Mechanical engineering is a broad profession creatively engaged in the design, production and operation of devices, machines and systems that extend our physical abilities. Mechanical engineers are involved in activities such as energy conversion and utilization, machinery design, manufacturing processes, automatic control, bio-mechanics and transportation of all forms.
Mechanical engineers study the response of materials to forces and energy flows.
Using their understanding of these basic processes, mechanical engineers design space vehicles, aircraft, automobiles, robots, medical equipment, prostheses, and the multitude of mechanical devices that we depend on every day but often take for granted. Areas of Emphasis at Delaware The Department of Mechanical Engineering 's active research program covers a broad spectrum of topics within which there are several areas of concentration. The area of solid mechanics involves the control and prediction of the behavior of structures that may be as large as a space shuttle or so small as to only be visible under a microscope. A particular area of research within the Department involves the solid mechanics of advanced composite materials which provide unprecedented strength and stiffness combined with low weight. The flow of fluids and the transport of heat are fundamental to manufacturing technologies, energy conversion, the environment, and all aspects of transportation, especially aerospace.