Courses Recently Taught by Dr. Thompson
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Undergraduate Courses
- ME 2010: Statics & Dynamics
Integrated Approach to Vector Mechanics of Rigid Bodies. Statics as a special case of dynamics. Emphasis on bodies of finite size with general motion, both translation and rotation. Statics of Rigid Bodies and Rigid Assemblies. Force and Moment Vector analysis, couples, internal forces, shear and bending moment distribution and diagrams, friction, and belts. Kinematics and Kinetics of Rigid Bodies in General 2-D Motion, Rolling resistance, Work-Energy Methods in Dynamics, Impulse-Momentum Methods for Dynamics, Kinematics and Kinetics using Local Coordinate Systems that both Rotate and Translate with the Body. - ME 3070: Foundations of Mechanical Systems
Mechanisms, linkages, mobility, position, velocity, and acceleration kinematics; limit positions, timing ratios; mechanical advantage, transmission, complete cycle analysis; mechanism design and synthesis; dynamic force analysis and balancing; gear kinematics and selection, torque and power, cam-follower design and analysis, belt and chain drives, screw drive mechanisms, bearings, shaft design, springs, design. - ME 2040: Mechanics of Materials
Stress, Strain, Mechanical Properties of Materials, Axial, Torsion, Bending, Transverse Shear Loads, Combined Loadings, Stress Transformation, and Deflection of Beams. - ME 4020: Senior Capstone Design:
Senior-level design course with projects from industry. Idea generation, concept, and prototype development with analysis. - ME 4180: Finite Element Analysis in Mechanical Design
- ME 4300: Mechanics of Composite Materials
Advanced materials using continuous fibers and laminated composites are emphasized. Macromechanical Behavior and Failure Criteria of a Lamina. Micromechanical Behavior of a Lamina. Macromechanical Behavior of a Laminate. Strength Analysis of Laminates. Introduction to Laminated Plates. Design with Composite Materials. - ME 4320: Advanced Mechanics of Materials
Stress, Principal Stresses, Strain Energy, Failure and Failure Criteria, Applications of Energy Methods, Beams on Elastic Foundation, Curved Beams, Elements of Theory of Elasticity, Pressurized Cylinders and Spinning Disks, Torsion, Warping, Unsymmetric Bending and Shear Center, Plasticity in Structural Members.
Graduate Courses
- ME8180: Intro to Finite Element Analysis
Finite element methods, Part I. - ME8520: Advanced Finite Element Analysis
Finite element methods, Part II. - ME8290: Energy and Variational Methods
A graduate course in variational methods in mechanics includes variational calculus, weighted residual methods, Ritz-Galerkin global approximations, Finite Element approximations, and mesh-free approximations. - ME 6300: Mechanics of Composite Materials
Advanced materials using continuous fibers and laminated composites are emphasized. Macromechanical Behavior and Failure Criteria of a Lamina. Micromechanical Behavior of a Lamina. Macromechanical Behavior of a Laminate. Strength Analysis of Laminates. Introduction to Laminated Plates. Design with Composite Materials. - ME6320: Advanced Mechanics of Materials
Stress, Principal Stresses, Strain Energy, Failure and Failure Criteria, Applications of Energy Methods, Beams on Elastic Foundation, Curved Beams, Elements of Theory of Elasticity, Pressurized Cylinders and Spinning Disks, Torsion, Warping, Unsymmetric Bending and Shear Center, Plasticity in Structural Members.