The Department of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics (MEAM) offers undergraduate and graduate programs that prioritize rigor through hands-on projects, practical experience and collaboration. With a strong focus on analysis, research and modeling, we equip students to become leaders in industry, government and academia.
Singh is the founder, president and CEO of Holtec International, an energy technology company based in Marlton, N.J., which he established in 1986. Holtec serves over 150 U.S. power generation stations and 80 commercial nuclear power plants. Over 80 percent of all spent nuclear fuel in the United States, South Korea, Mexico, Brazil, Taiwan and the United Kingdom is stored using Holtec equipment. Singh is a member of the Penn Engineering Board of Advisors and has served as an adjunct professor of mechanical engineering at Penn. He is also a member of the American Nuclear Society, a fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and a director of the Nuclear Energy Institute.
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Inspired by structures found in bones and seashells, Penn engineers discovered that disorder in a material’s internal structure can increase resistance to cracking.
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By The Numbers
Our faculty members are dedicated to building up the next generation of engineers. In addition to being incredible mentors, they’re leading experts and researchers in their fields.
Area of Expertise: Understanding and designing materials that resist and adapt to fracture. Students Know Me For: Fostering creativity and emphasizing the power of data visualization in research. I want to make an impact in: Advancing materials that support tissue regeneration and manufacturing techniques that drive sustainability.
Area of expertise: Small-scale fluid mechanics and interfacial physics for water and sustainability.
Students know me for: My miniature bernedoodle dog, Bernoulli!
I want to make an impact in: Developing energy-efficient water and resource recovery systems.
Building upon the fundamentals of mechanical design taught in MEAM 1010, this hands-on, project-based course provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to design, analyze, manufacture. and test fully-functional mechanical systems. Topics covered include an introduction to machine elements, analysis of the mechanics of machining, manufacturing technology, precision fabrication (milling, turning, and computer-controlled machining), metrology, tolerances, cutting-tool fundamentals and engineering materials.
In many modern systems, mechanical elements are tightly coupled with electronic components and embedded computers. Mechatronics is the study of how these domains are interconnected, and this hands-on, project-based course provides an integrated introduction to the fundamental components within each of the three domains, including: mechanical elements (prototyping, materials, actuators and sensors, transmissions, and fundamental kinematics), electronics (basic circuits, filters, op amps, discrete logic, and interfacing with mechanical elements), and computing (interfacing with the analog world, microprocessor technology, basic control theory, and programming).
The selection of materials and manufacturing processes are critical in the design of mechanical systems. Material properties and manufacturing processes are often tightly linked, thus this course covers both topics in an integrated manner. The properties and manufacturing processes for a wide range of materials (i.e., metals, ceramics, polymers, composites ) are examined from both a fundamental and practical perspective. From a materials standpoint, the course focuses on mechanical properties, including modulus, strength, fracture, fatigue, wear, and creep. Established and emerging manufacturing processes will be discussed. Design-based case studies are used to illustrate the selection of materials and processes.
Senior Design is a two-semester “capstone” design project sequence required of all mechanical engineering students. During the fall semester, students form teams, choose a project and begin researching the topic. Typically, a prototype is created by the end of the semester. In the spring, teams iterate on their design and fabricate the final product, as well as produce a detailed, technical paper. In some cases, teams will pursue a research-oriented project that supplements the work of a Penn faculty member.
