IIT Madras Interview for Mechanical Engineering Department in Design stream for PhD

I recently attended the interview for IIT Madras PhD candidates in the Design stream of Mechanical engineering department. This comes after the written elimination test. Written test results were put up on the same day of test in the evening. Shortlisted candidates to report for interview the next day. I am listing out the questions I remember from the interview  so that somebody in future might get an idea of the kind of questions you can expect for this stream.

1. Draw the free body diagram of the conical whirling pendulum
2. Velocity of 2  points A and B on a rigid bar; Velocity of point A with respect to point B; Vel of A when B is moving; Vel of A when the bar is rotating. Vel of A when bar is not rigid. Be careful about the omega cross r ( Ω X r) term in the expression. (r X Ω) changes the sign of the velocity 
3. Some questions on gas turbine materials. Which material is used where? Creep stress maximum locaton?
4. Material composition of turbine blades?
5. What are single crystal blades? Why they are used in turbines?  What is the advantage?
6. Some questions on work experience. Mostly on the processes involved in my stream of work.
7. Draw a vertical column with crack. How will you determine rate of growth of crack? How to determine if structure is safe? Draw stress distribution around the crack?
8. Draw Campbell diagram. Forward whirl/ Backward whirl/ Gyroscopic effects related questions.
9. Natural frequency of a structure? What happens at natural frequency?

Interview is not like a software HR monitored one. There are no simple questions about where you are from or any small talk to  ease the candidate. Even the written test is called elimination test. Not entrance test. Not exactly friendly :). (Find questions from written test here) In the interview room you are expected to immediately go the white board and start answering questions. They do ask your B Tech stream though. 

Good luck |^|