Module Code - Title:
ME4412
-
FLUID MECHANICS 1
Year Last Offered:
2025/6
Hours Per Week:
Grading Type:
N
Prerequisite Modules:
Rationale and Purpose of the Module:
To introduce the nature of fluids, the dynamic behavior of fluids and application of the principles of continuity, energy and momentum to viscous fluid flow.
Syllabus:
Definition of a Fluid; Gases and Liquids; Static Pressure within a Stationary Fluid; Manometers; Fluid Viscosity, No-slip Condition; The Reynolds Number; Laminar and Turbulent Flows; Classification of Fluid Flows; Types of Control Volume; The Technique of Drawing up Balances; Conservation of Mass; Conservation of Momentum; Conservation of Energy; Bernoulli's Equation; Static Pressure within a Moving Fluid; Applications of Bernoulli's Equation; Forces due to Momentum Flow; Dimensional Consistency; Dimensional Analysis (Rayleigh's Method); Pipe Flow Terminology; Laminar and Turbulent Velocity Profiles; Static Pressure Loss in a Pipe; Bernoulli's Equation with Losses; Bluff Body Drag; The Aerofoil Flow.
Learning Outcomes:
Cognitive (Knowledge, Understanding, Application, Analysis, Evaluation, Synthesis)
On successful completion of this module the student will be able to:
1. describe what is meant by the fluid properties of pressure, density and viscosity, and the difference between convective and molecular transport;
2. describe the Reynolds number, understand what it stands for and know how to apply it for classifying flows;
3. derive conservation equations of mass, energy and momentum, including Bernoulli's law, by drawing up balances over control volumes;
4. apply Bernoulli's equation to various devices such as Venturi and Pitot tubes;
7. predict the forces acting on various pipe components and both stationary and moving vanes;
5. derive various non-dimensional groups using Rayleigh's method and apply them to various fluid flows;
6. describe the concepts of a no-slip wall, a boundary layer, and frictional pressure loss due to fluid flow; and
8. describe the fluid forces on various pipe components and on immersed objects such as vanes and aerofoils, and apply force balances to simple cases.
Affective (Attitudes and Values)
N/A
Psychomotor (Physical Skills)
N/A
How the Module will be Taught and what will be the Learning Experiences of the Students:
Module will be taught using formal lectures and tutorials (practising problem solving by drawing up balances) on the basis of the first two chapters of the 2014 textbook "Transport Phenomena - the Art of Balancing", written by Harry Van den Akker and Robert Mudde, Delft University Press
Research Findings Incorporated in to the Syllabus (If Relevant):
Prime Texts:
Van den Akker, Harry and Mudde, Robert (2014)
Transport Phenomena: The Art of Balancing
, Delft University of Technology, Netherlands
Other Relevant Texts:
Programme(s) in which this Module is Offered:
BEAEENUFA - AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING
BEENGIUFA - ENGINEERING
Semester(s) Module is Offered:
Spring
Module Leader:
Ronan.Grimes@ul.ie