Introduction to Fluid Dynamics - 2025 entry

Almost all engineered objects are immersed either in air or water (or both) or make use of some working fluid in their operation. This is particularly true of machines for energy generation and conversion, such as engines, turbines, and renewable energy devices like wind turbines or wave-energy converters. The ability to understand and predict the behaviour of such devices is therefore of key importance for engineers. In this module, you will learn about the fundamentals of fluid systems: pressure, flow, and viscosity, and how they can be analysed experimentally and mathematically. Engineering applications covered include pumps, turbines, and internal flows in pipe networks.

By the end of this course, you will have the skills to analyse engineering systems involving internal and external flows, using experimental and mathematical techniques together with tables and charts of fluid dynamical and physical properties.

Module Specific Skills and Knowledge:

1 - Understand fundamental concepts of fluid mechanics such as pressure, viscosity, describe mechanisms for their measurement (B&C&M1);

2 - Classify types of fluid motion (e.g. laminar/turbulent) and apply dimensional analysis to their description (B&C&M1);

3 - Analyse fluid mechanical systems using conservation laws in integral form, potential and stream functions (B&C&M1);

4 - Describe different types of turbines and pumps and choose for a given application, calculate efficiencies (B&C&M1);

5 - Analyse pipe and pipe/pump networks using head equation and head losses (B&C&M1);

Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge:

6 - Carry out and report experiments on engineering systems (B&C&M9, B&C&M12);

7 - Conduct formal calculations on engineering systems with accuracy (B&C&M13);

8 - Locate and accurately use data for engineering calculations (B&C&M11);

Personal and Key Transferable/ Employment Skills and Knowledge:

9 - Demonstrate enhanced problem-solving ability (B&C&M11);

10 - Exemplify strong report writing skills (B&C&M17);

11 - Prove advanced ability to carry out private study and group working skills (B&C&M16).

1: Pressure and head:

Basic concepts of fluid mechanics

2: Static forces on surfaces:

Basic concepts of fluid mechanics

3: Buoyancy, velocity, measurement techniques:

Basic concepts of fluid mechanics

4: Laminar, transitional and turbulent flow:

Basic concepts of fluid mechanics

5: Dimensionless groups (in particular Reynolds and Froude numbers) and dimensional analysis:

Basic concepts of fluid mechanics

6: Continuity and momentum equations, energy equation and Bernoulli’s equation:

Equations of fluid mechanics

7: Concept of potential flows:

Potential flow theory

8: Streamlines, streaklines and pathlines:

Potential flow theory

9: Solution using potential and stream functions, vorticity:

Potential flow theory

10: Introduction of boundary layers for external flows:

Potential flow theory

11: Conservation laws in integral form; application to solve engineering problems (e.g. turbines):

Potential flow theory

12: Head equation for internal flow, concept of head loss, Darcy-Weisbach equation, Moody diagram and minor losses:

Engineering applications

13: Pumps and turbines; designs, efficiency analysis, simple pipe networks in parallel and series:

Engineering applications

Reading list for this module: