The department offers graduate programs leading to the degrees of Master of Science (with thesis and non-thesis options) and Doctor of Philosophy. Each of these programs can accommodate both full-time and part-time study. Special dual degree programs with the Technical University Braunschweig (TU-BS) in Germany allow students of each university to acquire both a Master of Science from URI and the Diplom from TU-BS or a Ph.D. from URI and Doktor der Ingenieurwissenschaften from TU-BS. This is accomplished through a formal exchange program in which students from either university conduct course work and thesis/project activity at both institutions.

Students normally develop individual programs of study in mechanical systems/design, fluid mechanics, solid mechanics or thermal science. In addition, there are also opportunities for interdisciplinary programs such as: biomechanics, geomechanics, manufacturing, material science, ocean engineering, robotics, and micro/nano sciences. Graduate course descriptions are found under Course Listings.

Programs of Study

Mechanical Systems/Design: This area encompasses the broad field of computer-aided design including design methodology and computer graphics, as well as kinematics and dynamics of machines, vibrations, design of machine elements, controls, automation, and techniques for assessing reliability. Current areas of research include non-linear dynamics & vibrations, expert systems, machine tool calibration, control of robot vehicles, kinematic design and optimization, computer-aided design of control systems, damage state estimation and failure prognostics, precision machining, surface roughness analysis, and robot-assisted waterjet machining. Facilities include the Design & Automation Lab, Nonlinear Dynamics and Vibrations Lab, and Waterjet Machining Lab.

Fluid Mechanics: The fluid mechanics program includes advanced studies in laminar and turbulent flows, computational fluid dynamics, experimental methods, flows in micro-domains, flows with particulate matter, biological flow. Current areas of research include fluid flow and heat transfer in micro-domains, flow in human airways, computational fluid dynamics in irregular geometries, biological flows and lubrication, and numerical direct simulation flow modeling. Facilities include the Tribology & Fluid Mechanics Lab, Biofluids/Heat Transfer Lab and Sensors & Surface Technology Lab.

Solid Mechanics: Studies in solid mechanics involve strength of materials, elasticity, plasticity, continuum mechanics, composite materials, fracture and fatigue, vibrations, wave propagation, computational methods, and micromechanics. Applications of these studies are applied to the mechanical and thermomechanical behavior of metals, composites, functionally graded materials, ceramics, and geological media under both static and dynamic loading conditions. A significant portion of our studies has been involved with micromechanical material behavior. Areas of current research include: behavior of materials under shock loading, dynamic fracture mechanics and material behavior, finite element modeling of biological materials, computational simulation of particulate composites, cellular and granular materials, fatigue crack growth, micromechanical behavior of composites, material erosion from abrasive waterjet processes. Facilities include the Dynamic Photomechanics Lab, Mechanics of Solids Lab, Optics & Lasers Laboratory, Waterjet Machining Lab.

Thermal Sciences: The area of thermal science includes studies of thermodynamics, conduction, convection and radiation heat transfer, pollution, and energy processes. Recent research has been involved with experimental and numerical modeling of cooling of circuit boards, heat transfer and fluid flow in melting and solidification, micro heat transfer, aerosol transport in human respiratory flows, direct control heat transfer with phase change, computation of natural and forced convection in complex enclosures, energy system analysis including heating, ventilating, air conditioning, refrigeration, and electrical power systems. Facilities include the Fluid Mechanics/ Filtration Lab, Biofluid/Heat Transfer Lab, Engines Lab, Energy Research Lab, and Sensors & Surface Technology Lab.

Program Requirements

Master of Science:
Thesis Option - 30 total credits including 21-24 credits of course work (exclusive of seminar) and 6-9 credits of thesis research under MCE 599. Full time students must enroll in graduate seminar, MCE 501 and 502, each semester.

Non-Thesis Option - Available only for part-time students. 30 credits of course work with one course requiring a substantial paper involving a significant independent study, and a written comprehensive examination.

All students must take one course in each of three core areas.

Doctor of Philosophy:
Completion of a minimum of 42 credits beyond the MS degree (or 72 credits beyond the BS degree), composed of 24 course credits (exclusive of seminar, with one course outside the student's major area) and 18 doctoral dissertation credits under MCE 699. Full-time students must enroll in graduate seminar, MCE 501 and 502, each semester. Candidacy review, written and oral comprehensive examinations and a dissertation required of all students.

Additional Information

Graduate School - for general information, forms and application materials
Enrollment Services - for tuition and other related student fees, calendars, schedule of courses
Housing & Residential Life - for housing information

Further information may be obtained by contacting:

     Graduate Studies Director
     Department of Mechanical Engineering & Applied Mechanics
     University of Rhode Island
     Kingston, RI 02881
     mce@egr.uri.edu