Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering

Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, University of Limerick, Ireland Tel: +353 61 202544 / 202218 Fax: +353 61 202944 www.ul.ie/mae i

1. Title of programme Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Mechanical Engineering Faculty name Dean of Faculty Department name Head of Department Course Director, B.E. Mechanical Engineering Faculty of Science and Engineering Professor Kieran Hodnett Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering (MAE) Dr. John Jarvis Dr. David Newport 2. Structure of the programme 2.1 Introduction The B.E. degree in Mechanical Engineering degree is a four year honours programme. The course has run since 1980, and the other B.E. programmes in the MAE Department (aeronautical engineering, biomedical engineering, computer aided engineering and design) were developed from this programme. The aim of the programme is to provide, for both the Irish and the international industry, well educated graduates, qualified to become professional chartered mechanical engineers. For students wishing to continue their studies, the degree provides a solid foundation for postgraduate research to the levels of MEng or PhD. The programme thus contributes to the mission of the University of Limerick in responding to the needs of Irish students and industry. 2.2 Entry Requirements The majority of applicants for entry to the Department are recent school leavers who enter through the CAO (central applications office) system. The entry requirements to the Department are Leaving Certificate (or approved equivalent) with at least: Grade C3 in Higher Level Maths Grade C3 in another Higher Level subject Grade D3 in four Ordinary Level subjects Subjects studied must include Maths (at least C3 Higher Level); Irish (or another language), English and a Science/Technology subject, with minimum D3 Ordinary Level, from the 1

following list: Physics, Chemistry, Physics with Chemistry, Engineering, Technical Drawing, Biology, Agricultural Science, and Applied Maths. Students failing to meet the Maths requirement may sit the Special University Higher Level Maths exam. The number of points required over the past few years has been reasonably stable and ranges between 400 and 440. Bonus points are awarded by the University for Honours Maths at Leaving Certificate (+5 for a C3 up to +40 for an A1). The Department also accepts mature students (over 23 years of age) and transferees from Institutes of Technology holding a relevant Certificate (into Year 2) or relevant Ordinary Level Bachelors degree (into Year 3) provided they have achieved a Distinction or Higher Merit 1 award. 2.3 Programme Duration and Structure The University operates a semester calendar, with each semester comprising 12 weeks of teaching time, 1 week of reading time and 2 weeks exam time. The B.E. Mechanical Engineering degree programme is a four year programme which includes an eight month period of Cooperative Education in a relevant work-place. The programme is divided into two Parts. Part 1 of the programme consists of Year 1, while Part 2 covers Years 2, 3 and 4. All elements of Part 2 contribute to the class of degree awarded on completion of the programme. Students currently take six modules each academic semester. A module is a self-contained educational package. Certain modules are core modules and must be taken by all students enrolled in a particular programme; other modules are elective modules and the student has a certain amount of discretion in choosing these. Each module is identified by a unique code, as explained in Figure 2.1. Indicates Programme level 4 = Undergraduate 5 = Postgraduate Individual Module number allows scope for adding new modules within a theme during a particular semester ME4111 Semester Module Occurs Indicates Department delivering module Indicates Subject theme, e.g. 1 = Mechanics Figure 2.1 Explanation of Module Codes 2

2.4 Academic Programme Outline The current programme outline is given in Table 2.1. A syllabus description for each listed module is provided in Section 5. Part 1 of the course comprises twelve modules to provide the student with the required foundation in Mathematics, Science, Computing, Engineering Fundamentals and Professional Skills. Table 2.1 Programme outline for B.E. in Mechanical Engineering Part 1 Semester 1 Semester 2 Summer Year 1 MA4001 Engineering Maths 1 ME4111 Engineering Mechanics 1 CH4701 Chemistry ME4611 Computing EE4001 Electrical Engineering 1 ME4001 Intro to Engineering 1 MA4002 Engineering Maths 2 ME4112 Engineering Mechanics. 2 MT4002 Materials 1 ME4412 Fluid Mechanics 1 PE4112 Production Technology ME4002 Intro to Engineering 2 Part 2 Semester 3 Semester 4 Summer Year 2 MA4003 Engineering Maths 3 ME4213 Mechanics of Solids 1 ME4813 Design 1 ME4523 Thermodynamics 1 ME4113 Applied Mechanics MT4023 Materials 2 MA4004 Engineering Maths 4 ME4804 Introduction to CAD ME4414 Fluid Mechanics 2 IE4214 Industrial Organisation EE4004 Electrical Engineering 2 ME4714 Instrumentation & Control Co-Op (CO4320) Semester 5 Semester 6 Summer Year 3 Co-operative Education (CO4330) MA4006 Engineering Maths 5 ME4716 Control Engineering 1 ME4226 Mechanics of Solids 2 ME4616 Finite Element Analysis ME4516 Thermodynamics 2 ME4526 Introduction to Heat Transfer Project Reading Semester 7 Semester 8 Summer Year 4 ME4017 Project 1 ME4117 Vibration Analysis ME4517 Energy Management ME4717 Control Engineering 2 Elective module Elective module ME4018 Project 2 ME4028 Project 3 ME4818 Mechanical Design IE4248 Project Planning & Control ME4718 Process Control Elective module 3

Part 2, comprises the other 3 years of the Programme. In Year 2 students takes a further twelve modules, building on the base foundation subjects in Year 1 and introducing discipline specific subjects such as Thermodynamics and Mechanics of Solids and Computer Aided Design (CAD). The students are on Co-op in an Industrial placement from May of Year 2 until February of Year 3. In the third year, students study Mathematics, Control, Mechanics of Solids, Finite Element Analysis, Thermodynamics, and Heat Transfer. Mid-way through semester 6 students are asked to choose their final year stream; either Thermofluids stream or Mechanics of Solids stream. In Year 4 students study Control, Energy Management, Vibration Analysis, Design and Project Planningl, plus the appropriate stream subjects shown in Table 2.2. They also undertake a Final Year Project (FYP) which accounts for 30% of the score available for fourth year. Table 2.2 Elective streams for 4th year B.E. in Mechanical Engineering Stream Semester 7 Semester 8 Thermofluids Thermodynamics 3 (ME4527) Comp. Fluid Dynamics (ME4438) Boundary Layer Theory (ME4417) Stream Semester 7 Semester 8 Mechanics of Solids Mechanics of Solids 3 (ME4217) Advanced CAD (ME4837) Mechanics of Solids 4 (ME4218) The Mechanical Engineering programme comprises a number of themes. As described in Figure 2.1 the second number in the module code indicates these themes. The Engineering themes are outlines in Table 2.3, with service taught themes given in Table 2.4 (service taught modules are those taught by staff outside the MAE Department). Table 2.3 Themes within Mechanical Engineering Courses Theme Number Theme Title Module Code Module Title ME40 Project ME4001 ME4002 ME4017 ME4018 ME4028 Introduction to Engineering 1 Introduction to Engineering 2 Project 1 Project 2 Project 3 4

Table 2.3 Themes within Mechanical Engineering Courses (continued) Theme Number Theme Title Module Code Module Title ME41 Mechanics ME4111 ME4112 ME4113 ME4117 Engineering Mechanics 1 Engineering Mechanics 2 Applied Mechanics Vibration Analysis ME42 Solids ME4213 ME4226 ME4217 ME4218 Mechanics of Solids 1 Mechanics of Solids 2 Mechanics of Solids 3 (Solid stream) Mechanics of Solids 4 (Solid stream) ME44 Fluids ME4412 ME4414 ME4417 ME4438 Fluid Mechanics 1 Fluid Mechanics 2 Boundary Layer Theory (Fluid stream) Computational Fluid Dynamics (Fluid stream) ME45 Thermodynamics & Heat Transfer ME4523 ME4516 ME4527 ME4526 ME4517 Thermodynamics 1 Thermodynamics 2 Thermodynamics 3 (Fluid stream) Introduction to Heat Transfer Energy Management ME46 Computing ME4611 ME4616 Computing Finite Element Analysis ME47 Control ME4714 ME4716 ME4717 ME4718 Instrumentation and Control Control Engineering 1 Control Engineering 2 Fluid Process Control ME48 Design ME4813 ME4804 ME4837 ME4818 Design 1 Introduction to CAD Advanced CAD (Solid stream) Mechanical Design Table 2.4 Themes within Service taught Courses Theme Number Theme Title Module Code Module Title CH47 Chemistry CH4701 Chemistry EE40 Electrical Engineering EE4001 EE4004 Electrical Engineering 1 Electrical Engineering 2 5

Table 2.4 Themes within Service taught Courses (cont.) Theme Number Theme Title Module Code Module Title IE42 Industrial Engineering IE4214 IE4248 Industrial Organisation Project Planning and Control MA40 Mathematics MA4001 MA4002 MA4003 MA4004 MA4006 Engineering Mathematics 1 Engineering Mathematics 2 Engineering Mathematics 3 Engineering Mathematics 4 Engineering Mathematics 5 MT40 Materials MT4002 MT4023 Materials 1 Materials 2 PE41 Production Engineering PE4112 Production Technology 1 2.4.1 Co-operative Education Integrated supervised work placement (Co-operative Education, or Co-op) is a core component of all undergraduate degree programmes at the University of Limerick. Co-operative Education involves placement of students in employment relevant to their degree programmes for eight months during their undergraduate studies. The objectives of the Co-operative Education placement are to give students an awareness of the practical applications of their degree courses and to provide a head start in the competitive job market. The University takes responsibility for the development and maintenance of its placement programme through its Co-operative Education and Careers Division. The Co-op placement is assessed on a pass/fail basis and is a prerequisite for graduation. There are three elements to the assessment process. These are: an interim report submitted by the faculty member visiting the organisation, an employer evaluation submitted upon completion of the placement, and a report submitted by the student upon completion of the placement. The faculty member who visited the student on placement reviews all the information and determines the grade appropriate for the placement. 2.4.2 Final year project (FYP) All students complete a project in their final year. Allocation of project titles and supervisors takes place during semester 6. Most students choose from a list of projects provided by academic staff. A minority suggest their own project, subject to staff agreement. Each student makes an interim presentation (i.e. a 10 minute talk to project supervisor, a second 6

reader from the academics in the Department and a group of colleagues) usually during week 10 of semester 7. The final project report is submitted in week 9 of semester 8 followed by an oral interview with the two examiners in week 10 or 11. 2.5 European Credit Transfer System / Student Contact Hours The University is in the process of implementing the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). For most modules students have two hours of lectures each week and a further two hours allocated to either tutorials, laboratories, drawing or computer training. As already stated each semester comprises 12 weeks of teaching time, 1 week of reading time and 2 weeks exam time. During the week of reading time, lectures are still given, but no new information can be taught (this week is counted in the contact hours). This gives a baseline student contact time of 52 hours per module per semester. For some modules the contact time is increased by one hour each week, giving a total for these modules of 65 hours per semester. Table 2.5 Total Student Contact Hours Student contact hours 2366 Equivalent contact hours for Cooperative Education* 264 Total Contact Hours 2630 * Note: The total Cooperative Education period is eight month full time employment (33 weeks @ 8 hours per week). 2.6 External Examination and Assessment The Mechanical Engineering Programme has three external examiners to cover the various themes. The external examiners are currently: Prof. Sean McNamara, NUIG Prof. Roy Douglas, Queens University Belfast Dr Harry Esmonde, DCU The External Examiners make their views known to the Department in three ways: By their written comments and corrections of exam papers and solutions that they see before the relevant examinations are taken. By discussions when they visit the Department for two days in the summer, immediately prior to the recommendations of degree awards to the Academic Council. By formal written reports delivered to the Registrar s Office. 7

The views of the External Examiners are discussed at the Department s annual all-day meeting, which takes place at the end of the academic year. The programme is assessed every 5 years by Engineers Ireland as part of their accreditation process, which assures the quality of engineering and engineering technology education programmes in Ireland in line with international norms. An accreditation programme panel comprising a programme panel chair and two assessors visits the institution to carry out the accreditation. The next accreditation for the Mechanical Engineering degree is expected to take place in early 2010. 3. Assessment of student performance 3.1 Module Credit System Each module is assigned a credit value. In the MAE Department all modules currently have a credit value of 3. When a student gains a sufficient grade in a module he/she is awarded the number of credits associated with the module and credits are accumulated during the programme. 3.2 Grading System The quality of a student's work in a module is indicated by a letter grade awarded following the completion of the module (A1, A2, B1, etc.). Each letter grade is assigned a Quality Point Value (QPV), see Table 3.1, which permits calculation of a student s accumulated performance or Quality Credit Average (QCA). (Table 3.1 does not provide all possible letter grades. See student handbook for further details). Table 3.1 List of Grades and typical transfer from percentage (x) to letter grade and QPV Grade Meaning of Grade x% Quality Point Value (QPV) A1 Excellent x 75 4.0 A2 Excellent 68 x <75 3.6 B1 Very good 61 x <68 3.2 B2 Very good 57.5 x <61 3.0 B3 Good 54 x <57.5 2.8 C1 Satisfactory Pass 50.5 x <54 2.6 C2 Satisfactory Pass 47 x <50.5 2.4 8

Table 3.1 List of Grades and typical transfer from percentage (x) to letter grade and QPV Grade Meaning of Grade x% Quality Point Value (QPV) C3 Minimum Pass 40 x <47 2.0 D1 Compensating Fail 33 x <40 1.6 D2 Compensating Fail 26 x <33 1.2 F Fail x <26 0 P Pass in module taken on a pass/fail basis - N Fail in module taken on a pass/fail basis - I Certified Illness/immediate family bereavement - NG No grade awarded (Student presented no assessment work) 3.2.1 Calculation of Quality Credit Average (QCA) For Part 2, the QCA is calculated by the following equation: i= 2 4 ( QCS i i i= 2 QCA = 4, where: {( Att Hrs NQH ) Weighting ) i Weighting i QCS = Quality Credit Score = Module credit value x QPV = 3 x QPV x number of modules QPV = Quality Point Values (see Table 3.1) Att Hrs = Sum of all module credits attempted (see Table 3.2) NQH = Sum of all module credits with associated grade I, P, G, M, N, Ex, R or W Weighting = A weighting of 2 is applied to Years 3 and 4 of the Programme The final degree is based on the QCA for Part 2 of the programme. The weighting of credits for Part 2 is given in Table 3.2 Table 3.2 Weighting of Credits for each year in Part 2 Year Autumn Total Credits Spring } Weighting Weighted Credits 2 18 18 1 36 (21%) 3 8 18 2 52 (31%) 4 21 18 2 78 (47%) Total weighted credits required to graduate 166-9

3.3 Assessment Each module is normally assessed in isolation and a student s final success in the programme of study is determined primarily on the basis of accumulated performance over all the modules taken. A variety of assessment techniques is employed. Normally examinations take place during weeks 14 and 15 of each semester. Use is made of coursework (laboratory reports, minor projects and other assignments) to assess students during term. The contribution of coursework to the final grade is typically between 20% and 30%. In special cases, such as Design or CAD, the coursework may count for 50% or 100% of the final mark. 3.4 Progression Student progress is measured by the QCA as discussed in Section 3.2. The Cumulative QCA represents the average quality of a student's performance in all modules taken. The student will have a separate Cumulative QCA at the end of Part 1 and at the end of Part 2. Satisfactory completion of Part 1 is a prerequisite for progression to Part 2. The minimum requirement for progression at the end of each year is a QCA of 2.00 with no F grades. In addition, students must complete sufficient modules to attain the minimum required credit accumulation. 3.5 Repeat System The University operates a repeat system that enables student to retake most examinations. Students who attain the minimum QCA after the Annual Repeats, and who have the required credits, are eligible to continue to pursue their programme of study. A maximum of four modules in any two semester academic year (i.e. Years 1, 2 and 4) and two modules in a one semester year (i.e. Year 3) may be repeated. Students who are potentially able to attain a QCA of 2.00 or more under the repeat system may avail of the Annual Repeats. Students, whose deficiencies are very severe, either in terms of more than two F grades per Semester or a very low QCA, are not allowed access to the repeats system as they would be unable to reach the necessary standard to progress. Such students will usually be invited to repeat the year in whole or in part. 3.6 Quality of Degree Awards Students qualify for graduation on the basis of accumulated credits over Part 2 of the programme, with the latter years being more heavily weighted than earlier years. The advice of External Examiners is taken into account in making decisions regarding all awards. 10

3.6.2 First and Second Class Honours Standards A First Class Honours award requires a minimum QCA of 3.40, a Second Class Honours, Grade 1 requires a minimum QCA of 3.00 and a Second Class Honours, Grade 2, requires a minimum QCA of 2.60. 3.6.3 Third Class Honours Standard A candidate who attains a minimum Cumulative QCA of 2.00 and who achieves the full, prescribed credits by the end of the programme of study, shall be deemed eligible for consideration for a Third Class Honours award. 3.6.4 Discretion in award of First and Second Class Honours The Department has a defined policy regarding the application of discretion to degree bands and these are outlined in Table 3.3. Award Discretion Rules 1 st Class Award: QCA = 3.4-0.1-4.0-0.1 discretion applied if average QCA in Year 4 3.4 Upper 2 nd Class: QCA = 3.0-0.1-3.4-0.1 discretion always applied. Lower 2 nd Class: QCA = 2.6-0.1-3.0-0.1 discretion always applied. Third Class: QCA = 2.0 2.6 No Discretion on 2.0 4. Career Prospects The Co-operative Education and Careers Division of the University surveys graduates within nine months of graduation (a Higher Education Authority requirement). The first destinations for Mechanical Engineering Graduates, graduating in 2007, are shown in Figure 4.1. Table 4.1 shows a sample of companies, which have employed graduates from the courses within the MAE Department since 2001. The wide range of companies employing graduates of the department is an indication of the breath of expertise gained by the students in the field of Engineering. Figure 4.1 Graduate Destinations 2007 (data is not yet available for 2008) 11

Table 4.1 Sample of Companies Employing Mechanical Engineering Graduates since 2001 Abbott Pharmaceutical Allied Signal Analog Devices Aughinish Alumina (Rusal) Basta Bausch & Lamb Bayer Diagnostics Boston Scientific BS&B Safety Systems Dell Devtech Donnelly Vision Element 6 Energy Regulation Commission Ericssons ESBI Fulflex Goulding Fertilizers Green Isle Foods Gypsum Industries HP IBM ICL Intel Irish Cement Jacobs Kingspan Kostal Liebherr Engineering Medtronic Mohawk Europe Molex NEC Semiconductor NMRC Nortel Oral B Laboratories OVE ARAP Pfizer Precision Engineering Proctor and Gamble Project Management Group Sensormatic Silicon System Design Sola ADC Tellabs ThermoKing Waterford Crystal Wyeth Medics Xilinx Ireland 12