Engineering Fluid Mechanics (H1029)
Engineering Fluid Mechanics
Module H1029
Module details for 2021/22.
15 credits
FHEQ Level 5
Pre-Requisite
Engineering Maths 1A
Engineering Maths 1B
Engineering Thermodynamics
Module Outline
This module introduces the basic concepts of Fluid Mechanics with applications in the field of Engineering in mind. It teaches the fundamental techniques used to understand the behaviour of fluids at rest and in motion.
Many engineering applications/devices need to interact with a fluid medium (air, water, other...) in order to achieve a desired objective; an aircraft moving in air, a ship sailing on water, or a wind turbine extracting power from wind are some examples. In each of the above and many other scenarios an engineer needs to understand the behaviour of the fluid when it interacts with the device in order to fully characterise the performance of the device. Fluid Mechanics fundamentals are essential to achieve this.
As an engineer one needs to tackle fluid related phenomena to design useful applications, be it in the field of transport, energy, medicine, sports or everyday household appliances. Without a good understanding of the fundamentals of Fluid Mechanics it would be practically impossible to produce successful designs.
This module takes the student, in a step by step manner, from basic A-level physics and related mathematics to the theory and equations that describe stationary and moving fluid. The student will be introduced to practical application of such theories to simple everyday examples involving fluid flow. The knowledge learned here is essential for understanding further applied topics in the Mechanical/Automotive BEng/MEng courses such as Thermal Power Cycles and Computational Fluid Mechanics and also for carrying out Fluid Mechanics based final year projects.
Module Topics
• Fundamentals: historical perspectives, fluid properties, concept of pressure
• Fluid statics: force on submerged surfaces, buoyancy
• Concepts in fluid flow behaviour:
- motion of a fluid particle, mass continuity, laminar and turbulent flow
- momentum equation, Navier Stokes equations for simple 2D fluid flow
- turbulence and the time averaged equations
- steady flow energy equation and its application
- applications of the momentum equation to the impingement of a jet on a surface - application to simple wind
turbine theory
• Boundary-layer theory and applications:
- velocity profile, skin friction and form drag, dimensionless groups
- pipe flow networks, frictional resistance of moving bodies, lift and drag on aerofoil sections
• Potential flow: stream lines and the stream function for various simple flows (and combinations), the Kutta
Joukowski law
• Compressible flow:
- isentropic flow behaviour, total and static quantities, the speed of sound
- normal shock wave theory
- flow in a convergent-divergent nozzle, compressible flow in a uniform duct with friction,
isothermal flow with friction, compressible flow with heat transfer
• Flow-measuring devices
- bulk flow: Venturi meter, orifice plate, rotameter, vortex and turbine flowmeters - Point measurement: Pitot
static tube, hot wire, LDA and PIV.
Pre-requisite
• Engineering Maths 1A
• Engineering Maths 1B
AHEP3 Learning outcomes
SM1m, SM2m, SM3m, SM4m, SM5m, EA1m, EA2m,EA3m, EA4m, EA5m,D2m,D6m
Library
Fluid Mechanics by J. F. Douglass, J. M. Gassiorek, J. A. Swaffield and L. B. Jack
Fluid Mechanics by White
Mechanics of Fluids by B. Massey
Physical Fluid Dynamics by D. J. Tritton
Boundary Layer Theory by H. Schlichting
Tables for the Compressible Flow of Dry Air by E. L. Houghton and A. E. Brock
Module learning outcomes
Have a critical understanding of well established principles in fluid mechanics
Deploy well established techniques of analysis to engineering problems in fluid mechanics
Apply underlying concepts outside the context they were first studied
Understand the limits of knowledge in fluid mechanics and how this influences analysis
| Type | Timing | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Unseen Examination | Semester 1 Assessment | 80.00% |
| Coursework | 20.00% | |
| Coursework components. Weighted as shown below. | ||
| Test | T1 Week 6 | 50.00% |
| Test | T1 Week 11 | 50.00% |
Timing
Submission deadlines may vary for different types of assignment/groups of students.
Weighting
Coursework components (if listed) total 100% of the overall coursework weighting value.
| Term | Method | Duration | Week pattern |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn Semester | Lecture | 1 hour | 11111111111 |
| Autumn Semester | Lecture | 2 hours | 11111111111 |
How to read the week pattern
The numbers indicate the weeks of the term and how many events take place each week.
Dr Vasudevan Kanjirakkad
Assess convenor
/profiles/290160
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