This module consolidates and expands on the fundamental theory and principles of fluid mechanics, developed through components taught in Year 1 via EN1213 and in Year 2 with EN2104. An understanding of advanced concepts for measurement and modelling fluid flow will be developed for a range of engineering applications, and how this theory is relevant and applicable to solving more complex industrial problems. This serves to help develop your understanding of the role of a practising fluids engineer. 

1. Systematically comprehend differential equations of motion necessary to model fluid flow, and how these are applied to understand and resolve advanced problems. 

2. Analyse and examine flowing systems regarding the pertinence of ideal flow principles, and how these are implemented. 

3. Evaluate and describe the behaviour of turbulent fluid motion with the development of numerical models to computationally resolve this behaviour, and how this is specified in literature for industrial applications.  

4. Critically assess the application of both industrially relevant, and more advanced flow measurement techniques to fully characterise dynamic flow behaviour.  

5. Demonstrate a more exact understanding of boundary layer theory and how to derive solutions for the structure of assorted velocity gradient formulations. 

The module will be delivered through a blend of face-to-face teaching (such as lectures, guided study, tutorials, and formative feedback sessions), and online learning material (such as recorded lectures, quizzes, numerical examples and sample tutorial problems). These are used to breakdown the fundamental principles and demonstrate the application of various facets of fluid mechanics to a wide range of industrially relevant problems.  

You are expected to undertake all the problems and tutorial activities throughout the semester in preparation for the relevant in-person classes, developing approaches for a broad range of engineering problems, alongside necessary reading around the subject. Successful completion of all tutorial sheets will help you achieve the desired learning outcomes. 

Skills developed through formal module learning outcomes, alongside summative assessment include: 

Your academic skills: 

• Critical thinking skills. You will need to develop and demonstrate different approaches to solving complex problems. 

• Reflection: You will actively reflect on your approach to applying your enhanced knowledge of detailed fluids concepts.  

• Commercial awareness: You will need to define suitable industrially relevant methods to problem solving.  

Your subject-specific skills: 

• You will apply differential equations of motion to resolve advanced fluid problems and how to apply ideal flow principles, characterising differences between rotational and irrotational flow and how this relates to circulation.  

• You will also characterise turbulent fluid motion and recognise the significance of change in length scales for the specification of different computational fluid dynamic methods. To validate these approaches, you will be able to specify suitable flow measurement techniques for a given flow problem.  

Skills developed through informal module activities, not identified as learning outcomes include:  

• Employability, through enhanced knowledge in a highly specialised field. 

• Collaborative skills, with potential for informal groupwork through tutorial material. 

This module is assessed through one summative a 2-hour examination at the end of the Semester.  

The exam paper includes four compulsory questions. Questions are set to allow students to demonstrate their understanding of LO 1-5.

The re-assessment for this module will consist in a 2-hour written examination. 

• Laminar Incompressible Flow 

• Euler's equation and Bernoulli's equation along a streamline. 

• Kinematics of flow 

• Stream function. 

• Derivation of Navier-Stokes equations 

• Transformation to non-dimensional form. 

• Transformation to turbulent form 

• Reynolds equation of motion. 

• Laminar flow along pipe of arbitrary cross-section. 

• Turbulent Incompressible Flow 

• General description of turbulence; origin, growth and decay, intensity and scale. 

• Time and space correlations. 

• Continuity of mean and turbulent components of motion. 

• Momentum and energy flux in turbulent flows. 

• Reynolds stresses. 

• Turbulence models. The mixing length concept; the Kolmogorov model. 

• The turbulent boundary layer; transition from laminar layer. 

• Solution for turbulent layer on a flat plate in uniform flow. 

• Skin friction in laminar and turbulent regimes. 

• Turbulent flow along pipes. 

• Distribution of mean and turbulent velocity over a pipe cross-section. 

• Skin friction and friction factor in laminar and turbulent flows along a pipe. 

• Effect of roughness of pipe surface. 

• Power law approximations to mean velocity distribution. 

• Introduction to hot wire Anemometry and laser Doppler Anemometry experimental techniques. 

• Application of experimental techniques to the measurement of mean velocity turbulence statistics and both time 

• and space correlation. 

• Gas Dynamics 

• Review of thermodynamic concepts. 

• Total temperature. 

• Bernoulli's equation of adiabatic flow. 

• Pressure, temperature and density changes in reversible adiabatic flow. 

• Flow through a convergent-divergent nozzle. 

• Rayleigh flow. 

• Fanno flow. 

• Plane normal shock; plane oblique shock.