DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING • Mechanics of solid materials

• Nonlinear dynamics

Mechanical engineering is concerned with the responsible The fundamental engineering principles embodied in these topics
development of products, processes, and power, at scales ranging can be applied over a vast range of force, time, and length scales,
from molecules to large and complex systems. Mechanical and applications of interest in the MMEC area span the spectrum
engineering principles and skills are involved at some stage during from the nano/micro world to the geophysical domain. A Course 2-A
the conception, design, development, and manufacture of every track is oered in this area.
human-made object with moving parts. Many innovations crucial to
our future will have their roots in the world of mass, motion, forces, Area 2: Design, Manufacturing, and Product Development. Design,
and energy—the world of mechanical engineers. manufacturing, and product development is the complete set of
activities needed to bring new devices and technologies to the
Mechanical engineering is one of the broadest and most versatile marketplace. These activities span the entire product life-cycle,
of the engineering professions. This is reflected in the portfolio from the identication of a market opportunity or need, through
of current activities in the Department of Mechanical Engineering design, testing, manufacture and distribution, and end of useful
(MechE), one that has widened rapidly in the past decade. Today, life. Our work includes everything from understanding the voice
our faculty are involved in a wide range of projects, including of the customer to nding new ways of processing materials to
designing tough hydrogels, using nanostructured surfaces improving product performance and tracking product flow through
for clean water and thermal management of microelectronics, a distribution network. A central component of this area is the
developing ecient methods for robust design, the building of design and construction of novel equipment, either for consumer
robotics for land and underwater exploration, creating optimization products or for industrial uses. This spans scales from meters to
methods that autonomously generate decision-making strategies, microns, and involves mechanical, electronic and electromechanical
developing driverless cars, inventing cost-eective photovoltaic devices. Many MechE students apply design, manufacturing, and
cells, developing thermal and electrical energy storage systems, product development skills and techniques to extracurricular design
using acoustics to explore the ocean of one of Jupiter's moons, work for organizations and student activities such as Design that
studying the biomimetics of swimming sh for underwater sensing Matters, Formula SAE, Satellite Engineering Team, and the Solar
applications, developing physiological models for metastatic Electric Vehicle Team. Some projects lead to flagship products for
cancers, inventing novel medical devices, exploring 3D printing of new companies. A Course 2-A track in product development is oered
nanostructures and macrostructures, and developing coatings to along with a unique Master of Engineering degree in manufacturing.
create nonstick surfaces.
Area 3: Controls, Instrumentation, and Robotics. The mission in
The department carries out its mission with a focus on the seven this area is to promote research and education for automating,
areas of excellence described below. Our education and research monitoring, and manipulating systems. The focus is on system-
agendas are informed by these areas, and these are the areas in level behavior that emerges primarily from interactions and cannot
which we seek to impassion the best undergraduate and graduate be explained from individual component behavior alone. We seek
students. to identify fundamental principles and methodologies that enable
systems to exhibit intelligent, goal-oriented behavior, and develop
Area 1: Mechanics: Modeling, Experimentation, and Computation
innovative instruments to monitor, manipulate, and control systems.
(MMEC). At the heart of mechanical engineering lies the ability to
The core competencies in which we seek to excel are:
measure, describe, and model the physical world of materials and
mechanisms. The MMEC area focuses on teaching the fundamental • Methodologies for understanding system behavior through
principles, essential skills, and scientic tools necessary for physical modeling, identication, and estimation.
predicting thermo-mechanical phenomena and using such
• Technologies for sensors and sensor networks; actuators and
knowledge in rational engineering design. We provide students with
energy transducers; and systems for monitoring, processing, and
the foundations in experimental, modeling, and computational skills
communicating information.
needed to understand, exploit, and enhance the thermo-physical
• Fundamental theories and methodologies for analyzing,
behavior of advanced engineering devices and systems, and to make
synthesizing, and controlling systems; learning and adapting to
lifelong creative contributions at the forefront of the mechanical
unknown environments; and eectively achieving task goals.
sciences and beyond. Research in the MMEC area focuses on four key
thrusts: We seek to apply our core competencies to diverse areas of social,
national, and global needs. These include health care, security,
• Computational mechanics
education, medical and security related imaging, space and ocean
• Fluid dynamics and transport
exploration, and autonomous systems in air, land, and underwater
environments. We also oer a Course 2-A track in this area.

Department of Mechanical Engineering | 3

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Area 4: Energy Science and Engineering. Energy is one of the most essential role in governing the function of cells, tissues, and organs.
signicant challenges facing humanity and is a central focus of Our research emphasizes integration of molecular-to-systems–level
mechanical engineering's contribution to society. Our research approaches to probe the behavior of natural biological systems,
focuses on ecient and environmentally friendly energy conversion and to design and build new systems, ranging from analysis of gene
and utilization from fossil and renewable resources. Programs in regulatory networks to microfluidic assays for drug screening or
the department cover many of the fundamental and technological new technologies for quantitative, high-throughput biomedical
aspects of energy, with applications to high performance imaging. Emphasis is also placed on creating new physiological or
combustion engines, batteries and fuel cells, thermoelectricity disease models, including multicellular engineered living systems,
and photovoltaics, wind turbines, and ecient buildings. Work in using nano- and micro-fabrication as well as new biomaterials.
very-low-temperature thermodynamics includes novel sub-Kelvin Applications include understanding, diagnosing, and treating
refrigeration. Eorts in high-temperature thermodynamics and its diseases such as atherosclerosis, osteoarthritis, spinal cord injury or
coupling with transport and chemistry include internal combustion liver failure; new tools for drug discovery and drug development; and
engine analysis, design, and technology; control of combustion tissue-engineered scaolds and devices for in vivo regeneration of
dynamics and emissions; thermoelectric energy conversion; low- and tissues and organs. Work also includes design and fabrication of new
high-temperature fuel cells; and novel materials for rechargeable devices and tools for rehabilitation of stroke victims and for robotic
batteries and thermal energy storage. Work in heat and mass surgery. We oer many elective subjects at the undergraduate and
transport covers thermal control of electronics from manufacturing graduate levels, as well as a bioengineering track in Course 2-A.
to end use; microscale and nanoscale transport phenomena;
desalination and water purication; high heat flux engineering; Area 7: Nano/Micro Science and Technology. The miniaturization
and energy-ecient building technology. Work in renewable energy of devices and systems of ever-increasing complexity has been a
encompasses the design of oshore and floating wind turbines and fascinating and productive engineering endeavor during the past
tidal wave machines; and analysis and manufacturing of photovoltaic few decades. Near and long term, this trend will be amplied as
and thermophotovoltaic devices. Energy storage, hybrid systems, physical understanding of the nano world expands, and widespread
fuel synthesis, and integration of energy systems are active research commercial demand drives the application of manufacturing to
areas in the department. We also oer a Course 2-A track in energy. micro- and nanosystems. Micro- and nanotechnology can have
tremendous impact on a wide range of mechanical systems.
Area 5: Ocean Science and Engineering. The oceans cover over 70 Examples include microelectromechanical system (MEMS) devices
percent of the planet's surface and constitute a critical element in and products that are already deployed as automobile airbag
our quality of life, including the climate and the resources and food sensors, smart phone parts, and for drug delivery; stronger
that we obtain from the sea. This area's objectives are to support and lighter nanostructured materials now used in airplanes and
the undergraduate and graduate programs in ocean engineering, automobiles; and nanostructured energy conversion devices that
including the naval construction program, the MIT/Woods Hole signicantly improve the eciency of renewable energy systems.
Oceanographic Institution Joint Program in Applied Oceanography Research in this area cuts across mechanical engineering and other
and the Course 2-OE degree in mechanical and ocean engineering. disciplines. Examples include sensors and actuators; micro-fluidics,
It also serves as the focus point of ocean-related research and heat transfer, and energy conversion at the micro- and nanoscales;
education at MIT. Major current research activities include marine optical and biological micro- and nano-electromechanical systems
robotics and navigation of underwater vehicles and smart sensors (MEMS and NEMS); engineered nanomaterials; atomic scale
for ocean mapping and exploration; biomimetics to extract new precision engineering; and the nano-phoptonics in measurement,
understanding for the development of novel ocean systems studying sensing, and systems design. Students interested in micro/
marine animals; the study of the mechanics and fluid mechanics of nano technology are encouraged to explore the Course 2-A
systems for ultradeep ocean gas and oil extraction; ocean wave and nanoengineering track.
oshore wind energy extraction; the free surface hydrodynamics
of ocean-going vehicles; the development of advanced naval and In order to prepare the mechanical engineers of the future, the
commercial ships and submersibles, including the all-electric ship; department has developed undergraduate and graduate educational
the mechanics and crashworthiness of ocean ships and structures; programs of the depth and breadth necessary to address the diverse
ocean transportation systems; ocean acoustics for communication, and rapidly changing technological challenges that society faces.
detection, and mapping in the ocean; and adaptive sampling and Our educational programs combine the rigor of academic study with
multidisciplinary forecasting of the ocean behavior. The design of the excitement and creativity inherent to innovation and research.
complex ocean systems permeates all these areas and provides the
cohesive link for our research and teaching activities.

Area 6: Bioengineering. Engineering analysis, design, and synthesis

are needed to understand biological processes and to harness them
successfully for human use. Mechanical forces and structures play an

4 | Department of Mechanical Engineering

 DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

faculty advisors, plan a program that best utilizes the departmental

electives and the 48 units of unrestricted electives available in the
Undergraduate Study
Course 2 degree program.
The Department of Mechanical Engineering (MechE) oers three
programs of undergraduate study. The rst of these, the traditional This program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation
program that leads to the bachelor's degree in mechanical Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and
engineering, is a more structured program that prepares students Technology (ABET) (http://www.abet.org) as a mechanical
for a broad range of career choices in the eld of mechanical engineering degree.
engineering. The second program leads to a bachelor's degree in
engineering and is intended for students whose career objectives Bachelor of Science in Engineering (Course 2-A)
require greater flexibility. It allows them to combine the essential Course 2-A is designed for students whose academic and career
elements of the traditional mechanical engineering program with goals demand greater breadth and flexibility than are allowed under
study in another, complementary eld. The third program, in the mechanical engineering program, Course 2. To a large extent, the
mechanical and ocean engineering, is also a structured program for 2-A program allows students an opportunity to tailor a curriculum to
students interested in mechanical engineering as it applies to the their own needs, starting from a solid mechanical engineering base.
engineering aspects of ocean science, exploration, and utilization, The program combines a rigorous grounding in core mechanical
and of marine transportation. engineering topics with an individualized course of study focused on
a second area that the student designs with the help and approval of
All of the educational programs in the department prepare students the 2-A faculty advisor. The program leads to the degree Bachelor of
for professional practice in an era of rapidly advancing technology. Science in Engineering.
They combine a strong base in the engineering sciences (mechanics,
materials, fluid and thermal sciences, systems and control) with This program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation
project-based laboratory and design experiences. All strive to Commission of ABET as an engineering degree.
develop independence, creative talent, and leadership, as well as the
The educational objectives of the program leading to the degree of
capability for continuing professional growth.
Bachelor of Science in Engineering (http://catalog.mit.edu/degree-
charts/mechanical-engineering-course-2-a) are that:
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (Course 2)
The program in mechanical engineering provides a broad intellectual Within a few years of graduation, a majority of our graduates will
foundation in the eld of mechanical engineering. The program have completed or be progressing through top graduate programs;
develops the relevant engineering fundamentals, includes various advancing in leadership tracks in industry, non-prot organizations,
experiences in their application, and introduces the important or the public sector; or pursuing entrepreneurial ventures. In these
methods and techniques of engineering practice. roles they will: (1) apply a deep working knowledge or technical
fundamentals in areas related to mechanical, electromechanical,
The educational objectives of the program leading to the
and thermal systems to address needs of the customer and
degree Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (http://
society; (2) develop innovative technologies and nd solutions to
catalog.mit.edu/degree-charts/mechanical-engineering-course-2)
engineering problems; (3) communicate eectively as members of
are that:
multidisciplinary teams; (4) be sensitive to professional and societal
Within a few years of graduation, a majority of our graduates will contexts and committed to ethical action; (5) lead in the conception,
have completed or be progressing through top graduate programs; design, and implementation of new products, processes, services,
advancing in leadership tracks in industry, non-prot organizations, and systems.
or the public sector; or pursuing entrepreneurial ventures. In these
A signicant part of the 2-A curriculum consists of electives chosen
roles they will: (1) apply a deep working knowledge or technical
by the student to provide in-depth study of a eld of the student's
fundamentals in areas related to mechanical, electromechanical,
choosing. A wide variety of popular concentrations are possible in
and thermal systems to address needs of the customer and
which well-selected academic subjects complement a foundation in
society; (2) develop innovative technologies and nd solutions to
mechanical engineering and general Institute requirements. Some
engineering problems; (3) communicate eectively as members of
examples of potential concentrations include robotics, engineering
multidisciplinary teams; (4) be sensitive to professional and societal
management, product development, biomedical engineering
contexts and committed to ethical action; (5) lead in the conception,
and pre-medicine, energy conversion engineering, sustainable
design, and implementation of new products, processes, services,
development, architecture and building technology, and any of the
and systems.
seven departmental focus areas mentioned above. The MechE faculty
Students are urged to contact the MechE Undergraduate Oce as have developed specic recommendations in some of these areas;
soon as they have decided to enter mechanical engineering so that details are available from the MechE Undergraduate Oce and on
a faculty advisor may be assigned. Students, together with their the departmental website.

Department of Mechanical Engineering | 5

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Concentrations are not limited to those listed above. Students conception, design, and implementation of new products, processes,
are encouraged to design and propose technically oriented services, and systems.
concentrations that reflect their own needs and those of society.
Graduates have exciting opportunities in oshore industries, naval
The student's overall program must contain a total of at least one architecture, the oceanographic industry, the Navy or government, or
and one-half years of engineering content (150 units) appropriate for further study in graduate school.
to the student's eld of study. The required core and second-level
subjects include approximately 78 units of engineering topics. Minor in Mechanical Engineering
The self-designed concentration must include at least 72 more Students pursuing a minor in the department must complete a total
units of engineering topics. While engineering topics are usually of six 12-unit subjects in the Mechanical Engineering Department
covered through engineering subjects, subjects outside the School program. At least three of the subjects must be selected from among
of Engineering may provide material essential to the engineering the required subjects for the Course 2 and Course 2-OE degree
program of some concentrations. For example, management subjects programs, which are listed below. In addition, two subjects may be
usually form an essential part of an engineering management selected from restricted electives in those programs.
concentration. In all cases, the relationship of concentration subjects
1
to the particular theme of the concentration must be obvious. 18.03 Dierential Equations 12
Select three of the following: 36
To pursue the 2-A degree, students must submit the online 2-A
2.001 Mechanics and Materials I
enrollment form no later than Add Date of their second term in the
2.002 Mechanics and Materials II
program.
2.003[J] Dynamics and Control I
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical and Ocean Engineering 2.004 Dynamics and Control II
(Course 2-OE) 2.005 Thermal-Fluids Engineering I
This program is intended for students who are interested in 2.006 Thermal-Fluids Engineering II
combining a rm foundation in mechanical engineering with
2.007 Design and Manufacturing I
a specialization in ocean engineering. The program includes
2.008 Design and Manufacturing II
engineering aspects of the ocean sciences, ocean exploration, and
utilization of the oceans for transportation, defense, and extracting 2.009 The Product Engineering Process
resources. Theory, experiment, and computation of ocean systems 2.017[J] Design of Electromechanical Robotic
and flows are covered in a number of subjects, complementing a Systems
rigorous mechanical engineering program; a hands-on capstone 2.019 Design of Ocean Systems
design class allows students to master the design of advanced 2.612 Marine Power and Propulsion
marine systems, including autonomous underwater vehicles and
2.086 Numerical Computation for
smart sensors.
Mechanical Engineers
This program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation 2.671 Measurement and Instrumentation
Commission of ABET in both mechanical engineering and ocean Select two additional subjects from the required 24
engineering. subjects or restricted electives for either Course 2 or
2
Course 2-OE
The educational objectives of the program leading to the degree
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical and Ocean Engineering (http:// Total Units 72
catalog.mit.edu/degree-charts/mechanical-ocean-engineering- 1
18.032 Dierential Equations is also an acceptable option. Consult
course-2-oe) are that within a few years of graduation, a majority of
department for other alternatives.
our graduates will have completed or be progressing through top 2
For information about restricted electives in these programs, please
graduate programs; advancing in leadership tracks in industry, non-
refer to the department's website (http://meche.mit.edu/academic/
prot organizations, or the public sector; or pursuing entrepreneurial undergraduate/mecheminor).
ventures. In these roles they will: (1) apply a deep working
knowledge or technical fundamentals in areas related to mechanical, Inquiries
electromechanical, and thermal systems to address needs of the
customer and society; (2) develop innovative technologies and nd Further information on undergraduate programs may
solutions to engineering problems; (3) communicate eectively as be obtained from the MechE Undergraduate Oce (me-
members of multidisciplinary teams; (4) be sensitive to professional undergradoce@mit.edu), Room 1-110, 617-253-230.
and societal contexts and committed to ethical action; (5) lead in the

6 | Department of Mechanical Engineering

 DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Graduate Study Early Admission to Master's Degree Programs in Mechanical

Engineering
The Department of Mechanical Engineering (MechE) provides At the end of the junior year, extraordinarily qualied students in the
opportunities for graduate work leading to the following degrees: Department of Mechanical Engineering will be invited to apply for
Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Master of Science early admission to the graduate program. Students who are admitted
in Ocean Engineering, Master of Science in Naval Architecture will then be able to enroll in core graduate subjects during the senior
and Marine Engineering, Master of Science in Oceanographic year and to nd a faculty advisor who is willing to start and supervise
Engineering, Master of Engineering in Manufacturing, degree of research for the master's thesis while the student is still in the senior
Mechanical Engineer, degree of Naval Engineer, and the Doctor of year. With the consent of the faculty advisor, the student may also
Philosophy (PhD) or Doctor of Science (ScD), which dier in name use a portion of the work conducted towards the master's thesis
only. in the senior undergraduate year to satisfy the requirements of the
bachelor's thesis.
The Master of Engineering in Manufacturing degree is a 12-month
professional degree intended to prepare students for technical
Writing Ability Requirement
leadership in the manufacturing industries.
The Mechanical Engineering Department requires that all incoming
The Mechanical Engineer's and Naval Engineer's degrees oer graduate students demonstrate satisfactory English writing ability,
preparation for a career in advanced engineering practice through a or successfully complete appropriate training in writing. This
program of advanced coursework that goes well beyond the master's requirement reflects the faculty's conviction that writing is an
level. These degrees are not a stepping stone to the PhD. essential skill for all engineers. All incoming graduate students,
native as well as international, must take the departmental writing
The Doctor of Philosophy (or Science), the highest academic degree ability test, which is administered online in June. Depending on
oered, is awarded upon the completion of a program of advanced the results, a student will either pass or be required to take a
study and signicant original research, design, or development. short course during the Independent Activities Period (IAP) (http://
catalog.mit.edu/mit/undergraduate-education/academic-research-
Admission Requirements for Graduate Study options/independent-activities-period) in January.
Applications to the mechanical engineering graduate program are
accepted from persons who have completed, or will have completed Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
by the time they arrive, a bachelor's degree if they are applying To qualify for the Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering,
for a master's degree, or a master's degree if they are applying a student must complete at least 72 credits of coursework, not
for a PhD. Most incoming students have a degree in mechanical including thesis. Of these, at least 48 must be graduate subjects
engineering or ocean engineering, or some related branch of (refer to the Guide to Graduate Study [PDF] (http://meche.mit.edu/
engineering. The department's admission criteria are not specic, documents/MechE_Grad_Guide.pdf) on the MechE website). The
however, and capable students with backgrounds in dierent remainder of the 72 units may include advanced undergraduate
branches of engineering or in science may gain entry. Nevertheless, subjects that are not requirements in the undergraduate mechanical
to qualify for a graduate degree, the candidate is expected to have engineering curriculum.
had at least an undergraduate-level exposure to the core subject
areas in mechanical engineering (applied mechanics, dynamics, At least three of the graduate subjects must be taken in mechanical
fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, materials, control systems, engineering sciences (refer to the Guide to Graduate Study [PDF]
and design) and to be familiar with basic electrical circuits and (http://meche.mit.edu/documents/MechE_Grad_Guide.pdf) on
electromagnetic eld theory. the MechE website). Students must take at least one graduate
mathematics subject (12 units) oered by the MIT Mathematics
Applications for September entry are due on December 15 of the Department. For the Master of Science in Oceanographic
previous year and decisions are reported in March. International Engineering, see also the requirements listed in the Joint Program
students applying from abroad may be admitted, but they will be with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.
allowed to register only if they have full nancial support for the rst
year. Finally, a thesis is required. The thesis is an original work of
research, development, or design, performed under the supervision
All applicants to the graduate program in mechanical engineering of a faculty or research sta member, and is a major part of any
must submit the GRE test results. International students whose graduate program in the Mechanical Engineering Department. A
native language is not English are required to take either the master's student usually spends as much time on thesis work as on
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam and coursework. A master's degree usually takes about one and one-half
receive a minimum score of 7 or the TOEFL exam with a minimum to two years to complete.
acceptable score of 577 (PBT), 233 (CBT) or 100 (iBT).

Department of Mechanical Engineering | 7

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

and social implications, and is quite distinct from the PhD, which
Master of Science in Ocean Engineering/Master of Science in emphasizes depth and originality of research.
Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering/Master of Science in
Oceanographic Engineering The engineer's degree requires a broad program of advanced
The requirements for each of these three degrees are that the coursework in mechanical engineering totaling at least 162 credit
student takes 72 credit units of graduate subjects and complete a units (typically about 14 subjects), including those taken during the
thesis. master's degree program. The engineer's degree program is centered
around the application of engineering principles to advanced
At least three of the subjects must be chosen from a prescribed list engineering problems and includes a Mechanical Engineering
of ocean engineering subjects (refer to the Guide to Graduate Study examination and an applications-oriented thesis, which may be
[PDF] (http://meche.mit.edu/documents/MechE_Grad_Guide.pdf) on an extension of a suitable master's thesis. An engineer's degree
the MechE website). Students must also take at least one graduate typically requires at least one year of study beyond the master's
mathematics subject (12 units) oered by MIT's Mathematics degree.
Department. For the Master of Science in Oceanographic
Engineering, see also the requirements listed under the Joint Naval Engineer's Degree—Program in Naval Construction and
Program with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Engineering
The Naval Construction and Engineering (NVE) program provides US
The required thesis is an original work of research, development, Navy and US Coast Guard ocers, foreign naval ocers, and civilian
or design, conducted under the supervision of a faculty or senior students interested in ships and ship design a broad graduate-level
research sta member. The thesis usually takes between one and education for a career as a naval engineer.
two years to complete.
The program leads to the Naval Engineer's degree, which requires
Master of Engineering in Advanced Manufacturing and Design a higher level of professional competence and broader range of
The Master of Engineering in Advanced Manufacturing and knowledge than is required for the degree of Master of Science in
Design (http://web.mit.edu/meng-manufacturing) is a 12-month Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering or Ocean Engineering.
professional degree in mechanical engineering that is intended Subjects in the areas of economics, industrial management, and
to prepare the student to assume a role of technical leadership in public policy and law, and at least 12 units of comprehensive design
the manufacturing industries. The degree is aimed at practitioners are required, in addition to an in-depth curriculum that includes
who will use this knowledge to become leaders in existing, as well naval architecture, hydrodynamics, ship structures, materials
emerging, manufacturing companies. To qualify for this degree, science, and power and propulsion. The program is appropriate for
a student must complete a highly integrated set of subjects and naval ocers and civilians who plan to participate in the design
projects that cover the process, product, system, and business and construction of naval ships, as well as those interested in
aspects of manufacturing, totaling 90 units, plus complete a group- commercial ship design.
based thesis project with a manufacturing industry. While centered
in engineering and rmly grounded in the engineering sciences, this For students working toward a simultaneous Naval Engineer's degree
degree program considers the entire enterprise of manufacturing. and a master's degree, a single thesis is generally acceptable,
Students will gain both a broad understanding of the many facets of provided it is appropriate to the specications of both degrees,
manufacturing and a knowledge of manufacturing fundamentals from demonstrating an educational maturity expected of the Naval
which to build new technologies and businesses. The admission Engineer's degree.
process is identical to that of the Master of Science degree, with the
exception that two additional essay questions are required. Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Science
The highest academic degree is the Doctor of Science, or Doctor
Learners who earn an MITx Principles of Manufacturing MicroMasters of Philosophy (the two dier only in name). This degree is
Credential (https://www.edx.org/micromasters/mitx-principles- awarded upon the completion of a program of advanced study,
manufacturing) may apply to the Advanced Manufacturing and and the performance of signicant original research, design, or
Design program and, upon acceptance, would be credited 48 units of development. Doctoral degrees are oered in all areas represented
advanced standing credit (equivalent to approximately one-third of by the department's faculty.
the full degree program and one semester on campus).
Students become candidates for the doctorate by passing the
Mechanical Engineer's Degree doctoral qualifying examinations. The doctoral program includes a
The Mechanical Engineer's degree provides an opportunity for major program of advanced study in the student's principal area of
further study beyond the master's level for those who wish to enter interest, and a minor program of study in a dierent eld. The MechE
engineering practice rather than research. This degree emphasizes Graduate Oce should be consulted about the deadline for passing
breadth of knowledge in mechanical engineering and its economic the qualifying exam.

8 | Department of Mechanical Engineering

 DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

The principal component of the program is the thesis. The thesis is a joint-program-woods-hole-oceanographic-institution) under
major, original work that makes a signicant research, development, Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs.
or design contribution in its eld. The thesis and the program of
study are done under a faculty supervisor and a doctoral committee Leaders for Global Operations
selected by the student and his or her supervisor, and perhaps The 24-month Leaders for Global Operations (LGO) (http://
other interested faculty members. The committee makes an catalog.mit.edu/interdisciplinary/graduate-programs/leaders-
annual examination of the candidate's progress and makes a nal global-operations) program combines graduate degrees in
recommendation for a public defense of the work. The doctoral engineering and management for those with previous postgraduate
program typically requires three years of work beyond the master's work experience and strong undergraduate degrees in a technical
degree, although this time is strongly topic dependent. eld. During the two-year program, students complete a six-
month internship at one of LGO's partner companies, where they
Interdisciplinary Programs conduct research that forms the basis of a dual-degree thesis.
Graduate students registered in the Department of Mechanical Students nish the program with two MIT degrees: an MBA (or
Engineering may elect to participate in interdisciplinary programs of SM in management) and an SM from one of seven engineering
study. programs, some of which have optional or required LGO tracks. Aer
graduation, alumni lead strategic initiatives in high-tech, operations,
and manufacturing companies.
Computational Science and Engineering
The Master of Science in Computational Science and Engineering Polymers and So Matter
(CSE SM) (https://cse.mit.edu/programs/sm) is an interdisciplinary The Program in Polymers and So Matter (PPSM) (http://
program for students interested in the development, analysis, polymerscience.mit.edu) oers students from participating
and application of computational approaches to science and departments an interdisciplinary core curriculum in polymer science
engineering. The curriculum is designed with a common core serving and engineering, exposure to the broader polymer community
all science and engineering disciplines and an elective component through seminars, contact with visitors from industry and academia,
focusing on specic disciplinary topics. Students may pursue the and interdepartmental collaboration while working towards a PhD or
CSE SM as a standalone degree or as leading to the CSE PhD program ScD degree.
described below.
Research opportunities include functional polymers, controlled
The Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program in Computational Science drug delivery, nanostructured polymers, polymers at interfaces,
and Engineering (CSE PhD) (https://cse.mit.edu/programs/phd) biomaterials, molecular modeling, polymer synthesis, biomimetic
allows students to specialize at the doctoral level in a computation- materials, polymer mechanics and rheology, self-assembly, and
related eld of their choice through focused coursework and a thesis polymers in energy. The program is described in more detail (http://
through one of the participating host departments in the School catalog.mit.edu/interdisciplinary/graduate-programs/polymers-so-
of Engineering or School of Science. The program is administered matter) under Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs.
jointly by the Center for Computational Science and Engineering
(CCSE) and the host departments; the emphasis of thesis research Technology and Policy
activities is the development of new computational methods and/or The Master of Science in Technology and Policy is an engineering
the innovative application of computational techniques to important research degree with a strong focus on the role of technology in
problems in engineering and science. policy analysis and formulation. The Technology and Policy Program
(TPP) (http://tpp.mit.edu) curriculum provides a solid grounding
For more information, see the program descriptions under in technology and policy by combining advanced subjects in the
Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs. student's chosen technical eld with courses in economics, politics,
quantitative methods, and social science. Many students combine
Joint Program with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution TPP's curriculum with complementary subjects to obtain dual
The Joint Program with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution degrees in TPP and either a specialized branch of engineering or
(WHOI) (http://mit.whoi.edu) is intended for students whose primary an applied social science such as political science or urban studies
career objective is oceanography or oceanographic engineering. and planning. See the program description (http://catalog.mit.edu/
Students divide their academic and research eorts between the schools/mit-schwarzman-college-computing/data-systems-society)
campuses of MIT and WHOI. Joint Program students are assigned under the Institute for Data, Systems, and Society.
an MIT faculty member as academic advisor; thesis research may
be supervised by MIT or WHOI faculty. While in residence at MIT,
students follow a program similar to that of other students in
their home department. The program is described in more detail
(http://catalog.mit.edu/interdisciplinary/graduate-programs/

Department of Mechanical Engineering | 9

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

can also be extremely valuable for reviewing basic subject material—

Financial Support for example, in preparation for the doctoral qualifying exams. It does
The Department of Mechanical Engineering oers three types of not, however, leave much time for thesis research and may extend
nancial assistance to graduate students: research assistantships, the time that the student needs to complete his or her degree.
teaching assistantships, and fellowships.
Inquiries
The majority of students in the department are supported by For additional information on mechanical engineering graduate
research assistantships (RAs), which are appointments to work admissions, contact Una Sheehan. For general inquiries on
on particular research projects with particular faculty members. the mechanical engineering graduate program, contact Leslie
Faculty members procure research grants for various projects and Regan. All can be reached in the MechE Graduate Oce (me-
hire graduate students to carry out the research. The research is gradoce@mit.edu), Room 1-112, 617-253-2291.
almost invariably structured so that it becomes the student's thesis.
An RA appointment provides a full-tuition scholarship (i.e., covers
all tuition) plus a salary that is adequate for a single person. The
Research Laboratories and Programs
nancial details are outlined in a separate handout available from
the MechE Graduate Oce. An RA may register for a maximum of 24 The Mechanical Engineering Department is organized into seven
units (about two subjects) of classroom subjects per regular term areas that collectively capture the broad range of interests and
and 12 units in the summer term, and must do at least the equivalent activities within it. These areas are:
of 24 units of thesis (i.e., research on the project) per term. (Please
• Mechanics: Modeling, Experimentation, and Computation
note that Master of Engineering in Manufacturing students are not
(MMEC)
eligible for RA or TA positions since their subject credits exceed
these limits.) • Design, Manufacturing, and Product Development
• Controls, Instrumentation, and Robotics
Teaching assistants (TAs) are appointed to work on specic subjects
• Energy Science and Engineering
of instruction. As the name implies, they usually assist a faculty
• Ocean Science and Engineering
member in teaching, oen grading homework problems and tutoring
students. In the Mechanical Engineering Department, TAs are very • Bioengineering
seldom used for regular full-time classroom teaching. Full-time TAs • Nano/Micro Science and Technology
are limited to 24 units of credit per regular term, including both
The educational opportunities oered to students in mechanical
classroom subjects and thesis. The TA appointment does not usually
engineering are enhanced by the availability of a wide variety of
extend through the summer.
research laboratories and programs, and well-equipped shops and
A fellowship provides the student with a direct grant, and leaves computer facilities.
the student open to select his or her own research project and
The department provides many opportunities for undergraduates
supervisor. A limited number of awards and scholarships are
to establish a close relationship with faculty members and their
available to graduate students directly through the department. A
research groups. Students interested in project work are encouraged
number of students are also supported by fellowships from outside
to consult their faculty advisor or approach other members of the
agencies, such as the National Science Foundation, Oce of Naval
faculty.
Research, and Department of Defense. Scholarships are awarded
each year by the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers. Many members of the Department of Mechanical Engineering
These awards are normally granted to applicants whose interest is participate in interdepartmental or school-wide research activities.
focused on naval architecture and marine engineering or on ocean These include the Center for Biomedical Engineering, Center for
engineering. Applications are made directly to the granting agency, Computational Science and Engineering, Computational and Systems
and inquiries for the fall term should be made in the preceding fall Biology Program, Computer Science and Articial Intelligence
term. Laboratory, Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies, Laboratory for
Manufacturing and Productivity, Materials Research Science and
Prospective students are invited to communicate with the
Engineering Center, MIT Energy Initiative, Operations Research
Department regarding any of these educational and nancial
Center, Program in Polymers and So Matter, and Sea Grant College
opportunities.
Program. Detailed information about many of these can be found
Experience has shown that the optimum graduate program consists under Research and Study and Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs.
of about equal measures of coursework and research, consistent The department also hosts a number of industrial consortia, which
with an RA appointment. The main advantage of a fellowship is a support some laboratories and research projects. Research in the
greater freedom in choosing a research project and supervisor. A department is supported, in addition, by a broad range of federal
teaching assistantship gives the student teaching experience and agencies and foundations.

10 | Department of Mechanical Engineering

 DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

A partial list of departmental laboratories, listed according to the

seven core areas of research, follows. Martin Center for Engineering Design
Design methodology, design of integrated electrical-mechanical
Mechanics: Modeling, Experimentation, and Computation systems, prototype development, advanced computer-aided design
techniques.
AMP Mechanical Behavior of Materials Laboratory
Mechanisms of deformation and fracture processes in engineering Park Center for Complex Systems
materials. Research to understand complexity, educating students and
scholars on complexity, designing complex systems for the benet
Center for Nonlinear Science of humankind, and disseminating knowledge on complexity to the
Interdisciplinary research into nonlinear phenomena. Incorporates world at large.
the Nonlinear Dynamical Systems Lab (modeling, simulation,
analysis), Nonlinear Dynamics Lab (experiments), and Nonlinear Precision Engineering Laboratory
Systems Lab. Fundamental and applied research on all aspects of the design,
manufacture, and control of high precision machines ranging from
Composite Materials and Nondestructive Evaluation Laboratory manufacturing machines to precision consumer products.
Development of quantitative nondestructive evaluation
characterizations which are directly correlatable with the mechanical Precision Systems Design and Manufacturing Laboratory
properties of materials and structures. Modeling, design, and manufacturing methods for nanopositioning
equipment, carbon nanotube-based mechanisms and machines, and
Finite Element Research Group compliant mechanisms.
Computational procedures for the solution of problems in structural,
solid, and fluid mechanics. Controls, Instrumentation, and Robotics

Hatsopoulos Microfluids Laboratory d'Arbelo Laboratory for Information Systems and Technology
Fundamental research on the behavior of complex fluid systems at Research on mechatronics, home and health automation, interface
microscopic scales, and associated engineering applications. between hardware and soware, and development of sensing
technologies.
Design, Manufacturing, and Product Development
Field and Space Robotics Laboratory
Auto-ID Laboratory Fundamental physics of robotic systems for unstructured
Creation of the "Internet of Things" using radio frequency environments. Development, design, and prototyping of control
identication and wireless sensor networks, and of a global system and planning algorithms for robotic applications, including space
for tracking goods using a single numbering system called the exploration, rough terrains, sea systems, and medical devices and
Electronic Product Code. systems.

Computer-Aided Design Laboratory Nonlinear Systems Laboratory

Advancing the state of the art in design methodology and computer- Analysis and control of nonlinear physical systems with emphasis on
aided design methods. adaptation and learning in robots.

Laboratory for Manufacturing and Productivity Energy Science and Engineering

An interdepartmental laboratory in the School of Engineering.
Polymer microfabrication for microfluidic devices, chemical Center for Energy and Propulsion Research
mechanical planarization for the semiconductor industry, precision Innovative science and technology for a sustainable energy future
macro- and micro-scale devices, and novel metrology methods for in a carbon-constrained world. Fundamental and applied research
micro-scale devices. Small-scale fuel cells design, photovoltaic in energy conversion and transportation, with applications to low-
material and process research, and manufacture of photovoltaic carbon ecient energy and propulsion systems. Includes several
panels. Identication technologies such as RFID, wireless sensors, research groups:
and complex systems. Methods to integrate data and models across
global networks. Factory-level manufacturing systems design and • Electrochemical Energy Laboratory. Engineering of advanced
control, and supply chain design and management. Environmentally materials for lithium batteries, proton exchange membrane and
benign manufacturing. solid oxide fuel cells, and air battery and fuel cell hybrids.
• Reacting Gas Dynamics Laboratory. Fluid flow, chemical reaction,
and combustion phenomena associated with energy conversion

Department of Mechanical Engineering | 11

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

in propulsion systems, power generation, industrial processes, of their resistance and seakeeping in deep and shallow waters.
and res. Analytical and computational techniques.
• Sloan Automotive Laboratory. Processes and technology that • Laboratory for Undersea Remote Sensing. Ocean exploration,
control the performance, eciency, and environmental impact undersea remote sensing of marine life and geophysical
of internal combustion engines, their lubrication, and fuel phenomena, wave propagation and scattering theory in remote
requirements. sensing, statistical estimation and information theory, acoustics
and seismics, Europa exploration.
Cryogenic Engineering Laboratory • Marine Hydrodynamics Laboratory (Propeller Tunnel). A variable-
Application of thermodynamics, heat transfer, and mechanical pressure recirculating water tunnel capable of speeds up to
design to cryogenic processes and instrumentation and the 10 m/s. Experiments are performed using state-of-the-art
operation of a liquid helium facility. measurement techniques and instrumentation.
• Multidisciplinary Ocean Dynamics and Engineering Laboratory.
Rohsenow Kendall Heat Transfer Laboratory Complex physical and interdisciplinary oceanic dynamics and
Fundamental research in microscale/nanoscale transport, processes. Mathematical model and computation methods
convection, laser/material interaction, and high heat fluxes; applied for ocean predictions, dynamical diagnostics, and for data
research in water purication, thermoelectric devices, energy- assimilation and data-model comparisons.
ecient buildings, and thermal management of electronics. • Ocean Engineering Testing Tank. The tank is 108 feet long, 8.5
feet wide, with an average depth of 4.5 feet. The wave generator
Ocean Science and Engineering can generate harmonic or random waves. The tank also houses
several laser flow visualization systems.
Center for Ocean Engineering
• Vortical Flow Research Laboratory. Advanced capabilities
Provides an enduring ocean engineering identity, giving visibility
for simulation of complex vertical flows. Powerful computer
to the outside world of MIT's commitment to the oceans, and
workstations and LINUX clusters, computer-video image
serves as the focus point of ocean-related research at the Institute.
conversion, and state-of-the-art flow simulation animation
Supports the research activities of the MIT-WHOI Joint Program
technologies.
in Oceanographic Engineering and the Naval Construction and
Engineering Program. Encompasses the activities of the following • MIT Sea Grant AUV Lab. Dedicated to autonomous underwater
research groups and laboratories: vehicles (AUVs), the lab is a leading developer of advanced
unmanned marine robots, with applications in oceanography,
• Autonomous Marine Sensing Lab. Distributed ocean sensing environmental monitoring, and underwater resource studies.
concepts for oceanographic science, national defense, and It engages in instrumentation and algorithm development for
coastal management and protection. Oceanographic sensing and underwater vehicles performing navigation- and information-
modeling, sonar system technology, computational underwater intensive tasks. Various vehicle platforms, and fabrication tools
acoustics, and marine robotics and communication networking. and materials are available.
• Design Lab. Ship design, oshore structure design,
marine robotics, geometric and solid modeling, advanced Bioengineering
manufacturing, and shipbuilding. Includes the Center for
Environmental Sensing and Modeling. Bioinstrumentation Laboratory
• Experimental Hydrodynamics Lab. Advanced surface ship, Utilization of biology, optics, mechanics, mathematics, electronics,
oshore platform, and underwater vehicle design. Development and chemistry to develop innovative instruments for the analysis
of non-invasive flow measurement and visualization methods. of biological processes and new devices for the treatment and
• Impact and Crashworthiness Laboratory. Industry-oriented diagnosis of disease.
fracture testing and prediction technology of advanced
high-strength steel sheets for automotive and shipbuilding Human and Machine Haptics
applications. Includes both quasi-static and high strain rate Interdisciplinary studies aimed at understanding human haptics,
response and eect of loading history on fracture. developing machine haptics, and enhancing human-machine
interactions in virtual reality and teleoperator systems.
• Experimental and Nonlinear Dynamics Lab. Laboratory
experiments to obtain insight into all manner of dynamical
Laboratory for Biomechanics of Cells and Biomolecules
phenomena, from micro-scale diusive processes to global-scale
Development of new instruments for the measurement of mechanical
oceanic wave elds. Field studies for ocean-related problems.
properties on the scale of a single cell or single molecule to better
• Laboratory for Ship and Platform Flows. Modeling of free surface understand the interactions between biology and mechanics.
flows past conventional and high-speed vessels and estimation

12 | Department of Mechanical Engineering

 DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Wai K. Cheng, PhD

Newman Laboratory for Biomechanics and Human Rehabilitation Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Research on bioinstrumentation, neuromuscular control, and
technology for diagnosis and remediation of disabilities. Chryssostomos Chryssostomidis, PhD
Henry L. Doherty Professor in Ocean Science and Engineering
Nano/Micro Science and Technology Professor Post-Tenure of Mechanical and Ocean Engineering

Jung-Hoon Chun, PhD

Pappalardo Laboratory for Micro/Nano Engineering Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Creation of new engineering knowledge and products on the nano
and micro scale through multidomain, multidisciplinary, and Martin L. Culpepper, PhD
multiscale research. Professor of Mechanical Engineering

Domitilla Del Vecchio, PhD

George N. Hatsopoulos (1949) Faculty Fellowship in Interdisciplinary
Faculty and Teaching Sta
Research
A. John Hart, PhD Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Head, Department of Mechanical Engineering Daniel Frey, PhD
Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Professors (On leave, fall)
Rohan Abeyaratne, PhD
Ahmed F. Ghoniem, PhD
Quentin Berg (1937) Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Ronald C. Crane (1972) Professor
Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Triantaphyllos R. Akylas, PhD
Lorna Gibson, PhD
Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Matoula S. Salapatas Professor Post-Tenure of Materials Science and
Lallit Anand, PhD Engineering
Warren and Townley Rohsenow Professor Professor Post-Tenure of Mechanical Engineering
Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Leon R. Glicksman, PhD
H. Harry Asada, PhD Professor Post-Tenure of Building Technology
Ford Foundation Professor of Engineering Professor Post-Tenure of Mechanical Engineering
Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Stephen C. Graves, PhD
George Barbastathis, PhD Abraham J. Siegel Professor of Management
Professor of Mechanical Engineering Professor of Operations Management and Leaders for Global
Operations
Klaus-Jürgen Bathe, ScD, PhD Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Professor Post-Tenure of Mechanical Engineering Member, Institute for Data, Systems, and Society

Mark Bathe, PhD Linda G. Grith, PhD

Professor of Biological Engineering School of Engineering Professor of Teaching Innovation
Professor of Mechanical Engineering Professor of Biological Engineering
(On leave, spring) Professor of Mechanical Engineering

John G. Brisson II, PhD Timothy G. Gutowski, PhD

Professor of Mechanical Engineering Professor of Mechanical Engineering

Tonio Buonassisi, PhD Nicolas Hadjiconstantinou, PhD

Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Manufacturing Professor of Mechanical Engineering
(On leave)
Gang Chen, PhD
Carl Richard Soderberg Professor in Power Engineering David E. Hardt, PhD
Professor of Mechanical Engineering Ralph E. and Eloise F. Cross Professor in Manufacturing
Professor of Mechanical Engineering

Department of Mechanical Engineering | 13

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Douglas Hart, PhD Pierre F. J. Lermusiaux, PhD

Professor of Mechanical Engineering Nam Pyo Suh Professor
Professor of Mechanical and Ocean Engineering
Asegun Henry, PhD (On leave)
Robert N. Noyce Career Development Professor
Professor of Mechanical Engineering John H. Lienhard, PhD
(On leave, fall) Abdul Latif Jameel Professor of Water and Food
Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Neville Hogan, PhD (On leave)
Sun Jae Professor in Mechanical Engineering
Professor of Brain and Cognitive Sciences Seth Lloyd, PhD
Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Anette E. Hosoi, PhD
Neil and Jane Pappalardo Professor Nicholas Makris, PhD
Professor of Mechanical Engineering Professor of Mechanical and Ocean Engineering
Professor of Mathematics
Member, Institute for Data, Systems, and Society Scott R. Manalis, PhD
David H. Koch Professor in Engineering
Ian Hunter, PhD Professor of Biological Engineering
George N. Hatsopoulos Professor in Thermodynamics Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Professor of Mechanical Engineering Associate Head, Department of Biological Engineering

Roger Dale Kamm, PhD Gareth H. McKinley, PhD

Cecil H. Green Distinguished Professor Post-Tenure School of Engineering Professor of Teaching Innovation
Professor Post-Tenure of Mechanical Engineering Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Professor Post-Tenure of Biological Engineering
David M. Parks, PhD
Kenneth N. Kamrin, PhD Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Professor of Mathematics Anthony T. Patera, PhD
Ford Foundation Professor of Engineering
Rohit N. Karnik, PhD Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Tata Professor
Professor of Mechanical Engineering Nicholas M. Patrikalakis, PhD
(On leave, spring) Kawasaki Professor of Engineering
Professor of Mechanical and Ocean Engineering
Sang-Gook Kim, PhD (On leave, spring)
Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Thomas Peacock, PhD
Sangbae Kim, PhD Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Emanuel Michael Sachs, PhD
Robert Langer, ScD Professor of Mechanical Engineering
David H. Koch (1962) Institute Professor
Professor of Chemical Engineering Themistoklis Sapsis, PhD
Professor of Mechanical Engineering Professor of Mechanical and Ocean Engineering
Professor of Biological Engineering Member, Institute for Data, Systems, and Society
Aliate Faculty, Institute for Medical Engineering and Science Sanjay E. Sarma, PhD
Steven B. Leeb, PhD Fred Fort Flowers (1941) and Daniel Fort Flowers (1941) Professor
Emanuel Landsman (1958) Professor Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Professor of Electrical Engineering (On leave)
Professor of Mechanical Engineering Henrik Schmidt, PhD
John J. Leonard, PhD Professor Post-Tenure of Mechanical and Ocean Engineering
Samuel C. Collins Professor Paul D. Sclavounos, PhD
Professor of Mechanical and Ocean Engineering Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture

14 | Department of Mechanical Engineering

 DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Warren Seering, PhD Maria Yang, PhD

Weber-Shaughness Professor Gail E. Kendall Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Professor of Mechanical Engineering Professor of Mechanical Engineering

Yang Shao-Horn, PhD Ioannis V. Yannas, PhD

JR East Professor of Engineering Professor of Polymer Science and Engineering
Professor of Mechanical Engineering Member, Health Sciences and Technology Faculty
Professor of Materials Science and Engineering
Kamal Youcef-Toumi, ScD
Alexander H. Slocum, PhD Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Walter M. May and A. Hazel May Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Dick K. P. Yue, PhD
Jean-Jacques E. Slotine, PhD Philip J. Solondz (1948) Professor of Engineering
Professor of Mechanical Engineering Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Professor of Information Sciences
Member, Institute for Data, Systems, and Society Xuanhe Zhao, PhD
Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Peter T. C. So, PhD Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Professor of Biological Engineering (On leave, fall)
Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Associate Professors
Alexandra H. Techet, PhD Irmgard Bischoerger, PhD
Professor of Mechanical and Ocean Engineering Class of 1942 Career Development Chair
Russell L. Tedrake, PhD Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Toyota Professor Cullen R. Buie, PhD
Professor of Computer Science and Engineering Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Professor of Mechanical Engineering Tal Cohen, PhD
Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Michael S. Triantafyllou, ScD Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Henry L. and Grace Doherty Professor in Ocean Science and
Engineering Betar Gallant, PhD
Professor of Mechanical and Ocean Engineering Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering
(On leave, fall)
David L. Trumper, PhD
Professor of Mechanical Engineering Ming Guo, PhD
Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering
J. Kim Vandiver, PhD
Professor of Mechanical and Ocean Engineering Jeehwan Kim, PhD
Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Kripa K. Varanasi, PhD Associate Professor of Materials Science and Engineering
Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Mathias Kolle, PhD
David Robert Wallace, PhD Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Professor of Mechanical Engineering (On leave, spring)
Evelyn N. Wang, PhD Stefanie Mueller, PhD
Ford Professor of Engineering TIBCO Founders Professor
Professor of Mechanical Engineering Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Tomasz Wierzbicki, PhD Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Professor Post-Tenure of Mechanical Engineering Ellen Roche, PhD
Professor Post-Tenure of Applied Mechanics Latham Family Career Development Professor
James H. Williams Jr, PhD Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Professor Post-Tenure of Teaching Excellence Core Faculty, Institute for Medical Engineering and Science
Professor Post-Tenure of Mechanical Engineering

Department of Mechanical Engineering | 15

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Giovanni Traverso, PhD

Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering Associate Professors of the Practice
(On leave, fall) Douglas Jonart, PhD
Associate Professor of the Practice of Naval Construction and
Amos Winter, PhD Engineering
Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Visiting Professors
Assistant Professors Nicholas Xuanlai Fang, PhD
Faez Ahmed, PhD Visiting Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering

Navid Azizan, PhD Visiting Associate Professors

Edgerton Career Development Professor Alberto Rodriguez, PhD
Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering Visiting Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Member, Institute for Data, Systems, and Society
Senior Lecturers
Kaitlyn P. Becker, PhD Daniel Braunstein, PhD
Henry L. and Grace Doherty Professorship in Ocean Science and Senior Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering
Engineering
Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering Stephen Fantone, PhD
Senior Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering
Sili Deng, PhD
Class of 1954 Career Development Professor Franz Hover, PhD
Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering Senior Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering

Ashwin Gopinath, PhD Barbara Hughey, PhD

Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering Senior Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering

Carlos Portela, PhD Raymond S. McCord, MS, Eng

Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering Senior Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering

Ritu Raman, PhD William Plummer, PhD

Brit (1961) and Alex (1949) d’Arbelo Career Development Professor Senior Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering
Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering Amy Smith, MS, MEng
Vivishek Sudhir, PhD Senior Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering
Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering Simona Socrate, PhD
Loza Tadesse, PhD Senior Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering
Brit (1961) and Alex (1949) d’Arbelo Career Development Professor Abbott Weiss, PhD
Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering Senior Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering
Wim van Rees, PhD Dawn Wendell, PhD
Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering Senior Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering
Sherrie Wang, PhD
Brit (1961) and Alex (1949) d’Arbelo Career Development Professor Lecturers
Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering Kevin Cedrone, PhD
Member, Institute for Data, Systems, and Society Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering

Christina Chase, BA
Professors of the Practice Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering
Richard M. Wiesman, PhD
Professor of the Practice of Mechanical Engineering Harrison Chin, PhD
Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering

Benita Comeau, PhD

Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering

16 | Department of Mechanical Engineering

 DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Kevin DiGenova, PhD

Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering Senior Research Scientists
Anuradha M. Annaswamy, PhD
Julio Guerrero, PhD Senior Research Scientist of Mechanical Engineering
Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering
Lynette A. Jones, PhD
Victor Hung, BS Senior Research Scientist of Mechanical Engineering
Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering
Yuming Liu, PhD
Bavand Keshavarz, PhD Senior Research Scientist of Mechanical Engineering
Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering

John Liu, PhD Principal Research Scientists

Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering Brian Anthony, PhD
Principal Research Scientist of Mechanical Engineering
Peter Nielsen, PhD
Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering Michael Richard Benjamin, PhD
Principal Research Scientist of Mechanical Engineering
James Douglass Penn, PhD
Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering Svetlana V. Boriskina, PhD
Principal Research Scientist of Mechanical Engineering
Nathan Phipps, PhD
Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering H. Igo Krebs, PhD
Principal Research Scientist of Mechanical Engineering
Robert Podolo, PhD
Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering Research Associates
Chris Mirabito, PhD
Joshua Ramos, PhD Research Associate of Mechanical Engineering
Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering
Yi J. Wang, PhD
Michael Wardlaw, MS Research Associate of Mechanical Engineering
Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering
Research Engineers
Instructors Kelli Hendrickson, ScD
Rachel Mok, PhD Research Engineer of Mechanical Engineering
Instructor of Mechanical Engineering
Benjamin Judge, PhD
Technical Instructors Research Engineer of Mechanical Engineering
Stephen G. Banzaert, MS
Technical Instructor of Mechanical Engineering Amanda Stack, PhD
Research Engineer of Mechanical Engineering
Daniel Gilbert, BA
Technical Instructor of Mechanical Engineering Research Scientists
Moises Alencastre Miranda, PhD
Pierce Hayward, MS Research Scientist of Mechanical Engineering
Technical Instructor of Mechanical Engineering
Susan Elizabeth Amrose, PhD
Tasker Smith, BA Research Scientist of Mechanical Engineering
Technical Instructor of Mechanical Engineering
Rahul Bhattacharyya, PhD
Research Scientist of Mechanical Engineering
Research Sta
Michael Bono Jr., PhD
Senior Research Engineers Research Scientist of Mechanical Engineering
Tian Tian, PhD
Senior Research Engineer of Mechanical Engineering Bachir El Fil, PhD
Research Scientist of Mechanical Engineering

Department of Mechanical Engineering | 17

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Micha Feigin-Almon, PhD Lenan Zhang, PhD

Research Scientist of Mechanical Engineering Research Scientist of Mechanical Engineering

Richard Ribon Fletcher, PhD

Research Scientist of Mechanical Engineering Professors Emeriti
Arthur B. Baggeroer, ScD
Kiarash Gordiz, PhD
Professor Emeritus of Mechanical and Ocean Engineering
Research Scientist of Mechanical Engineering
Professor Emeritus of Electrical Engineering
Patrick Haley, PhD
Mary C. Boyce, PhD
Research Scientist of Mechanical Engineering
Ford Foundation Professor Emerita of Engineering
Nevan Clancy Hanumara, PhD Professor Emerita of Mechanical Engineering
Research Scientist of Mechanical Engineering
C. Forbes Dewey Jr, PhD
Stephen Ho, PhD Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering
Research Scientist of Mechanical Engineering Professor Emeritus of Biological Engineering

Nora C. Hogan, PhD Steven Dubowsky, PhD

Research Scientist of Mechanical Engineering Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering
Professor Emeritus of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Po-Hsun Huang, PhD
Research Scientist of Mechanical Engineering David C. Gossard, PhD
Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering
Miguel Jimenez, PhD
Research Scientist of Mechanical Engineering Alan J. Grodzinsky, ScD
Professor Emeritus of Biological Engineering
Jeon Woong Kang, PhD Professor Emeritus of Electrical Engineering
Research Scientist of Mechanical Engineering Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering

George E. Karniadakis, PhD John B. Heywood, ScD, PhD

Research Scientist of Mechanical Engineering Sun Jae Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering
Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering
Hyunseok Kim, PhD
Research Scientist of Mechanical Engineering Henry S. Marcus, DBA
Professor Emeritus of Marine Systems
Suhin Kim, PhD
Research Scientist of Mechanical Engineering Chiang C. Mei, PhD
Ford Professor Emeritus of Engineering
Aaron H. Persad, PhD
Professor Emeritus of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Research Scientist of Mechanical Engineering
Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering
Mehdi Pishahang, PhD
Borivoje Mikić, ScD
Research Scientist of Mechanical Engineering
Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering
Themistocles L. Resvanis, PhD
John Nicholas Newman, ScD
Research Scientist of Mechanical Engineering
Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture
Santosh Shanbhogue, PhD
Carl R. Peterson, ScD
Research Scientist of Mechanical Engineering
Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering
Dajiang Suo, PhD
Derek Rowell, PhD
Research Scientist of Mechanical Engineering
Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering
Grgur Tokic, PhD
Thomas B. Sheridan, ScD
Research Scientist of Mechanical Engineering
Professor Emeritus of Engineering and Applied Psychology
Jianan Zhang, PhD Professor Emeritus of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Research Scientist of Mechanical Engineering

18 | Department of Mechanical Engineering

 DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Nam P. Suh, PhD

Ralph E. and Eloise F. Cross Professor Emeritus 2.00C[J] Design for Complex Environmental Issues
Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering Same subject as 1.016[J], EC.746[J]
Prereq: None
Neil E. Todreas, PhD U (Spring)
Professor Emeritus of Nuclear Science and Engineering 3-1-5 units
Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering
Working in small teams with real clients, students develop solutions
Gerald L. Wilson, PhD related to the year's Terrascope topic. They have signicant
Vannevar Bush Professor Emeritus autonomy as they follow a full engineering design cycle from client
Professor Emeritus of Electrical Engineering prole through increasingly sophisticated prototypes to nal
Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering product. Provides opportunities to acquire skills with power tools,
workshop practice, design, product testing, and teamwork. Focuses
on sustainability and appropriate technology that matches the
First-Year Introductory Subjects client's specic situation and constraints. Products are exhibited in
the public Bazaar of Ideas and evaluated by an expert panel. Class
2.00A Designing for the Future: Earth, Sea, and Space taught in collaboration with D-Lab and Beaver Works. Limited to rst-
Prereq: Calculus I (GIR) and Physics I (GIR) year students. Open to students outside of Terrascope.
U (Spring) A. W. Epstein, J. Grimm, S. L. Hsu
3-3-3 units

Student teams formulate and complete space/earth/ocean Core Undergraduate Subjects

exploration-based design projects with weekly milestones.
Introduces core engineering themes, principles, and modes of 2.00 Introduction to Design
thinking. Specialized learning modules enable teams to focus Prereq: None
on the knowledge required to complete their projects, such as U (Fall; second half of term)
machine elements, electronics, design process, visualization 2-2-2 units
and communication. Includes exercises in written and oral
communication and team building. Examples of projects include Project-based introduction to product development and engineering
surveying a lake for millfoil, from a remote controlled aircra, and design. Emphasizes key elements of the design process, including
then sending out robotic harvesters to clear the invasive growth; and dening design problems, generating ideas, and building solutions.
exploration to search for the evidence of life on a moon of Jupiter, Presents a range of design techniques to help students think about,
with scientists participating through teleoperation and supervisory evaluate, and communicate designs, from sketching to physical
control of robots. Enrollment limited; preference to freshmen. prototyping, as well as other types of modeling. Students work both
A. Techet individually and in teams.
M. Yang
2.00B Toy Product Design
Prereq: None 2.000 Explorations in Mechanical Engineering
U (Spring) Prereq: None
3-5-1 units U (Spring)
2-0-0 units
Provides students with an overview of design for entertainment
and play, as well as opportunities in creative product design and Broad introduction to the various aspects of mechanical engineering
community service. Students develop ideas for new toys that serve at MIT, including mechanics, design, controls, energy, ocean
clients in the community, and work in teams with local sponsors engineering, bioengineering, and micro/nano engineering through
and with experienced mentors on a themed toy design project. a variety of experiences, including discussions led by faculty,
Students enhance creativity and experience fundamental aspects of students, and industry experts. Reviews research opportunities
the product development process, including determining customer and undergraduate major options in Course 2 as well as a variety of
needs, brainstorming, estimation, sketching, sketch modeling, career paths pursued by alumni. Subject can count toward the 6-unit
concept development, design aesthetics, detailed design, and discovery-focused credit limit for rst year students.
prototyping. Includes written, visual, and oral communication. A. Nasto
Enrollment limited; preference to freshmen.
D. R. Wallace

Department of Mechanical Engineering | 19

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

2.001 Mechanics and Materials I 2.004 Dynamics and Control II

Prereq: Physics I (GIR); Coreq: 2.087 or 18.03 Prereq: Physics II (GIR) and 2.003[J]
U (Fall, Spring) U (Fall, Spring)
4-1-7 units. REST 4-2-6 units

Introduction to statics and the mechanics of deformable solids. Modeling, analysis, and control of dynamic systems. System
Emphasis on the three basic principles of equilibrium, geometric modeling: lumped parameter models of mechanical, electrical, and
compatibility, and material behavior. Stress and its relation to force electromechanical systems; interconnection laws; actuators and
and moment; strain and its relation to displacement; linear elasticity sensors. Linear systems theory: linear algebra; Laplace transform;
with thermal expansion. Failure modes. Application to simple transfer functions, time response and frequency response, poles
engineering structures such as rods, shas, beams, and trusses. and zeros; block diagrams; solutions via analytical and numerical
Application to biomechanics of natural materials and structures. techniques; stability. Introduction to feedback control: closed-
S. Socrate, M. Culpepper, D. Parks, K. Kamrin loop response; PID compensation; steady-state characteristics,
root-locus design concepts, frequency-domain design concepts.
2.002 Mechanics and Materials II Laboratory experiments and control design projects. Enrollment may
Prereq: Chemistry (GIR) and 2.001 be limited due to laboratory capacity; preference to Course 2 majors
U (Spring) and minors.
3-3-6 units D. Del Vecchio, D. Trumper

Introduces mechanical behavior of engineering materials, and the 2.005 Thermal-Fluids Engineering I
use of materials in mechanical design. Emphasizes the fundamentals Prereq: (Physics II (GIR), 18.03, and (2.086, 6.100B, or 18.06)) or
of mechanical behavior of materials, as well as design with permission of instructor
materials. Major topics: elasticity, plasticity, limit analysis, fatigue, U (Fall, Spring)
fracture, and creep. Materials selection. Laboratory experiments 5-0-7 units
involving projects related to materials in mechanical design.
Enrollment may be limited due to laboratory capacity; preference to Integrated development of the fundamental principles
Course 2 majors and minors. of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer,
L. Anand, K. Kamrin, P. Reis with applications. Focuses on the rst and second laws of
thermodynamics, mass conservation, and momentum conservation,
2.003[J] Dynamics and Control I for both closed and open systems. Entropy generation and its
Same subject as 1.053[J] influence on the performance of engineering systems. Introduction
Prereq: Physics II (GIR); Coreq: 2.087 or 18.03 to dimensionless numbers. Introduction to heat transfer: conduction,
U (Fall, Spring) convection, and radiation. Steady-state and transient conduction.
4-1-7 units. REST Finned surfaces. The heat equation and the lumped capacitance
model. Coupled and uncoupled fluid models. Hydrostatics. Inviscid
Introduction to the dynamics and vibrations of lumped-parameter flow analysis and Bernoulli equation. Navier-Stokes equation and
models of mechanical systems. Kinematics. Force-momentum its solutions. Viscous internal flows, head losses, and turbulence.
formulation for systems of particles and rigid bodies in planar Introduction to pipe flows and Moody chart.
motion. Work-energy concepts. Virtual displacements and virtual A. Henry
work. Lagrange's equations for systems of particles and rigid bodies
in planar motion. Linearization of equations of motion. Linear
stability analysis of mechanical systems. Free and forced vibration
of linear multi-degree of freedom models of mechanical systems;
matrix eigenvalue problems.
J. K. Vandiver, N. C. Makris, N. M. Patrikalakis, T. Peacock, D.
Gossard, K. Turitsyn

20 | Department of Mechanical Engineering

 DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

2.006 Thermal-Fluids Engineering II 2.008 Design and Manufacturing II

Prereq: 2.005 Prereq: 2.007; or Coreq: 2.017[J] and (2.005 or 2.051)
U (Fall, Spring) U (Fall, Spring)
5-0-7 units 3-3-6 units. Partial Lab

Focuses on the application of the principles of thermodynamics, Integration of design, engineering, and management disciplines
heat transfer, and fluid mechanics to the design and analysis and practices for analysis and design of manufacturing enterprises.
of engineering systems. Dimensional analysis, similarity, and Emphasis is on the physics and stochastic nature of manufacturing
modeling. Pipe systems: major and minor losses. Laminar and processes and systems, and their eects on quality, rate, cost,
turbulent boundary layers. Boundary layer separation, li and drag and flexibility. Topics include process physics and control, design
on objects. Heat transfer associated with laminar and turbulent flow for manufacturing, and manufacturing systems. Group project
of fluids in free and forced convection in channels and over surfaces. requires design and fabrication of parts using mass-production and
Pure substance model. Heat transfer in boiling and condensation. assembly methods to produce a product in quantity. Six units may
Thermodynamics and fluid mechanics of steady flow components be applied to the General Institute Lab Requirement. Satises 6
of thermodynamic plants. Heat exchanger design. Power cycles and units of Institute Laboratory credit. Enrollment may be limited due to
refrigeration plants. Design of thermodynamic plants. Analyses for laboratory capacity; preference to Course 2 majors and minors.
alternative energy systems. Multi-mode heat transfer and fluid flow J.-H. Chun, J. Hart, S.G. Kim, J. Liu, W. Seering, D. Wendell
in thermodynamic plants.
R. Karnik, B. Gallant 2.009 The Product Engineering Process
Prereq: 2.001, 2.003[J], (2.005 or 2.051), and (2.00B, 2.670, or 2.678)
2.007 Design and Manufacturing I U (Fall)
Prereq: 2.001 and 2.670; Coreq: 2.086 3-3-9 units
U (Spring)
3-4-5 units Students develop an understanding of product development phases
and experience working in teams to design and construct high-
Develops students' competence and self-condence as design quality product prototypes. Design process learned is placed into a
engineers. Emphasis on the creative design process bolstered by broader development context. Primary goals are to improve ability
application of physical laws. Instruction on how to complete projects to reason about design alternatives and apply modeling techniques
on schedule and within budget. Robustness and manufacturability appropriate for dierent development phases; understand how
are emphasized. Subject relies on active learning via a major design- to gather and process customer information and transform it
and-build project. Lecture topics include idea generation, estimation, into engineering specications; and use teamwork to resolve
concept selection, visual thinking, computer-aided design (CAD), the challenges in designing and building a substantive product
mechanism design, machine elements, basic electronics, technical prototype. Instruction and practice in oral communication provided.
communication, and ethics. Lab fee. Limited enrollment. Pre- Enrollment may be limited due to laboratory capacity; preference to
registration required for lab assignment; special sections by lottery Course 2 seniors.
only. D. R. Wallace
S. Kim, A. Winter

Department of Mechanical Engineering | 21

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

2.013 Engineering Systems Design 2.016 Hydrodynamics

Subject meets with 2.733 Prereq: 2.005
Prereq: (2.001, 2.003[J], (2.005 or 2.051), and (2.00B, 2.670, or U (Fall)
2.678)) or permission of instructor 3-0-9 units
U (Fall)
0-6-6 units Covers fundamental principles of fluid mechanics and applications
to practical ocean engineering problems. Basic geophysical fluid
Focuses on the design of engineering systems to satisfy stated mechanics, including the eects of salinity, temperature, and
performance, stability, and/or control requirements. Emphasizes density; heat balance in the ocean; large scale flows. Hydrostatics.
individual initiative, application of fundamental principles, and Linear free surface waves, wave forces on floating and submerged
the compromises inherent in the engineering design process. structures. Added mass, li and drag forces on submerged
Culminates in the design of an engineering system, typically a bodies. Includes nal project on current research topics in marine
vehicle or other complex system. Includes instruction and practice in hydrodynamics.
written and oral communication through team presentations, design A. H. Techet
reviews, and written reports. Students taking graduate version
complete additional assignments. Enrollment may be limited due to 2.017[J] Design of Electromechanical Robotic Systems
laboratory capacity; preference to Course 2 majors and minors. Same subject as 1.015[J]
D. Hart Prereq: 2.003[J], 2.016, and 2.678; Coreq: 2.671
U (Spring)
2.014 Engineering Systems Development 3-3-6 units. Partial Lab
Subject meets with 2.734
Prereq: (2.001, 2.003[J], (2.005 or 2.051), and (2.00B, 2.670, or Design, construction, and testing of eld robotic systems,
2.678)) or permission of instructor through team projects with each student responsible for a specic
U (Spring) subsystem. Projects focus on electronics, instrumentation, and
0-6-6 units machine elements. Design for operation in uncertain conditions is
Can be repeated for credit. a focus point, with ocean waves and marine structures as a central
theme. Basic statistics, linear systems, Fourier transforms, random
Focuses on implementation and operation of engineering systems. processes, spectra and extreme events with applications in design.
Emphasizes system integration and performance verication Lectures on ethics in engineering practice included. Instruction and
using methods of experimental inquiry. Students rene their practice in oral and written communication provided. Satises 6
subsystem designs and the fabrication of working prototypes. units of Institute Laboratory credit. Enrollment may be limited due to
Includes experimental analysis of subsystem performance and laboratory capacity.
comparison with physical models of performance and with design M. Triantafyllou, M. Sacarny
goals. Component integration into the full system, with detailed
analysis and operation of the complete vehicle in the laboratory and 2.019 Design of Ocean Systems
in the eld. Includes written and oral reports. Students carry out Prereq: 2.001, 2.003[J], and (2.005 or 2.016)
formal reviews of the overall system design. Instruction and practice U (Spring)
in oral and written communication provided. Students taking 3-3-6 units
graduate version complete additional assignments. Enrollment may
be limited due to laboratory capacity; preference to Course 2 majors Complete cycle of designing an ocean system using computational
and minors. design tools for the conceptual and preliminary design stages.
D. Hart Team projects assigned, with each student responsible for a specic
subsystem. Lectures cover hydrodynamics; structures; power and
thermal aspects of ocean vehicles, environment, materials, and
construction for ocean use; generation and evaluation of design
alternatives. Focus on innovative design concepts chosen from high-
speed ships, submersibles, autonomous vehicles, and floating and
submerged deep-water oshore platforms. Lectures on ethics in
engineering practice included. Instruction and practice in oral and
written communication provided. Enrollment may be limited due to
laboratory capacity; preference to Course 2 seniors.
C. Chryssostomidis, M. S. Triantafyllou

22 | Department of Mechanical Engineering

 DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

2.086 Numerical Computation for Mechanical Engineers 2.033[J] Nonlinear Dynamics and Turbulence
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR) and Physics I (GIR); Coreq: 2.087 or 18.03 Same subject as 1.686[J], 18.358[J]
U (Fall, Spring) Subject meets with 1.068
2-2-8 units. REST Prereq: 1.060A
Acad Year 2023-2024: Not oered
Covers elementary programming concepts, including variable types, Acad Year 2024-2025: G (Spring)
data structures, and flow control. Provides an introduction to linear 3-2-7 units
algebra and probability. Numerical methods relevant to MechE,
including approximation (interpolation, least squares, and statistical See description under subject 1.686[J].
regression), integration, solution of linear and nonlinear equations, L. Bourouiba
and ordinary dierential equations. Presents deterministic and
probabilistic approaches. Uses examples from MechE, particularly 2.034[J] Nonlinear Dynamics and Waves
from robotics, dynamics, and structural analysis. Assignments Same subject as 1.685[J], 18.377[J]
require MATLAB programming. Enrollment may be limited due to Prereq: Permission of instructor
laboratory capacity; preference to Course 2 majors and minors. Acad Year 2023-2024: G (Spring)
D. Frey, F. Hover, N. Hadjiconstantinou, Acad Year 2024-2025: Not oered
3-0-9 units
2.087 Engineering Mathematics: Linear Algebra and ODEs
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR) and Physics I (GIR) A unied treatment of nonlinear oscillations and wave phenomena
U (Fall; rst half of term) with applications to mechanical, optical, geophysical, fluid,
Not oered regularly; consult department electrical and flow-structure interaction problems. Nonlinear free and
2-0-4 units forced vibrations; nonlinear resonances; self-excited oscillations;
lock-in phenomena. Nonlinear dispersive and nondispersive waves;
Introduction to linear algebra and ordinary dierential equations resonant wave interactions; propagation of wave pulses and
(ODEs), including general numerical approaches to solving nonlinear Schrodinger equation. Nonlinear long waves and breaking;
systems of equations. Linear systems of equations, existence theory of characteristics; the Korteweg-de Vries equation; solitons
and uniqueness of solutions, Gaussian elimination. Initial value and solitary wave interactions. Stability of shear flows. Some topics
problems, 1st and 2nd order systems, forward and backward Euler, and applications may vary from year to year.
RK4. Eigenproblems, eigenvalues and eigenvectors, including R. R. Rosales
complex numbers, functions, vectors and matrices.
A. Hosoi, T. Peacock 2.036[J] Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos
Same subject as 18.385[J]
Prereq: 18.03 or 18.032
Dynamics and Acoustics
Acad Year 2023-2024: G (Spring)
2.032 Dynamics Acad Year 2024-2025: Not oered
Prereq: 2.003[J] 3-0-9 units
G (Fall) See description under subject 18.385[J].
4-0-8 units R. R. Rosales
Review of momentum principles. Hamilton's principle and Lagrange's
equations. Three-dimensional kinematics and dynamics of rigid 2.050[J] Nonlinear Dynamics: Chaos
bodies. Study of steady motions and small deviations therefrom, Same subject as 12.006[J], 18.353[J]
gyroscopic eects, causes of instability. Free and forced vibrations of Prereq: Physics II (GIR) and (18.03 or 18.032)
lumped-parameter and continuous systems. Nonlinear oscillations U (Fall)
and the phase plane. Nonholonomic systems. Introduction to wave 3-0-9 units
propagation in continuous systems. See description under subject 12.006[J].
T. R. Akylas, T. Peacock, N. Hadjiconstantinou D. Rothman

Department of Mechanical Engineering | 23

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

2.060[J] Structural Dynamics 2.066 Acoustics and Sensing

Same subject as 1.581[J], 16.221[J] Subject meets with 2.065
Subject meets with 1.058 Prereq: 2.003[J], 6.3000, 8.03, 16.003, or permission of instructor
Prereq: 18.03 or permission of instructor G (Spring)
Acad Year 2023-2024: Not oered 3-0-9 units
Acad Year 2024-2025: G (Fall)
3-1-8 units Introduces the fundamental concepts of acoustics and sensing
with waves. Provides a unied theoretical approach to the physics
See description under subject 1.581[J]. of image formation through scattering and wave propagation in
T. Cohen sensing. The linear and nonlinear acoustic wave equation, sources
of sound, including musical instruments. Reflection, refraction,
2.062[J] Wave Propagation transmission and absorption. Bearing and range estimation by
Same subject as 1.138[J], 18.376[J] sensor array processing, beamforming, matched ltering, and
Prereq: 2.003[J] and 18.075 focusing. Diraction, bandwidth, ambient noise and reverberation
G (Spring) limitations. Scattering from objects, surfaces and volumes by
3-0-9 units Green's Theorem. Forward scatter, shadows, Babinet's principle,
extinction and attenuation. Ray tracing and waveguides in remote
Theoretical concepts and analysis of wave problems in science sensing. Applications to acoustic, radar, seismic, thermal and optical
and engineering with examples chosen from elasticity, acoustics, sensing and exploration. Students taking the graduate version of the
geophysics, hydrodynamics, blood flow, nondestructive evaluation, subject complete additional assignments.
and other applications. Progressive waves, group velocity and N. C. Makris
dispersion, energy density and transport. Reflection, refraction
and transmission of plane waves by an interface. Mode conversion
in elastic waves. Rayleigh waves. Waves due to a moving load. Solid Mechanics and Materials
Scattering by a two-dimensional obstacle. Reciprocity theorems.
Parabolic approximation. Waves on the sea surface. Capillary-gravity 2.071 Mechanics of Solid Materials
waves. Wave resistance. Radiation of surface waves. Internal waves Prereq: 2.002
in stratied fluids. Waves in rotating media. Waves in random media. G (Spring)
T. R. Akylas, R. R. Rosales 4-0-8 units

Fundamentals of solid mechanics applied to the mechanical

2.065 Acoustics and Sensing behavior of engineering materials. Kinematics of deformation,
Subject meets with 2.066 stress, and balance principles. Isotropic linear elasticity and
Prereq: 2.003[J], 6.3000, 8.03, or 16.003 isotropic linear thermal elasticity. Variational and energy methods.
U (Spring) Linear viscoelasticity. Small-strain elastic-plastic deformation.
3-0-9 units Mechanics of large deformation; nonlinear hyperelastic material
Introduces the fundamental concepts of acoustics and sensing behavior. Foundations and methods of deformable-solid mechanics,
with waves. Provides a unied theoretical approach to the physics including relevant applications. Provides base for further study
of image formation through scattering and wave propagation in and specialization within solid mechanics, including continuum
sensing. The linear and nonlinear acoustic wave equation, sources mechanics, computational mechanics (e.g., nite-element methods),
of sound, including musical instruments. Reflection, refraction, plasticity, fracture mechanics, structural mechanics, and nonlinear
transmission and absorption. Bearing and range estimation by behavior of materials.
sensor array processing, beamforming, matched ltering, and L. Anand, D. M. Parks
focusing. Diraction, bandwidth, ambient noise and reverberation
limitations. Scattering from objects, surfaces and volumes by
Green's Theorem. Forward scatter, shadows, Babinet's principle,
extinction and attenuation. Ray tracing and waveguides in remote
sensing. Applications to acoustic, radar, seismic, thermal and optical
sensing and exploration. Students taking the graduate version
complete additional assignments.
N. C. Makris

24 | Department of Mechanical Engineering

 DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

2.072 Mechanics of Continuous Media 2.075 Mechanics of So Materials

Prereq: 2.071 Prereq: None
Acad Year 2023-2024: Not oered G (Fall)
Acad Year 2024-2025: G (Fall) 3-0-9 units
3-0-9 units
Covers a number of fundamental topics in the emerging eld of so
Principles and applications of continuum mechanics. Kinematics and active materials, including polymer mechanics and physics,
of deformation. Thermomechanical conservation laws. Stress and poroelasticity, viscoelasticity, and mechanics of electro-magneto-
strain measures. Constitutive equations including some examples of active and other responsive polymers. Lectures, recitations, and
their microscopic basis. Solution of some basic problems for various experiments elucidate the basic mechanical and thermodynamic
materials as relevant in materials science, fluid dynamics, and principles underlying so and active materials. Develops an
structural analysis. Inherently nonlinear phenomena in continuum understanding of the fundamental mechanisms for designing so
mechanics. Variational principles. materials that possess extraordinary properties, such as stretchable,
L. Anand tough, strong, resilient, adhesive and responsive to external stimuli,
from molecular to bulk scales.
2.073 Solid Mechanics: Plasticity and Inelastic Deformation X. Zhao
Prereq: 2.071
G (Fall) 2.076[J] Mechanics of Heterogeneous Materials
Not oered regularly; consult department Same subject as 16.223[J]
3-0-9 units Prereq: 2.002, 3.032, 16.20, or permission of instructor
Acad Year 2023-2024: G (Fall)
Physical basis of plastic/inelastic deformation of solids; metals, Acad Year 2024-2025: Not oered
polymers, granular/rock-like materials. Continuum constitutive 3-0-9 units
models for small and large deformation of elastic-(visco)plastic
solids. Analytical and numerical solution of selected boundary value See description under subject 16.223[J].
problems. Applications to deformation processing of metals. B. L. Wardle, S-G. Kim
L. Anand, D. M. Parks
2.077 Solid Mechanics: Coupled Theories (New)
2.074 Solid Mechanics: Elasticity Prereq: 2.072
Prereq: 2.002 and 18.03 G (Fall)
G (Fall) 3-0-9 units
3-0-9 units
Complex problems in solid mechanics for a wide range of
Introduction to the theory and applications of nonlinear and linear applications require a knowledge of the foundational balance laws
elasticity. Strain, stress, and stress-strain relations. Several of the of mechanics, thermodynamics, and electrodynamics of continua,
following topics: Spherically and cylindrically symmetric problems. together with a knowledge of the structure and properties of the
Anisotropic material behavior. Piezoelectric materials. Eective materials which are provided by particular constitutive models
properties of composites. Structural mechanics of beams and for the so-called smart-materials, and the materials used in the
plates. Energy methods for structures. Two-dimensional problems. many applications that involve thermo-, chemo-, electro- and/or
Stress concentration at cavities, concentrated loads, cracks, magneto-mechanical coupling. Reviews the basic balance laws
and dislocations. Variational methods and their applications; and the constitutive equations of the classical coupled theories of
introduction to the nite element method. Introduction to wave thermoelasticity and poroelasticity, and provides an introduction
propagation. to the nonlinear theories of electroelasticity and magnetoelasticity.
R. Abeyaratne Examines the governing coupled partial dierential equations and
suitable boundary conditions. Discusses numerical solutions of the
partial dierential equations.
L. Anand

Department of Mechanical Engineering | 25

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

2.080[J] Structural Mechanics Computational Engineering

Same subject as 1.573[J]
Prereq: 2.002 2.0911[J] Computational Design and Fabrication (New)
G (Fall) Same subject as 6.4420[J]
4-0-8 units Subject meets with 6.8420
Applies solid mechanics fundamentals to the analysis of marine, Prereq: Calculus II (GIR) and (6.1010 or permission of instructor)
civil, and mechanical structures. Continuum concepts of stress, U (Spring)
deformation, constitutive response and boundary conditions are 3-0-9 units
reviewed in selected examples. The principle of virtual work guides See description under subject 6.4420[J].
mechanics modeling of slender structural components (e.g., beams; W. Matusik
shas; cables, frames; plates; shells), leading to appropriate
simplifying assumptions. Introduction to elastic stability. Material 2.095 Introduction to Finite Element Methods
limits to stress in design. Variational methods for computational Subject meets with 2.098
structural mechanics analysis. Prereq: 2.086 or permission of instructor
T. Wierzbicki, D. Parks Acad Year 2023-2024: Not oered
Acad Year 2024-2025: U (Spring)
2.081[J] Plates and Shells: Static and Dynamic Analysis 3-0-9 units
Same subject as 16.230[J]
Prereq: 2.071, 2.080[J], or permission of instructor Ordinary dierential equation boundary value problems: 2nd-
G (Spring) order, 4th-order spatial operators, eigenproblems. Partial
3-1-8 units dierential equations for scalar elds: elliptic, parabolic, hyperbolic.
Strong statement, weak form, minimization principle. Rayleigh-
Stress-strain relations for plate and shell elements. Dierential Ritz, Galerkin projection. Numerical interpolation, integration,
equations of equilibrium. Energy methods and approximate dierentiation, best-t. Finite element method for spatial
solutions. Bending and buckling of rectangular plates. Post-buckling discretization in one and two space dimensions: formulation (linear,
and ultimate strength of cold formed sections and typical stiened quadratic approximation), mesh generation, bases and discrete
panels used in aerospace, civil, and mechanical engineering; equations, uniform and adaptive renement, a priori and a posteriori
oshore technology; and ship building. Geometry of curved surfaces. error estimates, sparse solvers, implementation, testing. Finite
General theory of elastic, axisymmetric shells and their equilibrium dierence-nite element methods for mixed initial-boundary value
equations. Buckling, crushing and bending strength of cylindrical problems; nonlinear problems and Newton iteration; linear elasticity.
shells with applications. Propagation of 1-D elastic waves in rods, Applications in heat transfer and structural analysis. Assignments
geometrical and material dispersion. Plane, Rayleigh surface, and 3- require MATLAB coding. Students taking graduate version complete
D waves. 1-D plastic waves. Response of plates and shells to high- additional work.
intensity loads. Dynamic plasticity and fracture. Application to A. Patera
crashworthiness and impact loading of structures.
T. Sapsis 2.096[J] Introduction to Modeling and Simulation
Same subject as 6.7300[J], 16.910[J]
2.082 Ship Structural Analysis and Design Prereq: 18.03 or 18.06
Prereq: 2.081[J] and 2.701 G (Fall)
G (Spring; second half of term) 3-6-3 units
3-0-3 units
See description under subject 6.7300[J].
Design application of analysis developed in 2.081[J]. Ship L. Daniel
longitudinal strength and hull primary stresses. Ship structural
design concepts. Design limit states including plate bending, 2.097[J] Numerical Methods for Partial Dierential Equations
column and panel buckling, panel ultimate strength, and plastic Same subject as 6.7330[J], 16.920[J]
analysis. Matrix stiness, and introduction to nite element analysis. Prereq: 18.03 or 18.06
Computer projects on the structural design of a midship module. G (Fall)
R. S. McCord, T. Wierzbicki 3-0-9 units

See description under subject 16.920[J].

J. Peraire

26 | Department of Mechanical Engineering

 DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

2.098 Introduction to Finite Element Methods 2.111[J] Quantum Computation

Subject meets with 2.095 Same subject as 6.6410[J], 8.370[J], 18.435[J]
Prereq: 2.086 or permission of instructor Prereq: 8.05, 18.06, 18.700, 18.701, or 18.C06[J]
G (Spring) G (Fall)
3-0-9 units 3-0-9 units

Ordinary dierential equation boundary value problems: 2nd- See description under subject 18.435[J].
order, 4th-order spatial operators; eigenproblems. Partial I. Chuang, A. Harrow, P. Shor
dierential equations for scalar elds: elliptic, parabolic, hyperbolic.
Strong statement, weak form, minimization principle. Rayleigh- 2.12 Introduction to Robotics
Ritz, Galerkin projection. Numerical interpolation, integration, Subject meets with 2.120
dierentiation; best-t. Finite element method for spatial Prereq: 2.004
discretization in one and two space dimensions: formulation (linear, U (Spring)
quadratic approximation), mesh generation, bases and discrete 3-2-7 units
equations, uniform and adaptive renement, a priori and a posteriori
error estimates, sparse solvers, implementation, testing. Finite Cross-disciplinary studies in robot mechanics and intelligence.
dierence-nite element methods for mixed initial-boundary value Emphasizes physical understanding of robot kinematics and
problems; nonlinear problems and Newton iteration; linear elasticity. dynamics, dierential motion and energy method, design and
Applications in heat transfer and structural analysis. Assignments control of robotic arms and mobile robots, and actuators, drives,
require MATLAB coding. Students taking graduate version complete and transmission. Second half of course focuses on algorithmic
additional work. thinking and computation, computer vision and perception, planning
A. Patera and control for manipulation, localization and navigation, machine
learning for robotics, and human-robot systems. Weekly laboratories
2.099[J] Computational Mechanics of Materials include brushless DC motor control, design and fabrication of robotic
Same subject as 16.225[J] arms and vehicles, robot vision and navigation, and programming
Prereq: Permission of instructor and system integration using Robot Operating System (ROS). Group
Acad Year 2023-2024: Not oered term project builds intelligent robots for specic applications of
Acad Year 2024-2025: G (Spring) interest. Students taking graduate version complete additional
3-0-9 units assignments. Enrollment may be limited due to laboratory capacity;
preference to Course 2 majors and minors.
See description under subject 16.225[J]. H. Asada
R. Radovitzky
2.120 Introduction to Robotics
Subject meets with 2.12
System Dynamics and Control
Prereq: 2.004 or permission of instructor
2.110 Information, Entropy, and Computation G (Spring)
Prereq: Physics I (GIR) 3-2-7 units
U (Fall) Cross-disciplinary studies in robot mechanics and intelligence.
Not oered regularly; consult department Emphasizes physical understanding of robot kinematics and
3-0-6 units dynamics, dierential motion and energy method, design and
Explores the ultimate limits to communication and computation, with control of robotic arms and mobile robots, and actuators, drives,
an emphasis on the physical nature of information and information and transmission. Second half of course focuses on algorithmic
processing. Topics include information and computation, digital thinking and computation, computer vision and perception, planning
signals, codes, and compression. Biological representations of and control for manipulation, localization and navigation, machine
information. Logic circuits, computer architectures, and algorithmic learning for robotics, and human-robot systems. Weekly laboratories
information. Noise, probability, and error correction. The concept include brushless DC motor control, design and fabrication of robotic
of entropy applied to channel capacity and to the second law of arms and vehicles, robot vision and navigation, and programming
thermodynamics. Reversible and irreversible operations and the and system integration using Robot Operating System (ROS). Group
physics of computation. Quantum computation. term project builds intelligent robots for specic applications of
P. Peneld, Jr. interest. Students taking graduate version complete additional
assignments. Enrollment may be limited due to laboratory capacity.
H. Asada

Department of Mechanical Engineering | 27

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

2.121 Stochastic Systems 2.131 Advanced Instrumentation and Measurement

Subject meets with 2.122, 2.22 Prereq: Permission of instructor
Prereq: None. Coreq: 2.004 G (Spring)
U (Spring) 3-6-3 units
3-0-9 units
Provides training in advanced instrumentation and measurement
Response of systems to stochastic excitation with design techniques. Topics include system level design, fabrication and
applications. Linear time-invariant systems, convolution, Fourier evaluation with emphasis on systems involving concepts and
and Laplace transforms. Probability and statistics. Discrete and technology from mechanics, optics, electronics, chemistry and
continuous random variables, derived distributions. Stochastic biology. Simulation, modeling and design soware. Use of a
processes, auto-correlation. Stationarity and ergodicity, power wide range of instruments/techniques (e.g., scanning electron
spectral density. Systems driven by random functions, Wiener- microscope, dynamic signal/system analyzer, impedance analyzer,
Khinchine theorem. Sampling and ltering. Short- and long- laser interferometer) and fabrication/machining methods (e.g., laser
term statistics, statistics of extremes. Problems from mechanical micro-machining, stereo lithography, computer controlled turning
vibrations and statistical linearization, statistical mechanics, and and machining centers). Theory and practice of both linear and
system prediction/identication. Students taking graduate version nonlinear system identication techniques. Lab sessions include
complete additional assignments and a short-term project. instruction and group project work. No nal exam.
N. M. Patrikalakis, T. P. Sapsis, M. S. Triantafyllou I. W. Hunter

2.122 Stochastic Systems 2.14 Analysis and Design of Feedback Control Systems
Subject meets with 2.121, 2.22 Subject meets with 2.140
Prereq: 2.004 and 2.087 Prereq: 2.004
G (Spring) U (Spring)
4-0-8 units 3-3-6 units

Response of systems to stochastic excitation with design Develops the fundamentals of feedback control using linear transfer
applications. Linear time-invariant systems, convolution, Fourier function system models. Analysis in time and frequency domains.
and Laplace transforms. Probability and statistics. Discrete and Design in the s-plane (root locus) and in the frequency domain (loop
continuous random variables, derived distributions. Stochastic shaping). Describing functions for stability of certain non-linear
processes, auto-correlation. Stationarity and ergodicity, power systems. Extension to state variable systems and multivariable
spectral density. Systems driven by random functions, Wiener- control with observers. Discrete and digital hybrid systems and use
Khinchine theorem. Sampling and ltering. Short- and long- of z-plane design. Extended design case studies and capstone group
term statistics, statistics of extremes. Problems from mechanical projects. Students taking graduate version complete additional
vibrations and statistical linearization, statistical mechanics, and assignments. Enrollment may be limited due to laboratory capacity;
system prediction/identication. Students taking graduate version preference to Course 2 majors and minors.
complete additional assignments and a short-term project. D. L. Trumper, K. Youcef-Toumi
N. M. Patrikalakis, T. P. Sapsis, M. S. Triantafyllou
2.140 Analysis and Design of Feedback Control Systems
2.124[J] Robotics: Science and Systems (New) Subject meets with 2.14
Same subject as 6.4200[J], 16.405[J] Prereq: 2.004 or permission of instructor
Prereq: ((1.00 or 6.100A) and (2.003[J], 6.1010, 6.1210, or 16.06)) or G (Spring)
permission of instructor 3-3-6 units
U (Spring)
2-6-4 units. Institute LAB Develops the fundamentals of feedback control using linear transfer
function system models. Analysis in time and frequency domains.
See description under subject 6.4200[J]. Enrollment limited. Design in the s-plane (root locus) and in the frequency domain (loop
L. Carlone, S. Karaman, D. Hadeld-Manell, J. Leonard shaping). Describing functions for stability of certain non-linear
systems. Extension to state variable systems and multivariable
control with observers. Discrete and digital hybrid systems and
use of z-plane design. Extended design case studies and capstone
group projects. Student taking graduate version complete additional
assignments. Enrollment may be limited due to laboratory capacity.
D. Rowell, D. L. Trumper, K. Youcef-Toumi

28 | Department of Mechanical Engineering

 DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

2.141 Modeling and Simulation of Dynamic Systems 2.147 Design of Compliant Mechanisms, Machines and Systems
Prereq: Permission of instructor (New)
G (Fall) Subject meets with 2.145
Not oered regularly; consult department Prereq: 2.003[J] and 2.007
3-0-9 units G (Fall)
3-3-6 units
Modeling multidomain engineering systems at a level of detail
suitable for design and control system implementation. Network Design, modeling and integration of compliance into systems
representation, state-space models; multiport energy storage that enable performance which is impractical to obtain via rigid
and dissipation, Legendre transforms; nonlinear mechanics, mechanisms. Students learn strategies (pseudo-rigid body, topology
transformation theory, Lagrangian and Hamiltonian forms; Control- synthesis, freedom and constraint topology) to engineer compliant
relevant properties. Application examples may include electro- mechanisms for mechanical systems. Emphasis is placed upon the
mechanical transducers, mechanisms, electronics, fluid and thermal integration of rst principles (math/physics/engineering classes)
systems, compressible flow, chemical processes, diusion, and wave to optimize kinematics, stiness, energy storage/release, load
transmission. capacity, eciency and integration with actuation/sensing. Students
N. Hogan synthesize concepts, optimize them via computational models and
test prototypes. Prototypes integrate multiple engineering sub-
2.145 Design of Compliant Mechanisms, Machines and Systems disciplines (e.g. mechanics + dynamics or mechanics + energy) and
(New) are drawn from biological systems, prosthetics, energy harvesting,
Subject meets with 2.147 precision instrumentation, robotics, space-based systems and
Prereq: 2.003[J] and 2.007 others. Students taking graduate version complete additional
U (Fall) assignments.
3-3-6 units M. Culpepper

Design, modeling and integration of compliance into systems 2.151 Advanced System Dynamics and Control
that enable performance which is impractical to obtain via rigid Prereq: 2.004 and (2.087 or 18.06)
mechanisms. Includes multiple strategies (pseudo-rigid body, G (Fall)
topology synthesis, freedom and constraint topology) to engineer 4-0-8 units
compliant mechanisms for mechanical systems. Emphasis is placed
upon the integration of rst principles (math/physics/engineering Analytical descriptions of state-determined dynamic physical
classes) to optimize kinematics, stiness, energy storage/release, systems; time and frequency domain representations; system
load capacity, eciency and integration with actuation/sensing. characteristics - controllability, observability, stability; linear and
Synthesize concepts, optimize them via computational models and nonlinear system responses. Modication of system characteristics
test prototypes. Prototypes integrate multiple engineering sub- using feedback. State observers, Kalman lters. Modeling/
disciplines (e.g. mechanics + dynamics or mechanics + energy) and performance trade-os in control system design. Basic optimization
are drawn from biological systems, prosthetics, energy harvesting, tools. Positive systems. Emphasizes applications to physical
precision instrumentation, robotics, space-based systems and systems.
others. Students taking graduate version complete additional J.-J. E. Slotine, K. Youcef-Toumi, N. Hogan
assignments.
M. Culpepper

Department of Mechanical Engineering | 29

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

2.152[J] Nonlinear Control 2.154 Maneuvering and Control of Surface and Underwater
Same subject as 9.110[J] Vehicles
Prereq: 2.151, 6.7100[J], 16.31, or permission of instructor Prereq: 2.22
G (Spring) G (Fall)
3-0-9 units 3-0-9 units

Introduction to nonlinear control and estimation in physical Maneuvering motions of surface and underwater vehicles. Derivation
and biological systems. Nonlinear stability theory, Lyapunov of equations of motion, hydrodynamic coecients. Memory eects.
analysis, Barbalat's lemma. Feedback linearization, dierential Linear and nonlinear forms of the equations of motion. Control
flatness, internal dynamics. Sliding surfaces. Adaptive nonlinear surfaces modeling and design. Engine, propulsor, and transmission
control and estimation. Multiresolution bases, nonlinear system systems modeling and simulation during maneuvering. Stability
identication. Contraction analysis, dierential stability theory. of motion. Principles of multivariable automatic control. Optimal
Nonlinear observers. Asynchronous distributed computation and control, Kalman ltering, loop transfer recovery. Term project:
learning. Concurrent synchronization, polyrhythms. Monotone applications chosen from autopilots for surface vehicles; towing in
nonlinear systems. Emphasizes application to physical systems open seas; remotely operated vehicles.
(robots, aircra, spacecra, underwater vehicles, reaction-diusion M. S. Triantafyllou
processes, machine vision, oscillators, internet), machine learning,
computational neuroscience, and systems biology. Includes term 2.155 Articial Intelligence and Machine Learning for
projects. Engineering Design (New)
J.-J. E. Slotine Subject meets with 2.156
Prereq: 2.086, 6.100A, or permission of instructor
2.153 Adaptive Control and Connections to Machine Learning U (Fall)
Prereq: 2.151 3-0-9 units
Acad Year 2023-2024: G (Fall)
Acad Year 2024-2025: Not oered Machine learning and articial intelligence techniques in
3-0-9 units engineering design applications. Emphasizes state-of-the-art
machine learning techniques to design new products or systems or
Lays the foundation of adaptive control, and investigates its solve complex engineering problems. Lectures cover the theoretical
interconnections with machine learning. Explores fundamental and practical aspects of machine learning and optimization
principles of adaptive control, including parameter estimation, methods. Challenge problems, research paper discussions, and
recursive algorithms, stability properties, and conditions for interactive in-class activities are used to highlight the unique
convergence. Studies their relationship with machine learning, challenges of machine learning for design applications. A group term
including the minimization of a performance error and fast project on students' applications of interest. Basic programming
convergence. Discusses robustness and regularization in both and machine learning familiarity are recommended. Students taking
elds. Derives conditions of learning and implications of imperfect graduate version complete additional assignments.
learning. Examines the trade-o between stability and learning. F. Ahmed
Focuses throughout the term on dynamic systems and on problems
where real-time control is needed. Uses examples from aerospace,
propulsion, automotive, and energy systems to elucidate the
underlying concepts.
A. Annaswamy

30 | Department of Mechanical Engineering

 DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

2.156 Articial Intelligence and Machine Learning for 2.160 Identication, Estimation, and Learning
Engineering Design (New) Prereq: 2.151
Subject meets with 2.155 G (Fall)
Prereq: None 3-0-9 units
G (Fall)
3-0-9 units Provides a broad theoretical basis for system identication,
estimation, and learning. Least squares estimation and its
Machine learning and articial intelligence techniques in convergence properties, Kalman lter and extended Kalman lter,
engineering design applications. Emphasizes state-of-the-art noise dynamics and system representation, function approximation
machine learning techniques to design new products or systems or theory, neural nets, radial basis functions, wavelets, Volterra
solve complex engineering problems. Lectures cover the theoretical expansions, informative data sets, persistent excitation, asymptotic
and practical aspects of machine learning and optimization variance, central limit theorems, model structure selection, system
methods. Challenge problems, research paper discussions, and order estimate, maximum likelihood, unbiased estimates, Cramer-
interactive in-class activities are used to highlight the unique Rao lower bound, Kullback-Leibler information distance, Akaike's
challenges of machine learning for design applications. A group term information criterion, experiment design, and model validation.
project on students' applications of interest. Basic programming H. Asada
and machine learning familiarity are recommended. Students taking
graduate version complete additional assignments. 2.165[J] Robotics
F. Ahmed Same subject as 9.175[J]
Prereq: 2.151 or permission of instructor
2.16 Learning Machines G (Fall)
Subject meets with 2.168 3-0-9 units
Prereq: 2.086, 18.075, and (6.3700 or 18.05)
U (Spring) Introduction to robotics and learning in machines. Kinematics
Not oered regularly; consult department and dynamics of rigid body systems. Adaptive control, system
4-0-8 units identication, sparse representations. Force control, adaptive
visual servoing. Task planning, teleoperation, imitation learning.
Introduces fundamental concepts and encourages open-ended Navigation. Underactuated systems, approximate optimization
exploration of the increasingly topical intersection between articial and control. Dynamics of learning and optimization in networks.
intelligence and the physical sciences. Energy and information, Elements of biological planning and control. Motor primitives,
and their respective optimality conditions are used to dene entrainment, active sensing, binding models. Term projects.
supervised and unsupervised learning algorithms; as well as J.-J. E. Slotine, H. Asada
ordinary and partial dierential equations. Subsequently, physical
systems with complex constitutive relationships are drawn from 2.166 Autonomous Vehicles
elasticity, biophysics, fluid mechanics, hydrodynamics, acoustics, Prereq: 6.041B or permission of instructor
and electromagnetics to illustrate how machine learning-inspired G (Spring)
optimization can approximate solutions to forward and inverse Not oered regularly; consult department
problems in these domains. 3-1-8 units
G. Barbastathis
Theory and application of probabilistic techniques for autonomous
mobile robotics. Topics include probabilistic state estimation and
decision making for mobile robots; stochastic representations of the
environment; dynamic models and sensor models for mobile robots;
algorithms for mapping and localization; planning and control in the
presence of uncertainty; cooperative operation of multiple mobile
robots; mobile sensor networks; application to autonomous marine
(underwater and floating), ground, and air vehicles. Enrollment
limited to 8.
J. J. Leonard

Department of Mechanical Engineering | 31

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

2.168 Learning Machines 2.177[J] Designing Virtual Worlds (New)

Subject meets with 2.16 Same subject as CMS.342[J]
Prereq: None Subject meets with 2.178[J], CMS.942[J]
G (Spring) Prereq: None
Not oered regularly; consult department U (Fall, Spring)
3-0-9 units 3-1-2 units

Introduces fundamental concepts and encourages open-ended Three primary areas of focus are: creating new Virtual Reality
exploration of the increasingly topical intersection between articial experiences; mapping the state of emerging tools; and hosting
intelligence and the physical sciences. Energy and information, guests - leaders in the VR/XR community, who serve as coaches for
and their respective optimality conditions are used to dene projects. Students have signicant leeway to customize their own
supervised and unsupervised learning algorithms; as well as learning environment. As the eld is rapidly evolving, each semester
ordinary and partial dierential equations. Subsequently, physical focuses on a new aspect of virtual worlds, based on the current state
systems with complex constitutive relationships are drawn from of innovations. Students work in teams of interdisciplinary peers
elasticity, biophysics, fluid mechanics, hydrodynamics, acoustics, from Berklee College of Music and Harvard University. Students
and electromagnetics to illustrate how machine learning-inspired taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
optimization can approximate solutions to forward and inverse K. Zolot
problems in these domains.
G. Barbastathis 2.178[J] Designing Virtual Worlds (New)
Same subject as CMS.942[J]
2.171 Analysis and Design of Digital Control Systems Subject meets with 2.177[J], CMS.342[J]
Prereq: 2.14, 2.151, or permission of instructor Prereq: None
G (Fall) G (Fall, Spring)
Not oered regularly; consult department 3-1-2 units
3-3-6 units
Three primary areas of focus are: creating new Virtual Reality
A comprehensive introduction to digital control system design, experiences; mapping the state of emerging tools; and hosting
reinforced with hands-on laboratory experiences. Major topics guests - leaders in the VR/XR community, who serve as coaches for
include discrete-time system theory and analytical tools; design projects. Students have signicant leeway to customize their own
of digital control systems via approximation from continuous time; learning environment. As the eld is rapidly evolving, each semester
direct discrete-time design; loop-shaping design for performance focuses on a new aspect of virtual worlds, based on the current state
and robustness; state-space design; observers and state-feedback; of innovations. Students work in teams of interdisciplinary peers
quantization and other nonlinear eects; implementation issues. from Berklee College of Music and Harvard University. Students
Laboratory experiences and design projects connect theory with taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
practice. K. Zolot
D. L. Trumper
2.18 Biomolecular Feedback Systems
2.174[J] Advancing Mechanics and Materials via Machine Subject meets with 2.180
Learning Prereq: Biology (GIR), 18.03, or permission of instructor
Same subject as 1.121[J] G (Spring)
Subject meets with 1.052 3-0-9 units
Prereq: Permission of instructor
G (Spring) Comprehensive introduction to dynamics and control of biomolecular
3-0-9 units systems with emphasis on design/analysis techniques from
control theory. Provides a review of biology concepts, regulation
See description under subject 1.121[J]. mechanisms, and models. Covers basic enabling technologies,
M. Buehler engineering principles for designing biological functions, modular
design techniques, and design limitations. Students taking graduate
version complete additional assignments.
D. Del Vecchio, R. Weiss

32 | Department of Mechanical Engineering

 DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

2.180 Biomolecular Feedback Systems Fluid Mechanics and Combustion

Subject meets with 2.18
Prereq: Biology (GIR), 18.03, or permission of instructor 2.20 Marine Hydrodynamics
U (Spring) Prereq: 1.060, 2.006, 2.016, or 2.06
3-0-9 units G (Fall)
Comprehensive introduction to dynamics and control of biomolecular 4-1-7 units
systems with emphasis on design/analysis techniques from The fundamentals of fluid mechanics are developed in the
control theory. Provides a review of biology concepts, regulation context of naval architecture and ocean science and engineering.
mechanisms, and models. Covers basic enabling technologies, Transport theorem and conservation principles. Navier-Stokes'
engineering principles for designing biological functions, modular equation. Dimensional analysis. Ideal and potential flows. Vorticity
design techniques, and design limitations. Students taking graduate and Kelvin's theorem. Hydrodynamic forces in potential flow,
version complete additional assignments. D'Alembert's paradox, added-mass, slender-body theory. Viscous-
D. Del Vecchio fluid flow, laminar and turbulent boundary layers. Model testing,
scaling laws. Application of potential theory to surface waves, energy
2.183[J] Biomechanics and Neural Control of Movement transport, wave/body forces. Linearized theory of liing surfaces.
Same subject as 9.34[J] Experimental project in the towing tank or propeller tunnel.
Subject meets with 2.184 D. K. P. Yue
Prereq: 2.004 or permission of instructor
G (Spring) 2.22 Design Principles for Ocean Vehicles
3-0-9 units Subject meets with 2.121, 2.122
Presents a quantitative description of how biomechanical and Prereq: 2.20
neural factors interact in human sensory-motor behavior. Students G (Spring)
survey recent literature on how motor behavior is controlled, 3-1-8 units
comparing biological and robotic approaches to similar tasks. Topics Design tools for analysis of linear systems and random processes
may include a review of relevant neural, muscular and skeletal related to ocean vehicles; description of ocean environment
physiology, neural feedback and "equilibrium-point" theories, co- including random waves, ocean wave spectra and their selection;
contraction strategies, impedance control, kinematic redundancy, short-term and long-term wave statistics; and ocean currents.
optimization, intermittency, contact tasks and tool use. Students Advanced hydrodynamics for design of ocean vehicles and oshore
taking graduate version complete additional assignments. structures, including wave forces on towed and moored structures;
N. Hogan inertia vs. drag-dominated flows; vortex induced vibrations (VIV) of
oshore structures; ship seakeeping and sensitivity of seakeeping
2.184 Biomechanics and Neural Control of Movement performance. Design exercises in application of principles.
Subject meets with 2.183[J], 9.34[J] Laboratory exercises in seakeeping and VIV at model scale.
Prereq: 2.004 or permission of instructor N. M. Patrikalakis, T. P. Sapsis, M. S. Triantafyllou
Acad Year 2023-2024: Not oered
Acad Year 2024-2025: U (Spring)
3-0-9 units

Presents a quantitative description of how biomechanical and

neural factors interact in human sensory-motor behavior. Students
survey recent literature on how motor behavior is controlled,
comparing biological and robotic approaches to similar tasks. Topics
may include a review of relevant neural, muscular and skeletal
physiology, neural feedback and "equilibrium-point" theories, co-
contraction strategies, impedance control, kinematic redundancy,
optimization, intermittency, contact tasks and tool use. Students
taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
N. Hogan

Department of Mechanical Engineering | 33

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

2.23 Hydrofoils and Propellers 2.25 Fluid Mechanics

Prereq: 2.20 and 18.085 Prereq: 2.006 or 2.06; Coreq: 18.075 or 18.085
Acad Year 2023-2024: G (Spring) G (Fall)
Acad Year 2024-2025: Not oered 4-0-8 units
3-0-9 units
Survey of principal concepts and methods of fluid dynamics. Mass
Reviews the theory and design of hydrofoil sections; liing and conservation, momentum, and energy equations for continua.
thickness problems for sub-cavitating sections and unsteady Navier-Stokes equation for viscous flows. Similarity and dimensional
flow problems. Covers liing line and liing surface theory with analysis. Lubrication theory. Boundary layers and separation.
applications to hydrofoil cra, rudder, control surface, propeller and Circulation and vorticity theorems. Potential flow. Introduction to
wind turbine rotor design. Topics include propeller liing line and turbulence. Li and drag. Surface tension and surface tension driven
liing surface theory; wake adapted propellers, steady and unsteady flows.
propeller thrust and torque; waterjets; performance analysis and A. F. Ghoniem, A. E. Hosoi, G. H. McKinley, A. T. Patera
design of wind turbine rotors. Presents numerical principles of vortex
lattice and liing surface panel methods. Projects illustrate the 2.250[J] Fluids and Diseases
development of theoretical and computational methods for liing, Same subject as 1.631[J], HST.537[J]
propulsion and wind turbine applications. Subject meets with 1.063
P. D. Sclavounos Prereq: None
Acad Year 2023-2024: G (Spring)
2.24[J] Seakeeping of Ships and Oshore Energy Systems Acad Year 2024-2025: Not oered
Same subject as 1.692[J] 3-3-6 units
Prereq: 2.20 and 18.085
Acad Year 2023-2024: Not oered See description under subject 1.631[J].
Acad Year 2024-2025: G (Spring) L. Bourouiba
4-0-8 units
2.26[J] Advanced Fluid Dynamics
Surface wave theory, conservation laws and boundary conditions, Same subject as 1.63[J]
properties of regular surface waves and random ocean waves. Prereq: 18.085 and (2.25 or permission of instructor)
Linearized theory of floating body dynamics, kinematic and dynamic G (Spring)
free surface conditions, body boundary conditions. Simple harmonic 4-0-8 units
motions. Diraction and radiation problems, added mass and
damping matrices. General reciprocity identities on diraction and Fundamentals of fluid dynamics intrinsic to natural physical
radiation. Ship wave resistance theory, Kelvin wake physics, ship phenomena and/or engineering processes. Discusses a range
seakeeping in regular and random waves. Discusses point wave of topics and advanced problem-solving techniques. Sample
energy absorbers, beam sea and head-sea devises, oscillating water topics include brief review of basic laws of fluid motion, scaling
column device and Well's turbine. Discusses oshore floating energy and approximations, creeping flows, boundary layers in high-
systems and their interaction with ambient waves, current and speed flows, steady and transient, similarity method of solution,
wind, including oil and gas platforms, liqueed natural gas (LNG) buoyancy-driven convection in porous media, dispersion in steady or
vessels and floating wind turbines. Homework drawn from real-world oscillatory flows, physics and mathematics of linearized instability,
applications. eects of shear and stratication. In alternate years, two of the
P. D. Sclavounos following modules will be oered: I: Geophysical Fluid Dynamics of
Coastal Waters, II: Capillary Phenomena, III: Non-Newtonian Fluids,
IV: Flagellar Swimming.
T. R. Akylas, G. H. McKinley, R. Stocker

34 | Department of Mechanical Engineering

 DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

2.28 Fundamentals and Applications of Combustion 2.290 Numerical Fluid Mechanics

Prereq: 2.006 or (2.051 and 2.06) Subject meets with 2.29
Acad Year 2023-2024: G (Fall) Prereq: 2.005
Acad Year 2024-2025: Not oered U (Spring)
3-0-9 units 4-0-8 units

Fundamentals and modeling of reacting gas dynamics and Introduction to numerical methods and MATLAB: errors, condition
combustion using analytical and numerical methods. Conservation numbers and roots of equations. Navier-Stokes. Direct and iterative
equations of reacting flows. Multi-species transport, chemical methods for linear systems. Finite dierences for elliptic, parabolic
thermodynamics and chemical kinetics. Non-equilibrium flow. and hyperbolic equations. Fourier decomposition, error analysis and
Detonation and reacting boundary layers. Ignition, flammability, and stability. High-order and compact nite-dierences. Finite volume
extinction. Premixed and diusion flames. Combustion instabilities. methods. Time marching methods. Navier-Stokes solvers. Grid
Supersonic combustion. Turbulent combustion. Liquid and solid generation. Finite volumes on complex geometries. Finite element
burning. Fire, safety, and environmental impact. Applications to methods. Spectral methods. Boundary element and panel methods.
power and propulsion. Turbulent flows. Boundary layers. Lagrangian Coherent Structures.
A. F. Ghoniem Includes a nal research project. Students taking graduate version
complete additional assignments.
2.29 Numerical Fluid Mechanics P. Lermusiaux
Subject meets with 2.290
Prereq: 18.075 and (2.006, 2.016, 2.06, 2.20, or 2.25) 2.341[J] Macromolecular Hydrodynamics
G (Spring) Same subject as 10.531[J]
4-0-8 units Prereq: 2.25, 10.301, or permission of instructor
G (Spring)
Introduction to numerical methods and MATLAB: errors, condition 3-0-6 units
numbers and roots of equations. Navier-Stokes. Direct and iterative
methods for linear systems. Finite dierences for elliptic, parabolic Physical phenomena in polymeric liquids undergoing deformation
and hyperbolic equations. Fourier decomposition, error analysis and and flow. Kinematics and material functions for complex fluids;
stability. High-order and compact nite-dierences. Finite volume techniques of viscometry, rheometry; and linear viscoelastic
methods. Time marching methods. Navier-Stokes solvers. Grid measurements for polymeric fluids. Generalized Newtonian fluids.
generation. Finite volumes on complex geometries. Finite element Continuum mechnanics, frame invariance, and convected derivatives
methods. Spectral methods. Boundary element and panel methods. for nite strain viscoelasticity. Dierential and integral constitutive
Turbulent flows. Boundary layers. Lagrangian Coherent Structures. equations for viscoelastic fluids. Analytical solutions to isothermal
Includes a nal research project. Students taking graduate version and non-isothermal flow problems; the roles of non-Newtonian
complete additional assignments. viscosity, linear viscoelasticity, normal stresses, elastic recoil,
P. F. J. Lermusiaux stress relaxation in processing flows. Introduction to molecular
theories for dynamics of polymeric fluids. (Extensive class project
and presentation required instead of a nal exam).
R. C. Armstrong, G. H. McKinley

Department of Mechanical Engineering | 35

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

MEMS and Nanotechnology Thermodynamics

2.37 Fundamentals of Nanoengineering 2.42 General Thermodynamics

Subject meets with 2.370 Prereq: Permission of instructor
Prereq: Permission of instructor G (Fall)
G (Spring) 3-0-9 units
3-0-9 units
General foundations of thermodynamics from an entropy point
Presents the fundamentals of molecular modeling in engineering of view, entropy generation and transfer in complex systems.
in the context of nanoscale mechanical engineering applications. Denitions of work, energy, stable equilibrium, available energy,
Statistical mechanics and its connection to engineering entropy, thermodynamic potential, and interactions other than
thermodynamics. Molecular origin and limitations of macroscopic work (nonwork, heat, mass transfer). Applications to properties
descriptions and constitutive relations for equilibrium and non- of materials, bulk flow, energy conversion, chemical equilibrium,
equilibrium behavior. Introduction to molecular simulation, solid- combustion, and industrial manufacturing.
state physics and electrokinetic phenomena. Discusses molecular J. Brisson
approaches to modern nanoscale engineering problems. Graduate
students are required to complete additional assignments with 2.43 Advanced Thermodynamics (New)
stronger analytical content. Prereq: 2.42 or permission of instructor
N. G. Hadjiconstantinou G (Spring)
4-0-8 units
2.370 Fundamentals of Nanoengineering
Subject meets with 2.37 <p class="xmsolistparagraph">Self-contained concise review of
Prereq: Chemistry (GIR) and 2.001 general thermodynamics concepts, multicomponent equilibrium
U (Spring) properties, chemical equilibrium, electrochemical potentials,
3-0-9 units and chemical kinetics, as needed to introduce the methods
of nonequilibrium thermodynamics and to provide a unied
Presents the fundamentals of molecular modeling in engineering understanding of phase equilibria, transport and nonequilibrium
in the context of nanoscale mechanical engineering applications. phenomena useful for future energy and climate engineering
Statistical mechanics and its connection to engineering technologies. Applications include: second-law eciencies
thermodynamics. Molecular origin and limitations of macroscopic and methods to allocate primary energy consumptions and CO2
descriptions and constitutive relations for equilibrium and non- emissions in cogeneration and hybrid power systems, minimum
equilibrium behavior. Introduction to molecular simulation, solid- work of separation, maximum work of mixing, osmotic pressure and
state physics and electrokinetic phenomena. Discusses molecular membrane equilibria, metastable states, spinodal decomposition,
approaches to modern nanoscale engineering problems. Graduate Onsager's near-equilibrium reciprocity in thermodiusive,
students are required to complete additional assignments with thermoelectric, and electrokinetic cross eects.
stronger analytical content. G. P. Beretta
N. G. Hadjiconstantinou

2.391[J] Nanostructure Fabrication

Same subject as 6.6600[J]
Prereq: 2.710, 6.2370, 6.2600[J], or permission of instructor
G (Spring)
4-0-8 units

See description under subject 6.6600[J].

K. K. Berggren

36 | Department of Mechanical Engineering

 DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Heat and Mass Transfer 2.55 Advanced Heat and Mass Transfer
Prereq: 2.51
2.500 Desalination and Water Purication G (Spring)
Prereq: 1.020, 2.006, 10.302, (2.051 and 2.06), or permission of 4-0-8 units
instructor Advanced treatment of fundamental aspects of heat and mass
G (Spring) transport. Covers topics such as diusion kinetics, conservation
Not oered regularly; consult department laws, laminar and turbulent convection, mass transfer including
3-0-9 units phase change or heterogeneous reactions, and basic thermal
Introduces the fundamental science and technology of desalinating radiation. Problems and examples include theory and applications
water to overcome water scarcity and ensure sustainable water drawn from a spectrum of engineering design and manufacturing
supplies. Covers basic water chemistry, flash evaporation, reverse problems.
osmosis and membrane engineering, electrodialysis, nanoltration, J. H. Lienhard
solar desalination, energy eciency of desalination systems, fouling
and scaling, environmental impacts, and economics of desalination 2.57 Nano-to-Macro Transport Processes
systems. Open to upper-class undergraduates. Subject meets with 2.570
J. H. Lienhard, M. Balaban Prereq: 2.005, 2.051, or permission of instructor
G (Spring)
2.51 Intermediate Heat and Mass Transfer Not oered regularly; consult department
Prereq: (2.005 and 18.03) or permission of instructor 3-0-9 units
U (Fall) Parallel treatments of photons, electrons, phonons, and molecules
3-0-9 units as energy carriers; aiming at a fundamental understanding of
Covers conduction (governing equations and boundary conditions, descriptive tools for energy and heat transport processes, from
steady and unsteady heat transfer, resistance concept); laminar nanoscale to macroscale. Topics include energy levels; statistical
and turbulent convection (forced-convection and natural-convection behavior and internal energy; energy transport in the forms of
boundary layers, external flows); radiation (blackbody and waves and particles; scattering and heat generation processes;
graybody exchange, spectral and solar radiation); coupled Boltzmann equation and derivation of classical laws; and deviation
conduction, convection, radiation problems; synthesis of analytical, from classical laws at nanoscale and their appropriate descriptions.
computational, and experimental techniques; and mass transfer at Applications in nanotechnology and microtechnology. Students
low rates, evaporation. taking the graduate version complete additional assignments.
J. H. Lienhard, A. T. Patera, E. N. Wang G. Chen

2.52[J] Modeling and Approximation of Thermal Processes 2.570 Nano-to-Macro Transport Processes
Same subject as 4.424[J] Subject meets with 2.57
Prereq: 2.51 Prereq: 2.005, 2.051, or permission of instructor
G (Fall) U (Spring)
Not oered regularly; consult department Not oered regularly; consult department
3-0-9 units 3-0-9 units

Provides instruction on how to model thermal transport processes in Parallel treatments of photons, electrons, phonons, and molecules
typical engineering systems such as those found in manufacturing, as energy carriers; aiming at a fundamental understanding of
machinery, and energy technologies. Successive modules cover descriptive tools for energy and heat transport processes, from
basic modeling tactics for particular modes of transport, including nanoscale to macroscale. Topics include energy levels; statistical
steady and unsteady heat conduction, convection, multiphase flow behavior and internal energy; energy transport in the forms of
processes, and thermal radiation. Includes a creative design project waves and particles; scattering and heat generation processes;
executed by the students. Boltzmann equation and derivation of classical laws; and deviation
L. R. Glicksman from classical laws at nanoscale and their appropriate descriptions.
Applications in nanotechnology and microtechnology. Students
taking the graduate version complete additional assignments.
G. Chen

Department of Mechanical Engineering | 37

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

2.58 Radiative Transfer 2.603 Fundamentals of Smart and Resilient Grids

Prereq: 2.51, 10.302, or permission of instructor Prereq: 2.003[J]
G (Spring) U (Fall)
Not oered regularly; consult department Not oered regularly; consult department
3-0-9 units 4-0-8 units

Principles of thermal radiation and their application to engineering Introduces the fundamentals of power system structure, operation
heat and photon transfer problems. Quantum and classical models and control. Emphasizes the challenges and opportunities for
of radiative properties of materials, electromagnetic wave theory integration of new technologies: photovoltaic, wind, electric storage,
for thermal radiation, radiative transfer in absorbing, emitting, and demand response, synchrophasor measurements. Introduces the
scattering media, and coherent laser radiation. Applications cover basics of power system modeling and analysis. Presents the basic
laser-material interactions, imaging, infrared instrumentation, global phenomena of voltage and frequency stability as well technological
warming, semiconductor manufacturing, combustion, furnaces, and and regulatory constraints on system operation. Describes both
high temperature processing. the common and emerging automatic control systems and operator
G. Chen decision-making policies. Relies on a combination of traditional
lectures, homework assignments, and group projects. Students
2.59[J] Thermal Hydraulics in Power Technology taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Same subject as 10.536[J], 22.313[J] K. Turitsyn
Prereq: 2.006, 10.302, 22.312, or permission of instructor
Acad Year 2023-2024: G (Fall) 2.61 Internal Combustion Engines
Acad Year 2024-2025: Not oered Prereq: 2.006
3-2-7 units G (Spring)
Not oered regularly; consult department
See description under subject 22.313[J]. 3-1-8 units
E. Baglietto, M. Bucci
Fundamentals of how the design and operation of internal
combustion engines aect their performance, eciency, fuel
Energy and Power Systems
requirements, and environmental impact. Study of fluid flow,
2.60[J] Fundamentals of Advanced Energy Conversion thermodynamics, combustion, heat transfer and friction phenomena,
Same subject as 10.390[J] and fuel properties, relevant to engine power, eciency, and
Subject meets with 2.62[J], 10.392[J], 22.40[J] emissions. Examination of design features and operating
Prereq: 2.006, (2.051 and 2.06), or permission of instructor characteristics of dierent types of internal combustion engines:
U (Spring) spark-ignition, diesel, stratied-charge, and mixed-cycle engines.
4-0-8 units Engine Laboratory project. For graduate and senior undergraduate
students.
Fundamentals of thermodynamics, chemistry, and transport applied W. K. Cheng
to energy systems. Analysis of energy conversion and storage in
thermal, mechanical, chemical, and electrochemical processes in
power and transportation systems, with emphasis on eciency,
performance, and environmental impact. Applications to fuel
reforming and alternative fuels, hydrogen, fuel cells and batteries,
combustion, catalysis, combined and hybrid power cycles using
fossil, nuclear and renewable resources. CO2 separation and
capture. Biomass energy. Students taking graduate version complete
additional assignments.
A. F. Ghoniem, W. Green

38 | Department of Mechanical Engineering

 DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

2.611 Marine Power and Propulsion 2.62[J] Fundamentals of Advanced Energy Conversion
Subject meets with 2.612 Same subject as 10.392[J], 22.40[J]
Prereq: 2.005 Subject meets with 2.60[J], 10.390[J]
G (Fall) Prereq: 2.006, (2.051 and 2.06), or permission of instructor
4-0-8 units G (Spring)
4-0-8 units
Selection and evaluation of commercial and naval ship power
and propulsion systems. Analysis of propulsors, prime mover Fundamentals of thermodynamics, chemistry, and transport
thermodynamic cycles, propeller-engine matching. Propeller applied to energy systems. Analysis of energy conversion and
selection, waterjet analysis, review of alternative propulsors; storage in thermal, mechanical, chemical, and electrochemical
thermodynamic analyses of Rankine, Brayton, Diesel, and Combined processes in power and transportation systems, with emphasis on
cycles, reduction gears and integrated electric drive. Battery eciency, performance and environmental impact. Applications
operated vehicles, fuel cells. Term project requires analysis to fuel reforming and alternative fuels, hydrogen, fuel cells and
of alternatives in propulsion plant design for given physical, batteries, combustion, catalysis, combined and hybrid power cycles
performance, and economic constraints. Graduate students complete using fossil, nuclear and renewable resources. CO2 separation
dierent assignments and exams. and capture. Biomass energy. Meets with 2.60[J] when oered
J. Harbour, M. S. Triantafyllou, R. S. McCord concurrently; students taking the graduate version complete
additional assignments.
2.612 Marine Power and Propulsion A. F. Ghoniem, W. Green
Subject meets with 2.611
Prereq: 2.005 2.625[J] Electrochemical Energy Conversion and Storage:
U (Fall) Fundamentals, Materials and Applications
4-0-8 units Same subject as 10.625[J]
Prereq: 2.005, 3.046, 3.53, 10.40, (2.051 and 2.06), or permission of
Selection and evaluation of commercial and naval ship power instructor
and propulsion systems. Analysis of propulsors, prime mover G (Fall)
thermodynamic cycles, propeller-engine matching. Propeller Not oered regularly; consult department
selection, waterjet analysis, review of alternative propulsors; 4-0-8 units
thermodynamic analyses of Rankine, Brayton, Diesel, and Combined
cycles, reduction gears and integrated electric drive. Battery Fundamental concepts, tools, and applications in electrochemical
operated vehicles, fuel cells. Term project requires analysis science and engineering. Introduces thermodynamics, kinetics and
of alternatives in propulsion plant design for given physical, transport of electrochemical reactions. Describes how materials
performance, and economic constraints. Graduate students complete structure and properties aect electrochemical behavior of particular
dierent assignments and exams. applications, for instance in lithium rechargeable batteries,
J. Harbour, M. S. Triantafyllou, R. S. McCord electrochemical capacitors, fuel cells, photo electrochemical cells,
and electrolytic cells. Discusses state-of-the-art electrochemical
energy technologies for portable electronic devices, hybrid and
plug-in vehicles, electrical vehicles. Theoretical and experimental
exploration of electrochemical measurement techniques in cell
testing, and in bulk and interfacial transport measurements
(electronic and ionic resistivity and charge transfer cross the
electrode-electrolyte interface).
Y. Shao-Horn

Department of Mechanical Engineering | 39

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

2.626 Fundamentals of Photovoltaics 2.65[J] Sustainable Energy

Prereq: Permission of instructor Same subject as 1.818[J], 10.391[J], 11.371[J], 22.811[J]
G (Fall) Subject meets with 2.650[J], 10.291[J], 22.081[J]
Not oered regularly; consult department Prereq: Permission of instructor
4-0-8 units G (Fall)
3-1-8 units
Fundamentals of photoelectric conversion: charge excitation,
conduction, separation, and collection. Studies commercial and See description under subject 22.811[J].
emerging photovoltaic technologies. Cross-cutting themes include M. W. Golay
conversion eciencies, loss mechanisms, characterization,
manufacturing, systems, reliability, life-cycle analysis, and risk 2.650[J] Introduction to Sustainable Energy
analysis. Photovoltaic technology evolution in the context of Same subject as 10.291[J], 22.081[J]
markets, policies, society, and environment. Graduate students Subject meets with 1.818[J], 2.65[J], 10.391[J], 11.371[J], 22.811[J]
complete additional work. Prereq: Permission of instructor
T. Buonassisi U (Fall)
3-1-8 units
2.627 Fundamentals of Photovoltaics
Prereq: Permission of instructor See description under subject 22.081[J]. Limited to juniors and
U (Fall) seniors.
Not oered regularly; consult department M. W. Golay
4-0-8 units
2.651[J] Introduction to Energy in Global Development
Fundamentals of photoelectric conversion: charge excitation, Same subject as EC.711[J]
conduction, separation, and collection. Studies commercial and Subject meets with EC.791
emerging photovoltaic technologies. Cross-cutting themes include Prereq: None
conversion eciencies, loss mechanisms, characterization, U (Spring)
manufacturing, systems, reliability, life-cycle analysis, and risk 3-2-7 units
analysis. Photovoltaic technology evolution in the context of
markets, policies, society, and environment. Graduate students See description under subject EC.711[J]. Enrollment limited by
complete additional work. lottery; must attend rst class session.
T. Buonassisi D. Sweeney, S. Hsu

2.630 Interfacial Engineering (New) 2.652[J] Applications of Energy in Global Development

Prereq: None Same subject as EC.712[J]
G (Fall) Subject meets with EC.782
3-0-9 units Prereq: None
U (Fall)
Interfacial interactions are ubiquitous in many industries including 4-0-8 units
energy, water, agriculture, medical, transportation, and consumer
products. Transport processes are typically limited by interfaces. See description under subject EC.712[J]. Limited to 20; preference to
Addresses how interfacial properties (eg., chemistry, morphology, students who have taken EC.711[J].
thermal, electrical) can be engineered for signicant eciency D. Sweeney, Sta
enhancements. Topics include surface tension and wetting
phenomena, thermodynamics of interfaces, surface chemistry and
morphology, nonwetting, slippery, and superwetting surfaces,
charged interfaces and electric double layers, intermolecular forces,
Van der Waals and double-layer forces, DLVO theory, electrowetting
and electro-osmotic flows, electrochemical bubbles, surfactants,
phase transitions, and bio-interfaces. Manufacturing approaches,
entrepreneurial eorts to translate technologies to markets, guest
lectures and start-up company tours provide real-world exposure.
Anticipated enrollment is 15-20.
K. Varanasi

40 | Department of Mechanical Engineering

 DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Experimental Engineering 2.674 Introduction to Micro/Nano Engineering Laboratory

Prereq: Physics II (GIR) or permission of instructor
2.670 Mechanical Engineering Tools U (Spring)
Prereq: None 1-3-2 units
U (Fall, IAP, Spring) Credit cannot also be received for 2.675, 2.676
0-1-2 units Presents concepts, ideas, and enabling tools for nanoengineering
Introduces the fundamentals of machine tools use and fabrication through experiential lab modules, which include microfluidics,
techniques. Students work with a variety of machine tools including microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), and nanomaterials
the bandsaw, milling machine, and lathe. Mechanical Engineering and nanoimaging tools such as scanning electron microscopy
students are advised to take this subject in the rst IAP aer (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and atomic-force
declaring their major. Enrollment may be limited due to laboratory microscopy (AFM). Provides knowledge and experience via building,
capacity. Preference to Course 2 majors and minors. observing and manipulating micro- and nanoscale structures.
M. Culpepper Exposes students to fluid, thermal, and dynamic systems at small
scales. Enrollment limited; preference to Course 2 and 2-A majors
2.671 Measurement and Instrumentation and minors.
Prereq: Physics II (GIR), 2.001, 2.003[J], and 2.086 N. Fang, S. G. Kim, R. Karnik, M. Kolle, J. Kim
U (Fall, Spring)
3-3-6 units. Institute LAB 2.675 Micro/Nano Engineering Laboratory
Subject meets with 2.676
Introduces fundamental concepts and experimental techniques for Prereq: 2.25 and (6.777 or permission of instructor)
observation and measurement of physical variables such as force G (Fall)
and motion, liquid and gas properties, physiological parameters, 2-3-7 units
and measurements of light, sound, electrical quantities, and Credit cannot also be received for 2.674
temperature. Emphasizes mathematical techniques including
uncertainty analysis and statistics, Fourier analysis, frequency Covers advanced nanoengineering via practical lab modules
response, and correlation functions. Uses engineering knowledge to in connection with classical fluid dynamics, mechanics,
select instruments and design experimental methods to obtain and thermodynamics, and material physics. Labs include microfluidic
interpret meaningful data. Guided learning during lab experiments systems, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), emerging
promotes independent experiment design and measurements nanomaterials such as graphene, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and
performed outside the lab in the semester-long "Go Forth and nanoimaging tools. Student teams lead an experimental term project
Measure" project. Advances students' ability to critically read, that uses the tools and knowledge acquired through the lab modules
evaluate, and extract specic technical meaning from information in and experimental work, and culminates in a report and presentation.
a variety of media, and provides extensive instruction and practice in Recitations cover idea development, experiment design, planning
written, graphical, and oral communication. Enrollment limited. and execution, and analysis of results pertinent to the project.
I. W. Hunter, M. Kolle, B. Hughey Enrollment limited.
B. Comeau, J. Kim
2.673[J] Instrumentation and Measurement for Biological
Systems
Same subject as 20.309[J]
Subject meets with 20.409
Prereq: (Biology (GIR), Physics II (GIR), 6.100B, and 18.03) or
permission of instructor
U (Fall, Spring)
3-6-3 units

See description under subject 20.309[J]. Enrollment limited;

preference to Course 20 undergraduates.
P. Blainey, S. Manalis, E. Frank, S. Wasserman, J. Bagnall, E. Boyden,
P. So

Department of Mechanical Engineering | 41

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

2.676 Micro/Nano Engineering Laboratory 2.678 Electronics for Mechanical Systems

Subject meets with 2.675 Prereq: Physics II (GIR)
Prereq: 2.001, 2.003[J], 2.671, and Coreq: (2.005 or (2.051 and U (Fall, Spring)
2.06)); or permission of instructor 2-2-2 units
U (Fall)
2-3-7 units Practical introduction to the fundamentals of electronics in
Credit cannot also be received for 2.674 the context of electro-mechanical systems, with emphasis on
experimentation and project work in basic electronics. Laboratory
Studies advanced nanoengineering via experiental lab modules exercises include the design and construction of simple electronic
with classical fluid dynamics, mechanics, thermodynamics, and devices, such as power supplies, ampliers, op-amp circuits,
materials science. Lab modules include microfluidic systems; switched mode dc-dc converters, and dc motor drivers. Surveys
microelectromechanical systems (MEMS); emerging nanomaterials, embedded microcontrollers as system elements. Laboratory sessions
such as graphene and carbon nanotubes (CNTs); and nanoimaging stress the understanding of electronic circuits at the component
tools. Recitation develops in-depth knowledge and understanding level, but also point out the modern approach of system integration
of physical phenomena observed in the lab through quantitative using commercial modules and specialized integrated circuits.
analysis. Students have the option to engage in term projects led by Enrollment may be limited due to laboratory capacity; preference to
students taking 2.675. Enrollment limited; preference to Course 2 Course 2 majors and minors.
and 2-OE majors and minors. S. Banzaert, J. Leonard, M. Kolle, D. Trumper
B. Comeau, J. Kim
2.679 Electronics for Mechanical Systems II
2.677 Design and Experimentation for Ocean Engineering Prereq: 2.086, 2.678, and 18.03
Prereq: 2.00A and 2.086; Coreq: 2.016 or permission of instructor U (Spring)
U (Fall) 2-3-1 units
Not oered regularly; consult department
0-3-3 units Extends the concepts and techniques developed in 2.678 to include
complex systems and modeling of real-world elements with a strong
Design and experimental observation for ocean engineering systems emphasis on lab experimentation and independent project work.
focusing on the fundamentals of ocean wave propagation, ocean Topics include sampling theory, energy storage, embedded mobile
wave spectra and wave dispersion, cavitation, added mass, acoustic systems, autonomous navigation, printed circuit board design,
sound propagation in water, sea loads on oshore structures, system integration, and machine vision. Enrollment may be limited;
design of experiments for ship model testing, sh-like swimming preference to Course 2 majors.
propulsion, propellers, and ocean energy harvesting. Emphasizes S. Banzaert, J. Leonard
fundamentals of data analysis of signals from random environments
using Fourier transforms, noise ltering, statistics and error analysis
using MATLAB. Students carry out experiential laboratory exercises
in various Ocean Engineering laboratories on campus, including
short labs and demos, longer exercises with written reports, and a
nal experimental design project. Enrollment may be limited due to
laboratory capacity.
A. H. Techet

42 | Department of Mechanical Engineering

 DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Oceanographic Engineering and Acoustics 2.682 Acoustical Oceanography

Prereq: 2.681
2.680 Unmanned Marine Vehicle Autonomy, Sensing, and G (Spring)
Communication Not oered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor 3-0-9 units
G (Spring) Can be repeated for credit.
2-6-4 units Provides brief overview of what important current research topics
Focuses on soware and algorithms for autonomous decision are in oceanography (physical, geological, and biological) and
making (autonomy) by underwater vehicles operating in ocean how acoustics can be used as a tool to address them. Three typical
environments. Discusses how autonomous marine vehicles (UMVs) examples are climate, bottom geology, and marine mammal
adapt to the environment for improved sensing performance. Covers behavior. Addresses the acoustic inverse problem, reviewing
sensors for acoustic, biological and chemical sensing and their inverse methods (linear and nonlinear) and the combination of
integration with the autonomy system for environmentally adaptive acoustical methods with other measurements as an integrated
undersea mapping and observation. Introduces students to the system. Concentrates on specic case studies, taken from current
underwater acoustic communication environment and various research journals.
options for undersea navigation, highlighting their relevance to the J. F. Lynch, Woods Hole Sta
operation of collaborative undersea networks for environmental
sensing. Labs involve the use of the MOOP-IvP autonomy soware 2.683 Marine Bioacoustics and Geoacoustics
for the development of integrated sensing, modeling and control Prereq: 2.681
solutions. Solutions modeled in simulation environments and G (Spring)
include eld tests with small autonomous surface and underwater 3-0-9 units
vehicles operated on the Charles River. Limited enrollment. Can be repeated for credit.
H. Schmidt, J. J. Leonard, M. Benjamin Both active and passive acoustic methods of measuring marine
organisms, the seafloor, and their interactions are reviewed.
2.681 Environmental Ocean Acoustics Acoustic methods of detecting, observing, and quantifying marine
Prereq: 2.066, 18.075, or permission of instructor biological organisms are described, as are acoustic methods
G (Fall) of measuring geological properties of the seafloor, including
Not oered regularly; consult department depth, and surcial and volumetric composition. Interactions
3-0-9 units are also described, including eects of biological scatterers on
Fundamentals of underwater sound, and its application to mapping geological measurements, and eects of seafloor scattering on
and surveillance in an ocean environment. Wave equations for fluid measurements of biological scatterers on, in, or immediately above
and elastic media. Reflection and transmission of sound at plane the seafloor. Methods of determining small-scale material properties
interfaces. Wave theory representation of acoustic source radiation of organisms and the seafloor are outlined. Operational methods are
and propagation in shallow and deep ocean waveguides. Interaction emphasized, and corresponding measurement theory is described.
of underwater sound with elastic waves in the seabed and an Arctic Case studies are used in illustration. Principles of acoustic-system
ice cover, including eects of porosity and anisotropy. Numerical calibration are elaborated.
modeling of the propagation of underwater sound, including spectral K. G. Foote, Woods Hole Sta
methods, normal mode theory, and the parabolic equation method,
for laterally homogeneous and inhomogeneous environments.
Doppler eects. Eects of oceanographic variability and fluctuation
- spatial and temporal coherence. Generation and propagation
of ocean ambient noise. Modeling and simulation of signals and
noise in traditional sonar systems, as well as modern, distributed,
autonomous acoustic surveillance systems.
H. Schmidt

Department of Mechanical Engineering | 43

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

2.684 Wave Scattering by Rough Surfaces and Inhomogeneous 2.688 Principles of Oceanographic Instrument Systems --
Media Sensors and Measurements
Prereq: 2.066 or permission of instrctor Prereq: 2.671 and 18.075
G (Fall) Acad Year 2023-2024: Not oered
Not oered regularly; consult department Acad Year 2024-2025: G (Fall)
3-0-9 units 3-3-6 units
Can be repeated for credit.
Introduces theoretical and practical principles of design of
An advanced-level subject designed to give students a working oceanographic sensor systems. Transducer characteristics for
knowledge of current techniques in this area. Material is presented acoustic, current, temperature, pressure, electric, magnetic, gravity,
principally in the context of ocean acoustics, but can be used salinity, velocity, heat flow, and optical devices. Limitations on these
in other acoustic and electromagnetic applications. Includes devices imposed by ocean environment. Signal conditioning and
fundamentals of wave propagation through, and/or scattering by: recording; noise, sensitivity, and sampling limitations; standards.
random media, extended coherent structures, rough surfaces, and Principles of state-of-the-art systems being used in physical
discrete scatterers. oceanography, geophysics, submersibles, acoustics discussed in
T. K. Stanton, A. C. Lavery, Woods Hole Sta lectures by experts in these areas. Day cruises in local waters during
which the students will prepare, deploy and analyze observations
2.687 Time Series Analysis and System Identication from standard oceanographic instruments constitute the lab work for
Prereq: 6.3010 and 18.06 this subject.
G (Fall, Spring) H. Singh, R. Geyer, A. Michel
Not oered regularly; consult department
3-0-9 units 2.689[J] Projects in Oceanographic Engineering
Can be repeated for credit. Same subject as 1.699[J]
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Covers matched ltering, power spectral (PSD) estimation, and G (Fall, Spring, Summer)
adaptive signal processing / system identication algorithms. Units arranged [P/D/F]
Algorithm development is framed as an optimization problem, Can be repeated for credit.
and optimal and approximate solutions are described. Reviews
time-varying systems, rst and second moment representations of Projects in oceanographic engineering, carried out under supervision
stochastic processes, and state-space models. Also covers algorithm of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution sta. Given at Woods Hole
derivation, performance analysis, and robustness to modeling errors. Oceanographic Institution.
Algorithms for PSD estimation, the LMS and RLS algorithms, and the J. Preisig, Woods Hole Sta
Kalman Filter are treated in detail.
J. C. Preisig, Woods Hole Sta 2.690 Corrosion in Marine Engineering
Prereq: 3.012 and permission of instructor
G (Summer)
3-0-3 units

Introduction to forms of corrosion encountered in marine systems

material selection, coatings and protection systems. Case studies
and causal analysis developed through student presentations.
J. Page, T. Eagar

44 | Department of Mechanical Engineering

 DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Naval Architecture 2.703 Principles of Naval Ship Design

Prereq: 2.082, 2.20, 2.611, and 2.702
2.700 Principles of Naval Architecture G (Fall)
Subject meets with 2.701 4-2-6 units
Prereq: 2.002 Covers the design of surface ship platforms for naval applications.
U (Fall) Includes topics such as hull form selection and concept design
4-2-6 units synthesis, topside and general arrangements, weight estimation,
Presents principles of naval architecture, ship geometry, and technical feasibility analyses (including strength, stability,
hydrostatics, calculation and drawing of curves of form, intact seakeeping, and survivability.). Practical exercises involve
and damage stability, hull structure strength calculations and application of design principles and utilization of advanced
ship resistance. Introduces computer-aided naval ship design and computer-aided ship design tools.
analysis tools. Projects include analysis of ship lines drawings, J. Harbour, J. Page
calculation of ship hydrostatic characteristics, analysis of intact and
damaged stability, ship model testing, and hull structure strength 2.704 Projects in Naval Ship Conversion Design
calculations. Students taking graduate version complete additional Prereq: 2.703
assignments. G (IAP, Spring)
R. Bebermeyer, P. D. Sclavounos 1-6-5 units

Focuses on conversion design of a naval ship. A new mission

2.701 Principles of Naval Architecture requirement is dened, requiring signicant modication to an
Subject meets with 2.700 existing ship. Involves requirements setting, design plan formulation
Prereq: 2.002 and design philosophy, and employs formal decision-making
G (Fall) methods. Technical aspects demonstrate feasibility and desirability.
4-2-6 units Includes formal written and verbal reports and team projects.
Presents principles of naval architecture, ship geometry, J. Harbour, J. Page
hydrostatics, calculation and drawing of curves of form, intact
and damage stability, hull structure strength calculations and 2.705 Projects in New Concept Naval Ship Design
ship resistance. Introduces computer-aided naval ship design and Prereq: 2.704
analysis tools. Projects include analysis of ship lines drawings, G (Fall, Spring)
calculation of ship hydrostatic characteristics, analysis of intact and Units arranged
damaged stability, ship model testing, and hull structure strength Can be repeated for credit.
calculations. Students taking graduate version complete additional Focus on preliminary design of a new naval ship, fullling a given
assignments. set of mission requirements. Design plan formulation, system level
R. Bebermeyer, P. Sclavounuos trade-o studies, emphasizes achieving a balanced design and total
system integration. Formal written and oral reports. Team projects
2.702 Systems Engineering and Naval Ship Design extend over three terms.
Prereq: 2.701 R. Bebermeyer, R. Jonart
G (Spring)
3-3-6 units 2.707 Submarine Structural Acoustics
Introduces principles of systems engineering and ship design Prereq: 2.066
with an overview of naval ship design and acquisition processes, G (Spring; rst half of term)
requirements setting, formulation of a systematic plan, design Not oered regularly; consult department
philosophy and constraints, formal decision making methods, 2-0-4 units
selection criteria, optimization, variant analysis, trade-os, analysis Introduction to the acoustic interaction of submerged structures
of ship design trends, risk, and cost analysis. Emphasizes the with the surrounding fluid. Fluid and elastic wave equations. Elastic
application of principles through completion of a design exercise waves in plates. Radiation and scattering from planar structures as
and project. well as curved structures such as spheres and cylinders. Acoustic
R. Bebermeyer, A. Gillespy imaging of structural vibrations. Students can take 2.085 in the
second half of term.
H. Schmidt

Department of Mechanical Engineering | 45

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

2.708 Traditional Naval Architecture Design 2.715[J] Optical Microscopy and Spectroscopy for Biology and
Prereq: None Medicine
G (IAP) Same subject as 20.487[J]
Not oered regularly; consult department Prereq: Permission of instructor
2-0-1 units G (Spring)
Not oered regularly; consult department
Week-long intensive introduction to traditional design methods in 3-0-9 units
which students hand draw a lines plan of a N. G. Herresho (MIT
Class of 1870) design based on hull shape osets taken from his Introduces the theory and the design of optical microscopy and
original design model. Aer completing the plan, students then its applications in biology and medicine. The course starts from
carve a wooden half-hull model of the boat design. Covers methods an overview of basic optical principles allowing an understanding
used to develop hull shape analysis data from lines plans. Provides of microscopic image formation and common contrast modalities
students with instruction in safe hand tool use and how to transfer such as dark eld, phase, and DIC. Advanced microscopy imaging
their lines to 3D in the form of their model. Limited to 15. techniques such as total internal reflection, confocal, and
K. Hasselbalch, J. Harbour multiphoton will also be discussed. Quantitative analysis of
biochemical microenvironment using spectroscopic techniques
based on fluorescence, second harmonic, Raman signals will be
Optics
covered. We will also provide an overview of key image processing
2.71 Optics techniques for microscopic data.
Subject meets with 2.710 P. T. So, C. Sheppard
Prereq: (Physics II (GIR), 2.004, and 18.03) or permission of
instructor 2.717 Optical Engineering
U (Fall) Prereq: 2.710 or permission of instructor
3-0-9 units G (Spring)
Not oered regularly; consult department
Introduction to optical science with elementary engineering 3-0-9 units
applications. Geometrical optics: ray-tracing, aberrations, lens
design, apertures and stops, radiometry and photometry. Wave Theory and practice of optical methods in engineering and system
optics: basic electrodynamics, polarization, interference, wave- design. Emphasis on diraction, statistical optics, holography, and
guiding, Fresnel and Fraunhofer diraction, image formation, imaging. Provides engineering methodology skills necessary to
resolution, space-bandwidth product. Emphasis on analytical and incorporate optical components in systems serving diverse areas
numerical tools used in optical design. Graduate students are such as precision engineering and metrology, bio-imaging, and
required to complete additional assignments with stronger analytical computing (sensors, data storage, communication in multi-processor
content, and an advanced design project. systems). Experimental demonstrations and a design project are
G. Barbastathis, P. T. So included.
P. T. So, G. Barbastathis
2.710 Optics
Subject meets with 2.71
Prereq: (Physics II (GIR), 2.004, and 18.03) or permission of
instructor
G (Fall)
3-0-9 units

Introduction to optical science with elementary engineering

applications. Geometrical optics: ray-tracing, aberrations, lens
design, apertures and stops, radiometry and photometry. Wave
optics: basic electrodynamics, polarization, interference, wave-
guiding, Fresnel and Fraunhofer diraction, image formation,
resolution, space-bandwidth product. Emphasis on analytical and
numerical tools used in optical design. Graduate students are
required to complete additional assignments with stronger analytical
content, and an advanced design project.
G. Barbastathis, P. T. So

46 | Department of Mechanical Engineering

 DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

2.718 Photonic Materials Design

Subject meets with 2.719
Prereq: 2.003[J], 8.03, 6.2370, or permission of instructor 2.70 FUNdaMENTALS of Precision Product Design
U (Spring) Subject meets with 2.77
3-0-9 units Prereq: 2.008
Provides a review of Maxwell's equations and the Helmholtz wave U (Fall)
equation. Optical devices: waveguides and cavities, phase and group 3-3-6 units
velocity, causality, and scattering. Light-matter interaction in bulk, Examines design, selection, and combination of machine elements
surface, and subwavelength-structured matter. Eective media, to produce a robust precision system. Introduces process,
dispersion relationships, wavefronts and rays, eikonal description philosophy and physics-based principles of design to improve/
of light propagation, phase singularities. Transformation optics, enable renewable power generation, energy eciency, and
gradient eective media. Includes description of the experimental manufacturing productivity. Topics include linkages, power
tools for realization and measurement of photonic materials and transmission, screws and gears, actuators, structures, joints,
eects. Students taking graduate version complete additional bearings, error apportionment, and error budgeting. Considers
assignments. each topic with respect to its physics of operation, mechanics
G. Barbastathis, N. Fang (strength, deformation, thermal eects) and accuracy, repeatability,
and resolution. Includes guest lectures from practicing industry
2.719 Photonic Materials and academic leaders. Students design, build, and test a small
Subject meets with 2.718 benchtop precision machine, such as a heliostat for positioning
Prereq: 2.003[J], 8.03, 6.2370, or permission of instructor solar PV panels or a two or three axis machine. Prior to each lecture,
G (Spring) students review the pre-recorded detailed topic materials and then
3-0-9 units converge on what parts of the topic they want covered in extra
Provides a review of Maxwell's equations and the Helmholtz wave depth in lecture. Students are assessed on their preparation for and
equation. Optical devices: waveguides and cavities, phase and group participation in class sessions. Students taking graduate version
velocity, causality, and scattering. Light-matter interaction in bulk, complete additional assignments. Enrollment limited.
surface, and subwavelength-structured matter. Eective media, A. Slocum
dispersion relationships, wavefronts and rays, eikonal description
of light propagation, phase singularities. Transformation optics,
gradient eective media. Includes description of the experimental
tools for realization and measurement of photonic materials and
eects. Students taking graduate version complete additional
assignments.
G. Barbastathis, N. Fang

Department of Mechanical Engineering | 47

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

2.77 FUNdaMENTALS of Precision Product Design 2.720 Elements of Mechanical Design

Subject meets with 2.70 Subject meets with 2.72
Prereq: 2.008 Prereq: Permission of instructor
G (Fall) G (Spring)
3-3-6 units 3-3-6 units

Examines design, selection, and combination of machine elements Advanced study of modeling, design, integration, and best practices
to produce a robust precision system. Introduces process, for use of machine elements, such as bearings, bolts, belts, flexures,
philosophy and physics-based principles of design to improve/ and gears. Modeling and analysis is based upon rigorous application
enable renewable power generation, energy eciency, and of physics, mathematics, and core mechanical engineering
manufacturing productivity. Topics include linkages, power principles, which are reinforced via laboratory experiences and
transmission, screws and gears, actuators, structures, joints, a design project in which students model, design, fabricate, and
bearings, error apportionment, and error budgeting. Considers characterize a mechanical system that is relevant to a real-world
each topic with respect to its physics of operation, mechanics application. Activities and quizzes are directly related to, and
(strength, deformation, thermal eects) and accuracy, repeatability, coordinated with, the project deliverables. Develops the ability to
and resolution. Includes guest lectures from practicing industry synthesize, model and fabricate a design subject to engineering
and academic leaders. Students design, build, and test a small constraints (e.g., cost, time, schedule). Students taking graduate
benchtop precision machine, such as a heliostat for positioning version complete additional assignments.
solar PV panels or a two or three axis machine. Prior to each lecture, M. L. Culpepper
students review the pre-recorded detailed topic materials and then
converge on what parts of the topic they want covered in extra 2.722[J] D-Lab: Design
depth in lecture. Students are assessed on their preparation for and Same subject as EC.720[J]
participation in class sessions. Students taking graduate version Prereq: 2.670 or permission of instructor
complete additional assignments. Enrollment limited. U (Spring)
A. Slocum 3-0-9 units

2.72 Elements of Mechanical Design See description under subject EC.720[J]. Enrollment limited by
Subject meets with 2.720 lottery; must attend rst class session.
Prereq: 2.008 and (2.005 or 2.051); Coreq: 2.671 E. Squibb
U (Spring)
3-3-6 units 2.7231[J] Introduction to Design Thinking and Innovation in
Engineering
Advanced study of modeling, design, integration, and best practices Same subject as 6.9101[J], 16.6621[J]
for use of machine elements, such as bearings, bolts, belts, flexures, Prereq: None
and gears. Modeling and analysis is based upon rigorous application U (Fall, Spring; rst half of term)
of physics, mathematics, and core mechanical engineering 2-0-1 units
principles, which are reinforced via laboratory experiences and
a design project in which students model, design, fabricate, and See description under subject 6.9101[J]. Enrollment limited to 25;
characterize a mechanical system that is relevant to a real-world priority to rst-year students.
application. Activities and quizzes are directly related to, and B. Kotelly
coordinated with, the project deliverables. Develops the ability to
synthesize, model and fabricate a design subject to engineering 2.723A Design Thinking and Innovation Leadership for Engineers
constraints (e.g., cost, time, schedule). Students taking graduate Engineering School-Wide Elective Subject.
version complete additional assignments. Enrollment limited. Oered under: 2.723A, 6.910A, 16.662A
M. L. Culpepper Prereq: None
U (Fall, Spring; rst half of term)
2-0-1 units

See description under subject 6.910A.

B. Kotelly

48 | Department of Mechanical Engineering

 DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

2.723B Design Thinking and Innovation Project 2.734 Engineering Systems Development
Engineering School-Wide Elective Subject. Subject meets with 2.014
Oered under: 2.723B, 6.910B, 16.662B Prereq: (2.001, 2.003[J], (2.005 or 2.051), and (2.00B, 2.670, or
Prereq: 6.910A 2.678)) or permission of instructor
U (Fall, Spring; second half of term) G (Spring)
2-0-1 units 0-6-6 units

See description under subject 6.910B. Focuses on the implementation and operation of engineering
B. Kotelly systems. Emphasizes system integration and performance
verication using methods of experimental inquiry. Students rene
2.729[J] D-Lab: Design for Scale their subsystem designs and the fabrication of working prototypes.
Same subject as EC.729[J] Includes experimental analysis of subperformance and comparison
Subject meets with 2.789[J], EC.797[J] with physical models of performance and with design goals.
Prereq: None. Coreq: 2.008; or permission of instructor component integration into the full system, with detailed analysis
U (Fall) and operation of the complete vehicle in the laboratory and in the
3-2-7 units eld. Includes written and oral reports. Students carry out formal
reviews of the overall system design. Instruction and practice in
See description under subject EC.729[J]. oral and written communication provided. Students taking graduate
M. Yang version complete additional assignments. Enrollment may be limited
due to laboratory capacity.
2.733 Engineering Systems Design D. Hart
Subject meets with 2.013
Prereq: (2.001, 2.003[J], (2.005 or 2.051), and (2.00B, 2.670, or 2.737 Mechatronics
2.678)) or permission of instructor Prereq: 6.2000 and (2.14, 6.3100, or 16.30)
Acad Year 2023-2024: G (Fall) Acad Year 2023-2024: G (Fall)
Acad Year 2024-2025: Not oered Acad Year 2024-2025: Not oered
0-6-6 units 3-5-4 units
Focuses on the design of engineering systems to satisfy stated Introduction to designing mechatronic systems, which require
performance, stability, and/or control requirements. Emphasizes integration of the mechanical and electrical engineering disciplines
individual initiative, application of fundamental principles, and within a unied framework. Signicant laboratory-based design
the compromises inherent in the engineering design process. experiences form subject's core. Final project. Topics include:
Culminates in the design of an engineering system, typically a low-level interfacing of soware with hardware; use of high-level
vehicle or other complex system. Includes instruction and practice in graphical programming tools to implement real-time computation
written and oral communication through team presentation, design tasks; digital logic; analog interfacing and power ampliers;
reviews, and written reports. Students taking graduate version measurement and sensing; electromagnetic and optical transducers;
complete additional assignments. Enrollment may be limited due to control of mechatronic systems. Limited to 20.
laboratory capacity. D. L. Trumper, K. Youcef-Toumi
D. Hart
2.739[J] Product Design and Development
Same subject as 15.783[J]
Prereq: 2.009, 15.761, 15.778, 15.814, or permission of instructor
G (Spring)
3-3-6 units

See description under subject 15.783[J]. Engineering students

accepted via lottery based on WebSIS pre-registration.
S. Eppinger, M. C. Yang

Department of Mechanical Engineering | 49

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

2.74 Bio-inspired Robotics 2.744 Product Design

Subject meets with 2.740 Prereq: 2.009
Prereq: 2.004 or permission of instructor G (Spring)
U (Fall) Not oered regularly; consult department
3-1-8 units 3-0-9 units

Interdisciplinary approach to bio-inspired design, with emphasis on Project-centered subject addressing transformation of ideas into
principle extraction applicable to various robotics research elds, successful products which are properly matched to the user and
such as robotics, prosthetics, and human assistive technologies. the market. Students are asked to take a more complete view of a
Focuses on three main components: biomechanics, numerical new product and to gain experience with designs judged on their
techniques that allow multi-body dynamics simulation with aesthetics, ease of use, and sensitivities to the realities of the
environmental interaction and optimization, and basic robotics marketplace. Lectures on modern design process, industrial design,
techniques and implementation skills. Students integrate the visual communication, form-giving, mass production, marketing, and
components into a nal robotic system project of their choosing environmentally conscious design.
through which they must demonstrate their understanding of D. R. Wallace
dynamics and control and test hypothesized design principles.
Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. 2.75[J] Medical Device Design
Enrollment may be limited due to laboratory capacity. Same subject as 6.4861[J], HST.552[J]
S. Kim Subject meets with 2.750[J], 6.4860[J]
Prereq: 2.008, 6.2040, 6.2050, 6.2060, 22.071, or permission of
2.740 Bio-inspired Robotics instructor
Subject meets with 2.74 G (Spring)
Prereq: 2.004 or permission of instructor 3-3-6 units
G (Fall)
3-3-6 units Provides an intense project-based learning experience around the
design of medical devices with foci ranging from mechanical to
Interdisciplinary approach to bio-inspired design, with emphasis on electro mechanical to electronics. Projects motivated by real-world
principle extraction applicable to various robotics research elds, clinical challenges provided by sponsors and clinicians who also
such as robotics, prosthetics, and human assistive technologies. help mentor teams. Covers the design process, project management,
Focuses on three main components: biomechanics, numerical and fundamentals of mechanical and electrical circuit and sensor
techniques that allow multi-body dynamics simulation with design. Students work in small teams to execute a substantial term
environmental interaction and optimization, and basic robotics project, with emphasis placed upon developing creative designs
techniques and implementation skills. Students integrate the — via a deterministic design process — that are developed and
components into a nal robotic system project of their choosing optimized using analytical techniques. Includes mandatory lab.
through which they must demonstrate their understanding of Instruction and practice in written and oral communication provided.
dynamics and control and test hypothesized design principles. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.
Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Enrollment limited.
Enrollment may be limited due to lab capacity. A. H. Slocum, E. Roche, N. C. Hanumara, G. Traverso, A. Pennes
S. Kim

50 | Department of Mechanical Engineering

 DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

2.750[J] Medical Device Design 2.753 Development of Mechanical Products

Same subject as 6.4860[J] Subject meets with 2.752
Subject meets with 2.75[J], 6.4861[J], HST.552[J] Prereq: 2.009, 2.750[J], or permission of instructor
Prereq: 2.008, 6.2040, 6.2050, 6.2060, 22.071, or permission of G (Spring)
instructor Not oered regularly; consult department
U (Spring) 3-0-9 units
3-3-6 units
Focuses on evolving a product from proof-of-concept to beta
Provides an intense project-based learning experience around the prototype: Includes team building, project planning, budgeting,
design of medical devices with foci ranging from mechanical to resource planning; models for scaling, tolerancing and reliability,
electro mechanical to electronics. Projects motivated by real-world patents, business planning. Students/teams start with a proof-of-
clinical challenges provided by sponsors and clinicians who also concept product they bring to class or select from projects provided
help mentor teams. Covers the design process, project management, by instructor. In lieu of taking 12 units of 2.THU, Course 2 majors
and fundamentals of mechanical and electrical circuit and sensor taking 2.752 may write a bachelor's thesis that documents their
design. Students work in small teams to execute a substantial term contributions to the product developed in the team project. Students
project, with emphasis placed upon developing creative designs taking the graduate version complete additional assignments.
-- via a deterministic design process -- that are developed and Enrollment limited.
optimized using analytical techniques. Includes mandatory lab. A. Slocum
Instruction and practice in written and oral communication provided.
Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. 2.76 Global Engineering
Enrollment limited. Subject meets with 2.760
A. H. Slocum, E. Roche, N. C. Hanumara, G. Traverso, A. Pennes Prereq: 2.008 or permission of instructor
G (Fall)
2.752 Development of Mechanical Products 3-0-9 units
Subject meets with 2.753
Prereq: 2.009, 2.750[J], or permission of instructor Combines rigorous engineering theory and user-centered product
U (Spring) design to create technologies for developing and emerging
Not oered regularly; consult department markets. Covers machine design theory to parametrically analyze
3-0-9 units technologies; bottom-up/top-down design processes; engagement
of stakeholders in the design process; socioeconomic factors that
Focuses on evolving a product from proof-of-concept to beta aect adoption of products; and developing/emerging market
prototype: Includes team building, project planning, budgeting, dynamics and their eect on business and technology. Includes
resource planning; models for scaling, tolerancing and reliability, guest lectures from subject matter experts in relevant elds and case
patents, business planning. Students/teams start with a proof-of- studies on successful and failed technologies. Student teams apply
concept product they bring to class or select from projects provided course material to term-long projects to create new technologies,
by instructor. In lieu of taking 12 units of 2.THU, Course 2 majors developed in collaboration with industrial partners and other
taking 2.752 may write a bachelor's thesis that documents their stakeholders in developing/emerging markets. Students taking
contributions to the product developed in the team project. Students graduate version complete additional assignments.
taking the graduate version complete additional assignments. A. Winter
Enrollment limited; preference to Course 2 majors and minors.
A. Slocum

Department of Mechanical Engineering | 51

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

2.760 Global Engineering 2.777 Large and Complex Systems Design and Concept
Subject meets with 2.76 Development
Prereq: 2.008 or permission of instructor Subject meets with 2.778
U (Fall) Prereq: 2.00B, 2.007, or permission of instructor
3-0-9 units U (Fall)
3-0-9 units
Combines rigorous engineering theory and user-centered product
design to create technologies for developing and emerging Examines structured principles and processes to develop concepts
markets. Covers machine design theory to parametrically analyze for large and complex systems. Term projects introduce students
technologies; bottom-up/top-down design processes; engagement to large-scale system development with several areas of emphasis,
of stakeholders in the design process; socioeconomic factors that including idea generation, concept development and renement,
aect adoption of products; and developing/emerging market system-level thinking, brieng development and presentation,
dynamics and their eect on business and technology. Includes and proposal generation. Interactive lectures and presentations
guest lectures from subject matter experts in relevant elds and case guide students throughout the course to develop and deliver team
studies on successful and failed technologies. Student teams apply presentations focused on solving large and complex problems.
course material to term-long projects to create new technologies, Includes a semester-long project in which students apply design
developed in collaboration with industrial partners and other tools/processes to solve a specic problem. Students taking
stakeholders in developing/emerging markets. Students taking graduate version complete the project individually.
graduate version complete additional assignments. S. Kim
A. Winter
2.778 Large and Complex Systems Design and Concept
2.771[J] D-Lab: Supply Chains Development
Same subject as 15.772[J], EC.733[J] Subject meets with 2.777
Subject meets with 2.871 Prereq: Permission of instructor
Prereq: None G (Fall)
U (Spring) 3-0-9 units
Not oered regularly; consult department
3-3-6 units Examines structured principles and processes to develop concepts
for large and complex systems. Term projects introduce students
See description under subject 15.772[J]. to large-scale system development with several areas of emphasis,
S. C. Graves including idea generation, concept development and renement,
system-level thinking, brieng development and presentation, and
2.772[J] Thermodynamics of Biomolecular Systems proposal generation. Interactive lectures and presentations guide
Same subject as 20.110[J] students throughout the course to develop and deliver individual
Prereq: (Biology (GIR), Calculus II (GIR), Chemistry (GIR), and Physics and team presentations focused on solving large and complex
I (GIR)) or permission of instructor problems. Includes a semester-long project in which students apply
U (Fall) design tools/processes to solve a specic problem. Students taking
5-0-7 units. REST graduate version complete project individually. Limited enrollment.
S. G. Kim
See description under subject 20.110[J].
M. Birnbaum, C. Voigt
Bioengineering

2.772[J] Thermodynamics of Biomolecular Systems

Same subject as 20.110[J]
Prereq: (Biology (GIR), Calculus II (GIR), Chemistry (GIR), and Physics
I (GIR)) or permission of instructor
U (Fall)
5-0-7 units. REST

See description under subject 20.110[J].

M. Birnbaum, C. Voigt

52 | Department of Mechanical Engineering

 DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

2.78[J] Principles and Practice of Assistive Technology 2.787[J] Tissue Engineering and Organ Regeneration
Same subject as 6.4530[J], HST.420[J] Same subject as HST.535[J]
Prereq: Permission of instructor Prereq: (Biology (GIR), Chemistry (GIR), and Physics I (GIR)) or
U (Fall) permission of instructor
Not oered regularly; consult department G (Fall)
2-4-6 units 3-0-9 units

See description under subject 6.4530[J]. Enrollment may be limited. See description under subject HST.535[J].
R. C. Miller, J. E. Greenberg, J. J. Leonard M. Spector, I. V. Yannas

2.782[J] Design of Medical Devices and Implants 2.788 Mechanical Engineering and Design of Living Systems
Same subject as HST.524[J] Prereq: None
Prereq: (Biology (GIR), Chemistry (GIR), and Physics I (GIR)) or G (Fall)
permission of instructor 4-2-6 units
G (Spring)
3-0-9 units For students interested in research at the interface of mechanical
engineering, biology, and materials science. Specic emphasis lies
Solution of clinical problems by use of implants and other medical on interfacing living systems with engineered materials and devices,
devices. Systematic use of cell-matrix control volumes. The role of and on engineering living system behavior.
stress analysis in the design process. Anatomic t: shape and size M. Kolle, M. Guo
of implants. Selection of biomaterials. Instrumentation for surgical
implantation procedures. Preclinical testing for safety and ecacy: 2.789[J] D-Lab: Design for Scale
risk/benet ratio assessment. Evaluation of clinical performance: Same subject as EC.797[J]
design of clinical trials. Project materials drawn from orthopedic Subject meets with 2.729[J], EC.729[J]
devices, so tissue implants, articial organs, and dental implants. Prereq: None. Coreq: 2.008; or permission of instructor
I. V. Yannas, M. Spector G (Fall)
3-2-7 units
2.785[J] Cell-Matrix Mechanics
Same subject as HST.523[J] See description under subject EC.797[J].
Prereq: (Biology (GIR), Chemistry (GIR), and 2.001) or permission of M. Yang, H. Quintus-Bosz, S. Grama, K. Bergeron
instructor
G (Fall)
Not oered regularly; consult department
3-0-9 units

Mechanical forces play a decisive role during development of tissues

and organs, during remodeling following injury as well as in normal
function. A stress eld influences cell function primarily through
deformation of the extracellular matrix to which cells are attached.
Deformed cells express dierent biosynthetic activity relative to
undeformed cells. The unit cell process paradigm combined with
topics in connective tissue mechanics form the basis for discussions
of several topics from cell biology, physiology, and medicine.
I. V. Yannas, M. Spector

Department of Mechanical Engineering | 53

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

2.79[J] Biomaterials: Tissue Interactions 2.793[J] Fields, Forces and Flows in Biological Systems
Same subject as HST.522[J] Same subject as 6.4830[J], 20.330[J]
Prereq: (Biology (GIR), Chemistry (GIR), and Physics I (GIR)) or Prereq: Biology (GIR), Physics II (GIR), and 18.03
permission of instructor U (Spring)
G (Fall) 4-0-8 units
Not oered regularly; consult department
3-0-9 units See description under subject 20.330[J].
J. Han, S. Manalis
Principles of materials science and cell biology underlying
the development and implementation of biomaterials for the 2.794[J] Cellular Neurophysiology and Computing
fabrication of medical devices/implants, including articial Same subject as 6.4812[J], 9.021[J], 20.470[J], HST.541[J]
organs and matrices for tissue engineering and regenerative Subject meets with 2.791[J], 6.4810[J], 9.21[J], 20.370[J]
medicine. Employs a conceptual model, the "unit cell process for Prereq: (Physics II (GIR), 18.03, and (2.005, 6.2000, 6.3000, 10.301,
analysis of the mechanisms underlying wound healing and tissue or 20.110[J])) or permission of instructor
remodeling following implantation of biomaterials/devices in various G (Spring)
organs, including matrix synthesis, degradation, and contraction. 5-2-5 units
Methodology of tissue and organ regeneration. Discusses methods
for biomaterials surface characterization and analysis of protein See description under subject 6.4812[J].
adsorption on biomaterials. Design of implants and prostheses J. Han, T. Heldt
based on control of biomaterials-tissue interactions. Comparative
analysis of intact, biodegradable, and bioreplaceable implants by 2.795[J] Fields, Forces, and Flows in Biological Systems
reference to case studies. Criteria for restoration of physiological Same subject as 6.4832[J], 10.539[J], 20.430[J]
function for tissues and organs. Prereq: Permission of instructor
I. V. Yannas, M. Spector G (Fall)
3-0-9 units
2.791[J] Cellular Neurophysiology and Computing See description under subject 20.430[J].
Same subject as 6.4810[J], 9.21[J], 20.370[J] M. Bathe, A. J. Grodzinsky
Subject meets with 2.794[J], 6.4812[J], 9.021[J], 20.470[J], HST.541[J]
Prereq: (Physics II (GIR), 18.03, and (2.005, 6.2000, 6.3000, 10.301, 2.796[J] Quantitative Physiology: Organ Transport Systems
or 20.110[J])) or permission of instructor Same subject as 6.4822[J]
U (Spring) Subject meets with 2.792[J], 6.4820[J], HST.542[J]
5-2-5 units Prereq: 6.4810[J] and (2.006 or 6.2300)
See description under subject 6.4810[J]. Preference to juniors and G (Fall)
seniors. 4-2-6 units
J. Han, T. Heldt See description under subject 6.4822[J].
T. Heldt, R. G. Mark
2.792[J] Quantitative and Clinical Physiology
Same subject as 6.4820[J], HST.542[J]
Subject meets with 2.796[J], 6.4822[J]
Prereq: Physics II (GIR), 18.03, or permission of instructor
U (Fall)
4-2-6 units

See description under subject 6.4820[J].

T. Heldt, R. G. Mark

54 | Department of Mechanical Engineering

 DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

2.797[J] Molecular, Cellular, and Tissue Biomechanics Manufacturing

Same subject as 3.053[J], 6.4840[J], 20.310[J]
Subject meets with 2.798[J], 3.971[J], 6.4842[J], 10.537[J], 20.410[J] 2.810 Manufacturing Processes and Systems
Prereq: Biology (GIR) and 18.03 Prereq: 2.001, 2.006, and 2.008
U (Spring) G (Fall)
4-0-8 units 3-3-6 units
Develops and applies scaling laws and the methods of continuum Introduction to manufacturing processes and manufacturing
mechanics to biomechanical phenomena over a range of length systems including assembly, machining, injection molding, casting,
scales. Topics include structure of tissues and the molecular thermoforming, and more. Emphasis on the physics and randomness
basis for macroscopic properties; chemical and electrical eects and how they influence quality, rate, cost, and flexibility. Attention
on mechanical behavior; cell mechanics, motility and adhesion; to the relationship between the process and the system, and
biomembranes; biomolecular mechanics and molecular motors. the process and part design. Project (in small groups) requires
Experimental methods for probing structures at the tissue, cellular, fabrication (and some design) of a product using several dierent
and molecular levels. Students taking graduate version complete processes (as listed above). Enrollment may be limited due to
additional assignments. laboratory constraints; preference given to MechE students and
M. Bathe, K. Ribbeck, P. T. So students who need to satisfy degree requirements.
J. Hart, D. Wendell, W. Seering, J. Liu
2.798[J] Molecular, Cellular, and Tissue Biomechanics
Same subject as 3.971[J], 6.4842[J], 10.537[J], 20.410[J] 2.812 Solving for Carbon Neutrality at MIT
Subject meets with 2.797[J], 3.053[J], 6.4840[J], 20.310[J] Prereq: None
Prereq: Biology (GIR) and 18.03 Acad Year 2023-2024: Not oered
G (Spring) Acad Year 2024-2025: U (Spring)
3-0-9 units 3-3-6 units
Develops and applies scaling laws and the methods of continuum Working in teams, students address the problem of reducing MIT's
mechanics to biomechanical phenomena over a range of length greenhouse gas emissions in a manner consistent with the climate
scales. Topics include structure of tissues and the molecular goals of maintaining our planet in a suitable regime to support
basis for macroscopic properties; chemical and electrical eects human society and the environment. Solution scenarios include
on mechanical behavior; cell mechanics, motility and adhesion; short-, middle- and long-term strategies. Experts from MIT's faculty
biomembranes; biomolecular mechanics and molecular motors. and operations sta, as well as outside experts who address the
Experimental methods for probing structures at the tissue, cellular, multidisciplinary features of the problem guide solutions. These
and molecular levels. Students taking graduate version complete include climate science, ethics, carbon accounting, cost estimating,
additional assignments. MIT's energy supply, energy demand, and infrastructure, new
M. Bathe, K. Ribbeck, P. T. So technologies, nancial instruments, electricity markets, policy,
human behavior, and regulation.Develops skills to address carbon
2.799 The Cell as a Machine neutrality at other universities, and at other scales, including cities
Prereq: 5.07[J], 7.05, or 18.03 and nations. Students taking graduate version complete additional
G (Fall) assignments.
Not oered regularly; consult department T. Gutowski, J. Newman
3-3-6 units

Examines a variety of essential cellular functions from the

perspective of the cell as a machine. Includes phenomena such
as nuclear organization, protein synthesis, cell and membrane
mechanics, cell migration, cell cycle control, cell transformation.
Lectures are provided by video twice per week; live 3-hour recitation
one evening per week. Course is taken simultaneously by students at
multiple universities; homework and take-home exams common to
all students. Preference to students in Courses 2 and 20.
R. Kamm, M. Sheetz, H. Yu

Department of Mechanical Engineering | 55

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

2.813 Energy, Materials, and Manufacturing 2.83 Energy, Materials and Manufacturing
Subject meets with 2.83 Subject meets with 2.813
Prereq: 2.008 or permission of instructor Prereq: 2.008 or permission of instructor
Acad Year 2023-2024: U (Spring) Acad Year 2023-2024: G (Spring)
Acad Year 2024-2025: Not oered Acad Year 2024-2025: Not oered
3-0-9 units 3-0-9 units

Introduction to the major dilemma that faces manufacturing and Introduction to the major dilemma that faces manufacturing and
society for the 21st century: how to support economic development society for the 21st century: how to support economic development
while protecting the environment. Subject addresses industrial while protecting the environment. Subject addresses industrial
ecology, materials flows, life-cycle analysis, thermodynamic analysis ecology, materials flows, life-cycle analysis, thermodynamic analysis
and exergy accounting, manufacturing process performance, and exergy accounting, manufacturing process performance,
product design analysis, design for the environment, recycling and product design analysis, design for the environment, recycling and
ecological economics. Combines lectures and group discussions of ecological economics. Combines lectures and group discussions of
journal articles and selected literature, oen with opposing views. journal articles and selected literature, oen with opposing views.
Graduate students complete term-long project with report required Graduate students complete term-long project with report required
for graduate credit. for graduate credit.
T. G. Gutowski T. G. Gutowski

2.814 Exploring Sustainability at Dierent Scales (New) 2.830[J] Control of Manufacturing Processes
Subject meets with 1.834[J], 2.834[J] Same subject as 6.6630[J]
Prereq: None Prereq: 2.008, 6.2600[J], or 6.3700
U (Fall) G (Fall)
3-0-9 units 3-0-9 units

Develops environmental accounting tools including energy, carbon, Statistical modeling and control in manufacturing processes.
materials, land use, and possibly others, from small scales (e.g., Use of experimental design and response surface modeling to
products and processes) to larger scales, (e.g., companies, nations understand manufacturing process physics. Defect and parametric
and global) to reveal how reoccurring human behavior patterns yield modeling and optimization. Forms of process control, including
have dominated environmental outcomes. Involves visiting experts statistical process control, run by run and adaptive control, and real-
and readings in areas such as ethics, economics, governance, time feedback control. Application contexts include semiconductor
and development to frame core issues in human relationship to manufacturing, conventional metal and polymer processing, and
the environment and future societies. Explores how local actions, emerging micro-nano manufacturing processes.
including engineering interventions and behavior change, play out D. E. Hardt, D. S. Boning
at larger scales associated with the concept of sustainability, and
how local actions may be modied to realize sustainability. Class is
participatory and includes an exploratory project. Students taking
graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 25.
T. Gutowski

2.821[J] Structural Materials

Same subject as 3.371[J]
Prereq: Permission of instructor
G (Fall, Summer)
3-0-9 units
Can be repeated for credit. Credit cannot also be received for 3.171

See description under subject 3.371[J].

D. Baskin, A. Slocum

56 | Department of Mechanical Engineering

 DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

2.832 Solving for Carbon Neutrality at MIT 2.853 Introduction to Manufacturing Systems
Prereq: None Subject meets with 2.854
Acad Year 2023-2024: Not oered Prereq: 2.008
Acad Year 2024-2025: G (Spring) U (Fall)
3-3-6 units 3-0-9 units

Working in teams, students address the problem of reducing MIT's Provides ways to analyze manufacturing systems in terms of
greenhouse gas emissions in a manner consistent with the climate material flow and storage, information flow, capacities, and times
goals of maintaining our planet in a suitable regime to support and durations of events. Fundamental topics include probability,
human society and the environment. Solution scenarios include inventory and queuing models, forecasting, optimization, process
short-, middle- and long-term strategies. Experts from MIT's faculty analysis, and linear and dynamic systems. Factory planning and
and operations sta, as well as outside experts who address the scheduling topics include flow planning, bottleneck characterization,
multidisciplinary features of the problem guide solutions. These buer and batch-size tactics, seasonal planning, and dynamic
include climate science, ethics, carbon accounting, cost estimating, behavior of production systems. Graduate students are required to
MIT's energy supply, energy demand, and infrastructure, new complete additional assignments with stronger analytical content.
technologies, nancial instruments, electricity markets, policy, S. B. Gershwin
human behavior, and regulation.Develops skills to address carbon
neutrality at other universities, and at other scales, including cities 2.854 Introduction to Manufacturing Systems
and nations. Students taking graduate version complete additional Subject meets with 2.853
assignments. Prereq: Undergraduate mathematics
T. Gutowski, J. Newman G (Fall)
3-0-9 units
2.834[J] Exploring Sustainability at Dierent Scales (New)
Same subject as 1.834[J] Provides ways to analyze manufacturing systems in terms of
Subject meets with 2.814 material flow and storage, information flow, capacities, and times
Prereq: None and durations of events. Fundamental topics include probability,
G (Fall) inventory and queuing models, forecasting, optimization, process
3-0-9 units analysis, and linear and dynamic systems. Factory planning and
scheduling topics include flow planning, bottleneck characterization,
Develops environmental accounting tools including energy, carbon, buer and batch-size tactics, seasonal planning, and dynamic
materials, land use, and possibly others, from small scales (e.g., behavior of production systems. Graduate students are required to
products and processes) to larger scales, (e.g., companies, nations complete additional assignments.
and global) to reveal how reoccurring human behavior patterns S. B. Gershwin
have dominated environmental outcomes. Involves visiting experts
and readings in areas such as ethics, economics, governance, 2.871 D-Lab: Supply Chains
and development to frame core issues in human relationship to Subject meets with 2.771[J], 15.772[J], EC.733[J]
the environment and future societies. Explores how local actions, Prereq: None
including engineering interventions and behavior change, play out G (Spring)
at larger scales associated with the concept of sustainability, and Not oered regularly; consult department
how local actions may be modied to realize sustainability. Class is 3-3-6 units
participatory and includes an exploratory project. Students taking
graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 25. Introduces concepts of supply chain design and planning with a
T. Gutowski focus on supply chains for products destined to improve quality
of life in developing countries. Topics include demand estimation,
2.851[J] System Optimization and Analysis for Operations process analysis and improvement, facility location and capacity
Same subject as 15.066[J] planning, inventory management, and supply chain coordination.
Prereq: Calculus II (GIR) Also covers issues specic to emerging markets, such as sustainable
G (Summer) supply chains, choice of distribution channels, and how to account
4-0-8 units for the value-adding role of a supply chain. Students conduct D-Lab-
based projects on supply chain design or improvement. Students
See description under subject 15.066[J]. Restricted to Leaders for taking graduate version will complete additional assignments.
Global Operations students. S. C. Graves
Sta

Department of Mechanical Engineering | 57

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

2.874[J] Process Data Analytics Engineering Management

Same subject as 10.354[J]
Subject meets with 2.884[J], 10.554[J] 2.351[J] Introduction to Making and Hardware Ventures
Prereq: 18.03 or permission of instructor Same subject as 15.351[J]
Acad Year 2023-2024: Not oered Prereq: Permission of instructor
Acad Year 2024-2025: U (Fall) G (Spring)
4-0-8 units 3-0-3 units
See description under subject 10.354[J]. See description under subject 15.351[J]. Enrollment limited;
R. D. Braatz, B. Anthony application required.
C. Lowell, M. Kenney, M. Culpepper
2.884[J] Process Data Analytics
Same subject as 10.554[J] 2.900 Ethics for Engineers
Subject meets with 2.874[J], 10.354[J] Engineering School-Wide Elective Subject.
Prereq: None Oered under: 1.082, 2.900, 6.9320, 10.01, 16.676, 22.014
Acad Year 2023-2024: Not oered Subject meets with 6.9321, 20.005
Acad Year 2024-2025: G (Fall) Prereq: None
4-0-8 units U (Fall, Spring)
See description under subject 10.554[J]. 2-0-4 units
R. D. Braatz, B. Anthony See description under subject 10.01.
D. A. Lauenberger, B. L. Trout
2.888 Professional Seminar in Global Manufacturing Innovation
and Entrepreneurship 2.907[J] Innovation Teams
Prereq: None Same subject as 10.807[J], 15.371[J]
G (Spring) Prereq: None
2-0-1 units G (Fall)
Covers a broad range of topics in modern manufacturing, from 4-4-4 units
models and structures for 21st-century operations, to case studies in See description under subject 10.807[J].
leadership from the shop floor to the executive oce. Also includes L. Perez-Breva, D. Hart
global perspectives from Asia, Europe and North America, with
guest speakers from all three regions. Explores opportunities for 2.912[J] Venture Engineering
new ventures in manufacturing. Intended primarily for Master of Same subject as 3.085[J], 15.373[J]
Engineering in Manufacturing students. Prereq: None
D. E. Hardt, S. B. Gershwin U (Spring)
3-0-9 units
2.890[J] Global Operations Leadership Seminar
Same subject as 10.792[J], 15.792[J], 16.985[J] Provides an integrated approach to the development and growth of
Prereq: None new innovative ventures. Intended for students who seek to leverage
G (Fall, Spring) their engineering and science background through innovation-
2-0-0 units driven entrepreneurship. Emphasizes the concept that innovation-
Can be repeated for credit. driven entrepreneurs must make a set of interdependent choices
under conditions of high uncertainty, and demonstrates that venture
See description under subject 15.792[J]. Preference to LGO students. engineering involves reducing uncertainty through a structured
T. Roemer process of experimental learning and staged commitments. Provides
deep understanding of the core technical, customer, and strategic
choices and challenges facing start-up innovators, and a synthetic
framework for the development and implementation of ventures in
dynamic environments.
S. Stern, E. Fitzgerald

58 | Department of Mechanical Engineering

 DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

2.916[J] Money for Startups Advanced Topics and Special Subjects

Same subject as 10.407[J]
Prereq: None 2.98 Sports Technology: Engineering & Innovation
G (Spring; second half of term) Subject meets with 2.980
2-0-4 units Prereq: None
See description under subject 10.407[J]. G (Spring)
S. Loessberg, D. P. Hart 2-2-2 units

Examines the future of sports technology across technical

2.96 Management in Engineering disciplines, including mechanical design, biomechanics, quantied
Engineering School-Wide Elective Subject. self, sports analytics, and business strategies. Includes visits by
Oered under: 2.96, 6.9360, 10.806, 16.653 leaders in the eld to discuss various industries, career pathways,
Prereq: None and opportunities for innovation in the eld. Projects explore and
U (Fall) potentially kicko larger research and/or entrepreneurial initiatives.
3-1-8 units A. Hosoi, C. Chase
Introduction and overview of engineering management. Financial
principles, management of innovation, technical strategy and 2.980 Sports Technology: Engineering & Innovation
best management practices. Case study method of instruction Subject meets with 2.98
emphasizes participation in class discussion. Focus is on the Prereq: None
development of individual skills and management tools. Restricted to U (Spring)
juniors and seniors. 2-2-8 units
H. S. Marcus, J.-H. Chun Examines the future of sports technology across technical
disciplines, including mechanical design, biomechanics, quantied
2.961 Management in Engineering self, sports analytics, and business strategies. Includes visits by
Prereq: None leaders in the eld to discuss various industries, career pathways,
G (Fall) and opportunities for innovation in the eld. Projects explore and
3-1-8 units potentially kicko larger research and/or entrepreneurial initiatives.
Introduction and overview of engineering management. Financial A. Hosoi, C. Chase
principles, management of innovation, technical strategy and
best management practices. Case study method of instruction 2.981 New England Coastal Ecology
emphasizes participation in class discussion. Focus is on the Prereq: None
development of individual skills and management tools. U (IAP)
J.-H. Chun, H. S. Marcus 2-0-1 units

Provides exposure to marine communities found along the coast

2.965[J] Global Supply Chain Management of New England and how they t into global patterns. Focuses on
Same subject as 1.265[J], 15.765[J], SCM.265[J] the ecology of salt marshes and rocky shores, and the biology of
Prereq: 15.761, 15.778, SCM.260[J], SCM.261[J], or permission of plants and animals that live in these complex habitats. Prepares
instructor students to recognize common inhabitants of these two communities
G (Spring) and develops understanding of the major environmental factors
Not oered regularly; consult department aecting them, the types of ecological services they provide, and
2-0-4 units likely impacts of current and future climate change. Includes visits to
See description under subject SCM.265[J]. eld and research centers. Limited to 20.
Sta Consult C. Bastidas

Department of Mechanical Engineering | 59

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

2.982 Ecology and Sustainability of Coastal Ecosystems 2.990 Practical Experience

Prereq: None Prereq: None
U (Fall) U (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer)
Not oered regularly; consult department 0-1-0 units
3-2-4 units Can be repeated for credit.

Prepares students to recognize coastal ecosystems, their major For Mechanical Engineering undergraduates participating
environmental and biological drivers, and common impacts that in curriculum-related o-campus experiences in mechanical
human population growth and climate change have on them. engineering. Before enrolling, students must have an employment
Students engage in a semester-long project to address and seek oer from a company or organization and must nd a Mech E
solutions to current challenges in sustainability of human activities supervisor. Upon completion of the coursework the student
on the coast, and to promote resilience of natural communities and must submit a detailed design notebook, approved by the MIT
ecosystem services. supervisor. Subject to departmental approval. Consult Department
J. Simpson, C. Bastidas Undergraduate Oce for details on procedures and restrictions.
Consult R. Karnik
2.984[J] The Art and Science of Time Travel (New)
Same subject as CMS.343[J] 2.991 Introduction to Graduate Study in Mechanical Engineering
Prereq: 8.02 and 18.02 Prereq: None
G (Fall) G (Fall)
3-0-9 units 1-2-0 units

Explores time travel and other physical paradoxes—black holes, Familiarizes students with the requirements for their desired degree
wormholes, and the multiverse—in the contexts of human narrative and the resources, both at MIT and beyond, to help them reach
and contemporary scientic understanding. Instruction provided their educational and professional goals. Series of interactive
in the fundamental science of time travel in relativity and quantum lectures and seminars guides students through various aspects
mechanics. Students read and view classic time travel narratives in of life critical to navigating graduate school successfully. Topics
visual art and in lm, and construct their own original time travel include course requirements, PhD qualifying examinations, advisor/
narratives. Limited to 20. advisee relationships, funding and fellowships, mental health and
S. Lloyd, M. Reilly wellbeing, housing options in the Boston area, and career options
aer graduation. Limited to rst-year graduate students.
2.989 Experiential Learning in Mechanical Engineering C. Buie
Prereq: Permission of instructor
G (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) 2.992 Professional Industry Immersion Project
Units arranged Prereq: Permission of instructor
G (Summer)
Provides students the opportunity to learn and gain professional Units arranged
experience by participating in industrial projects related to
Mechanical Engineering. Minimum project length is 10 weeks. Provides students a unique opportunity to participate in industry-
Requires a written report upon completion. Before enrolling, based projects. Students gain professional industry experience in
students must contact MechE Graduate Oce for procedures and mechanical engineering projects that complement their academic
restrictions; they must also have a rm internship oer and an experiences. Each project has a company supervisor, a specic
identied MechE faculty member who will act as supervisor. Limited advisor, and a course instructor. Course sta help students connect
to Mechanical Engineering graduate students. with specic companies and collaboratively design a project of
N. Hadjiconstantinou mutual interest and benet. Requires a written report and project
presentation upon completion of a minimum of 10 weeks of o-
campus activities. Limited to Mechanical Engineering graduate
students.
B. Anthony

60 | Department of Mechanical Engineering

 DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

2.993 Independent Study 2.996 Advanced Topics in Mechanical Engineering

Prereq: None Prereq: Permission of instructor
U (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) G (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer)
Units arranged Units arranged
Can be repeated for credit. Can be repeated for credit.

Designed for undergraduates wanting to continue substantial Assigned reading and problems or research in distinct areas, either
projects of own choice, under faculty supervision, in mechanical theoretical or experimental, or design. Arranged on individual basis
engineering. Work may be of experimental, theoretical, or design with instructor in the following areas: mechanics and materials,
nature. Projects may be arranged individually in most elds of thermal and fluid sciences, systems and design, biomedical
department interest, i.e., in mechanics, design and manufacturing, engineering, and ocean engineering. Can be repeated for credit only
controls and robotics, thermal science and energy engineering, for completely dierent subject matter.
bioengineering, ocean engineering and nanotechnology. 2.993 is Consult R. Abeyaratne
letter-graded; 2.994 is P/D/F.
Consult R. Karnik 2.997 Advanced Topics in Mechanical Engineering
Prereq: Permission of instructor
2.994 Independent Study G (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer)
Prereq: None Not oered regularly; consult department
U (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Units arranged
Units arranged [P/D/F] Can be repeated for credit.
Can be repeated for credit.
Assigned reading and problems or research in distinct areas, either
Designed for undergraduates wanting to continue substantial theoretical or experimental, or design. Arranged on individual basis
projects of own choice, under faculty supervision, in mechanical with instructor in the following areas: mechanics and materials,
engineering. Work may be of experimental, theoretical, or design thermal and fluid sciences, systems and design, biomedical
nature. Projects may be arranged individually in most elds of engineering, and ocean engineering. Can be repeated for credit only
department interest, i.e., in mechanics, design and manufacturing, for completely dierent subject matter.
controls and robotics, thermal science and energy engineering, Consult R. Abeyaratne
bioengineering, ocean engineering and nanotechnology. 2.993 is
letter-graded; 2.994 is P/D/F. 2.998 Advanced Topics in Mechanical Engineering
Consult R. Karnik Prereq: Permission of instructor
G (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer)
2.995 Advanced Topics in Mechanical Engineering Not oered regularly; consult department
Prereq: Permission of instructor Units arranged
G (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Can be repeated for credit.
Units arranged
Can be repeated for credit. Assigned reading and problems or research in distinct areas, either
theoretical or experimental, or design. Arranged on individual basis
Assigned reading and problems or research in distinct areas, either with instructor in the following areas: mechanics and materials,
theoretical or experimental, or design. Arranged on individual basis thermal and fluid sciences, systems and design, biomedical
with instructor in the following areas: mechanics and materials, engineering, and ocean engineering. Can be repeated for credit only
thermal and fluid sciences, systems and design, biomedical for completely dierent subject matter.
engineering, and ocean engineering. Can be repeated for credit only Consult R. Abeyaratne
for completely dierent subject matter.
Consult R. Abeyaratne 2.S007 Special Subject in Mechanical Engineering
Prereq: None
U (Spring)
Units arranged

Lecture, seminar or laboratory course consisting of material not

oered in regularly scheduled subjects. Can be repeated for credit
only for completely dierent subject matter.
Sta

Department of Mechanical Engineering | 61

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

2.S009 Special Subject in Mechanical Engineering 2.S679 Undergraduate Special Subject in Mechanical
Prereq: None Engineering
U (Fall) Prereq: None
Not oered regularly; consult department U (Spring)
Units arranged Not oered regularly; consult department
Units arranged
Lecture, seminar or laboratory course consisting of material not Can be repeated for credit.
oered in regularly scheduled subjects. Can be repeated for credit
only for completely dierent subject matter. Lecture, seminar or laboratory course consisting of material not
D. Wallace oered in regularly scheduled subjects. Can be repeated for credit
only for completely dierent subject matter.
2.S19 Special Subject in Mechanical Engineering Sta
Prereq: None
U (Fall) 2.S790-2.S792 Graduate Special Subject in Bioengineering
Not oered regularly; consult department Prereq: Permission of instructor
Units arranged G (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer)
Not oered regularly; consult department
Lecture, seminar or laboratory course consisting of material not Units arranged
oered in regularly scheduled subjects. Can be repeated for credit Can be repeated for credit.
only for completely dierent subject matter.
B. Aulet, A. Hosoi, M. Jester, S. Johnson, C. Lawson Advanced lecture, seminar or laboratory course consisting of
material in the broadly-dened eld of bioengineering not oered
2.S372 Special Subject in Mechanical Engineering in regularly scheduled subjects. Can be repeated for credit only for
Prereq: None completely dierent subject matter.
G (Spring) Consult R. Kamm
Units arranged
2.S793 Graduate Special Subject in Mechanical Engineering
Lecture, seminar, or laboratory consisting of material not oered Prereq: None
in regularly scheduled subjects. Can be repeated for credit only for G (Fall)
completely dierent subject matter. Not oered regularly; consult department
S. Lloyd 3-3-6 units

2.S670 Undergraduate Special Subject in Mechanical Advanced lecture, seminar, or laboratory consisting of material not
Engineering oered in regularly scheduled subjects. Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None only for completely dierent subject matter.
U (Spring) Sta
Not oered regularly; consult department
Units arranged 2.S794 Graduate Special Subject in Mechanical Engineering
Can be repeated for credit. Prereq: None
G (Fall)
Lecture, seminar or laboratory course consisting of material not Units arranged [P/D/F]
oered in regularly scheduled subjects. Can be repeated for credit
only for completely dierent subject matter. Advanced lecture, seminar, or laboratory consisting of material not
Sta oered in regularly scheduled subjects. Can be repeated for credit
only for completely dierent subject matter.
Sta

62 | Department of Mechanical Engineering

 DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

2.S795 Graduate Special Subject in Mechanical Engineering 2.S971 Undergraduate Special Subject in Mechanical
Prereq: Permission of instructor Engineering
G (Fall) Prereq: None
Units arranged U (Fall)
Can be repeated for credit. Not oered regularly; consult department
3-3-6 units
Lecture, seminar or laboratory course consisting of material not Can be repeated for credit.
oered in regularly scheduled subjects. Can be repeated for credit
only for completely dierent subject matter. Lecture, seminar or laboratory course consisting of material not
P. Purohit oered in regularly scheduled subjects. Can be repeated for credit
only for completely dierent subject matter. 2.S972-2.S974 are
2.S796 Special Subject in Mechanical Engineering graded P/D/F.
Prereq: None Consult R. Karnik
G (Fall)
Not oered regularly; consult department 2.S972 Undergraduate Special Subject in Mechanical
Units arranged Engineering
Can be repeated for credit. Prereq: None
U (Fall, Spring)
Lecture, seminar or laboratory course consisting of material not Not oered regularly; consult department
oered in regularly scheduled subjects. Can be repeated for credit 3-1-2 units
only for completely dierent subject matter. Can be repeated for credit.
Sta
Lecture, seminar or laboratory course consisting of material not
2.S885 Special Subject in Mechanical Engineering oered in regularly scheduled subjects. Can be repeated for credit
Prereq: None only for completely dierent subject matter. 2.S972-2.S974 are
U (Fall) graded P/D/F.
Not oered regularly; consult department Consult K. Zolot
3-3-6 units
2.S973 Undergraduate Special Subject in Mechanical
Lecture, seminar, or laboratory consisting of material not oered Engineering
in regularly scheduled subjects. Can be repeated for credit only for Prereq: None
completely dierent subject matter. U (Fall)
T. Gutowski Units arranged [P/D/F]
Can be repeated for credit.
2.S97 Undergraduate Special Subject in Mechanical Engineering
Prereq: None Lecture, seminar or laboratory course consisting of material not
U (Fall) oered in regularly scheduled subjects. Can be repeated for credit
Not oered regularly; consult department only for completely dierent subject matter. 2.S972-2.S974 are
3-0-9 units graded P/D/F.
Can be repeated for credit. Consult R. Karnik

Lecture, seminar or laboratory course consisting of material not 2.S974 Undergraduate Special Subject in Mechanical
oered in regularly scheduled subjects. Can be repeated for credit Engineering
only for completely dierent subject matter. 2.S972-2.S974 are Prereq: None
graded P/D/F. U (Fall)
Consult R. Karnik Not oered regularly; consult department
Units arranged
Can be repeated for credit.

Lecture, seminar or laboratory course consisting of material not

oered in regularly scheduled subjects. Can be repeated for credit
only for completely dierent subject matter.
Consult R. Karnik

Department of Mechanical Engineering | 63

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

2.S975 Undergraduate Special Subject in Mechanical 2.S980 Graduate Special Subject in Mechanical Engineering
Engineering Prereq: Permission of instructor
Prereq: None G (Fall)
U (IAP) Units arranged [P/D/F]
Units arranged [P/D/F] Can be repeated for credit.
Can be repeated for credit.
Advanced lecture, seminar, or laboratory consisting of material not
Lecture, seminar or laboratory course consisting of material not oered in regularly scheduled subjects. Can be repeated for credit
oered in regularly scheduled subjects. Can be repeated for credit only for completely dierent subject matter. 2.S980 and 2.S996 are
only for completely dierent subject matter. See sta for scheduling graded P/D/F.
information. Limited to 16. R. Abeyaratne
Consult T. Consi
2.S981 Graduate Special Subject in Mechanical Engineering
2.S976 Special Subject in Mechanical Engineering Prereq: Permission of instructor
Prereq: None G (Spring)
U (Spring) Units arranged
Not oered regularly; consult department Can be repeated for credit.
Units arranged
Can be repeated for credit. Advanced lecture, seminar, or laboratory consisting of material not
oered in regularly scheduled subjects. Can be repeated for credit
Lecture, seminar or laboratory course consisting of material not only for completely dierent subject matter. 2.S980 and 2.S996 are
oered in regularly scheduled subjects. Can be repeated for credit graded P/D/F.
only for completely dierent subject matter. Consult R. Abeyaratne
A. Patera
2.S982 Graduate Special Subject in Mechanical Engineering
2.S977 Special Subject in Mechanical Engineering Prereq: Permission of instructor
Prereq: None G (Spring)
U (Fall) Units arranged
Not oered regularly; consult department Can be repeated for credit.
3-0-9 units
Can be repeated for credit. Advanced lecture, seminar or laboratory consisting of material not
oered in regularly scheduled subjects. Can be repeated for credit
Lecture, seminar or laboratory course consisting of material not only for completely dierent subject matter. 2.S980 and 2.S996 are
oered in regularly scheduled subjects. Can be repeated for credit graded P/D/F.
only for completely dierent subject matter. Consult V. Sudhir
Sta
2.S983 Graduate Special Subject in Mechanical Engineering
2.S979 Graduate Special Subject in Mechanical Engineering Prereq: Permission of instructor
Prereq: None G (Fall)
G (Fall) Not oered regularly; consult department
Not oered regularly; consult department Units arranged
Units arranged Can be repeated for credit.

Lecture, seminar, or laboratory consisting of material not oered Advanced lecture, seminar or laboratory consisting of material not
in regularly scheduled subjects. Can be repeated for credit only for oered in regularly scheduled subjects. Can be repeated for credit
completely dierent subject matter. only for completely dierent subject matter. 2.S980 and 2.S996 are
L. Perez-Breva, D. Hart graded P/D/F.
A. Hosoi, C. Chase

64 | Department of Mechanical Engineering

 DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

2.S984 Graduate Special Subject in Mechanical Engineering 2.S988 Special Subject in Mechanical Engineering
Prereq: None Prereq: None
G (Fall) G (Fall)
Not oered regularly; consult department Not oered regularly; consult department
3-0-9 units Units arranged
Can be repeated for credit.
Lecture, seminar or laboratory course consisting of material not
oered in regularly scheduled subjects. Can be repeated for credit Advanced lecture, seminar, or laboratory consisting of material not
only for completely dierent subject matter. oered in regularly scheduled subjects. Can be repeated for credit
K. Varanasi only for completely dierent subject matter.
G. Traverso
2.S985 Special Subject in Mechanical Engineering
Prereq: None 2.S989 Undergraduate Special Subject in Mechanical
G (Fall) Engineering
Not oered regularly; consult department Prereq: None
3-3-6 units U (Fall)
Units arranged [P/D/F]
Lecture, seminar or laboratory course consisting of material not Can be repeated for credit.
oered in regularly scheduled subjects. Can be repeated for credit
only for completely dierent subject matter. Lecture, seminar or laboratory course consisting of material not
T. Gutowski oered in regularly scheduled subjects. Can be repeated for credit
only for completely dierent subject matter.
2.S986 Special Subject in Mechanical Engineering D. Frey, A. Talebinejad
Prereq: None
Acad Year 2023-2024: Not oered 2.S990 Graduate Special Subject in Mechanical Engineering
Acad Year 2024-2025: G (Spring) Prereq: None
Units arranged G (Spring)
Units arranged
Lecture, seminar, or laboratory consisting of material not oered Can be repeated for credit.
in regularly scheduled subjects. Can be repeated for credit only for
completely dierent subject matter. Lecture, seminar or laboratory course consisting of material not
T. Buonassisi oered in regularly scheduled subjects. Can be repeated for credit
only for completely dierent subject matter. Enrollment limited.
2.S987 Special Subject in Mechanical Engineering Sta
Prereq: None
G (Spring) 2.S991 Undergraduate Special Subject in Mechanical
Not oered regularly; consult department Engineering
Units arranged Prereq: None
Can be repeated for credit. U (Spring)
Not oered regularly; consult department
Lecture, seminar or laboratory course consisting of material not Units arranged
oered in regularly scheduled subjects. Can be repeated for credit
only for completely dierent subject matter. Lecture, seminar or laboratory course consisting of material not
S. Boriskina oered in regularly scheduled subjects. Can be repeated for credit
only for completely dierent subject matter.
Consult Sta

Department of Mechanical Engineering | 65

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

2.S992 Graduate Special Subject in Mechanical Engineering 2.S996 Graduate Special Subject in Mechanical Engineering
Prereq: None Prereq: Permission of instructor
G (Fall) G (Fall, Spring)
Not oered regularly; consult department Not oered regularly; consult department
Units arranged Units arranged [P/D/F]
Can be repeated for credit. Can be repeated for credit.

Lecture, seminar or laboratory course consisting of material not Advanced lecture, seminar, or laboratory consisting of material not
oered in regularly scheduled subjects. Can be repeated for credit oered in regularly scheduled subjects. Can be repeated for credit
only for completely dierent subject matter. only for completely dierent subject matter. 2.S980 and 2.S996 are
A. Gopinath graded P/D/F.
Consult R. Abeyaratne
2.S993 Undergraduate Special Subject in Mechanical
Engineering 2.S997 Graduate Special Subject in Mechanical Engineering
Prereq: None Prereq: Permission of instructor
Acad Year 2023-2024: Not oered G (Fall)
Acad Year 2024-2025: U (Spring) Not oered regularly; consult department
Units arranged 3-0-9 units
Can be repeated for credit. Can be repeated for credit.

Lecture, seminar or laboratory course consisting of material not Advanced lecture, seminar or laboratory consisting of material not
oered in regularly scheduled subjects. Can be repeated for credit oered in regularly scheduled subjects. Can be repeated for credit
only for completely dierent subject matter. 2.S972-2.S974, 2.S992 only for completely dierent subject matter. 2.S980 and 2.S996 are
are graded P/D/F. graded P/D/F.
R. Karnik Consult F. Ahmed

2.S994 Undergraduate Special Subject in Mechanical 2.S998 Graduate Special Subject in Mechanical Engineering
Engineering Prereq: Permission of instructor
Prereq: None G (Fall)
U (Spring) Units arranged
Units arranged Can be repeated for credit.
Can be repeated for credit.
Advanced lecture, seminar, or laboratory consisting of material not
Lecture, seminar, or laboratory consisting of material not oered oered in regularly scheduled subjects. Can be repeated for credit
in regularly scheduled subjects. Can be repeated for credit only for only for completely dierent subject matter. 2.S980 and 2.S996 are
completely dierent subject matter. 2.S972-2.S974 and 2.S992 are graded P/D/F.
graded P/D/F. Consult R. Abeyaratne, J. Hart
Consult R. Karnik
2.S999 Graduate Special Subject in Mechanical Engineering
2.S995 Undergraduate Special Subject in Mechanical Prereq: Permission of instructor
Engineering G (Spring)
Prereq: None Not oered regularly; consult department
U (Fall) Units arranged
0-6-0 units Can be repeated for credit.
Can be repeated for credit.
Advanced lecture, seminar, or laboratory consisting of material not
Lecture, seminar, or laboratory consisting of material not oered oered in regularly scheduled subjects. Can be repeated for credit
in regularly scheduled subjects. Can be repeated for credit only for only for completely dierent subject matter. 2.S980 and 2.S996 are
completely dierent subject matter. 2.S972-2.S974 and 2.S992 are graded P/D/F.
graded P/D/F. Consult R. Abeyaratne, T. Gutowski
Consult I. Hunter

66 | Department of Mechanical Engineering

 DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Thesis, Research and Practice 2.C01 Physical Systems Modeling and Design Using Machine
Learning
2.978 Instruction in Teaching Engineering Subject meets with 2.C51
Subject meets with 1.95[J], 5.95[J], 7.59[J], 8.395[J], 18.094[J] Prereq: 2.086; Coreq: 6.C01
Prereq: Permission of instructor U (Spring; second half of term)
G (Fall) 1-3-2 units
Units arranged [P/D/F] Credit cannot also be received for 1.C01, 1.C51, 2.C51, 3.C01[J],
3.C51[J], 10.C01[J], 10.C51[J], 20.C01[J], 20.C51[J], 22.C01, 22.C51,
Participatory seminar focuses on the knowledge and skills SCM.C51
necessary for teaching engineering in higher education. Topics
include research on learning; course development; promoting Building on core material in 6.C01, encourages open-ended
active learning, problemsolving, and critical thinking in students; exploration of the increasingly topical intersection between articial
communicating with a diverse student body; using educational intelligence and the physical sciences. Uses energy and information,
technology to further learning; lecturing; creating eective tests and and their respective optimality conditions, to dene supervised and
assignments; and assessment and evaluation. Field-work teaching unsupervised learning algorithms as well as ordinary and partial
various subjects in the Mechanical Engineering department will dierential equations. Subsequently, physical systems with complex
complement classroom discussions. constitutive relationships are drawn from elasticity, biophysics,
J. Rankin fluid mechanics, hydrodynamics, acoustics, and electromagnetics
to illustrate how machine learning-inspired optimization can
2.979 Undergraduate Teaching approximate solutions to forward and inverse problems in these
Prereq: None domains. Students taking graduate version complete additional
U (Fall, IAP, Spring) assignments. Students cannot receive credit without simultaneous
Units arranged [P/D/F] completion of 6.C01.
Can be repeated for credit. G. Barbastathis

For students participating in departmentally approved 2.C27[J] Computational Imaging: Physics and Algorithms (New)
undergraduate teaching programs. Students assist faculty in the Same subject as 3.C27[J], 6.C27[J]
design and execution of the curriculum and actively participate in Subject meets with 2.C67[J], 3.C67[J], 6.C67[J]
the instruction and monitoring of the class participants. Students Prereq: 18.C06[J] and (1.00, 1.000, 2.086, 3.019, or 6.100A)
prepare subject materials, lead discussion groups, and review U (Fall)
progress. Credit is arranged on a subject-by-subject basis and is 3-0-9 units
reviewed by the department.
A. E. Hosoi Explores the contemporary computational understanding of imaging:
encoding information about a physical object onto a form of
2.999 Engineer's Degree Thesis Proposal Preparation radiation, transferring the radiation through an imaging system,
Prereq: Permission of instructor converting it to a digital signal, and computationally decoding
G (Fall, Spring, Summer) and presenting the information to the user. Introduces a unied
Units arranged formulation of computational imaging systems as a three-round
Can be repeated for credit. "learning spiral": the rst two rounds describe the physical and
algorithmic parts in two exemplary imaging systems. The third
For students who must do additional work to convert an SM thesis round involves a class project on an imaging system chosen by
to a Mechanical Engineer's (ME) or Naval Engineer's (NE) thesis, or students. Undergraduate and graduate versions share lectures
for students who write an ME/NE thesis aer having received an SM but have dierent recitations. Involves optional "clinics" to even
degree. out background knowledge of linear algebra, optimization, and
R. Abeyaratne, M. S. Triantafyllou computational imaging-related programming best practices for
students of diverse disciplinary backgrounds. Students taking
graduate version complete additional assignments.
G. Barbastathis, J. LeBeau, R. Ram, S. You

Department of Mechanical Engineering | 67

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

2.C51 Physical Systems Modeling and Design Using Machine 2.EPE UPOP Engineering Practice Experience
Learning Engineering School-Wide Elective Subject.
Subject meets with 2.C01 Oered under: 1.EPE, 2.EPE, 3.EPE, 6.EPE, 8.EPE, 10.EPE, 15.EPE,
Prereq: 18.0751 or 18.0851; Coreq: 6.C51 16.EPE, 20.EPE, 22.EPE
G (Spring; second half of term) Prereq: None
1-3-2 units U (Fall, Spring)
Credit cannot also be received for 1.C01, 1.C51, 2.C01, 3.C01[J], 0-0-1 units
3.C51[J], 10.C01[J], 10.C51[J], 20.C01[J], 20.C51[J], 22.C01, 22.C51, Can be repeated for credit.
SCM.C51
Provides students with skills to prepare for and excel in the world
Building on core material in 6.C51, encourages open-ended of industry. Emphasizes practical application of career theory and
exploration of the increasingly topical intersection between articial professional development concepts. Introduces students to relevant
intelligence and the physical sciences. Uses energy and information, and timely resources for career development, provides students
and their respective optimality conditions, to dene supervised and with tools to embark on a successful internship search, and oers
unsupervised learning algorithms as well as ordinary and partial networking opportunities with employers and MIT alumni. Students
dierential equations. Subsequently, physical systems with complex work in groups, led by industry mentors, to improve their resumes
constitutive relationships are drawn from elasticity, biophysics, and cover letters, interviewing skills, networking abilities, project
fluid mechanics, hydrodynamics, acoustics, and electromagnetics management, and ability to give and receive feedback. Objective is
to illustrate how machine learning-inspired optimization can for students to be able to adapt and contribute eectively to their
approximate solutions to forward and inverse problems in these future employment organizations. A total of two units of credit is
domains. Students taking graduate version complete additional awarded for completion of the fall and subsequent spring term
assignments. Students cannot receive credit without simultaneous oerings. Application required; consult UPOP website for more
completion of 6.C51. information.
G. Barbastathis K. Tan-Tiongco, D. Fordell

2.C67[J] Computational Imaging: Physics and Algorithms (New) 2.EPW UPOP Engineering Practice Workshop
Same subject as 3.C67[J], 6.C67[J] Engineering School-Wide Elective Subject.
Subject meets with 2.C27[J], 3.C27[J], 6.C27[J] Oered under: 1.EPW, 2.EPW, 3.EPW, 6.EPW, 10.EPW, 16.EPW,
Prereq: 18.C06[J] and (1.00, 1.000, 2.086, 3.019, or 6.100A) 20.EPW, 22.EPW
G (Fall) Prereq: 2.EPE
3-0-9 units U (IAP, Spring)
1-0-0 units
Contemporary understanding of imaging is computational: encoding
onto a form of radiation the information about a physical object, Provides sophomores across all majors with opportunities to
transferring the radiation through the imaging system, converting it develop and practice communication, teamwork, and problem-
to a digital signal, and computationally decoding and presenting the solving skills to become successful professionals in the workplace,
information to the user. This class introduces a unied formulation particularly in preparation for their summer industry internship. This
of computational imaging systems as a three-round "learning immersive, multi-day Team Training Workshop (TTW) is comprised
spiral": the rst two rounds, instructors describe the physical and of experiential learning modules focused on expanding skills in
algorithmic parts in two exemplary imaging systems. The third areas that employers report being most valuable in the workplace.
round, students conduct themselves as the class project on an Modules are led by MIT faculty with the help of MIT alumni and
imaging system of their choice. The undergraduate and graduate other senior industry professionals. Skills applied through creative
versions share lectures but have dierent recitations. Throughout simulations, team problem-solving challenges, oral presentations,
the term, we also conduct optional "clinics" to even out background and networking sessions with prospective employers. Enrollment
knowledge of linear algebra, optimization, and computational limited to those in the UPOP program.
imaging-related programming best practices for students of diverse K. Tan-Tiongco, D. Fordell
disciplinary backgrounds.
G. Barbastathis, J. LeBeau, R. Ram, S. You

68 | Department of Mechanical Engineering

 DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

2.THG Graduate Thesis

Prereq: Permission of advisor
G (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer)
Units arranged
Can be repeated for credit.

Program of research leading to the writing of an SM, PhD, or ScD

thesis; to be arranged by the student and an appropriate MIT faculty
member.
Consult R. Abeyaratne

2.THU Undergraduate Thesis

Prereq: None
U (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer)
Units arranged
Can be repeated for credit.

Individual self-motivated study, research, or design project under

faculty supervision. Departmental program requirement: minimum of
6 units. Instruction and practice in written communication provided.
Consult R. Karnik

2.UR Undergraduate Research in Mechanical Engineering

Prereq: None
U (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer)
Units arranged [P/D/F]
Can be repeated for credit.

Individual study, research, or laboratory investigations under

faculty supervision, including individual participation in an ongoing
research project. See projects listing in Undergraduate Oce, 1-110,
for guidance.
Consult D. Rowell

2.URG Undergraduate Research in Mechanical Engineering

Prereq: None
U (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer)
Units arranged
Can be repeated for credit.

Individual study, research, or laboratory investigations under

faculty supervision, including individual participation in an ongoing
research project. See projects listing in Undergraduate Oce, 1-110,
for guidance.
Consult N. Fang, K. Kamrin

Department of Mechanical Engineering | 69