Engineering

Steel mill (steelworks): production, processes, and products Steel mill A steel mill is an industrial plant where iron is converted into steel and formed into standardized shapes; this article covers processes, equipment, raw materials, history, and us…

Stirling engine A closed-cycle external combustion engine that converts heat into mechanical work using a fixed working gas and temperature difference; notable for quiet operation and diverse heat…

Stitching Awl: Hand Tool for Piercing and Sewing Leather and Canvas Stitching awl A stitching awl is a pointed hand tool used to pierce and enlarge holes in leather, canvas and similar materials and to draw thread through for hand sewing and repair.

Storm drain: function, design, environmental impact and maintenance Storm drain Network of structures that collect and carry rain and surface runoff from streets, roofs, and paved areas to control flooding and manage water quality; covers types, components, hi…

Stove (enclosed heating appliance) Stove An enclosed appliance in which fuel is burned to produce heat for space heating or for cooking. Covers design, history, common types, uses and safety considerations for solid‑fuel…

Straight-eight engine (inline-eight): design, history and usage Straight-eight engine An inline-eight (straight-eight) engine places eight cylinders in a row on a single crankshaft. Once prized for smoothness in luxury and racing cars, it was largely superseded by m…

Strength of materials (mechanics of materials) Strength of materials Overview of how materials resist loads: key concepts (stress, strain, toughness), types of strength, effects of environment and microstructure, common tests, and engineering implic…

Engine stroke: definition, types, and role in internal combustion engines Stroke (engine) An engine stroke is one linear movement of a piston; in internal combustion engines these strokes combine into cycles such as the four‑stroke and two‑stroke to produce power, defin…

Structural engineering: principles, practice, and specializations Structural engineering Structural engineering examines the design and analysis of buildings and large structures to resist loads, ensure safety, and meet codes. Covers components, history, specialization…

Structural load (engineering) Structural load An overview of structural loads: types, how they affect structures, how engineers analyze and design for them, examples in buildings and vehicles, and key distinctions used in prac…

Supply chain: definition, components, history, uses and challenges Supply chain An organized overview of supply chains: what they are, their main parts and flows, historical development, common uses, and practical challenges such as risk, resilience and sustai…

Sweetwater Wind Farm Sweetwater Wind Farm is a large wind-energy complex near Sweetwater, Texas, with about 585 MW installed in phased stages. It supplies power to the grid and is considered among the…

Switchgear: equipment for controlling, protecting and isolating electrical systems Switchgear Switchgear comprises the devices used to switch, protect and isolate electrical equipment across generation, transmission and distribution systems in industry and utilities.

Synchronization: timing and coordination across systems Synchronization Synchronization is coordinating events in time so parts of a system operate together. It spans clocks, networks, music, transport and computing, and includes practical methods, his…

Synthetic fuel (synfuel): production, uses, history, and environmental issues Synthetic fuel Synthetic fuels are liquid or gaseous fuels manufactured from coal, gas, biomass, or captured carbon and hydrogen. This article explains production routes, uses, history, and key e…

Siphon: principles, types, history and practical uses Syphon A siphon is a tube system that moves liquid from one container to a lower outlet without a pump, using atmospheric pressure and gravity. Overview, operation, variations, history, u…

Systems engineering: principles, history, methods, and applications Systems engineering Systems engineering studies the design, integration, and lifecycle management of complex technical and socio-technical systems, combining technical, organizational and human-center…

Tailstrike (aircraft): causes, consequences and prevention Tailstrike A tailstrike occurs when an aircraft's tail contacts the runway or ground during takeoff or landing. This article explains causes, types of damage, inspection and repair, preventio…

Technical drawing (drafting): principles, tools, and applications Technical drawing Technical drawing, or drafting, is the standardized practice of producing diagrams that specify form, dimensions, materials and assembly for engineering, architecture, manufacturin…

Tensile strength: resistance of materials to pulling forces Tensile strength Tensile strength measures how much pulling stress a material can take before it deforms or breaks. It is determined by tensile testing and reported in several related ways (yield,…

Terrace farming: stepped agriculture for slopes, water management, and heritage Terrace farming Terrace farming is the practice of creating stepped flat areas on slopes to grow crops. It conserves soil and water, increases arable land on hillsides, and has been developed inde…

Teton Dam: construction, collapse (1976) and aftermath Teton Dam Teton Dam was an earthen dam on Idaho’s Teton River that catastrophically failed on June 5, 1976. The collapse caused extensive flooding, large property loss, federal investigation…

Thames Embankment — Victorian reclamation and riverside infrastructure Thames Embankment Overview of the Thames Embankment: Victorian-era reclamation, engineering by Joseph Bazalgette and others, principal sections, sewer and transport roles, public spaces and lasting…

Thermal efficiency Thermal efficiency is a dimensionless measure of how well a device converts heat input into useful work or heat output. It is bounded by thermodynamic limits and varies widely acro…

Thermal power plant — operation, components, history and uses Thermal power plant Thermal power plants produce electricity by converting heat into steam that drives turbines. This article explains components, the Rankine cycle, fuel sources, technological develo…

Three Gorges Dam A large hydroelectric gravity dam on China's Yangtze River; known for its generation capacity, flood-control role, navigation improvements and significant social and environmental…

Three-phase electric power Three-phase electric power is an alternating-current polyphase system used for efficient generation, transmission and distribution of electrical energy and to drive industrial moto…

Tidal stream power: generating electricity from moving tidal currents Tidal stream power Tidal stream power converts the kinetic energy of tidal currents into electricity using underwater turbines. This article explains technology, siting, history, benefits, limitation…

Top Thrill Dragster — Intamin accelerator coaster at Cedar Point Top Thrill Dragster Top Thrill Dragster is a steel accelerator roller coaster at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. Opened in 2003, it was the first coaster over 400 ft and remains a landmark example of s…

Torque converter: fluid coupling and torque-multiplying device Torque converter A torque converter is a hydrodynamic device placed between an engine and transmission that transmits and multiplies torque using fluid flow, allowing smooth starts and variable spe…

Traction (engineering) Traction is the force enabling motion between a body and a surface, usually by friction or shear. This article explains its physics, factors, historical development, applications a…

Traction motor: electric drive motors for vehicles and machinery Traction motor An electric motor built to deliver tractive torque for propulsion or motion transfer. Covers types, components, history, applications, and how traction motors differ from general-p…

Tractive Effort — Locomotive Pulling Force and Its Significance Tractive effort Tractive effort describes the pulling force a locomotive can apply to a train. This article explains what it measures, how it is determined, its history, practical importance and h…

Transmission (gearbox): converting engine power to usable motion Transmission A transmission (gearbox) is a mechanical assembly of gears and related parts that adapts engine output—speed and torque—so wheels or machinery can move. Explains types, parts, oper…

Transverse engine (transverse-mounted engine layout) Transverse engine Engine orientation in which the crankshaft is mounted at right angles to the vehicle; common in front-wheel-drive cars. Covers design, history, advantages, drawbacks and typical ap…

Tsunami protection engineering: principles, measures and case lessons Tsunami protection engineering Engineering approaches to prevent or reduce tsunami damage, covering hard and soft defenses, land-use planning, early warning, critical infrastructure protection, and lessons from…

Tuned mass damper: purpose, design, history, and applications Tuned mass damper An accessible overview of tuned mass dampers: how they work, main components, historical examples, typical uses in buildings and vehicles, and important variants and limitations.

Turbine: principles, types, history and applications Turbine A turbine converts the energy of moving fluids into rotational mechanical power. This article explains how turbines work, their main parts, types (steam, gas, water, wind), history…

Turbocharger A turbocharger is an exhaust-driven compressor that forces extra air into an internal combustion engine to increase power and efficiency. Widely used in automotive, marine, aviatio…

Two-stroke engine A compact overview of the two-stroke internal combustion engine: how it works, key characteristics, history, common uses, advantages and drawbacks, and notable technical variations…

Unified Modeling Language (UML): overview, diagrams, history and uses Unified Modeling Language UML is a standardized visual modeling language for specifying, visualizing, constructing and documenting software-intensive systems. This article explains its components, history a…

United States Army Corps of Engineers Federal agency and major Army command that provides military engineering and civil public works, including water resources, navigation, flood risk management, environmental restora…

University of Michigan College of Engineering Public engineering college at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, known for large enrollment, broad departments, extensive research, and frequent top national rankings.

Utility frequency (mains frequency of alternating-current power) Utility frequency Utility frequency is the nominal alternating-current frequency used for power distribution. Two global standards, 50 Hz and 60 Hz, dominate; other frequencies persist in legacy and…

V10 engine – design, history and applications V10 engine A V10 engine arranges ten cylinders as two banks of five in a V and shares a common crankshaft. It balances compact packaging, smooth power delivery and high output for sports cars…

V12 engine — design, history, and applications V12 engine A V12 is a 12-cylinder internal combustion engine arranged in two banks forming a V. Known for smoothness and power, it’s used in luxury cars, racing, aviation, and heavy machinery…

V6 engine: design, balance, uses, and modern developments V6 engine Compact six-cylinder V-shaped internal combustion engine widely used in cars and light trucks; balance, packaging, fuel types, advantages, limitations and modern technologies expla…

V8 engine — design, history, characteristics and uses V8 engine An internal combustion engine with eight cylinders arranged in two banks forming a 'V'. Overview of layout, components, evolution, fuels, common applications and distinctions from…