UPSC Mechanical Engineering Optional Syllabus: Overview

UPSC Mechanical Engineering Syllabus has been detailed out within the official notice for UPSC. Candidates have 48 subjects as optional subjects in UPSC mains, UPSC Mechanical Engineering Syllabus is one of the options candidates have with them for the optional paper. The UPSC Mechanical Engineering Optional Syllabus for IAS Exam tests the candidates’ understanding of the components of mechanical building and their applications. The subjects included in this subject are related to mechanics, fabricating, thermodynamics, refrigeration conditioning in conjunction etc. with their applications.

This article has been written for candidates’ reference regarding the UPSC Mechanical Engineering Syllabus. Interested candidates must read on to get other details about the UPSC Mechanical Engineering Optional Syllabus such as books, preparation tips, exam pattern etc.

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UPSC Mechanical Engineering Syllabus 2023 For Paper I

Candidates appearing for the UPSC Civil Services exam 2023 should go through the UPSC Mechanical Engineering Optional syllabus before they start with their preparation. The Mechanical Engineering UPSC Syllabus has been mentioned in detail in the official UPSC notification released. Candidates can check the below mentioned Mechanical Engineering Optional Syllabus for UPSC for the same:-

1. Mechanics

• 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.
• 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 stressesthin 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-metalsplastics, cermics, composite materials and nano-materials.

3. Theory of Machines

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

4. Manufacturing Science

• Manufacturing Process
  • Machine tool engineering - Merhant’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 guages; comparators; inspection of length; position; profile and surface finish.
• 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 blancing of multi model and stochastic assembly lines; inventory management-probablistic inventory models for order time and order quanitity 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.

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UPSC Mechanical Engineering Syllabus 2023 For Paper II

1. Thermodynamics, Gas Dynamics Turbine

• Basic concept of First-law and Second law of Thermodynamics; concept of entropy and reversibility; availability and unavailability and irreversibility.
• 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 or fluids in duct with frictions that transfer.
• Flow through fans, blowers and compressors; axial and centrifugal flow configuration; design of fans and compressors; single problems compresses and turbine cascade; open and closed cycle gas turbines; work done in the gas turbine; reheat and regenerators.

2. Heat Transfer

• 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.
• Convection heat transfer - Newton’s law of convection; free and forces 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, Colbum, Prandtl analogies; heat transfer during laminar and turbulent flow through horizontal tubes; free convection from horizontal and vertical plates.
• Black body radiation - basic radiation laws such as Stefan-Boltzman, Planck distribution, Wein’s displacement etc.
• Basic heat exchanger analysis; classification of heat exchangers.

3. Engines

• Classification, themodynamic cycles of operation; determination of break power, indicated power, mechanical efficiency, heat balance sheet, interpretation of performance characteristics, petrol, gas and diesel engines.
• 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.
• Different systems of IC engines-fuels; lubricating; cooling and transmission systems. Alternate fuels in IC engines.

4. Steam Engineering

• Steam generation - modified Ranking 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.
• 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.
• Rankine cycle with internal and external irreversibility; reheat factor; reheating and regeneration, methods of governing; back pressure and pass out turbines.
• Steam power plants - combined cycle power generation; heat recovery steam generators (HRSG) fired and unfired, co-generation plants.

5. Refrigeration and Air Conditioning

• Vapour compression refrigeration cycle - cycle on p-H & T-s diagrams; ecofriendly refrigerants - R 134a. 123; Systems like evaporators, condensers, compressor, expansion devices. Simple vapour absorption systems.
• Psychrometry - properties; processes; charts; sensible heating and cooling; humidification and dehumidification effective temperature; air-conditioning load calculation; simple duct design.

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UPSC Mechanical Engineering Optional Syllabus PDF

The available PDF encompasses the entire syllabus for the Mechanical Engineering optional subject within the UPSC examination. It has been meticulously structured to aid in a productive and efficient preparation approach for the Mechanical Engineering optional paper. Prospective candidates are advised to utilize the provided link to access the PDF, which presents a well-organized and easily understandable presentation of the UPSC Mechanical Engineering Optional Syllabus.

UPSC Mechanical Engineering Exam Pattern

Candidates who will be appearing for the exam should know the detailed UPSC Mechanical Engineering Syllabus beforehand. The prelim paper has a general studies paper and an aptitude test which is of a total of 400 marks. 

UPSC mains exam will consist of several papers including the UPSC Mechanical Engineering optional syllabus papers. Check the exam pattern for the same below:-

• The mains test is a total of 1750 marks and all the questions will be descriptive.
• There will be two qualifying papers (English and Indian Language) and the other seven papers will be merit-based papers
• UPSC Mechanical Engineering Optional Syllabus consists of two papers (Paper I and Paper II) in UPSC Mains Exam. Each paper is of 250 marks with a total of 500 marks. These 2 optional papers are a part of UPSC Mains Examination that takes place after IAS Preliminary exam.

Check UPSC Civil Services exam pattern and marking scheme here for prelims and mains in detail to prepare for the IAS exam.

How To Prepare For The UPSC Mechanical Engineering Syllabus?

Here are some preparation tips for the UPSC Mechanical Engineering Syllabus which the candidates can incorporate so as to confirm their names on the UPSC IAS Merit List:-

• Candidates must be familiar with the UPSC Mechanical Engineering Optional syllabus. The syllabus has been detailed in the UPSC notice, candidates can moreover download the syllabus PDF which they can utilize to track how numerous points they have covered. 
• It is important to understand the type of questions which will be asked in the UPSC exam. For the same, candidates must focus on solving previous years papers of UPSC Mechanical Engineering Syllabus.
• Covering up all the theoretical concepts before the candidates appear for the paper is necessary. 
• The next step should be solving as many questions from the numerical exercises and test series as possible.
• As the UPSC Mechanical Engineering Optional Syllabus is really vast, it is important that the candidates keep a note of all the important concepts, formulas, definitions etc. While making notes, use of flowcharts and diagrams will help the candidates to learn faster.

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Best Books For UPSC Mechanical Engineering Optional Syllabus

Here is a list of books to which the candidates can refer for their preparation for the Mechanical Engineering Optional Syllabus:-

The above article on UPSC Mechanical Engineering Optional Syllabus is intended to guide the candidates preparing for the exam. To boost your preparations, join the Testbook community right now by downloading the Testbook App!