated MEMS devices, such as microengines, incorporate mechanical elements such as gears, cams, linkages, and springs with microelectronic control to produce linear or rotational motions that, in turn, may act on optical, chemical, or biological components. Many of these microdevices can, under certain conditions, behave as their macro world counterparts would. However, many do not. We will investigate some of these differences including scaling issues. Integration of multiple devices into systems will also be discussed.

Testing methods, particularly of dynamic systems, will be presented and students will be able to operate, analyze, and test actual MEMS devices. Introduction to the integration of MEMS sensors and actuators with micro-controllers will also be presented.

A class project will give students an opportunity to design, analyze, and/or test a micromechatronics system of their own.