UB - University at Buffalo, The State University of New York

Qualifier Detailed Requirements (by area):

Bioengineering (BIO):     

       Required Courses:

       Cardiovascular Biomechanics (MAE578)

       Evaluation of Biomedical Materials (MAE 514)   

       Topics from MAE578:

• Cardiovascular system and physiology of the heart
• Physical principles of circulation
• Properties and rheology of blood
• Mechanical properties of blood vessels
• Steady flow models
• Unsteady flow models
• Interaction of wall shear stress with endothelial cells
• Vascular remodeling
• Flow and vascular pathology

       Topics from MAE 514:

• Characteristics of specific polymer, metal, ceramic, and engineered tissue materials used for various types of medical, dental and diagnostic devices;
• Selection criteria based on intended biological functions and longevity;
• Performance testing in vitro and in vivo;
• Evaluation of material breakdown in biological media, and potential toxicologic consequences; (5) design of animal and clinical trials;
• Surgical considerations; and
• Ethical, regulatory, and legal issues.  
  
  Suggested Text:  Handbook of Biomaterials Evaluation: Scientific, Technical, and Clinical Testing of Implant Materials, AF von Recum (editor), MacMillan Publishing Co., 1986.
  

Computational and Applied Mechanics (CAM):

       Required Courses:
       CIE 511/MAE 505, MAE 529

       Suggested course:

       MAE 415

       Topics/subtopics:      

• Cartesian Tensors: operations; integral theorems; invariants
• Stress: transformation, equilibrium, traction (Cauchy)
• Strain: infinitesimal displacement gradient, rotation, and strain; compatibility (simply connected); transformation
• Constitutive Relations: Hooke’s law for isotropic and anisotropic materials; relation of constants; engineering constants; thermal effects; yield surfaces (von Mises, Tresca)
• Boundary Value Problems: posing and solving basic problems (exact solutions)
• Structural Elements (approximate solutions): Euler Bernoulli beam theory, plane strain/plane stress, buckling
• Energy Methods: Castigliano 2nd theorem; virtual work; minimum potential energy; derivation of differential equation and admissible boundary conditions from minimum potential energy; approximate methods (Rayleigh-Ritz)
• Finite Element Methods: Spatial discretization and element definitions; assembly and solution algorithms; isoparametric element formulations; mixed formulations; temporal discretization and transient solution algorithms; natural frequency analysis; error analysis for static and dynamic problems

       Suggested Texts/chapters:

• I.H. Shames, F.A. Cozzarelli, Elastic and Inelastic Stress Analysis (1992 or revised printing 1997), Chapters 1-5, 9-10, 12-13.
• A.C. Ugural, S.K. Fenster, Advanced Strength and Applied Elasticity, 4th ed. (2008), Chapters 1-4, 8, 10-11.
• J.R. Vinson, The Behavior of Thin Walled Structures (1989), Chapters 1-3, 7, 9.
• T.H.G. Megson, Aircraft Structures, 4th ed. (2007), Chapters 1-2, 4.
• T.J.R. Hughes, The Finite Element Method (2000), Chapters 1-4, 7-10.
• K.-J. Bathe, Finite Element Procedures (1996), Chapters 1-5, 8-11.
  

Fluid and Thermal Sciences (FTS):

Required Courses:
MAE 515, Fluid Mechanics I
MAE 545, Heat Transfer I 

Suggested courses:
EAS 204, MAE 422, MAE 431, MAE 335, MAE 336, MAE 516, MAE 519, MAE 546

Required texts/chapters:
I Shames, "Mechanics of Fluids"
I.G. Currie, “Fundamental Mechanics of Fluids”, 3rd edition
Incropera, Dewitt, Bergman, and Lavine, "Introduction to Heat Transfer", 5th ed.
Moran and Shapiro, "Fundamentals of Engineering Thermodynamics"

Additional suggested texts:
S. Kakac and Y. Yener, “Heat Conduction”, 4rd edition
S. Kakac and Y. Yener, “Convective Heat Transfer”, 2nd edition
Alexander J. Smits, “A Physical Introduction to Fluid Mechanics”

Topics/subtopics:

       Fluid Mechanics:                                      

• Fundamentals:  flow kinematics, conservation equations
• Ideal flow:  basic theory, elementary solutions, superposition, complex potential
• Viscous flow: Navier Stokes equations, exact solutions, low-Reynolds number flows, boundary layer flows
• Compressible flow:  Shock waves, expansion waves, one dimensional flows
• Turbulent flow:  Statistical description of turbulent flows, governing equations, free shear flows, scales of turbulent motion, wall flows
  
  Heat Transfer
• Fundamentals:  physical origins, rate equations, 1st Law, control volume analysis
• Conduction:  steady, transient, multidimensional, approximate techniques
• Convection:  natural, forced, laminar and turbulent boundary layers; integral techniques; mathematical solution or developing internal flows; dimensionless groups, correlations
• Radiation:  blackbody, view factor, spectral intensity, spectral and total properties,   diffuse-gray enclosures
• Phase change:  latent heat, condensation, boiling, physics of various regimes; exact, similarity solutions; Nusselt condensation analysis

  Thermodynamics:       

• Energy forms: potential, kinetic and internal; energy transfer - work and heat, equivalence; properties of ideal gases - concept; equation of state; pressure, temperature, internal energy specific heat

• Energy conservation:  first law for closed and open systems (control volume); enthalpy and flow work; unsteady and steady state
• First law for ideal gas-closed systems:  constant T, p or v processes; adiabatic reversible processes; polytropic processes; Carnot cycle; open system steady flow processes; unsteady or transient flow processes
• Entropy and second law: definition of entropy; entropy change of ideal gases; isentropic processes of ideal gases; the TdS relations; irreversible effects and entropy production; statement of the second law of thermodynamics; availability
• Gas power and refrigeration systems

 

Materials (MAT):

Required Courses*:

Advanced Materials Science (MAE 581)
Smart Materials (MAE 538)
Thermodynamics of Engineering Materials (MAE 570)
Diffraction, Microscopy and Spectroscopy Techniques (MAE 589)
Solid State Materials Physics (MAE 587)

Topics from MAE 581:

• CRYSTAL STRUCTURE: lattice and basis, types of lattice, index system for crystals.
• CRYSTAL BINDING: Van der Waals, Covalent, ionic, and metallic, equilibrium lattice constants.
• DEVIATION FROM IDEAL CRYSTAL STRUCTURE: point and line defects, point defects in ionic crystals, equilibrium point defect density.
• NUCLEATION AND GROWTH: first principle calculations of embryo and nucleus during phase growth and resulting microstructure.
• PHASES IN n-COMPONENT SYSTEM: phase and phase diagrams for a n-component system (n = 1, 2, or 3), solid solutions, phase rule, thermodynamics for materials.

In addition, MAE 381 or equivalent is the pre-required course.

Topics from MAE 538:

This course covers the science and applications of smart materials, which include functional and multifunctional materials.  Emphasis is on materials that enable a structure to be smart, e.g., having the ability to sense and respond appropriately.  The attributes sensed include strain, stress, damage and temperature.  The response includes actuation.  In relation to sensing, nondestructive evaluation will be covered.   Other functions include electromagnetic interference shielding, deicing, energy conversion, etc. The fundamentals of composite materials will also be covered.  The course assumes a prior course on introductory materials science. The topics include:

• Composites and carbon fibers
• Intrinsically smart polymer-matrix structural composites
• Intrinsically smart cement-matrix composites
• Materials characteristics including Electrical behavior, Electromagnetic, Dielectric, Magnetic and optics
• Shape memory
• Nondestructive evaluation
• Vibration damping

Topics from MAE 589:

This course covers experimental methods for the study of engineering materials. The objective is for the students to understand the array of methods that are available, thereby becoming able to choose a suitable method for the study of a particular aspect of a given material. The topics include:

• Reciprocal lattice
• Diffraction theory and methods
• Microscopy concepts and techniques
• Scientific concepts behind spectroscopy techniques involving electromagnetic radiation, electrons and ions.

Topics from MAE 570:

• First and Second Laws of Thermodynamics;  Entropy generation
• General framework of classical thermodynamics
• The required interrelationships between variables and their derivatives
• Expression of thermodynamic functions in terms of arbitrary sets of variables
• Consideration of various types of work (energy):  fluid, solid, chemical, surface, electric, magnetic, EM waves; 
• Interactions between the various types of work (energy)
• Equilibrium in pure (unary) and multicomponent systems:  phase stability, metastability, and instability; construction and interpretation of phase diagrams.
• elementary principles of statistical thermodynamics and atomic/molecular mechanics; prediction of thermodynamic properties from first principles.

Topics from MAE 587:

• Quantum Mechanics principles for functional  materials
• Energy band structure and electron transport theory
• Crystal vibration and phonons: heat capacity and thermal conductivity
• Electronic, optical, and magnetic properties of metals, semiconductors, and insulators materials
• Nano-material synthesis and dimensional effects on nanosystems: thin film, nano-wire, and nano-dots
• Materials principles for modern devices development

* All five courses may not be available each year. However, course availability will be announced each April for the following academic year. The requirements for the Qualifying Exams will reflect the courses offered in that year.    

Systems and Design (SD):

The qualifying exam for the Design and Dynamic Systems area is structured so that all students will have to be familiar with areas A and B below.  Typically, there will be two questions each from A and B plus one or two questions each from areas C and D, as described below. Normally students will be required to answer a total of four questions.

1. All topics covered by MAE 550 Optimization
2. All topics covered by MAE 571 Systems Analysis
3. Dynamic Systems Topics:

   C.1. Kinematic and dynamic modeling of multibody systems e.g. 1, 2 and higher # of d.o.f. systems such as the inverted pendulum, double pendulum, linkages etc.

            Specific subtopics include:

   • Deriving kinematic and dynamic equations-of-motion
   • Linearization/Taylor Series Approximations
   • Equilibrium and stability analysis
     
     Courses covering these topics: EAS 208 Dynamics, MAE 412/512 Machines and Mechanisms II or MAE 493/593  Mathematical Methods in Robotics

        C.2.  Analysis of systems of ordinary differential equations

   • Time-domain/analytical solution methods (1st order and 2nd order, free/forced systems)
   • Numerical solution methods (via conversion into state-space form)
   • Frequency domain methods (via Laplace transform)
     
     Courses covering these topics: MAE 340 System Dynamics or MAE 467/567 Vibrations or MAE 443/543 Control Systems

        C.3 Control system design and analysis

   • Stability analysis (poles/zeros)
   • Controller characteristics and design (PD/PID)
   • Analysis (Bode/Root locus)
     
     Courses covering these topics:  MAE 443/543 Control Systems
4. Design Topics:

       D.1. Matrix-based computations, e.g. as applied to Computer Graphics

• Fundamentals of 2-D and 3-D Graphics: translations and rotation
• Representation of solids, coordinate system transformations
• Curve and surface generation (Bezier and B-Spline approaches)
  
  Courses covering these topics:  MAE 473/573 Graphics in CAD or MAE 474/574 Virtual Reality or MAE 493/593 Mathematical Methods in Robotics
  
  D.2. Computational functional analysis as applied to design
  
  Concepts of FEM: stiffness matrices for elements and systems, basics of variational approach, solution concepts for deflections, stress, etc., von Mises failure concepts
  
  Courses covering these topics:  MAE 529 Finite Element Structural Analysis or MAE 541 Topics in Finite Element Analysis

Please note that you do not have to take these courses noted in sections C & D if you have previously taken equivalent courses. However, it is suggested that you review syllabi from these UB courses and plan your course-of-study to make sure that you are familiar with the topical materials C-D prior to the qualifier