Department of Mechanical Engineering

Mechanics of Fluids 1 : Lecture 1: Introduction

Lecture 1
INTRODUCTION

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Department of Mechanical Engineering

Mechanics of Fluids 1 : Lecture 1: Introduction

Tornado ~ a violently rotating column of

air in contact with the ground underneath
a cumuliform cloud often visible as a
funnel cloud wikipedia

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Department of Mechanical Engineering

Mechanics of Fluids 1 : Lecture 1: Introduction

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Contents
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Definitions of Fluids
Distinction Between Solids, Liquids and Gasses
Fluid Continuum Concept
General Classifications of Flow
Significance of Fluid Mechanics
Brief History of Fluid Mechanics
Modern Trends in Fluid Mechanics

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Mechanics of Fluids 1 : Lecture 1: Introduction

1.1 Definitions
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Fluids - A substance which deforms

continuously under the action of
shearing forces however small they may
be . Constitutes of Liquids and Gasses
Fluid Mechanics - Science that deals
with the ACTION OF FORCES on fluids
regardless of whether the fluid is
stationary or moving

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Fluid
?

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Mechanics of Fluids 1 : Lecture 1: Introduction

1.1 Definitions
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Fluids - A substance
which deforms
continuously under the
action of shearing
forces however small
they may be .

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Department of Mechanical Engineering

Mechanics of Fluids 1 : Lecture 1: Introduction

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1.2 Distinctions : Solid, Liquid, Gas

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Molecular structure ~ solid fix shape ~ Liquid

assume shape of container
Solid

Liquid

Gas

Gas fill up its

container, Liquid
form a free surface

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Mechanics of Fluids 1 : Lecture 1: Introduction

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1.2 Distinctions : Solid, Liquid, Gas

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Solid : stress proportional to strain, In Fluids :

stress proportional to rate of shear strain
Solid is elastic (return to original shape when
stress is removed; fluid will not recover)
Solid : ~

Fluid : ~

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Mechanics of Fluids 1 : Lecture 1: Introduction

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1.3. Fluid Continuum Concept

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The length scale of interest in engineering >>

intermolecular distance.
Thus even for smallest length scale, the number of
molecules are very large and the effect of the
molecules can be considered on average basis.
This is FLUID CONTINUUM CONCEPT and
molecules can be regarded as continuous NOT
discreet.
This leads to overall fluid properties such as
pressure, density etc

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Mechanics of Fluids 1 : Lecture 1: Introduction

1.3. Fluid Continuum Concept

Intermolecular distance , lmol ~ 35 x 10-10 m
Smallest engineering length scale , leng ~ 10-6m
Consider a cube of length leng :~

leng

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Department of Mechanical Engineering

Mechanics of Fluids 1 : Lecture 1: Introduction

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1.4. General Flow Classifications

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Hydrodynamics - Low speed, no density change

(incompressible) e.g. water distribution network,
hydraulics, lubrications
Gas Dynamics - High speed, compressible flow
(appreciable density change) e.g. flow in ram jet,
high speed turbomachinery etc
Aerodynamics - Flow pass aircraft, airfoil, drag,
lift etc

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Mechanics of Fluids 1 : Lecture 1: Introduction

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1.5. Significance of Fluid Mechanics

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Extremely important ~ All Engineers need to master

Covers wide range of applications
Examples : ~
Buildings ~ water network, ventilations systems, air
conditioning systems, fire fighting ~ forces on building
structures
Car ~ Aerodynamics, hydraulics brake, fuel flows, engine,
suspensions, shock absorber
Aircraft ~ Aerodynamics, Propulsion, jet engine
Environment ~ sewage systems, drainage, coastal current,
pollutant flows in atmosphere

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Mechanics of Fluids 1 : Lecture 1: Introduction

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1.5. Significance of Fluid Mechanics

The collapse of Tacoma-Narrow Bridge

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Mechanics of Fluids 1 : Lecture 1: Introduction

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1.5. Significance of Fluid Mechanics

The collapse of Tacoma-Narrow Bridge

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Mechanics of Fluids 1 : Lecture 1: Introduction

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1.6. Brief History of Fluid Mechanics

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Early applications ~ ancient Egypt ~ irrigation systems

First quantitative relationship ~ Archemides (250 BC) ~
birth of experimental fluid mechanics ~ trials and errors
Fundamental principles of fluid ~ Newton, Euler, Bernoulli,
Navier, Stokes ~ Navier-Stokes equation ~ 17th and 18th
century
Classical Hydrodynamics ~ inviscid fluids ~ highly
mathematical ~ not applicable in practice ~ Hence,
engineers use empirical equations ~ Experimental hydraulics
Prandtl and boundary layer theory (early 20th century)
Gas dynamics ~ Riemann (1876), Mach (1896), Laval (1906)

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Mechanics of Fluids 1 : Lecture 1: Introduction

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1.6. Brief History of Fluid Mechanics

Leonhard Euler (17071783) (left),Professor of Physics and Mathematics.

Euler had a greater interest in mathematics than Bernoulli and, in fact, Euler
formalized the equation we now call Bernoullis. Euler developed the basic
equations of fluid motion. Daniel Bernoulli (17001782) (middle),
Professor of Mathematics. Bernoulli published works on the statics and dynamics
of fluids and made the first observations and notes relating to the equation that
bears his name. Ludwig Prandtl (1875-1953) (right) father of modern
fluid mechanics, developed boundary layer theory and many other innovative
analyses. He and his students are pioneers in flow visualization techniques

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Mechanics of Fluids 1 : Lecture 1: Introduction

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1.7. Modern Trends in Fluid Mechanics

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Involve uses of high speed computers

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
Essentially numerical solutions of 3 basic laws of
nature applied to fluid particles using computer : Law of Conservation of mass
Law of conservation of momentum
Law of conservation of energy
Replace the need for experimental measurements as
the behaviour can be predicted before hand
Being used as design tool in industry
Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS),
Nanotechnology (NEMS)

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Mechanics of Fluids 1 : Lecture 1: Introduction

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1.7. Modern Trends in Fluid Mechanics

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Mechanics of Fluids 1 : Lecture 1: Introduction

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1.7. Modern Trends in Fluid Mechanics

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Mechanics of Fluids 1 : Lecture 1: Introduction

MEHB223

1.7. Modern Trends in Fluid Mechanics

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Mechanics of Fluids 1 : Lecture 1: Introduction

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1.7. Modern Trends in Fluid Mechanics

Weather predictions

Flow around river estuary

Hurricane predictions

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Mechanics of Fluids 1 : Lecture 1: Introduction

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1.7. Modern Trends in Fluid Mechanics

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Mechanics of Fluids 1 : Lecture 1: Introduction

End of Lecture 1

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