/kloc-how is the development of engineering mechanics in the past 0/0 years?

Mechanics is everywhere. Machinery, civil engineering, water conservancy, aerospace, automobile, medicine, image processing, signal, control, explosion, materials, biology, chemistry, environment and so on all need certain mechanics. But this is where we suffer: we only have the means to deal with problems, but we have no resources! Mechanics is not supported by a specific industry. So when recruiting, someone always asks: mechanics, what is mechanics for? Is mechanics not physics? Then you need to spend 1 to 2 hours explaining to them how mechanics is useful.

With the development of science and technology, the division between disciplines is becoming more and more detailed. It is difficult for a person to make a breakthrough in a subject, let alone make great achievements! However, the course volume of Mechanics Department is very heavy, which is almost the most tiring among engineering majors. Mathematical equation, elasticity, finite element, calculation method, material mechanics, experimental mechanics, etc. All need to learn! What's more, if you want to continue studying mechanics, these things are almost useless! Because the development of these disciplines is mature, it is difficult to go any further! So contemporary mechanics workers are looking for interesting things, so nano, biology, new materials and so on. All dressed up! Many people publish nature, science, prl, pnas, and they are complacent, euphemistically called: scientific research!

But most students still have to go to the society to solve the mechanical problems related to society! There are few institutions specializing in mechanics in society. Even if they have studied and published many sci papers, they are actually completely divorced from society. When recruiting, it is generally necessary to major in machinery, but it is difficult to get a mechanical major. Although you can solve equations and build models, these are not needed in practice.

Most students majoring in machinery will talk big and pursue novelty and fun. But the equations you solve are all idealized models. If you give them to you, you will solve them. But not all practical problems are ideal models, which need to be safe and reliable, and people need to do experiments! How did you get the actual signal? How to consider dynamic effects? Is the actual beam fixed or hinged, or weighted average? What is the actual stress distribution? Is it simply calculated by formula? What are the actual stresses of bridges and dams? Can it be solved directly by elasticity? Can earthquakes be predicted? Can the weather be predicted? Can plant growth be predicted?

Looking at domestic technicians, there are also several companies considering combining their majors with employment. For example, the School of Communications of South China University of Technology has set up a bridge major, Tongji University combines mechanics with aerospace and civil engineering, Beihang University combines western engineering with aerospace and aviation, and Beijing Institute of Technology combines military industry. But most mechanics majors are in a state of not having enough to eat and having no money! It is not good for students to find jobs! Such a professional setting needs deep thought.