Fluid Mechanics

This subject is not offered in 2013.

Estimated total time commitment of 120 hours

Students must have taken the following subject prior to enrolling in this subject.

OR

Both of the following subjects:

If available in the same semester, MAST20030 may be taken concurrently

None

None

MCEN30018 Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics

ENGR30001 Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics

MCEN30015 Thermofluids

For the purposes of considering applications for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005) and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, this subject requires all students to actively and safely participate in laboratory activities. Students who feel their disability may impact upon their participation are encouraged to discuss this with the Subject Coordinator and the Disability Liaison Unit. http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

This subject concerns the fundamental science of fluid flow relevant to a range of engineering applications.

Topics covered include - Fluid statics, manometry, derivation of the continuity equation, mechanical energy balance, friction losses in a straight pipe, Newton’s law of viscosity, Fanning friction factor, treatment of roughness, valves and fittings; simple network problems; principles of open channel flow; compressible flow, propagation of pressure wave, isothermal and adiabatic flow equations in a pipe, choked flow. Pumps – pump characteristics, centrifugal pumps, derivation of theoretical head, head losses leading to the actual pump head curve, calculating system head, determining the operating point of a pumping system, throttling for flow control, cavitation and NPSH, affinity laws and pump scale-up, introduction to positive displacement pumps; stirred tanks- radial, axial and tangential flow, type of agitators, vortex elimination, the standard tank configuration, power number and power curve, dynamic and geometric similarity in scale-up; Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids, Multi-dimensional fluid flow-momentum flux, development of multi-dimensional equations of continuity and for momentum transfer, Navier-Stokes equations, application to tube flow, Couette flow, Stokes flow.

On completion of this subject students should be able to:

• Apply the principles of force balance in stationary fluids to solve engineering problems
• Solve mechanical energy balances in one dimensional pipe flow, scale-up pumps

Practical or written assignment of no more than 5 pages (not including diagrams, graphs and raw data) due approximately week 4 (10%); practical or written assignment of no more than 5 pages (not including diagrams, graphs and raw data) due approximately week 8 (10%); 3 hour end of semester examination (80%)

A pass in the end of semester examination is required to pass the subject.

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

• Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Biomedicine
• Bachelor of Commerce
• Bachelor of Music

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

On successful completion, students should have the following skills:

• Ability to undertake problem identification, formulation and solution
• Capacity for independent thought
• Ability to plan work and to use time effectively