Department of Physics, Unit Catalogue 2010/11 |
PH30087: Fluid dynamics |
 Credits:
| 3 |
| Level:
| Honours |
| Period: | This unit is available in... |
| Semester 2 |
| Assessment:
| EX 100% |
| Supplementary Assessment: | Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations) |
| Requisites:
| Before taking this unit you must take PH20019 |
| Description:
| Aims: The aim of this unit is to introduce students to the fundamental concepts and equations of fluid dynamics. Learning Outcomes: After taking this unit the student should be able to: * analyse a two-dimensional flow in terms of displacement, local rotation and local shearing; * derive the continuity and Euler equations; * perform a dimensional analysis of the Navier-Stokes equation and interpret the Reynolds number; * explain and interpret mathematically the terms: steady and non-steady flow, incompressible flow, irrotational flow, potential flow, laminar flow; * derive and use Bernoulli's equation; * solve simple potential flow and laminar viscous flow problems. Skills: Numeracy T/F A, Problem Solving T/F A. Content: Introduction to fluid dynamics: Definitions; steady and non-steady flows, streamlines and pathlines. Equations of motion for a fluid: Continuity equation, incompressible flows. Local nature of fluid motion; displacement, rotation and shear. Forces on a fluid; pressure gradient, gravity, viscosity. Acceleration of a fluid packet, rate of change of the velocity pattern. Navier-Stokes equations. Boundary conditions. Dedimensionalisation of the Navier-Stokes equations; Reynolds Number. Non-viscous flow: Bernoulli's equation. Circulation theorem. Irrotational flow. Properties of potential flows. Examples including vortex flow, flow past a cylinder, waves on deep water. Viscous flow: Laminar flow; flows in pipes and channels. Boundary layer flow. Separation and the transition to turbulence. Drag on a moving object. |