UPSC Mechanical Engineering Optional Syllabus

Mechanical Engineering Optional – UPSC Syllabus

About the Subject

The building, designing, and implementation of machines are the basis of the professional degree field of mechanical engineering. Additionally, the UPSC offers it as the elective subject for civil services main exam. It is one out of three major specialisations available to engineering graduates. Since it is a highly specialised field, only professionals are advised to pursue it. Usually, around hundred candidates choose mechanical engineering as their mains optional. However, engineers represent a significant portion of the chosen applicants. Mechanical engineering is typically a very underestimated UPSC optional topic. The majority of applicants who enrol in engineering courses also want to work with IES (Indian Engineering Services).

You must have studied the subject for four years if you were a graduate in the same discipline. You would only need to review and revise topics that you have already studied. Considering their technical character, engineering disciplines are regarded as scoring. Through the use of charts and graphs, diagrams, and other illustrations, exam results can be enhanced. You can quickly evaluate how well you performed in this optional. As there is no scope for subjectivity, therefore if you've answered the question accurately and correctly, you could be confident that you will receive at least average marks. With this subject as optional, you can also appear for the Engineering Services (IES) examination.

Mechanical Engineering Optional Paper I

1. Mechanics

1.1 Mechanics of Rigid Bodies

Equations of equilibrium in space and its application; first and second moments of area; simple problems on friction; kinematics of particles for plane motion; elementary particle dynamics.

1.2 Mechanics of Deformable Bodies

Generalized Hooke's law and its application; design problems on axial stress, shear stress and bearing stress; material properties for dynamic loading; bending shear and stresses in beams; determination of principle stresses and strains-analytical and graphical; compound and combined stresses; bi-axial stresses- thin walled pressure vessel; material behaviour and design factors for dynamic load; design of circular shafts for bending and torsional load only; deflection of beam for statically determinate problems; theories of failure.

2. Engineering Materials

Basic concepts on structure of solids, common ferrous and non-ferrous materials and their applications; heat-treatment of steels; non-metals plastics, ceramics, composite materials and nano-materials.

3. Theory of Machines

Kinematic and dynamic analysis of plane mechanisms. Cams, Gears and epicyclic gear trains, flywheels, governors, balancing of rigid rotors, balancing of single and multi-cylinder engines, linear vibration analysis of mechanical systems (single degree of freedom), Critical speeds and whirling of shafts.

4. Manufacturing Science

4.1 Manufacturing Process

Machine tool engineering – Merchant's force analysis: Taylor's tool life equation; conventional machining; NC and CNC machining process; jigs and fixtures.

Non-conventional machining-EDM, ECM, ultrasonic, water jet machining etc.; application of lasers and plasmas; energy rate calculations.

Forming and welding processes-standard processes.

Metrology-concept of fits and tolerances; tools and gauges; comparators; inspection of length; position; profile and surface finish.

4.2 Manufacturing Management

System design: factory location—simple OR models; plant layout-methods based; applications of engineering economic analysis and break-even analysis for product selection, process selection and capacity planning; predetermined time standards.

System planning; forecasting methods based on regression and decomposition, design and balancing of multi model and stochastic assembly lines; inventory management-probabilistic inventory models for order time and order quantity determination; JIT systems; strategic sourcing; managing inter plant logistics.

System operations and control: Scheduling algorithms for job shops; applications of statistical methods for product and process quality control applications of control charts for mean, range, percent defective, number of defectives and defects per unit; quality cost systems; management of resources, organizations and risks in projects.

System improvement: Implementation of systems, such as total quality management, developing and managing flexible, lean and agile Organizations.

Mechanical Engineering Optional Paper II

1. Thermodynamics, Gas Dynamics Turbine

1.1 Basic concept of First-law and Second law of Thermodynamics

Concept of entropy and reversibility; availability and unavailability and irreversibility.

1.2 Classification and properties of fluids

Incompressible and compressible fluids flows; effect of Mach number and compressibility; continuity momentum and energy equations; normal and oblique shocks; one dimensional isentropic flow; flow of fluids in duct with friction and heat transfer.

1.3 Flow through fans, blowers and compressors

Axial and centrifugal flow configuration; design of fans and compressors; single stage compressors and turbine cascade; open and closed cycle gas turbines; work done in the gas turbine; reheat and regenerators.

2. Heat Transfer

2.1 Conduction heat transfer

General conduction equation-Laplace, Poisson and Fourier equations; Fourier law of conduction; one dimensional steady state heat conduction applied to simple wall, solid and hollow cylinder and spheres.

2.2 Convection heat transfer

Newton's law of convection; free and forced convection; heat transfer during laminar and turbulent flow of an incompressible fluid over a flat plate; concepts of Nusselt number, hydrodynamic and thermal boundary layer their thickness; Prandtl number; analogy between heat and momentum transfer—Reynolds, Colburn, Prandtl analogies; heat transfer during laminar and turbulent flow through horizontal tubes; free convection from horizontal and vertical plates.

2.3 Black body radiation

Basic radiation laws such as Stefan-Boltzmann, Planck distribution, Wien's displacement etc.

2.4 Basic heat exchanger analysis

Classification of heat exchangers.

3. Engines

3.1 Classification, thermodynamic cycles of operation

Determination of brake power, indicated power, mechanical efficiency, heat balance sheet, interpretation of performance characteristics, petrol, gas and diesel engines.

3.2 Combustion in SI and CI engines

Normal and abnormal combustion; effect of working parameters on knocking, reduction of knocking; Forms of combustion chamber for SI and CI engines; rating of fuels; additives; emission.

3.3 Different systems of IC engines

Fuels; lubricating; cooling and transmission systems. Alternate fuels in IC engines.

4. Steam Engineering

4.1 Steam generation

Modified Rankine cycle analysis; Modern steam boilers; steam at critical and supercritical pressures; draught equipment; natural and artificial draught; boiler fuels solid, liquid and gaseous fuels. Steam turbines—Principle; types; compounding; impulse and reaction turbines; axial thrust.

4.2 Steam nozzles

Flow of steam in convergent and divergent nozzle pressure at throat for maximum discharge with different initial steam conditions such as wet, saturated and superheated, effect of variation of back pressure; supersaturated flow of steam in nozzles, Wilson line.

4.3 Rankine cycle with internal and external irreversibility

Reheat factor; reheating and regeneration, methods of governing; back pressure and pass out turbines.

4.4 Steam power plants

Combined cycle power generation; heat recovery steam generators (HRSG) fired and unfired, co-generation plants.

5. Refrigeration and Air-conditioning

5.1 Vapour compression refrigeration cycle

Cycle on p-H & T-s diagrams; eco-friendly refrigerants—R 134a, 123; Systems like evaporators, condensers, compressor, expansion devices. Simple vapour absorption systems.

5.2 Psychrometry

Properties; processes; charts; sensible heating and cooling; humidification and dehumidification effective temperature; air-conditioning load calculation; simple duct design.