Mechanical Design Terminology
Mechanical design is the process of designing objects and systems with the objective of making them function in a way that meets all the requirements of their purpose. Mechanical design is based on a wide range of scientific principles and uses a variety of specialized tools and techniques. As such, it requires familiarity with a number of specialty terms, concepts and techniques. Below are some of the more common mechanical design terminology:
CAD - Computer-aided design (CAD) is the use of computer software to aid in the design of mechanical components and systems.
FEM - Finite element analysis (FEM) is a technique used to analyze the stresses, deformations and other stresses that act on a structure.
Kinematics - Kinematics is the study of the motion of objects and the forces that act upon them.
Dynamic Analysis - Dynamic analysis is the study of the physical forces that act on objects and systems in order to determine their behavior in a given situation.
Stress Analysis - Stress analysis is the study of the mechanical stresses that are applied to an object or system. It is used to determine the strength and durability of a given system or object.
Tolerance - Tolerance is the amount of variation that is acceptable in a particular dimension. It is used to specify how closely a part must adhere to its design specifications.
Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) - Geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) is a technique used to specify the tolerances of a given part or system.
Fatigue Analysis - Fatigue analysis is a technique used to identify the potential failure of a given mechanical system due to fatigue.
Material Selection - Material selection is the process of choosing the best material for a given application based on its properties such as strength, stiffness, and cost.
CFD - Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is a simulation technique used to model fluid flow and the forces that act on it.
Fluid Dynamics - Fluid dynamics is the study of the flow of fluids, including both liquid and gas.
CFD Analysis - CFD analysis is a technique used to analyze the behavior and properties of a given fluid.
Dynamics Simulation - Dynamics simulation is a technique used to simulate the behavior of a given system or object in a variety of scenarios.
Nonlinear Dynamics - Nonlinear dynamics is a branch of mathematics used to study the behavior of nonlinear systems.
Ergonomics - Ergonomics is the science of designing and configuring systems that are tailored to the user.
Mechanical Engineering - Mechanical engineering is the branch of engineering that deals with the design, analysis and manufacturing of machines and mechanical systems.
Thermodynamics - Thermodynamics is the study of energy, work and the thermodynamic properties of physical systems.
Automation - Automation is the use of machines and other devices to achieve a desired goal without the need for direct human intervention.
Design Optimization - Design optimization is the process of improving the performance of a system by making modifications to its design parameters.
These are just some of the more common mechanical design terminology used in the engineering field. Understanding this terminology is essential for anyone involved in mechanical design or engineering.
