Role of Mechanical Engineers in our Society and Industries

What is Mechanical Engineering?

Before entering into the Mechanical Engineer role, let us first understand the concept of
Mechanical Engineering. Mechanical Engineering is defined as the branch of engineering that
deals with the design, development, construction, and operation of mechanical systems and
tools. It include machines, tools, and equipment used in various industries, such as
transportation, manufacturing, power generation, and medical devices etc.

What role does a Mechanical Engineer play in our society and in Industries?

Mechanical engineers are involved in almost every aspect of human existence and welfare,
including machines, cars and other vehicles, aircraft, power plants, automobile parts, and
manufacturing plants etc. A Mechanical Engineer plays a significant role in designing,
developing, and testing machines as well as thermal devices. It also includes systems that are
essential to many aspects of modern society and Industries. They use their knowledge of
mechanics, thermodynamics, materials science, and energy to create solutions that improve
the quality of life of people.

Besides, the role of a mechanical engineer in our society is contributed as:

● Power Generation: Mechanical engineers design and develop power-generating machines

such as internal combustion engines, gas turbines, and steam and wind turbines etc
● Heating and Cooling Systems: They design and develop heating, ventilation, refrigeration
and air conditioning systems for buildings and other structures.
● Transportation: Mechanical engineers are involved in designing and developing
transportation systems, including cars, trains, airplanes, steamers and boats.
● Industrial Equipment: They design, develop and maintain industrial equipment such as
machine tools, robots, and conveyor systems & belts
● Infrastructure: Mechanical engineers play a key role in the design and maintenance of
infrastructure, including buildings, bridges, roads, and transportation systems.
Overall, Mechanical Engineers are involved in designing, building, and maintaining the
engines, machines, and structures that make modern life possible and comfortable.
They contribute to society by using their skills to improve the safety, security, efficiency, and
comfort of the systems and devices that we rely on every day.

The Role of Mechanical Engineering in

Renewable Energy Technologies

Contributions of mechanical engineering in renewable energy technologies, highlighting how

it is driving the transition to a sustainable future.

1. Wind Energy: Designing Efficient Turbines

2. Mechanical engineers are instrumental in the design and development of wind
turbines, the iconic symbols of renewable energy. From conceptualization to
optimization, they work tirelessly to enhance the efficiency, reliability, and durability
of these turbines. Through advanced computational modeling, aerodynamic analysis,
and material science, mechanical engineers optimize the shape, size, and materials
used in wind turbine blades, maximizing energy conversion and minimizing
maintenance requirements. Their innovations have significantly contributed to the
growth of wind power as a viable renewable energy source.
3. Solar Energy: Enhancing Photovoltaic Systems
4. Mechanical engineering plays a crucial role in improving the performance and
efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) systems, which convert sunlight into electricity.
Engineers are involved in the design and integration of solar panels, focusing on
increasing their energy conversion efficiency, durability, and cost-effectiveness. They
 work on developing advanced tracking systems that maximize solar panel exposure to
sunlight, optimizing heat dissipation mechanisms to prevent overheating, and
exploring innovative materials for improved solar cell performance. Mechanical
engineers also contribute to the development of solar thermal systems that harness
solar energy for heating and cooling applications.
5. Hydroelectric Power: Designing Efficient Turbines and Infrastructure
6. Mechanical engineering plays a significant role in the design and optimization of
hydroelectric power systems. Engineers are involved in designing efficient turbines
and generators that convert the kinetic energy of flowing water into electricity. They
work on maximizing turbine efficiency, ensuring reliable operation, and minimizing
environmental impacts. Mechanical engineers also contribute to the design and
construction of dams, penstocks, and other infrastructure components necessary for
the harnessing of hydropower. Through their expertise, they help maximize energy
generation from water resources while ensuring sustainability and minimal ecological
disturbance.
7. Geothermal Energy: Advancing Heat Extraction Technologies
8. Mechanical engineers are vital in the development of geothermal energy systems,
which tap into the Earth's natural heat for electricity generation and heating. They are
involved in designing and optimizing heat extraction technologies, such as geothermal
heat pumps and power plants. Mechanical engineers work on improving the efficiency
of heat exchangers, drilling techniques, and fluid circulation systems, ensuring
optimal energy transfer and system performance. Their expertise helps unlock the vast
potential of geothermal energy as a reliable and sustainable renewable resource.
9. Energy Storage: Developing Efficient Storage Solutions
10. The integration of renewable energy sources into the electrical grid requires effective
energy storage systems to address intermittency and meet fluctuating demands.
Mechanical engineers contribute to the development of advanced energy storage
technologies such as batteries, compressed air energy storage (CAES), and flywheels.
They work on enhancing the energy density, efficiency, and lifespan of storage
systems, enabling the seamless integration of renewable energy into the grid and
optimizing energy utilization.
Mechanical engineers in the power plant,
automotive, and aerospace industries
Power plant engineers
To begin, mechanical engineers are responsible for the systems and components design,
operation, and management of power plants. There are many types of power plants, including
nuclear, hydroelectric, geothermal, solar, wind, tidal. Each power plant converts energy to
electricity differently. Mechanical engineers collaborate with civil, chemical, and electrical
power engineers to design, build, and operate power plants.

Power plant engineers ensure machinery is running at optimal capacity and maintain turbines,
compressors, boilers, and much more. When a machine develops a fault, an engineer will
work to find the source of the problem, develop a solution, and may be expected to work
overtime. Other daily tasks of a mechanical engineer include designing power using
appliances, maintenance, health and safety, security, and ensuring projects are kept within
budget. Overall, energy engineers are highly important and hardworking.

The UK government pledged to male all of Britain’s energy green by 2035. This will mean
British electricity supply will move away from gas and fossil fuels, focusing instead on
nuclear, wind, and solar energy. These renewable sources work much differently than fossil
fuels, so the way we use electricity in buildings and manufacturing and even transport will
need to be redesigned. Therefore, the role of mechanical engineers is as important as ever as
the nation races against time to produce environmentally friendly energy.

Automotive engineers
Mechanical engineers can also work within the automotive sector. Engineers in this industry
work with a number of vehicles, including cars, motorbikes, bicycles, and buses.

Automotive engineers can work on all the different vehicle systems, like engines, batteries,
gears, interior and exterior styling, materials, and brakes. They are skilled at designing
blueprints for vehicle components, as well as building and rigorously testing them. Moreover,
automotive engineers must be skilled at interpreting data, writing in-depth reports, and
 liaising with suppliers. Therefore, all engineers must be able to work both independently and
within a team. This is a diverse role that is perfect for someone who lives life in the fast lane.

Aerospace and aeronautical engineers

Aerospace engineering is a sector of mechanical engineering that specialises in space
technologies, as well as systems of technologies for aircraft that operate within the earth's
atmosphere.

These positions encompass a wide variety of jobs, from designing aeroplanes to ensuring that
rocket engines use the exact amount of fuel when launching into space, although there are
many transferable skills between each role. The daily tasks of aerospace and aeronautical
engineers include building navigation systems, testing prototypes, planning and build aircraft
components, and much more.

Aerospace and aeronautical engineers are invaluable in contemporary society. Their expert
knowledge ensures the correct placement of satellites, safe passage of holiday-goers, and
exploration into outer space.

Marine sector

Marine engineers perform essential tasks in the design and upkeep of all seaborne vessels.
Their common responsibilities typically include:

1. Vessel design
This is the most basic competency for marine engineers. They should be competent planners
of the various systems, components, and processes that are integral to marine vessels.
Relevant areas of specialization might include steering, refrigeration, propulsion, and
electrical infrastructures.
2. Scientific and mathematical knowledge
Effective marine engineering requires fluency in a variety of subject matters, especially in
mathematics and physics. Fluid mechanics, hydrostatics, hydrodynamics, marine materials,
dynamics (as part of applied mathematics), and energy systems are all central areas in the
field and as a result are covered extensively in undergraduate and graduate programs.
These skills provide a backbone for technical and operational expertise in marine
engineering. Armed with these capabilities, marine engineers are prepared to take on many
possible roles across the civilian and military economies. A few possibilities include:

Coast Guard or similar military sector work

Marine engineering programs may prepare students to receive the appropriate Coast
Guard licensure that they need to begin work in active service. The defense agencies
are leading consumers of surface ships, submarines, and transport vessels. As such,
they always need engineers to help with proper ship design and maintenance.

Commercial naval architecture

Naval architecture has significant overlap with marine engineering in terms of the
essential educational grounding and broad commitment to vessel oversight. Naval
architects are more narrowly focused on design, especially on the particulars of ships’
hulls.
Basic Classification of Engineering Materials

Basically Engineering Materials Can be classified into two categories-

1. Metals
2. Non-Metals
Metals
Metals are polycrystalline bodies which are having number of differentially oriented fine
crystals. Normally major metals are in solid states at normal temperature. However, some
metals such as mercury are also in liquid state at normal temperature. All metals are having
high thermal and electrical conductivity. All metals are having positive temperature
coefficient of resistance. Means resistance of metals increases with increase in
temperature.Examples of metals – Silver, Copper, Gold, Aluminum, Iron, Zinc, Lead, Tin
etc.
Metals can be further divided into two groups-
1. Ferrous Metals –
All ferrous metals are having iron as common element. All ferrous materials are
having very high permeability which makes these materials suitable for construction
of core of electrical machines. Examples: Cast Iron, Wrought Iron, Steel, Silicon
Steel, High Speed Steel, Spring Steel etc.
2. Non-Ferrous Metals –
All non-ferrous metals are having very low permeability. Example: Silver, Copper,
Gold, Aluminum etc.
Non-Metals
Non-Metal materials are non-crystalline in nature. These exist in amorphic(shapeless) or
mesomorphic(a muscular or sturdy body build) forms. These are available in both solid and
gaseous forms at normal temperature.
Normally all non-metals are bad conductor of heat and electricity.
Examples: Plastics, Rubber, Leathers, Asbestos etc.
As these non-metals are having very high resistivity which makes them suitable for insulation
purpose in electrical machines.

Difference between Metals and Non Metals

Sl.
Property Metals Non-Metals
No.

All Non-metals are having

All metals are having
1. Structure amorphic & mesomorphic
crystalline structure
structure

State varies material to material.

Generally metals are solid Some are gas state and some are
2. State
at normal temperature in solid state at normal
temperature.

Valance Valance electrons are free Valence electrons are tightly

3. electrons and to move within metals bound with nucleus which are
conductivity which makes them good not free to move. This makes
 conductor of heat & them bad conductor of heat &
electricity electricity

4. Density High density Low density

5. Strength High strength Low strength

6. Hardness Generally hard Hardness is generally varies

7. Malleability Malleable Non malleable

8. Ductility Ductile Non ductile

Generally non brittle in Brittleness varies material to

9. Brittleness
nature material

Generally do not possess

Metals possess metallic
10. Lustre metallic lustre (Except graphite
lustre
& iodine)

Other classification of engineering materials:

Engineering materials can also be classified as below-

1. Metals and Alloys

2. Ceramic Materials
3. Organic Materials
Metals and Alloys
Metals are polycrystalline bodies which are have number of differentially oriented fine
crystals. Normally major metals are in solid states at normal temperature. However, some
metals such as mercury are also in liquid state at normal temperature.
Pure metals are having very a low mechanical strength, which sometimes does not match
with the mechanical strength required for certain applications. To overcome this draw back
alloys are used.
Alloys are the composition of two or more metals or metal and non-metals together. Alloys
are having good mechanical strength, low temperature coefficient of resistance.
Example: Steels, Brass, Bronze, Gunmetal, Invar. Super Alloys etc.
Ceramic Materials

Ceramic materials are non-metallic solids. These are made of inorganic compounds such as
Oxides, Nitrides, Silicates and Carbides. Ceramic materials possess exceptional Structural,
Electrical, Magnetic, Chemical and Thermal properties. These ceramic materials are now
extensively used in different engineering fields.
Examples: Silica, glass, cement, concrete, garnet, Mgo, Cds, Zno, SiC etc.
Organic Materials
All organic materials are having carbon as a common element. In organic materials carbon
is chemically combined with oxygen, hydrogen and other non-metallic substances. Generally
organic materials are having complex chemical bonding.
Example: Plastics, PVC, Synthetic Rubbers etc.
Composite Materials
A composite material (also called a composition material or shortened to composite,
which is the common name) is a material which is produced from two or more constituent
materials.These constituent materials have notably dissimilar chemical or physical properties
and are merged to create a material with properties unlike the individual elements. Within the
finished structure, the individual elements remain separate and distinct, distinguishing
composites from mixtures and solid solutions.

Typical engineered composite materials include:

Reinforced concrete and masonry
Composite wood such as plywood
Reinforced plastics, such as fibre-reinforced polymer or fiberglass
Ceramic matrix composites (composite ceramic and metal matrices)
Metal matrix composites
and other advanced composite materials

Typical examples include materials which are less expensive, lighter, stronger or more
durable when compared with common materials, as well as composite materials inspired
from animals and natural sources with low carbon footprint.

Composite materials are generally used for buildings, bridges, and structures such as boat
hulls, swimming pool panels, racing car bodies, shower stalls, bathtubs, storage
tanks, imitation granite, and cultured marble sinks and countertops. They are also being
increasingly used in general automotive applications.
Smart materials, discover the materials with which we will shape the future

Drugs that are released into the bloodstream at the first sign of infection, buildings that react
to weather conditions or mobile phone screens that repair themselves... These are just some
of the possible applications of so-called smart materials, the latest revolution in the field of
materials science.

Smart materials
These are materials that are manipulated to respond in a controllable and reversible way,
modifying some of their properties as a result of external stimuli such as certain mechanical
stress or a certain temperature, among others. Because of their responsiveness, smart
materials are also known as responsive materials. These are usually translated as "active"
materials although it would be more accurate to say "reactive" materials.
For example, we can talk about sportswear with ventilation valves that react to temperature
and humidity by opening when the wearer breaks out in a sweat and closing when the body
cools down, about buildings that adapt to atmospheric conditions such as wind, heat or rain,
or about drugs that are released into the bloodstream as soon as a viral infection is detected.
TYPES OF SMART MATERIALS
Piezoelectric materials
They can convert mechanical energy into electrical energy and vice versa. For example, they
change their shape in response to an electrical impulse or produce an electrical charge in
response to an applied mechanical stress.
Shape memory materials
They have the ability to change the shape, even returning to their original shape, when
exposed to a heat source, among other stimuli.
 Chromoactive materials
They change colour when subjected to a certain variation in temperature, light, pressure, etc.
Nowadays, they are used in sectors such as optics, among others.
Magnetorheological materials
They change their properties when exposed to a magnetic field. For example, they are
currently used in shock absorbers to prevent seismic vibrations in bridges or skyscrapers.
Photoactive materials
There are several types: electroluminescents emit light when they are fed with electrical
impulses, fluorescents reflect light with greater intensity and phosphorescents are able to emit
light after the initial source has ceased.
EXAMPLES AND APPLICATIONS OF SMART MATERIALS
Materials science is a constant supply of news about new discoveries that could revolutionise
our future. We review some of the most amazing materials from recent years below:
Synthetic spider web. This material is not only five times stronger than steel, but also has
great elasticity. Its potential uses include: bullet proof clothing, artificial skin for burns or
waterproof adhesives.
Shrilk. Its main component is chitin, a carbohydrate found in krill shells. It was created by
researchers from Harvard University and is considered the ideal substitute for plastic — since
its decomposition time is only two weeks and it also works as a stimulant for plant growth —.
Graphene. Its potential uses are almost unlimited: batteries with more autonomy, cheaper
photovoltaic solar cells faster computers, flexible electronic devices, more resistant buildings,
bionic limbs, etc. All this is possible thanks to their multiple properties.
Metamaterials. They are manufactured in the laboratory with unusual physical properties not
found in nature and are the subject of research in fields such as the military, optics or
telephony. for example, They can bend electromagnetic waves of light creating negative
refractive indices( the ratio of the velocity of light in a vacuum to its velocity in a specified
medium).
XPL. It is a silicone-based polymer that adheres to the dermis like a second skin. Created by
scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), it replicates the appearance of
young, healthy skin by rejuvenating the look of the weare