Mechanical Engineering MEng

​To provide students with a basic understanding of electronics from first principles covering analogue and electromechanical systems. Basic circuits and theory will be introduced including the use of semiconductor devices such as diodes and transistors. Electromechanics will be developed to provide the student with a fundamental knowledge of the principles of DC and AC machines, transformers and linear actuators

To provide students with a basic understanding of modelling and simulation techniques. Mathematical modelling and graph theory will be introduced to develop practical skills in the modelling and designing of different types of systems including electromechanical systems.

This module introduces students to the basic concepts and principles of elementary statistics and programming. It explains the purposes and advantages of analysing data collected specifically to solve problems in engineering, reviews available software tools and programming languages used to formulate and answer basic engineering questions. It draws on examples from applications across the range of School of Engineering program areas.​

This is predominantly a practical module in which students work in small groups to examine in detail the workings and manufacture of a single-cylinder, 4-stroke petrol engine by dismantling it into component parts and documenting the disassembly process in a Wiki.

This module aims to introduce students to the fundamental concepts and theory of how engineering structures work to sustain loads. It will also show how stress analysis leads to the design of safer structures. It will also provide students with the means to analyse and design basic structural elements as used in modern engineering structures.

To develop an understanding of the basic principles of fluid mechanics, the laws of thermodynamics, and an appreciation of how to solve simple engineering problems. To develop skills in performing and reporting simple experiments.

This module aims to provide students with an interesting and engaging project that will help them to immediately relate the material being taught,both within and without this module, to a practical problem that is identifiable to their engineering discipline, thus reinforcing its relevance to the topixc.

The module:
1) Seeks to provide students with an early understanding of the preliminary design processes
2) Will introduce students to formal engineering drawing and visualisation
3) Will expose the students to group work and the dynamics of working in a team
4) Will expose students to the complexity of an engineering design task
5) Will enable students to develop data analysis and plotting skills
6) Will embody an approach to learning that will engage the students for the remainder of their lives
7) Seeks to provide students with an early understanding of the detail design and manufacturing process
8. Will introduce students to industry standard computer aided engineering drawing tools and practice
9. Will enable students to develop report writing and oral presentation skills
10. Will provide students with a basic understanding of engineering components and mechanisms
11. Will embody an approach to learning that will engage the students for the remainder of their lives

To provide a basic level of mathematics including calculus and extend the student’s knowledge to include an elementaryintroduction to complex variables and functions of two variables.

To provide students with a basic introduction to various classes of engineering materials, their mechanical properties, deformation and failure and how the properties structure and processing can be controlled to design materials with desired properties for various engineering applications.

Students completing the module should be able to understand simple computer programs and write their own simple MATLAB programs to solve problems and process data as required by other modules and in engineering practice.
Students completing the module will be able to understand simple electrical circuits with passive and active components, mechanical (mass-spring-damper) systems and electromechanical systems (DC machines). They will learn basic mathematical, practical and computational methods for analysing and modelling these.

This module covers the main technical aspects of gas turbine engines used on aircraft and other mechanical applications (e.g. power generation, marine). It covers many topics from the basic principles of aeroengines (e.g. production of thrust) through to the design of axial flow turbomachinery (compressors and turbines). An understanding of the principles of compressible flow is also developed. Students do a laboratory using the Virtual Engine Test Bench to explore aeroengine components, thermodynamics and performance. In addition, they use a commercial CFD package to perform a compressible flow simulation.

Dynamic systems are encountered in most engineering disciplines such as mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, electrical engineering. These systems require specific techniques to be analysed for design or monitoring purpose.

In this module, students will learn the main methods for analysing dynamic systems in time and frequency domains. They will learn how to solve dynamical problems, how to evaluate and control the stability, the accuracy and the rapidity of a dynamical system.

This module will be mainly delivered through class lectures and assessed through a final exam. Additionally, students will be taught some experimental techniques related to second-order dynamical systems through an assessed  laboratory work.​

Professional Engineering can be defined as the application of science in the solution of problems and the development of new products, processes and systems. It is vital that all Engineering graduates have a solid design education; and this module is a core part of that.

In Year 1 students are introduced to the basic tools and techniques involved in engineering design.

In this module students are taught the basics of design theory in a lecture setting; but crucially they are required to apply this learning in a 24-week group project to design an innovative engineering product.

Students are given a design brief and are "coached" through product design specification; creative conceptual design; detailed design; 3D CAD modelling; design for manufacture, assembly and environment; and materials selection.

The module also enables students to develop and practice teamwork, communication, project management and problem solving skills.

The module focusses on the essentials of data analysis and interpretation, engineering experimentation, measurement techniques and principles of instrumentation.

​This module introduces the main materials processing and manufacturing techniques used to shape metals. It also introduces technologies used to modify the surface properties of metal components, and heat-treatment procedures used to change materials’ mechanical properties.

This module covers non-metallic materials and materials selection. The students will understand the processing, microstructure and properties of ceramic, polymer and composite materials. The students will also learn how to derive materials performance indices and select materials for mechanical design.

Project Management is a core skill for professional engineers of all types and a sound education in this subject area is required by the professional accrediting bodies. The knowledge and skills developed in this module will equip students for their future UG project work and for their careers ahead.
This module teaches students the theory of fundamental techniques in project management, risk management, and cost management.

In this modules student undertake a group "virtual project" in which they undertake all stages of project management involved n a major construction projects. The five virtual project tasks require students to apply their theoretical learning; and they provide an opportunity to develop key professional skills.

This module aims to introduce students to techniques for load and displacement analysis of simple structures.

Steam, standard air and refrigeration cycles

Engineering Mathematics and Computing will provide fundamental understanding of mathematical techniques used to solve Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering problems, as well as the associated implementation of these techniques in Matlab. Successful completion of this module will provide students with basic skills to further develop existing and devise new solution methodologies in a variety of engineering applications. The module will expose essentials of numerical solution of nonlinear algebraic equations, matrix linear algebra techniques, discrete transforms, as well as elements of ordinary and partial differential equations. A series of classic engineering model problems, such as the mass-spring damper, 2D trajectory calculation, computation of boundary layer velocity profiles and calculation of Strouhal number in the wake of a cylinder or an airfoil will place the acquired knowledge in an engineering context relevant to the Syllabus on offer at the Mechanical and Aerospace Department.

The Aims of this module are as follows:

To introduce the student to various aspects of advanced modern management.

To develop a knowledge and understanding of modern management tools.

To stimulate an appreciation of management and its importance in organisational success.

​The module provides students with the fundamental concepts of Engineering Fluid Mechanics, and in particular: the role of viscosity in fluid mechanics, including the no-slip condition and the concept of vorticity; the basic principles of laminar and turbulent flow through pipes including definition and evaluation of the Fanning and Darcy friction factors; the concept of a boundary layer, including separation and transition, and basic equations for friction factor in laminar and turbulent flow with zero pressure gradient; the calculation methods of bluff-body drag using drag coefficients with qualitative explanations the potential-flow theory including the concept of irrationality and the principle of superposition; the analysis of compressible flow through constant-area ducts accounting for friction or heat transfer and to use the Fanno- and Rayleigh-flow tables; the analysis of external compressible flow including expansion and compression turns (Prandtl-Meyer expansions and oblique shock waves).​

The 2-year Capstone Projects are a hallmark of the Mechanical Engineering MEng programmes at Liverpool. They are group projects in which students apply their scientific knowledge, design training and management skills to design-build-test innovative engineering products or systems. These projects provide students an opportunity to develop and evidence a wide range of technical, personal and professional skills. The Capstone modules make the greatest contribution to graduate employability.

Students are given the choice of project from a portfolio of 6-8 options: some target international sporting competition (eg Velocipede or Formula Student); others are industry-led and address real world challenges (eg Nuclear Rover decommissioning robot with NNL or Paediatric Wheelchairs with Alder Hey Hospital). The range of available projects varies each year.

Each project team is assigned an academic project supervisor and a dedicated member of technical staff. You will work closely with these staff and a range of other technical experts from industry and/or the research community. It should be noted that the students "own" their project and it is their responsibility to specify, plan, manage and report on all project work.

Students will be timetabled for 4-hours per week but will be expected to spend a significant amount of additional time working on their project.

A variety of assessment methods are used that are as close as possible to professional engineering practice.

At four key points in the year the Careers and Employability Service will join the module to help students reflect on, record in CV, and communicate at interview the professional development.

The aim of this module is to give the students a good understanding of the basic mechanisms of heat transfer and to equip them to solve significant engineering problems.

They will also learn about different designs of heat exchanger and how to carry out performance/design calculations.

The Year 3 individual research project; 300 hours student work over 2 semesters; 3 assessment stages (proposal 5%, interim 20%, final 75%).

In this module the students will gain a basic understanding of the Finite Element method and learn to use some Finite Element software. This software will then be used to analyse a variety of different problems which are relevant to both mechanical and civil engineers.

Students taking this module will be given an understanding of potential structural failure modes in the early stages of design that can lead to a more appropriate selection of materials, prevent premature failure and lengthen the life of a machine or component; ultimately resulting in increased safety and reduced cost of ownership.

​This module is built on MECH215. It consists of Vibration and Control as 2 main components. Both are on an advanced level and basically deal with multi-degree-of-freedom (or multi-input multi-output) systems.

The main mathematical tools are Laplace transforms, differential equations, simultaneous linear equations, complex numbers, trigonometry, vectors and matrices, eigenvalues and eigenvectors.

Computational fluid dynamics tools have become ubiquitous in engineering practice to design trains, planes and automobiles, to analyse the fluid flow in power generation systems and in heating, ventilation and air conditioning, and many more applications. The module will provide students with the skills to use computational fluid dynamics tools with confidence with an understanding of the underlying theory and technology.

To provide an overview on the role of additive manufacturing in new product development. To develop a generic understanding on the principles and the complete process chain of additive manufacturing processes. To provide an awareness on recent developments in additive manufacturing and associated technologies.

This module aims to understand advanced engineering materials, focusing on non-ferrous alloys and composite materials. It covers the processing, heat treatment, microstructure and properties of Al, Ti and Ni alloys. It introduces constituent materials, manufacturing methods, test methods and mechanical response of composite materials.

​This module will introduce the inter-disciplinary subject of biomedical engineering to engineering students with a focus on biomechanics of the cardiovascular system, the eye and bone.

The module will cover ageing and disease of tissues and prosthetic devices including their design and optimisation for tissue repair. The course will be delivered with lectures containing interactive elements.

Assessment will be via an exam and two pieces of coursework.

The module teaches the management of new product development. It is taught in a traditional lecture style culminating in an exam.

Successful students will have acquired knowledge and understanding at a broad level of the process and how it is executed in a modern industrial environment.

This module covers broad aspects of uncertainty quantification methods, reliability analysis and risk assessment in engineering applications. It also provides understanding of statistical analysis of engineering data and computational methods for dealing with uncertainty in engineering problems.

Advanced Fluid Mechanics covers fluid motion in a range of problems of engineering interest. Both laminar and turbulent flows will be considered. Limiting cases of the equations of motion will be solved analytically and with the aid of simple numerical methods programmed in Matlab (R). The full equations of motion will be described and solved numerically using the open-source Computational Fluid Dynamics software package OpenFOAM (R).

The module will be delivered via a series of lectures, computing room exercises and tutorial sessions. It will be assessed through three courseworks (30%) and a final examination (70%).

This modules discusses energy generation and usage, and how they complement each other. The topics are introduced in lectures that then lead onto a case study on a specific topic.

The module teaches the concepts of Entrepreneurship, Intrapreneurship, Company Infrastructure and Investment Proposals. It is taught using lectures, class questions, case studie sand a comprehensive coursework assignment. Successful students will have acquired knowledge and understanding at mastery level of the process and how itis executed in a modern industrial environment.

​The 2-year Capstone Projects are a hallmark of the Mechanical Engineering MEng programmes at Liverpool. They are group projects in which students apply their scientific knowledge, design training and management skills to design-build-test innovative engineering products or systems. These projects provide students an opportunity to develop and evidence a wide range of technical, personal and professional skills. The Capstone modules make the greatest contribution to graduate employability.

Students are given the choice of project from a portfolio of 6-8 options: some target international sporting competition (eg Velocipede or Formula Student); others are industry-led and address real world challenges (eg Nuclear Rover decommissioning robot with NNL or Paediatric Wheelchairs with Alder Hey Hospital). The range of available projects varies each year.

Each project team is assigned an academic project supervisor and a dedicated member of technical staff. You will work closely with these staff and a range of other technical experts from industry and/or the research community. It should be noted that the students "own" their project and it is their responsibility to specify, plan, manage and report on all project work.

Students will be timetabled for 4-hours per week but will be expected to spend a significant amount of additional time working on their project.

A variety of assessment methods are used that are as close as possible to professional engineering practice.

At four key points in the year the Careers and Employability Service will join the module to help students reflect on, record in CV, and communicate at interview the professional development.

This module introduces the concepts required to maintain structural integrity. Topics covered are: detecting structural defects, predicting when defects will cause failure, and mitigating against failure.

The module provides an understanding of nuclear engineering, with coverage going from the atomic scale through to the bulk scale. The topics will cover reactor dynamics, design and operation, lifetime behaviour, evolution of technologies and nuclear waste. For example, understanding the implications of the fission/fusion processes themselves on the behaviour of the core.

This module focuses on a specific project related to a students third year project, with a journal style paper written.

The module will provide engineering, chemistry, physics and potentially other students another view of how atomic structure and defects in atomic structure, lead to the properties of advanced materials used in such applications as structural materials, catalysts, batteries and semiconducting devices.   The students will gain knowledge on how different structures form from different components and how materials design for a given application is determined by whether the atoms involved form polymers, ceramics or metals.   The students will learn how to use electron microscopy to characterise materials by their components and understand how to determine the mechanisms by which defect structures/chemistry controls the properties of materials used for modern engineering applications.​

​This module will provide engineering, chemistry and potentially other students an overview of  complex fluids, their processing, rheology and applications. The students will gain knowledge on: different formulations (suspensions, emulsions, foams); colloidal processing ( starting from clay as archetype, and delving into ceramic, polymer and 2D colloids); their flow and rheology; and their role in manufacturing in a diversity of processes from food processing and personal care to additive manufacturing.

This module considers the functional properties of engineering materials and how they are exploited in modern technology. The relationships between functional properties and the fundamental nature of different materials will be developed. Then the processing of functional materials in the manufacture of functional devices will be addressed. A range of applications of functional materials in sensors, electronic and optoelectronic devices will be considered.

The primary aim is to gain a practical appreciation of Integrated System Design (ISD) through the design, build and operation of free-standing mobile robots which will perform specific tasks.  This module will give the students an opportunity to work in teams; gain an understanding of what it means to plan and work through a project; work to deadlines; maximise resources; and cope with uncertainty.   

​The module will cover: how lasers work, what are the key beam properties of high power lasers, how the beam is deployed and delivered to the process/workpiece, safety in laser materials processing, and the working principles and industry practice for a range of laser processes.

This module aims to provide students with an appreciation of the challenges related to the design of Mechatronics systems. Both hardware and software integration issues will be studied within this module. General design principles will be introduced first and learning will focus on the popular Arduino platform.​ ​The module will also expose students to state-of-the-art robotics, as example of modern mechatronic systems.

This module will give students an understanding of the biomechanics of the musculoskeletal system and will cover techniques used to measure and analyse body movements as mechanical systems.

This module extends the coverage of Matlab and introduces Simulink as a tool for creating simulation models of dynamical systems.

This module develops understanding and appreciation of basic probability theory. It involves the quantification of uncertainties in the input and modelling, their implementation and the evaluation of the associated results in view of decision making. An introduction to numerical concepts will be provided. The methods shown in the module have a general applicability, which is demonstrated by examples and practical applications.

This module introduces students to the facilitating world of ‘Smart Materials’. The term ‘Smart Materials’ is used to define a broad collection of materials that have the in-built ability to ‘actuate’ in some way in response to external stimulus. Examples of ‘Smart materials’ include piezoelectrics, electrostrictive materials, shape memory alloys, ferrofluids, various biomimetic materials plus a host of others. This module looks at a selection of smart materials and considers the underlying reasons for the actuating behavior, key performance indicators that aid materials selection, aspects of manufacturing associated with the exploitation of the materials, plus engineering applications of these facilitating and highly useful materials.

This modules covers topics related to the structure and properties of materials that are used in medical devices, including metals and alloys, polymers and ceramics. Corrosion and polymer degradation is also covered.

The module will explore the understanding for the need for enhanced control of material induced biological interactions and how we can utilise novel material development and engineering techniques to control biological responses from the “bottom-up” (controlled biological interactions), developing the next generation of smart-implantable medical devices. As well as presenting fundamental concepts that are relevant to real clinical situations the module will also explore the need for cost effective solutions and viable routes for scale up and translation.

The aim of this module is to provide an introduction to the tools and methods of Eco-design, Design for Manufacture and Assembly using real, everyday products as examples.

This module  investigates how industrial robots and other equipment are used and integrated into  more complex automated  systems.  The module emphasis is upon the application and use of these systems, with less emphasis on the underlying theoretical  mechanisms.   The module is based in the concept of learning through doing, the underlying content being presented as videos, while the contact time is used in practical sessions using industrial robots and in the development of robotic systems using industrial simulation software.  The assessments are designed to help reinforce understanding rather than short term memory.  As an FHEQ level 7 module the tasks and assessments are designed to develop deeper knowledge and skill in application than that expected for those at  FHEQ level 6.