Engineering Vocabulary
Mechanical, electrical, and structural engineering vocabulary
beginner (3 terms)
Thermodynamics
/ˌθɜːməʊdaɪˈnæmɪks/
The branch of physics concerned with the relationships between heat, work, temperature, and energy.
Tolerance
/ˈtɒl(ə)r(ə)ns/
The permissible range of variation in a dimension or property of a manufactured part.
Heat Transfer
/hiːt ˈtrænsfɜː/
The physical process by which thermal energy moves from one region to another via conduction, convection, or radiation.
intermediate (9 terms)
Yield Strength
/jiːld streŋkθ/
The stress at which a material begins to deform plastically; below this point the material will return to its original shape when the load is removed.
Fatigue
/fəˈtiːɡ/
The progressive and localised structural damage that occurs when a material is subjected to cyclic loading, potentially leading to fracture at stresses below the yield strength.
Reynolds Number
/ˈrenəldz ˈnʌmbə/
A dimensionless quantity that predicts flow patterns by comparing inertial forces to viscous forces; used to determine whether flow is laminar or turbulent.
Factor of Safety
/ˈfæktə əv ˈseɪfti/
The ratio of a structure's load-carrying capability to the actual applied load, expressing the margin against failure.
Impedance
/ɪmˈpiːd(ə)ns/
The total opposition a circuit presents to alternating current, combining resistance and reactance.
Corrosion
/kəˈrəʊʒ(ə)n/
The gradual degradation of a material, typically metal, through chemical or electrochemical reaction with its environment.
Feedback Control
/ˈfiːdbæk kənˈtrəʊl/
A control system that uses the output of a process as an input to correct deviations from a desired set point.
Reliability (Engineering)
/rɪˌlaɪəˈbɪlɪti/
The probability that a component or system will perform its required function without failure under specified conditions for a stated period.
Resonance
/ˈrez(ə)nəns/
The tendency of a system to oscillate with greater amplitude at certain natural frequencies when excited by an external periodic force.
advanced (3 terms)
Finite Element Analysis (FEA)
/ˈfaɪnaɪt ˈelɪmənt əˈnælɪsɪs/
A computational technique that subdivides a complex structure into smaller elements to approximate stress, strain, and deformation under load.
Modal Analysis
/ˈməʊd(ə)l əˈnælɪsɪs/
The study of a structure's natural frequencies, mode shapes, and damping, used to predict its dynamic response.
Boundary Layer
/ˈbaʊnd(ə)ri ˈleɪə/
The thin region of fluid near a solid surface where the effects of viscosity are significant and velocity varies from zero at the wall to the free-stream value.