Distance Learning Program
Leading To
Master of Engineering or Master of Science
In
Mechanical Engineering
Typical Course Presentation Format
Program Description
The MAE Department at Clarkson University currently offers a Distance Learning Master of
Engineering or a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering. The program is designed to
allow off campus students to earn a Master’s degree while employed full time in industry or
government facilities. The two programs consist of the following:
Master of Engineering (ME)
Seven 3 credit courses
7 credits of project
2 credits of seminar
Master of Science (MS)
Six 3 credit courses
10 credits of thesis
2 credits of seminar
Both programs allow students to enroll in Clarkson graduate courses that are offered via a
distance delivery system. This system captures both the video and audio of the faculty lecturer
during the regular on-campus teaching of the course. It also captures the text written on a
tablet and slides projected during lecture. The captured lecture is presented as a streaming
video over the web, and may be viewed at any time after the lecture. The viewer can pause,
replay, or jump to any point in the lecture. Interaction between the instructor and off-campus
students is done using email, phone conversations, on-line chat sessions, etc. An example of
the typical course presentation format is shown on the first page of this document.
Students normally enroll in one or two distance courses per semester, depending on their job
work requirements. A student may transfer up to three graduate courses (9 semester credits)
from another university toward completion of the degree requirements. The seminar credits
may be satisfied by attending approximately ten to twelve presentations while on the job;
these could be company internal presentations, outside guest speakers, or attendance at a
technical conference.
ME versus MS
The primary difference between the ME and MS programs is the requirement for a project or
thesis. The Master of Engineering degree is oriented toward the practice of engineering in
industry, and thus the project is often a job related activity, with a faculty advisor. The resulting
project report must demonstrate that the degree candidate has carried out engineering design
and analysis at a level typically required of a practicing professional. The Master of Science
degree is research oriented and requires the completion of a written and orally defended thesis
conducted under the supervision of a faculty member. A master’s thesis should represent an
original contribution that may be published.
Time Requirement
The time required to complete either degree will vary depending on a student’s previous
graduate course work and job workload. It is expected that the ME degree would take about 2
years, while the MS degree may take longer because of the thesis requirement.
Mechanical Engineering Program
The following courses comprise the Mechanical Engineering distance learning program. These
courses are generally taught every year for on-campus and distance learning students.
Additional courses may be added to meet special industry needs.
Fall Semester
ME 515: Finite Element Methods
This course is an introduction to the finite element method, from a mathematical as well as a
modeling and applications point of view. The basic theory and implementation will be discussed
in the context of continuum problems in linear elasticity, potential flow and plate modeling. If
time permits, additional applications such as structures, electromagnetics, fluid mechanics,
ground water and geotechnics will also be discussed. Topics include: weak formulations and the
principle of virtual work, discretization and interpolation-function selection, assembly and
solution of the system equations, error estimates and accuracy assessment. A sample lecture
from this course is available at: https://echo.clarkson.edu:8443/ess/echo/presentation/3711cf2b1455-4509-b036-55db32a7c7c8 (Make sure your sound is turned on).
ME 527: Advanced Fluid Mechanics
An introductory level graduate course in fluid mechanics. Spatial and material coordinates,
kinematics of fluid motion, continuity and momentum equations, constitutive relations, simple
solutions, potential flows, boundary layer theory, creeping flow, flow through porous media,
particle motion, interfacial phenomena, turbulence. A sample lecture from this course is
available at: https://echo.clarkson.edu:8443/ess/echo/presentation/26b2ffef-1068-4949-81463a8b0f209db2 (Make sure your sound is turned on).
ME 529: Stochastic Processes for Engineers
Review of the theory of probability. Stochastic processes. Stationary and nonstationary processes. Time
averaging and ergodicity. Correlation and power spectrum. Langevin's equation and Markov processes.
Poisson and Gaussian processes. Response of linear systems. Approximate methods for analysis of
nonlinear stochastic equations. Introduction to stochastic stability. Mean square and almost sure stability
analysis. Random vibrations, turbulence and other applications to engineering problems.
ME 537: Aerosols
Review of viscous flow theory. Creeping flows around a sphere. Drag and lift forces acting on particles.
Wall effects and nonspherical particles. Diffusion of aerosols in laminar flows. Brownian motion and
Langevin equation. Mass diffusion in pipe and boundary layer flows. Dispersion of particles in turbulent
flows. Turbulent diffusion and wall deposition of aerosols. Effects of electrostatics, van der Waals and
other surface forces. Computational aspects of aerosol dispersion in laminar and turbulent flows. Particle
removal and resuspension from surfaces. Coagulation of aerosols due to Brownian movement, presence
of a shear field and turbulence. Applications to microcontamination control, air pollution, and particle
deposition in human lung.
ME 543: Advanced Optimal Design
The optimal design of mechanical systems is studied. The optimization methods discussed in
the course include: unconstrained optimization in several variables (e.g. gradient search,
random search), constrained optimization in several variables (e.g. linear programming,
nonlinear programming, Lagrange multipliers, geometric programming) and problems
structured for multistage decision (e.g. dynamic programming). Emphasis is placed on the
formulation of problems which can be solved by these techniques. A project involving the
application of the methods introduced is required.
ME 551: Theory of Elasticity
A study of the mathematical theory of elasticity and its application to engineering problems;
development of general stress-strain relationships, equations of equilibrium and compatibility;
plane stress and plane strain; stress functions; applications to beam bending and torsion.
ME 554: Continuum Mechanics
The course involves the analysis of stress and deformation at a point, and the derivation of the
fundamental equations by applying the basic laws of conservation of mass, energy and
momentum and those of thermodynamics. Vector and Cartesian tensors are reviewed.
Relationships are then developed between stress, strain and strain rate and constitutive laws
affecting stress-strain relationships. These are used to formulate the basic equations governing
the behavior of any continuum with applications to solids and fluids.
ME 595: Principles of Physical Metallurgy
Topics include: structure of metals, diffraction techniques (X-Ray, SEM-TEM), dislocation
phenomena, diffusion in solids, precipitation hardening, nucleation and growth, solidification
and phase transformation in solids. A sample lecture from this course is available at:
https://echo.clarkson.edu:8443/ess/echo/presentation/6fbfd1a1-2fcc-440c-998c-452e7ce15c94 (Make
sure your sound is turned on).
Spring Semester
ME517: Advanced Thermal Systems
Advanced treatment of steady & transient conduction, convection and radiation heat transfer
with applications to various thermal systems such as electronic circuits & HVAC
ME531: Computational Fluid Dynamics
The course will present advanced computational methods for solutions of transient and steadystate problems in fluid mechanics and in transport phenomena, including incompressible flows,
compressible flows, heat transfer, transport of suspended particles, etc. The course will require
programming in Fortran or other languages. Post processing of data will include the use of
computer graphics. Special projects in application of the course material to research-oriented
problems in engineering will be emphasized.
ME557: Mechanics of Composite Materials
Nature of composite materials. Classification and characteristics of composite materials,
mechanical behavior of composite materials. Macromechanical and micromechanical elastic
behavior of unidirectional lamina. Constitutive and transformation relations. Strength of
unidirectional lamina. Composite failure theory. Mechanics of multidirectional structural
laminates. Lamination theory. Strength and failure analysis of multidirectional laminates. Effect
of temperature and moisture.
ME 580: Adv. Mod. & Sim of dyn Systems
This course will incorporate techniques of bond graph theory in the energy-based lumped parameter
modeling of electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, magnetic, and thermal energy domains. Bond graph theory
offers a unified approach to modeling dynamic energy systems and provides the tools necessary for the
analysis of complex systems involving a variety of energy domains. Rather than attempt to cover all of
the available analysis techniques, this course will serve to provide an underlying foundation on which to
develop a thorough understanding of the interactions of energetic systems. Emphasis of the course will
focus on multi-domain interaction.
ME590: Advanced Welding Metallurgy
Introduction to various aspects of welding processes. Weldability problems in ferrous, nonferrous and metal-matrix composite materials will be discussed in detail. Solidification modes
and their effects on the mechanical properties of austenitic and duplex stainless steel
weldments will be examined.
ME 637: Particle Transport and Deposition II
Introduction to turbulent flows and turbulent modelings. One and several equation models.
Drag, lift, virtual mass, and Basset forces acting on particles. Wall effects and nonspherical particles.
Aerosol transport and dispersion in turbulent flows. Turbulent diffusion and wall deposition of aerosols.
Particle charging mechanics and electrostatics forces. Thermophoretic and electrophoretic effects.
Introduction to colloids and electrokinetic phenomena. Computational aspects of aerosol dispersion and
deposition in turbulent flows. Sublayer model approach. Approximate simulation of turbulence and
turbulence transport. DNS simulation methods. Nonspherical particle transport in turbulent flows.
Coagulation of aerosols due to shear and turbulence. Experimental techniques for turbulent flow
measurements. Hot‐wire anemometry, Isokinetic sampling. Particle concentration and velocity
measurements with phasedoppler, and PIV. Applications to microcontamination control, air pollution,
combustor, spray, and particle deposition in human lung.
ME 639: Advanced Turbulence
Recent developments in turbulence modeling, stress transport models, multipoint closure methods, and
thermodynamical formulation. Turbulent diffusion, isotropic turbulence and Karman‐Howarth equation.
Kraichnan's direct interaction approximation. Wiener‐Hermite expansion approach. Characteristic
functional formulation and Hopf's theory. Lundgren's probabilistic formulation and Chung's kinetic
theory of turbulence. Direct and Large‐Eddy simulation techniques. Proper orthogonal decomposition
Techniques. Chaos and dynamical systems, stochastic Estimation, Lagrargian mean approaches.
Application Procedure
Students in this program must have a BS degree in engineering or a related field. Application
forms are available on line at www.clarkson.edu/admission/graduate/index.html
For more information contact:
Professor Kenneth Visser
Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering
Clarkson University
Potsdam, NY 13699
[email protected]
315-268-7687
Professor Kenneth Willmert
Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering
Clarkson University
Potsdam, NY 13699
[email protected]
315-268-2323