UPSC Mechanical Engineering Optional Syllabus Paper 1 1. Mechanics – Mechanics of rigid bodies, equations of equilibrium in space, first and
second moments of area, friction, kinematics of particles, and elementary particle dynamics. Mechanics of deformable bodies include Hooke's law, axial, shear and bearing stresses, bending stresses, principal stresses and strains, combined stresses, pressure vessels, shaft design, beam deflection, and theories of failure. 2. Engineering Materials – Basic concepts related to the structure of solids, ferrous
and non-ferrous materials and their applications, heat treatment of steels, plastics, ceramics, composite materials, and nanomaterials. 3. Theory of Machines – Kinematic and dynamic analysis of plane mechanisms, cams,
gears, epicyclic gear trains, flywheels, governors, balancing of rigid rotors, balancing of single- and multi-cylinder engines, vibrations, critical speeds, and whirling of shafts. 4. Manufacturing Science – Machine tool engineering, Merchant's force analysis,
Taylor's tool-life equation, conventional machining, NC and CNC machining, jigs and fixtures, non-conventional machining methods such as EDM, ECM, ultrasonic and water-jet machining, forming and welding processes, metrology, fits and tolerances, gauges, comparators, inspection, and surface finish. 5. Manufacturing Management – Factory location, plant layout, engineering economic
analysis, break-even analysis, capacity planning, forecasting, assembly-line balancing, inventory management, Just-in-Time systems, strategic sourcing, interplant logistics, scheduling, statistical quality control, quality costs, project resource management, Total Quality Management, lean systems, flexible manufacturing, and agile organisations.
Paper 2
1. Thermodynamics, Gas Dynamics and Turbines – First and second laws of
thermodynamics, entropy, reversibility, availability, irreversibility, properties and
classification of fluids, compressible and incompressible flow, Mach number, continuity, momentum and energy equations, normal and oblique shocks, onedimensional isentropic flow, flow through ducts with friction, fans, blowers and compressors, axial and centrifugal configurations, compressor design, turbine cascades, gas turbines, reheat, and regeneration. 2. Heat Transfer – Conduction and the general conduction equation, Laplace and
Poisson equations, Fourier's law, one-dimensional steady-state conduction through walls, cylinders and spheres, convection, free and forced convection, boundary layers, Nusselt and Prandtl numbers, Reynolds and other heat-transfer analogies, convection through tubes, free convection, black-body radiation, Stefan-Boltzmann law, Planck distribution, Wien's displacement law, and heat exchanger analysis. 3. Engines – Classification and thermodynamic cycles of IC engines, brake power,
indicated power, mechanical efficiency, heat balance sheets, performance characteristics, petrol, gas and diesel engines, SI and CI engine combustion, knocking, combustion chambers, fuel rating, additives, emissions, fuel systems, lubrication, cooling, transmission systems, and alternate fuels. 4. Steam Engineering – Steam generation, modified Rankine cycle, modern boilers,
critical and supercritical steam conditions, draught equipment, boiler fuels, steam turbines, impulse and reaction turbines, compounding, axial thrust, steam nozzles, pressure conditions, supersaturated flow, Wilson line, reheating and regeneration, turbine governing, back-pressure and pass-out turbines, combined-cycle power generation, HRSG systems, and cogeneration. 5. Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning – Vapour compression refrigeration cycles, p-H
and T-s diagrams, eco-friendly refrigerants, evaporators, condensers, compressors, expansion devices, vapour absorption systems, psychrometric properties and processes, psychrometric charts, sensible heating and cooling, humidification and dehumidification, effective temperature, air-conditioning load calculations, and basic duct design.
