GATE XE (Engineering Sciences) Syllabus 2023

Engineering Sciences (Code: XE) is one of the papers candidates writing the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2022 examination can opt for. The paper is of a general nature comprising the mandatory section of Engineering Mathematics and various other sections, among which candidates may opt for any two. The sections of the paper are detailed below: 

XE SECTION A: Engineering Mathematics (Compulsory) 

Section 1: Linear Algebra

Algebra of real matrices: Determinant, inverse and rank of a matrix; System of linear equations (conditions for unique solution, no solution and infinite number of solutions); Eigenvalues and eigenvectors of matrices; Properties of eigenvalues and eigenvectors of symmetric matrices; diagonalization of matrices; Cayley-Hamilton Theorem.

Section 2: Calculus

Functions of single variable: Limit, indeterminate forms and L’Hospital’s rule; Continuity and differentiability; Mean value theorems; Maxima and minima; Taylor’s theorem; Fundamental theorem and mean value theorem of integral calculus; Evaluation of definite and improper integrals; Applications of definite integrals to evaluate areas and volumes (rotation of a curve about an axis).

Functions of two variables: Limit, continuity and partial derivatives; Directional derivative; Total

derivative; Maxima, minima and saddle points; Method of Lagrange multipliers; Double integrals and their applications.

Sequences and series: Convergence of sequences and series; Tests of convergence of series with non-negative terms (ratio, root and integral tests); Power series; Taylor’s series; Fourier Series of functions of period 2π.

Section 3: Vector Calculus

Line integrals and Green’s theorem; Gradient, Curl And Divergence

Section 4:  Complex variables

Analytic functions; Argand plane and Polar Representation Of Complex Numbers; Complex numbers; De Moivre’s theorem; Cauchy-Riemann Equations

Section 5: Ordinary Differential Equations

First order equations (linear and nonlinear); Second order linear differential equations with constant coefficients; Cauchy-Euler equation; Second order linear differential equations with variable coefficients; Wronskian; Method of variation of parameters; Eigenvalue problem for second order equations with constant coefficients; Power series solutions for ordinary points.

Section 6: Partial Differential Equations

Classification of second-order linear partial differential equations;  Method of separation of variables: One Dimensional Heat Equation and Two Dimensional Laplace equation.

Section 7: Probability and Statistics

Mean, Variance and Standard Deviation of Random Variables; Binomial, Poisson and Normal distributions; Correlation and linear regression; Axioms of probability; Conditional probability; Bayes’ Theorem.

Section 8: Numerical Methods

Solution of systems of linear equations using LU decomposition, Gauss elimination method; Lagrange and Newton’s interpolations; Solution of polynomial and transcendental equations by Newton-Raphson method; Numerical integration by trapezoidal rule and Simpson’s rule; Numerical solutions of first order differential equations by explicit Euler’s method.

XE SECTION B: Fluid Mechanics 

Section 1: Flow and Fluid Properties

Fluid Properties: Density, viscosity, surface tension, relationship between stress and strain-rate for Newtonian fluids. 

Classification of Flows: Viscous versus inviscid flows, incompressible versus compressible flows,

internal versus external flows, steady versus unsteady flows, laminar versus turbulent flows, 1-D, 2-D and 3-D flows, Newtonian versus non-Newtonian fluid flow.

Hydrostatics: Buoyancy, manometry, forces on submerged bodies and its stability.

Section 2: Kinematics of Fluid Motion

Eulerian and Lagrangian descriptions of fluid motion. Concept of local, convective and material derivatives. Streamline, streakline, pathline and timeline.

Section 3: Integral Analysis for a Control Volume

Reynolds  Transport Theorem (RTT) for Conservation of Mass, Linear and Angular Momentum.

Section 4: Differential Analysis 

Differential equations of mass and momentum for incompressible flows.

Inviscid flows – Euler equations and viscous flows – Navier-Stokes equations.

Concept of fluid rotation, vorticity, stream function and circulation.

Exact solutions of Navier-Stokes equations for Couette flow and Poiseuille flow, thin film flow.

Section 5: Dimensional Analysis

Concept of geometric, kinematic and dynamic similarity.

Buckingham Pi theorem and its applications.

Non-dimensional parameters and their physical significance – Reynolds number, Froude number and Mach number.

Section 6: Internal Flows

Fully developed pipe flow.  

Empirical relations between laminar and turbulent flows: friction factor, Darcy-Weisbach relation and Moody’s chart.

Major And Minor Losses

Section 7: Bernoulli’s Equation and its Applications, Potential Flows

Bernoulli’s equation: Assumptions and applications.

Flow measurements – Venturi meter, Pitot-static tube and orifice meter.

Elementary potential flows: Velocity potential function.

Uniform flow, source, sink and vortex, and their superposition for flow past simple geometries.

Section 8: External Flows

Prandtl boundary layer equations: Concept and assumptions.

Boundary layer characteristics: Boundary layer thickness, displacement thickness and momentum thickness.

Qualitative idea of boundary layer separation, streamlined and bluff bodies, and drag and lift forces.

XE SECTION C: Materials Science

Section 1: Classification and Structure of Materials

Classification of materials: metals, ceramics, polymers and composites.

Defects in crystalline materials: 0-D, 1-D and 2-D defects; vacancies, interstitials, solid solutions in metals and ceramics, Frenkel and Schottky defects; dislocations; grain boundaries, twins, stacking faults; surfaces and interfaces.

Nature of bonding in materials: metallic, ionic, covalent and mixed bonding; structure of materials: fundamentals of crystallography, symmetry operations, crystal systems, Bravais lattices, unit cells, primitive cells, crystallographic planes and directions; structures of metals, ceramics, polymers, amorphous materials and glasses.

Section 2: Thermodynamics, Kinetics and Phase Transformations

Extensive and intensive thermodynamic properties, laws of thermodynamics, phase equilibria, phase rule, phase diagrams (unary and binary), basic electrochemistry.

Reaction kinetics, fundamentals of diffusion, Fick’s laws, their solutions and applications.

Solidification of pure metals and alloys, nucleation and growth, diffusional solid-state phase

transformations (precipitation and eutectoid), martensitic transformation.

Section 3: Properties and Applications of Materials

Mechanical properties of metals, ceramics, polymers and composites at room temperature; stress-strain response (elastic, anelastic and plastic deformation).

Electronic properties: free electron theory, Fermi energy, density of states, elements of band theory, semiconductors, Hall effect, dielectric behaviour, piezo- and ferro-electric behaviour.

Magnetic properties: Origin of magnetism in materials, para-, dia-, ferro- and ferri-magnetism.

Thermal properties: Specific heat, heat conduction, thermal diffusivity, thermal expansion, and

thermoelectricity.

Optical properties: Refractive index, absorption and transmission of electromagnetic radiation.

Examples of materials exhibiting the above properties, and their typical/common applications.

Section 4: Characterization and Measurements of Properties

X-ray diffraction; spectroscopic techniques such as UV-Vis, IR and Raman; optical microscopy, electron microscopy, composition analysis in electron microscopes.

Electrical conductivity, carrier mobility and concentrations.

Thermal analysis techniques: thermogravimetry and calorimetry.

Tensile test, hardness measurement. 

Section 5: Processing of Materials

Heat treatment of ferrous and aluminium alloys; preparation of ceramic powders, sintering; thin film deposition: evaporation and sputtering techniques, and chemical vapour deposition, thin film growth phenomena.

Section 6: Degradation of Materials

Polymer degradation; Corrosion and its prevention; Embrittlement of metals

XE SECTION D: Solid Mechanics 

Section 1: Mechanics of rigid bodies

Equivalent force systems; free-body diagrams; equilibrium equations; analysis of determinate trusses and frames; friction; principle of minimum potential energy; particle kinematics and dynamics; dynamics of rigid bodies under planar motion; law of conservation of energy; law of conservation of momentum.

Section 2: Mechanics of deformable bodies

Stresses and strains; transformation of stresses and strains, principal stresses and strains; Mohr’s circle for plane stress and plane strain; generalized Hooke’s Law; elastic constants; thermal stresses; theories of failure.

Axial force, shear force and bending moment diagrams; axial, shear and bending stresses; combined stresses; deflection (for symmetric bending); torsion in circular shafts; thin walled pressure vessels; energy methods (Castigliano’s Theorems); Euler buckling.

Section 3: Vibrations

Free vibrations of undamped single degree of freedom systems. 

XE SECTION E: Thermodynamics

Section 1: Basic Concepts

Continuum and macroscopic approach; thermodynamic systems (closed and open); thermodynamic properties and equilibrium; state of a system, state postulate for simple compressible substances, state diagrams, paths and processes on state diagrams; concepts of heat and work, different modes of work; zeroth law of thermodynamics; concept of temperature.

Section 2: First Law of Thermodynamics

Concept of energy and various forms of energy; internal energy, enthalpy; specific heats; first law applied to elementary processes, closed systems and control volumes, steady and unsteady flow analysis.

Section 3: Second Law of Thermodynamics

Limitations of the first law of thermodynamics, concepts of heat engines and heat pumps/refrigerators, Kelvin-Planck and Clausius statements and their equivalence; reversible and irreversible processes; Carnot cycle and Carnot principles/theorems; thermodynamic temperature scale; Clausius inequality and concept of entropy; microscopic interpretation of entropy, the principle of increase of entropy, T-s diagrams; second law analysis of control volume; availability and irreversibility; third law of

thermodynamics.

Section 4: Properties of Pure Substances

Thermodynamic properties of pure substances in solid, liquid and vapor phases; P-v-T behaviour of simple compressible substances, phase rule, thermodynamic property tables and charts, ideal and real gases, ideal gas equation of state and van der Waals equation of state; law of corresponding states, compressibility factor and generalized compressibility chart.

Section 5: Thermodynamic Relations

T-ds relations, Helmholtz and Gibbs functions, Gibbs relations, Maxwell relations, Joule-Thomson coefficient, coefficient of volume expansion, adiabatic and isothermal compressibilities, Clapeyron and Clapeyron-Clausius equations.

Section 6: Thermodynamic Cycles 

Rankine Reheat Cycle, Vapor-Compression Refrigeration Cycle, Ideal Rankine Cycle, Air-Standard Diesel Cycle, Air-Standard Otto Cycle, Carnot Vapor Cycle, Air-Standard Brayton Cycle.

Section 7: Ideal Gas Mixtures

Dalton’s and Amagat’s laws, properties of ideal gas mixtures, air-water vapor mixtures and simple thermodynamic processes involving them; specific and relative humidities, dew point and wet bulb temperature, adiabatic saturation temperature, psychrometric chart.

XE  SECTION F: Polymer Science and Engineering 

Section 1: Chemistry of high polymers 

Monomers, functionality, degree of polymerizations, classification of polymers, glass transition, melting transition, criteria for rubberiness, polymerization methods: addition and condensation; their kinetics, metallocene polymers and other newer methods of polymerization, copolymerization, monomer reactivity ratios and its significance, kinetics, different copolymers, random, alternating, azeotropic copolymerization, block and graft copolymers, techniques for polymerization-bulk, solution, suspension, emulsion. Concept of intermolecular order (morphology) – amorphous, crystalline, orientation states. Factor affecting crystallinity. Crystalline transition. Effect of morphology on polymer properties.

Section 2: Polymer Characterization

Solubility and swelling, Concept of molecular weight distribution and its significance, concept of average molecular weight, determination of number average, weight average, viscosity average and Z-average molecular weights, polymer crystallinity, analysis of polymers using IR, XRD, thermal (DSC, DMTA, TGA), microscopic (optical and electronic) techniques, Molecular wt. distribution: Broad and Narrow, GPC, mooney viscosity.

Section 3: Synthesis, manufacturing, and properties

Commodity and general purpose thermoplastics: PE, PP, PS, PVC, Polyesters, Acrylic, PU polymers. Engineering Plastics: Nylon, PC, PBT, PSU, PPO, ABS, Fluoropolymers Thermosetting polymers: Polyurethane, PF, MF, UF, Epoxy, Unsaturated polyester, Alkyds. Natural and synthetic rubbers: Recovery of NR hydrocarbon from latex; SBR, Nitrile, CR, CSM, EPDM, IIR, BR, Silicone, TPE, Speciality plastics: PEK, PEEK, PPS, PSU, PES etc. Biopolymers such as PLA, PHA/PHB.

Section 4: Polymer blends and composites

Difference between blends and composites, their significance, choice of polymers for blending, blend miscibility-miscible and immiscible blends, thermodynamics, phase morphology, polymer alloys, polymer eutectics, plastic-plastic, rubber-plastic and rubber-rubber blends, FRP, particulate, long and short fibre reinforced composites. Polymer reinforcement, reinforcing fibres – natural and synthetic, base polymer for reinforcement (unsaturated polyester), ingredients / recipes for reinforced polymer composite.

Section 5: Polymer Technology  

Polymer compounding-need and significance, different compounding ingredients for rubber and plastics (Antioxidants, Light stabilizers, UV stabilizers, Lubricants, Processing aids, Impact modifiers, Flame retardant, antistatic agents. PVC stabilizers and Plasticizers) and their function, use of carbon black, polymer mixing equipments, cross-linking and vulcanization, vulcanization kinetics.

Section 6: Polymer rheology

Flow of Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids, different flow equations, dependence of shear modulus on temperature, molecular/segmental deformations at different zones and transitions. Measurements of rheological parameters by capillary rotating, parallel plate, cone-plate rheometer. Visco-elasticity-creep and stress relaxations, mechanical models, control of rheological characteristics through compounding, rubber curing in parallel plate viscometer, ODR and MDR.

Section 7: Polymer processing

Compression molding, transfer molding, injection molding, blow molding, reaction injection molding, filament winding, SMC, BMC, DMC, extrusion, pultrusion, calendaring, rotational molding, thermoforming, powder coating, rubber processing in two-roll mill, internal mixer, Twin screw extruder.

Section 8: Polymer testing

Mechanical-static and dynamic tensile, flexural, compressive, abrasion, endurance, fatigue, hardness, tear, resilience, impact, toughness. Conductivity-thermal and electrical, dielectric constant, dissipation factor, power factor, electric resistance, surface resistivity, volume resistivity, swelling, ageing resistance, environmental stress cracking resistance, limiting oxygen index. Heat deflection temperature –Vicat softening temperature, Brittleness temperature, Glass transition temperature, Co-efficient of thermal expansion, Shrinkage, Flammability, dielectric constant, dissipation factor, power factor, Optical Properties – Refractive Index, Luminous Transmittance and Haze, Melt flow index

Section 9: Polymer Recycling and Waste management

Polymer waste, and its impact on environment, Sources, Identification and Separation techniques, recycling classification, recycling of thermoplastics, thermosets and rubbers, applications of recycled materials. Life cycle assessment of polymer products (case studies like PET bottles, packaging bags).

XE SECTION G: Food Technology 

Section 1: Food Chemistry and Nutrition 

Carbohydrates: structure and functional properties of mono-, oligo-, & poly- saccharides including starch, cellulose, pectic substances and dietary fibre, gelatinization and retrogradation of starch. Proteins: classification and structure of proteins in food, biochemical changes in post mortem and tenderization of muscles. Lipids: classification and structure of lipids, rancidity, polymerization and polymorphism. Pigments: carotenoids, chlorophylls, anthocyanins, tannins and myoglobin. Food flavours: terpenes, esters, aldehydes, ketones and quinines. Enzymes: specificity, simple and inhibition kinetics, coenzymes, enzymatic and non- enzymatic browning. Nutrition: balanced diet, essential amino acids and essential fatty acids, protein efficiency ratio, water soluble and fat soluble vitamins, role of minerals in nutrition, co-factors, anti-nutrients, nutraceuticals, nutrient deficiency diseases. Chemical and biochemical changes: changes occur in foods during different processing.

Section 2: Food Microbiology

Characteristics of microorganisms: morphology of bacteria, yeast, mold and actinomycetes, spores and vegetative cells, gram-staining. Microbial growth: growth and death kinetics, serial dilution technique. Food spoilage: spoilage microorganisms in different food products including milk, fish, meat, egg, cereals and their products. Toxins from microbes: pathogens and non-pathogens including Staphylococcus, Salmonella, Shigella, Escherichia, Bacillus, Clostridium, and Aspergillus genera. Fermented foods and beverages: curd, yoghurt, cheese, pickles, soya-sauce, sauerkraut, idli, dosa, vinegar, alcoholic beverages and sausage.

Section 3: Food Products Technology

Processing principles: thermal processing, chilling, freezing, dehydration, addition of preservatives and food additives, irradiation, fermentation, hurdle technology, intermediate moisture foods. Food packaging and storage: packaging materials, aseptic packaging, controlled and modified atmosphere storage. Cereal processing and products: milling of rice, wheat, and maize, parboiling of paddy, bread, biscuits, extruded products and ready to eat breakfast cereals. Oil processing: expelling, solvent extraction, refining and hydrogenation. Fruits and vegetables p processing: extraction, clarification, concentration and packaging of fruit juice, jam, jelly, marmalade, squash, candies, tomato sauce, ketchup, and puree, potato chips, pickles. Plantation crops processing and products: tea, coffee, cocoa, spice, extraction of essential oils and oleoresins from spices. Milk and milk products processing: pasteurization and sterilization, cream, butter, ghee, ice- cream, cheese and milk powder. Processing of animal products: drying, canning, and freezing of fish and meat; production of egg powder. Waste utilization: pectin from fruit wastes, uses of by-products from rice milling. Food standards and quality maintenance: FPO, PFA, A-Mark, ISI, HACCP, food plant sanitation and cleaning in place (CIP).

Section 4: Food Engineering

Mass and energy balance; Momentum transfer: Flow rate and pressure drop relationships for

Newtonian fluids flowing through pipe, Reynolds number. Heat transfer: heat transfer by conduction, convection, radiation, heat exchangers. Mass transfer: molecular diffusion and Flick’s law, conduction and convective mass transfer, permeability through single and multilayer

films. Mechanical operations: size reduction of solids, high pressure homogenization, filtration,

centrifugation, settling, sieving, mixing & agitation of liquid. Thermal operations: thermal sterilization, evaporation of liquid foods, hot air drying of solids, spray and freeze-drying, freezing and crystallization. Mass transfer operations: psychometric, humidification and dehumidification operations.

XE  SECTION H: Atmospheric and Ocean Science 

Section A: Atmospheric Science 

Vertical Structure and Composition of the Atmosphere; Blackbody Radiation and Radiation Balance; Modes of Heat Transfer in the Atmosphere; Greenhouse Effect; Cloud Types; Laws of

Thermodynamics; Gas Laws; Hydrostatic Equation; Clausius Clapeyron Equation; Adiabatic

Processes, Humidity in the Atmosphere, Atmospheric Stability; Weather and Climate.

Navier-Stokes and Continuity Equations; Compressible and Incompressible Fluids; Pressure Gradient, Centripetal, Centrifugal and Coriolis Forces; Geostrophic, Gradient and Cyclostrophic Balances; Circulations and Vorticity, General Circulation of the Atmosphere. Broad Features of Indian Monsoons, Monsoon Depressions; Tropical Convergence Zones; Tropical Cyclones.

Section B: Ocean Sciences 

Vertical Profiles of Temperature and Salinity; Stability and Double Diffusion; Equation of State,

Equations for Conservation of Mass, Momentum, Heat and Salt; Inertial Currents; Geostrophic Motion; Air-Sea Surface Fluxes; Wind-driven Circulation, Ekman and Sverdrup Transports; Storm Surges, Tides, Tsunamis and Wind Waves; Eddies and Gyres; Eastern and Western Boundary Currents, Equatorial Currents, Indian Ocean Current Systems; Thermohaline Circulation.

Chemical Properties of Seawater, Major and Minor Elements, Ocean Acidification, Biochemical Cycling of Nutrients, Trace Metals and Organic Matter. Biological Pump; Primary and Secondary Biological Productivity; Air-sea Exchange of Biogenic Dissolved Gases; Marine Ecology.