Fluid Mechanics

• What is fluid mechanics?

• Why study fluid mechanics? A case study: wind energy power plant from NWTC.

• How to study fluid mechanics?

Mass Conservation

• Continuity Eqn.

Momentum Conservation

• Euler's Eqn.
• pressure/velocity relation

Energy Consevation

• Bernoulli's eqn.
• Frictional losses
• Extended Bernoulli's eqn.

Interesting links

• A hypertextbook
• Flow visualization
• Golf ball aerodynamics
• How can airplanes fly?
• How Jet Engines work?

Fluid Mechanics, physical science dealing with the action of fluids at rest (fluid statics) or in motion (fluid dynamics), and their interaction with flow devices and applications in engineering.  The subject branches out into sub-disciplines such as: Aerodynamics - deals with the motion of air and other gases, and their interactions with bodies in motion such as lift and drag;  Hydraulics - application of fluid mechanics to engineering devices involving liquids such as flow through pipes, weir and dam design;  Geophysical fluid dynamics- fluid phenomenoa associated with the dynamics of the atmosphere and the oceans such as hurricane and weather systems, Bio-fluid mechanics- fluid mechanics involved in biophysical processes such as blood flow in arteries, and many others.

Wind Energy Power Plant: A Case Study

NWTC: National Wind Technology Center

The electricity generated by wind turbines is used for many applications, from large, utility-scale power plants, to small, single turbines for home or village use. Wind energy's popularity is growing because of its many benefits: wind energy generates pollution-free electricity; the fuel source, wind, blows steadily in many areas; wind energy costs compete with conventional fossil-fueled power plants in some areas; and costs continue to drop as technology improves.

Many Fluid Mechanics issues involved in the design of optimal wind turbines, such as aerodynamics, unsteady aerodynamics, wind characteristics, and many others.

Study Plan (for the first semester)

(1) Fluid properties: density, pressure, viscosity, temperature, surface tension, etc.

(2) Fluid static: static pressure distribution, Archimeded's principle and buoyancy, forces on submerged objects.

(3) Governing equations: mass, momentum and energy conservation equations.

(4) Applications: turbines, compressors, pumps, pipe flows, et.