Mechanical

Mechanical engineering

Mechanical engineering comprises the design and analysis of heat and mechanical power for the operation of machines and mechanical systems.

SubdisciplineScopeMajor specialties

Acoustical engineering

Concerns the manipulation and control of vibration, especially vibration isolation and the reduction of unwanted sounds.

Manufacturing engineering

Concerns dealing with different manufacturing practices and the research and development of systems, processes, machines, tools and equipment.

Optomechanical engineering

Field specific to the mechanical aspects of optical systems. Includes design, packaging, mounting, and alignment mechanisms specific to optical systems.

• Fiber optics
• Laser systems
• Telescopes
• Cameras
• Optical instrumentation

Thermal engineering

Concerns heating or cooling of processes, equipment, or enclosed environments.

• Air conditioning
• Refrigeration
• Heating, ventilating

Sports engineering

Is a field of engineering that involves the design, development and testing of sport equipment. The equipment used by athletes has always gone through technological design and development based on current knowledge and understanding.

Vehicle engineering

The design, manufacture and operation of the systems and equipment that propel and control vehicles.

• Automotive engineering, the design, manufacture and operation of motorcycles, automobiles, buses and trucks
• Naval architecture, the design, construction, operation and support of marine vehicles and structures
• Aerospace engineering, the application of engineering principles to aerospace systems such as aircraft and spacecraft
• Marine engineeringoften refers to the engineering of boats, ships, oil rigs and any other marine vessel or structure, but also encompasses oceanographic engineering.

Power plant engineering

Field of engineering that designs, construct and maintains different types of power plants. Serves as the prime mover to produce electricity.

• Geothermal power plants
• Coal-fired power plants
• Hydroelectric power plants
• Diesel engine (ICE) power plants
• Tidal power plants
• Wind turbine power plants
• Solar power plants

Energy engineering

Is a broad field of engineering dealing with energy efficiency, energy services, facility management, plant engineering, environmental compliance and alternative energy technologies. Energy engineering is one of the more recent engineering disciplines to emerge. Energy engineering combines knowledge from the fields of physics, math, and chemistry with economic and environmental engineering practices. Energy engineers apply their skills to increase efficiency and further develop renewable sources of energy. The main job of energy engineers is to find the most efficient and sustainable ways to operate buildings and manufacturing processes. Energy engineers audit the use of energy in those processes and suggest ways to improve the systems. This means suggesting advanced lighting, better insulation, more efficient heating and cooling properties of buildings. Although an energy engineer is concerned about obtaining and using energy in the most environmentally friendly ways, their field is not limited to strictly renewable energy like hydro, solar, biomass, or geothermal. Energy engineers are also employed by the fields of oil and natural gas extraction.