FLUID MECHANICS A

FLUID MECHANICS A
Course Code
EG 3018
Credit Points
15
Course Coordinator
Professor T O'Donoghue

Pre-requisites

EG 2539 (CAS 9).

Notes

Note(s): Available only to students following an Honours degree programme.

Overview

The course begins with the concept of dynamic similarity and the application of dimensional analysis to experimental fluid mechanics and model-testing. This is followed by a study of steady and unsteady flow in pressure conduits, with emphasis on unsteady aspects including water hammer theory and surge protection. A section on fluid machines deals mainly with the performance of rotodynamic machines. It considers the theoretical performance of impulse and radial flow machines but stresses that actual performance is obtained from testing. Machine specific speed, cavitation problems and pump-pipeline matching are all considered. A section on open channel flow introduces basic concepts for the analysis of flow with a free surface. It deals with steady uniform flow and the importance of bed roughness and applies energy methods and momentum methods to cases of rapidly varied flow. The final section of the course introduces the students to porous media flow with applications in civil, mechanical, chemical and petroleum engineering.

The laboratory exercises are designed to help understand and reinforce concepts covered in lectures. They involve separate experiments to study the performance characteristics of hydraulic machines and the essential features of flow in an open channel.

Structure

27 one-hour lectures, 6 one-hour tutorials, and 3 three-hour practicals in total.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 three-hour written examination paper (90%) and in-course assessment (10%).