Course syllabus for Fluid mechanics

Course syllabus adopted 2025-02-20 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameStrömningsmekanik
  • CodeMTF053
  • Credits7.5 Credits
  • OwnerTKMAS
  • Education cycleFirst-cycle
  • Main field of studyMechanical Engineering, Shipping and Marine Technology
  • DepartmentMECHANICS AND MARITIME SCIENCES
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language English
  • Application code 55117
  • Open for exchange studentsYes
  • Only students with the course round in the programme overview.

Credit distribution

0119 Examination 4.5 c
Grading: TH		4.5 c
0219 Laboratory 1.5 c
Grading: UG		1.5 c
0319 Design exercise 1.5 c
Grading: UG		1.5 c

In programmes

Examiner

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Eligibility

General entry requirements for bachelor's level (first cycle)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Specific entry requirements

The same as for the programme that owns the course.
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Course specific prerequisites

Thermodynamics and Calculus in several variables

Aim

Gases and liquids in motion are found in a vast number of technical applications. The course should give a thorough understanding of the flow phenomena that occurs in technical devices, and give good knowledge about methods that are used to solve realistic problems.

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

- conduct industrial development work in the area of fluid mechanics - apply control volume formulations, differential formulations and similarity laws - account for basic phenomena and methods for treating turbulent flows and compressible flows

  1. Explain the difference between a fluid and a solid in terms of forces and deformation
  2. Explain the viscosity concept
  3. Define the Reynolds number
  4. Categorize a flow and have knowledge about how to select applicable methods for the analysis of a specific flow based on category
  5. Explain the difference between Lagrangian and Eulerian frame of reference and know when to use which approach
  6. Explain what a boundary layer is and when/where/why it appears
  7. Explain the concepts: streamline, pathline and streakline
  8. Explain the concept shear stress
  9. Do a force balance for fluid element (forces and pressure gradients)
  10. Explain buoyancy and cavitation
  11. Solve problems involving hydrostatic pressure and buoyancy
  12. Define Reynolds transport theorem using the concepts control volume and system
  13. Derive the control volume formulation of the continuity, momentum, and energy equations using Reynolds transport theorem and solving problems using those relations
  14. Derive the continuity, momentum and energy equations on differential form
  15. Derive and use the Bernoulli equation (using the relation includes having knowledge about its limitations)
  16. Explain the concept Newtonian fluid
  17. Explain and apply nondimensional numbers and the PI theorem
  18. Explain losses appearing in pipe flows
  19. Explain the difference between laminar and turbulent pipe flow
  20. Solve pipe flow problems using Moody charts
  21. Explain how the flat plate boundary layer is developed (transition from laminar to turbulent flow)
  22. Explain and use the Blasius equation
  23. Define the Reynolds number for a flat plate boundary layer
  24. Explain what is characteristic for a turbulent flow
  25. Explain Reynolds decomposition and derive the RANS equations
  26. Explain the Boussinesq assumption and turbulent viscosity
  27. Explain the difference between the regions in a boundary layer and what is characteristic for each of the regions (viscous sub layer, buffer region, log region)
  28. Use von Karmans integral relation
  29. Explain flow separation (separated cylinder flow)
  30. Explain how to delay or avoid separation
  31. Derive the boundary layer formulation of the Navier-Stokes equations
  32. Explain displacement thickness and momentum thickness
  33. Explain and use the concepts drag, friction drag, pressure drag, and lift
  34. Explain how the shape and surface roughness of an object affects drag
  35. Measure forces on an object in a flow
  36. Define and explain vorticity
  37. Explain basic concepts of compressible flows (the gas law, speed of sound, Mach number, isentropic flow with changing area, normal shocks, oblique shocks, Prandtl-Meyer expansion)


Content

Basic concepts Control volume relations for mass, momentum, angular momentum and energy Differential equations for mass, momentum and energy Dimensional analysis and similarity Pipe flow Turbulence Boundary layer flow Compressible flow Design task 2 is covered by a CFD-tutorial where a 2D mesh is created and used to simulate the boundary layer (laminar and turbulent) on a flat plate. The software ICEM will be used for the meshing and Fluent to solve the equations describing the flow field. Measured boundary layer profiles in a wind tunnel using a flat plate are going to be provided. This data should be compared to the CFD simulations.

Organisation

21 lectures 19 exercises The following parts are compulsory in the course 1 laboration 2 design tasks

Literature

Fluid Mechanics, Frank M. White, McGraw-Hill, New York

Examination including compulsory elements

Written examination

The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers about disability study support.