Fluid Dynamics
for Engineers
A one-semester course taught for students in the Chemical and Energy Engineering Master’s program at the University Otto von Guericke of Magdeburg from 2015 to 2020
last updated May 31, 2022
0 About this course (syllabus)
Course objectives; About Olivier and colleagues; Contact; Copyright, remixing and authors; Conclusion.
1 Basic flow quantities
Fundamental concepts required to dive into fluid mechanics
Concept of a fluid; Purpose of fluid dynamics; Important concepts in mechanics; Properties of fluids; Forces on fluids; Basic flow quantities; Four balance equations; Classification of fluid flows; Limits of fluid dynamics. Solved problems.
2 Analysis of existing flows (1D)
Analyze existing flows, and quantify the forces and moments associated with them
One-dimensional flow problems; Balance of mass; Balance of momentum; Balance of energy; The Bernoulli equation. Solved problems.
3 Analysis of existing flows (3D)
Analyze existing flows, and quantify the forces and moments associated with them
The Reynolds transport theorem; Balance of mass; Balance of momentum; Balance of angular momentum; Balance of energy; Limits of integral analysis. Solved problems.
4 Effects of pressure
Understand the concept of pressure, and quantify pressure-induced forces on walls for simple cases
Pressure forces on walls; Pressure fields in fluids; Special case: pressure in static fluids. Solved problems.
5 Effects of shear
Understand the concept of shear, and quantify shear-induced forces on walls for simple cases
Shear forces on walls; Shear fields in fluids; Viscosity; Special case: shear in simple laminar flows. Solved problems.
6 Prediction of fluid flows
Predict fluid flow in the most general terms possible, and understand the nature of CFD
Eulerian description of fluid flow; Equations for all flows; Equations for incompressible flows (balance of mass, balance of momentum); CFD: the Navier-Stokes equations in practice. Solved problems.
7 Pipe flows
Understand pipe flows, and quantify key parameters in pipe installations
Friction-less flow in pipes; Parameters to quantify losses in pipes; Laminar flow in pipes; Turbulent flow in pipes; Engineer’s guide to pipe flows. Solved problems; Problems.
8 Engineering models
Scale flows and measurements up and down to facilitate observation
Comparing influences: the weighted momentum balance; Making models; Comparing results: force and power coefficients. Solved problems; Problems.
9 Dealing with turbulence
Identify turbulence and its effects, quantify its basic properties
Recognizing turbulence, The effects of turbulence, Quantifying turbulence, Computing turbulence, Commented bibliography.
10 Flow near walls
Understand when flows follow walls, and quantify shear on walls when they do
The boundary layer concept; The laminar boundary layer; Transition; The turbulent boundary layer; Separation. Solved problems; Problems.
11 Large- and small-scale flows
Model flows at two extreme ends of the size spectrum
Flow at large scales; Plotting velocity with functions; Flow at very small scales.
A Appendix
Notation; Vector operations; Field operators; Derivations of the Bernoulli equation; Flow parameters as force ratios; 2020 Examination information; Example of previous examination; List of references.
Examination information
Key information about the examination is given in the appendix of the lecture notes.
Examination template, winter semester 2020-2021