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Advanced Mechanical Engineering
School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering,
Faculty of Engineering
Course description
This highly flexible course is designed to strengthen your knowledge and understanding of mechanical engineering. It offers a wide selection of optional modules, allowing you to tailor your studies to reflect your interests, and graduates go on to work in many areas of engineering. You’ll also have the chance to further explore a subject that interests you through your individual research project.
Previous study
To give you a fair chance of succeeding on your course, we need to make sure you have enough experience in relevant subjects. All of our MSc courses are designed for students who have completed a degree similar to our BEng Mechanical Engineering.
Many of our MSc students come from different subject backgrounds, including aerospace, automotive, civil and marine engineering courses, as well as mechatronics, manufacturing, mathematics and physics.
We would like to see evidence of experience in the key subject areas listed below:
|
Key Subject |
Some (but not all) of the topics you should be familiar with: |
|
Solid mechanics |
Mohr's circle, 2D elasticity including plane stress and plane strain, bending of beams, buckling of columns, plasticity, fracture mechanics. |
|
Statics, dynamics and control |
Equilibrium, free body diagrams, kinematics and kinetics of mechanisms, vibrations, resonance, block diagram representation of feedback control, Laplace domain models. |
|
Fluid mechanics |
Laminar and turbulent flows, Reynolds number, Bernoulli’s equation, calculation of pressure drop in pipework. |
|
Thermodynamics and heat transfer |
First and Second Laws, Carnot, Rankine and Otto cycles, general conduction equation, convection, Nusselt number, emissivity, view factors. |
We would normally expect to see a strong performance in these subjects on your transcript. If you have studied these topics as part of modules with very different titles, you will need to indicate this on your application form.
Accreditation
This course is accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
Modules
Core modules:
- Technical Communication for Mechanical Engineers
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This module teaches professional technical writing and speaking skills to enable students to communicate Engineering concepts accurately and appropriately. Sessions are delivered using a blended delivery model, with materials and tasks given in workbook format for students to prepare in advance for seminar and problem solving classes style with a focus on pair/ work and group work activities. Written assessment is based on assignments submitted within other relevant MEC modules and are synoptically marked for this module.
5 credits - Experiments and Valid Computer Models
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You will undertake three experiments and compare results with analytical solutions obtained using appropriate theories and software. The experiments will be performed on different established areas of mechanical engineering such as: thermofluids, solids and dynamics. The experiments are similar to those carried out by practising engineers and therefore provide experience of the challenges in acquiring meaningful results and the issues involved in producing a useful theoretical model. You will be required to produce three full laboratory reports.
15 credits - Strategic Engineering Management and Business Practices
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This module aims to provide fundamentals of what strategy is and distinguish it from activities, tactics and goals of an organisation. It explains its important role in the continual success of organisations. It also introduces how strategy can be translated into business practices, methods, procedures to achieve the goals of an organisation's strategy.
15 credits
The module is designed to develop your analytical and critical skills in the strategic management issues facing engineering organisations in today's fast-changing environment. It is a unique opportunity for you to equip yourself with the essential industry-relevant skills to excel as a future leader. - Masters Research Mini Project
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This module is concerned with initiating a research project. You will identify a topic of the research for the allocated project and prepare a report that proposes initial study as well as providing the justification for performing the research. This module uses an extended case study approach as an introduction to your specific discipline and to build your cohort experience. You will work in groups to review a current engineering challenge. Drawing on relevant literature and technical sources you will work with the support of a mentor to assess the context of the problem, propose a forward plan, carry out a sustainability assessment of that plan as well as detail the regulatory compliance and carry out a risk assessment. The results will be presented in the form of infographics aimed at showcasing and disseminating the results of your study online.
10 credits - MSc Individual Research Project
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This module will provide you with an opportunity to demonstrate planning and management skills, to show your initiative and to display your technical skills. You will work on an industry focused research project. You will be supervised by an academic member of staff. The technical components of your project may be experimental, theoretical, analytical or design based and most projects will require proficiency in a number of these. Your project is assessed on the basis of interim presentation, conduct, final report and viva.
60 credits - Professional Development Portfolio
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This module is designed to build your skills for graduate-level study and life beyond your degree as an agile learner and professionally responsible engineer committed to your ongoing development.
15 credits
You will:
(a) acquire and develop professional skills, such as communication, collaboration, information management and research skills
(b) have an opportunity to practise and build your creative and practical skills
(c) explore the professional responsibilities of an engineer.
In addition, the module provides space for you to reflect on and build your profile by undertaking supported independent professional development in an area you choose based on your career plans beyond your degree.
Semester 1 optional modules - choose maximum two from:
- Industrial Applications of Finite Element Analysis
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The module aims to provide students with a thorough understanding of the principles of finite element modelling and its application to solve industrial engineering problems. A set of industry-relevant problems will be provided to students along with experimental results for model validation. Students will be allocated one of their preferred projects and will have to devise a modelling strategy to solve their particular problem. Knowledge will be drawn from lectures introducing the theory behind finite element modelling of dynamic problems for modal and transient analyses, non-linear problems including contact, material behaviour and large deformation as well as fracture.
15 credits - Fundamentals and Applications of Tribology
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Many practicing engineers use tribology regularly without a true understanding of its importance and its role in engineering design. This module introduces fundamental science that explains surface phenomena of wear, friction and lubrication. Students learn through industrial case studies, techniques to assess a range of engineering and machine contacts, from bearings to hip joints and banana skins! Theoretical and practical techniques will cover contact mechanics, friction, wear and lubricant films in hydrodynamic and elasto-hydrodynamic lubrication regimes. Students will learn to evaluate failure mechanisms and compare key design features that can be used to diagnose failure as well as improve design.
15 credits - Advanced Engineering Fluid Dynamics
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The module introduces advanced subjects in fluid mechanics and focuses on the theory and applications of the fundamental physical laws governing fluid flows. The Navier-Stokes and the continuity equations are revisited and the energy and the general Scalar Transport Equations for fluid flows will be derived. Creeping flows, laminar/turbulent boundary layer flows, shock and expansion waves, drag rise and supersonic aerofoils, etc. will be discussed. A key skill developed is problem solving in the area of advanced fluid mechanics through how equations, models and boundary conditions may be adapted and simplified to describe a wide variety of engineering fluid flows.
15 credits - Additive Manufacturing - Principles and Applications
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This module will provide you with a comprehensive introduction to Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing), providing you with an insight into the technologies themselves, when and how they might be applied, and the broader economic, social and industrial context within which these techniques sit. Our aim is to provide you with an understanding of the underlying principles and considerations relevant to this area, so that you are able to apply this knowledge confidently and effectively during your future career.
15 credits - Mechanics and Applications of Advanced Manufacturing Technologies
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In this course students are introduced to advanced conventional manufacturing processes including sheet/bulk metal forming and Machining operations and the relevant mechanics of the processes and materials deformation. Analytical modelling techniques are also introduced and their applications are explained in order to determine the deformation of materials under the applied loads. Fundamentals of deformation and relevant force calculations together with mechanics of machining in metallic materials will be covered as the secondary manufacturing operations. The module provides a greater range and depth of knowledge related to the deformation of materials and process analysis in primary and secondary manufacturing operations using theoretical and experimental learning methods. The students will be equipped with tools to analyse and design manufacturing operations utilising various manufacturing methods within a wider engineering context.
15 credits - Computational Biomechanics of Musculoskeletal System
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This module aims to provide you with an overview of the state-of-the-art approach for modelling the musculoskeletal system from a biomechanical point of view. The course starts with a brief review of vectors and tensors, followed by anatomy and physiology of the musculoskeletal system. You will then be introduced to a range of modelling and experimental methods applied to a variety of bones and muscles. More specialised topics will be introduced towards the end of the course giving examples where biomechanical models can be used in various clinical applications.
15 credits - Engineering Commercial Success: And making the world a better place!
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Students work in interdisciplinary teams to create solutions to a real problem provided by a real customer. Typically the customer will be a member or members of the community e.g. children with disabilities, terminally ill people, etc. Student teams learn how to solicit needs from user interviews and go on to create (and where possible prototype) solutions that meet functional, commercial and social requirements. Teams pitch their concept and business start up proposals to an invited audience and assessors.
15 credits - Railway Engineering and Sustainable Transport
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Transition from undergraduate engineering to real-world application is the focus of Railway Engineering and Sustainable Transport. This module introduces the interdisciplinary field of railway transport through application of mechanical engineering in the context of creating a sustainable transport system. Linking engineering fundamentals to application in the rail industry it focuses on skills and expertise needed to make rail transport and its operation resilient to technological, demographic, economic, social and environmental change.
15 credits
Evaluation and problem solving for rail transport issues provides context for developing widely applicable transferable skills. These include justification of engineering decisions through evaluation of data, and assessment of engineering's economic and social impacts. Themes are explored using a local field trip.
- Advanced Dynamics
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In this module we will explore how linear/nonlinear structures vibrate and how we can model them in order to understand and optimise their complex behaviour both analytically and numerically. We will uncover the behaviour of theoretical nonlinear models and we will explore and evaluate the fascinating world of advanced dynamics, random vibration, nonlinear systems and chaos through lectures and dedicated reading. We link advanced engineering with concepts from physics and maths that are of core importance in the new era of engineering, considering structures from light aerospace structures to offshore wind turbines and space shuttles. Furthermore, we will discover the world of Hamiltonian mechanics by capturing its fundamental physics. The learning will be supported by dedicated tutorial sessions.
15 credits - Industrial Experimental Methods for Engineering Problems
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The module aims to provide students with an understanding of how experimental techniques can be used to solve industrial engineering problems. The students will be introduced to the theory behind, and practice of, a range of measurement techniques, common to static and dynamic problems, through a combination of lectures and labs and tutorial sessions. Working in small groups the students will be tasked to design and execute a suitable experiment to address an industrially relevant problem; analysing data and making informed decisions within the context of the problem.
15 credits
Semester 2 optional modules - choose up to three from the list below so that you have a total of 4 optional modules across the year.
- Design and Manufacture of Composites
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This module is designed to provide you with an understanding of both the design and manufacture of polymer composites and is presented in two sections. First, the design of composites is taught via tutorials on classical laminate theory. An extended series of worked examples provides you with the basic tools you need to design effective composite parts. Second, the manufacture of composites is taught via lectures. You will learn multiple routes for making composite parts alongside practical issues such as defects, machining/joints, failure, testing and non destructive testing, repair and SMART composites.
15 credits - Advanced Energy and Power
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This module will introduce students to the rapidly changing landscape of conventional power generation. The course will provide a greater depth and range of specialist knowledge for advanced plant design for the future including carbon capture. This will provide a foundation for leadership and a wider appreciation of future conventional power station design. Students will become knowledgeable in the sources of pollutants and mitigation techniques employed by the industry and a wider appreciation of social and environmental considerations. The course will permit the students to engage in fundamental design of key components in power generation (burners, boilers) as well as in the simulation of carbon capture plant.
15 credits - Cardiovascular Biomechanics
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This module will enable student to apply fundamental engineering principles to analyse the physiology of the cardiovascular system. The module starts with a brief review of relevant theories in Fluid Mechanics, followed by anatomy and physiology of the cardiovascular system, including blood rheology and vessel tissue mechanics. Students will learn the cardiovascular anatomy using state-of-the-art Virtual Reality equipment. The second part gives students an overview of the modelling, analytical and experimental methods applied to several parts of the cardiovascular system. The final part will focus on more specialised topics, like the application of modelling techniques to investigate correlations with disease.
15 credits - Aviation Safety and Aeroelasticity
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This module covers the area of engineering related to aeroelasticity and safety by means of analytical techniques and study cases. The students will develop a fundamental knowledge of aeroelasticity and its implications for aircraft design and operation and evaluate aircraft loading; be able to analyse different manoeuvres using heave/pitch aircraft models; and be able to calculate internal loads in different manoeuvres. The course will provide students with an understanding of aeroelastic phenomena including flutter and divergence. This course provides the methodology and techniques for prediction/detection of a number of aeroelastic effects.
15 credits - Railway Engineering and Sustainable Transport
-
Transition from undergraduate engineering to real-world application is the focus of Railway Engineering and Sustainable Transport. This module introduces the interdisciplinary field of railway transport through application of mechanical engineering in the context of creating a sustainable transport system. Linking engineering fundamentals to application in the rail industry it focuses on skills and expertise needed to make rail transport and its operation resilient to technological, demographic, economic, social and environmental change.
15 credits
Evaluation and problem solving for rail transport issues provides context for developing widely applicable transferable skills. These include justification of engineering decisions through evaluation of data, and assessment of engineering's economic and social impacts. Themes are explored using a local field trip.
- Human Factors and User-Centred Design
-
The module is designed to give students an introduction to human factors and user-centred design and how they are used within the design process (alongside engineering analysis, manufacturing considerations, marketing etc.). The module concentrates on developing an understanding of how populations are characterised and how that influences design decisions. It gives an overview of the theory and practices surrounding design with humans before asking students to apply those theories in a series of case studies. The module gives students an opportunity to work within a team and learn from peers as they tackle the case studies.
15 credits - Human Movement Biomechanics
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Biomechanics of human movement is the science concerned with the internal and external forces acting on the human body and the effects produced by these forces. This module will teach the students both the kinematics (the branch of biomechanics of entailing the study of movement from a geometrical point of view) and kinetics (the branch of biomechanics investigating what causes a body to move the way it does) of human movement and leverage on practical laboratory sessions to expose them to the most advanced technologies to measure and model the associated mechanical phenomena of interest.
15 credits - Sustainable Materials Manufacturing
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Materials production technologies are often energy intensive resulting in high CO2 emissions as well as other environmental impacts. Many of these materials are also essential in enabling the green transition. This module will examine methods for carbon reduction across a range of the materials industries including steelmaking, bulk glass production and cement manufacture. The development of new production technologies and/or alternative compositions will be examined. This will be supported by a consideration of life cycle assessment and the potential for industrial symbiosis approaches for minimising the overall environmental impact of materials manufacturing processes.
15 credits
The overall aims of the module are to develop your knowledge and understanding of a) the environmental impacts of a range of current and novel materials production processes and b) potential approaches, and their technological limitations, to the decarbonisation of a range of materials production processes, c) the use of life cycle analysis in assessing the environmental impacts of materials processing routes.
The Railway Engineering and Sustainable Transport module spans the full academic year. It counts as one of your optional modules.
The content of our courses is reviewed annually to make sure it's up-to-date and relevant. Individual modules are occasionally updated or withdrawn. This is in response to discoveries through our world-leading research; funding changes; professional accreditation requirements; student or employer feedback; outcomes of reviews; and variations in staff or student numbers. In the event of any change we'll consult and inform students in good time and take reasonable steps to minimise disruption.
Open days
An open day gives you the best opportunity to hear first-hand from our current students and staff about our courses.
Duration
1 year full-time
Teaching
We use a variety of teaching methods to support your learning, including tutorials, lectures, practical work, group project work, virtual learning environments and individual research.
Assessment
Our assessment methods are designed to support the achievement of learning outcomes and develop your professional skills. This may include integrated projects, examinations and portfolio work.
Regular feedback is also provided, so you can understand your own development throughout the course.
School
School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering
Our MScs have been carefully designed with a focus on employability to give you the best possible opportunity to achieve your personal career goals. They are carefully structured to support you to plan beyond your MSc and, because everyone has different aspirations, our MScs contain multiple opportunities to tailor your experience accordingly. This can be achieved through our broad range of elective modules, initiating your own individual research project, and through our Professional Development Portfolio module which is dedicated to employability.
We pride ourselves on our world-class research, and our research-led teaching means that you learn from the experts. Your modules and individual research project will therefore focus on tackling current and future engineering challenges facing society and may be linked to our industrial partners, eg Rolls-Royce, Siemens, Network Rail.
Mechanical Engineering is based in the Grade II listed Sir Frederick Mappin Building and the 1885 Central Wing. Here you will find spaces to socialise with your friends, the student support office, the offices of our academics, and many new research labs.
When studying an MSc in Mechanical Engineering at Sheffield, you will also have direct access to world leading teaching facilities in The Diamond. The Diamond is dedicated to learning and teaching engineering and it features some of the best engineering teaching spaces in the UK with specialist facilities such as our engineering applications workshop, structures and dynamics laboratory, and thermodynamics and mechanics laboratory. There’s also the iForge, our student-led makerspace, where you can use a huge range of manufacturing techniques to make prototypes to support both your studies and your own personal hobbies and interests.
Entry requirements
Minimum 2:1 undergraduate honours degree in a relevant subject with relevant modules.
Subject requirements
We accept degrees in the following subject areas:
- Chemistry
- Manufacturing Automation
- Mathematics
- Mechanical Design
- Mechanical Engineering
- Physics
- Vehicle Engineering
We may also consider other related engineering subjects.
Module requirements
You should have studied at least one module from two of the four areas below:
Area 1 Solid Mechanics
- Design of Machine Elements
- Fracture Mechanics
- Materials Mechanics
- Materials under Stress
- Mechanical Design
- Mechanics/Strength of Deformable Solids
- Mechanics/Strength of Materials
- Solid Mechanics
- Stress/Structural Analysis
- Structural Mechanics/Integrity
Area 2: Dynamics
- Applied/Theoretical/Engineering Mechanics
- Control
- Dynamics
- Mechanics of Machines
- Mechatronics
- Theory of Machines
- Theory of Mechanisms
- Vibration
Area 3: Thermo
- Aero-Engine Theory
- Aero Propulsion
- Air Conditioning
- Automobile Engine
- Diesel Engine
- Internal Combustion Engines
- Reciprocating Engines
- Refrigeration
- Thermodynamics
- Any other module with the words 'Heat', 'Thermal' etc.
Area 4: Fluids
- Aerodynamics
- Fluids
- Gas Dynamics
- Hydraulics
- Pneumatics
NB: Modules containing the words 'Experiment/Experimental' or 'Lab' are unacceptable
English language requirements
IELTS 6.5 (with 6 in each component) or University equivalent.
If you have any questions about entry requirements, please contact the school/department.
Fees and funding
Alumni discount
Save up to £2,500 on your course fees
Are you a Sheffield graduate? You could save up to £2,500 on your postgraduate taught course fees, subject to eligibility.
Apply
You can apply now using our Postgraduate Online Application Form. It's a quick and easy process.
Contact
Any supervisors and research areas listed are indicative and may change before the start of the course.
Recognition of professional qualifications: from 1 January 2021, in order to have any UK professional qualifications recognised for work in an EU country across a number of regulated and other professions you need to apply to the host country for recognition. Read information from the UK government and the EU Regulated Professions Database.
