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Fluid mechanics is the study of fluids at rest or in motion.

Dr. Chandan Sharma


Chemical Engineering Department, VIT University
Cabin: SMV - G21
E-mail: chandan.sharma@vit.ac.in

Introduction to FLUID MECHANICS


R. W. Fox
P. J. Pritchard

A. T. McDonald

E - Quiz
Dates will be added soon

Virtual
class

Videos

Pre-history:
Ancient civilizations: design of arrows, spears, boats, and particularly
hydraulic engineering projects for flood protection, irrigation, drainage,
and water supply.
120BC: In the Greek school at Alexandria
Ptolemies: attempts were made at the construction of hydraulic

machinery.
Fountain of compression, the siphon, and the forcing-pump were
invented by Ctesibius and Hero.
Water wheel was invented by Hellenistic engineers between the 3rd and
2nd century BC.

250BC: Archimedes
Archimedes develops the law of buoyancy, also known as Archimedes'

Principle.

1000 CE
Abu Rayhan Biruni (9731048): First to apply experimental scientific
methods to fluid mechanics, especially in the field of fluid statics, such as
for determining specific weights.
Al-Khazini (fl. 11151130), in The Book of the Balance of Wisdom (1121),
invented a hydrostatic balance.
9th Century CE
Two-step level controls for fluids, was developed by the Banu Musa
brothers. They also described an early feedback controller for fluids. Use
of control valve, plug valve, float valve, tap.

1206 CE
Al-Jazari's Book of Knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical Devices described
many hydraulic machines. Chain pumps, twin-cylinder reciprocating piston
suction pump, uses of valves and a crankshaft-connecting rod mechanism.

17th and 18th Century CE


Castelli and Torricelli: explained several phenomena in the
motion of fluids in rivers and canals.
Blaise Pascal: hydrostatics.
Isaac Newton: Friction, viscosity, orifice, waves (1713)
Daniel Bernoulli: Theory of the motion of fluids (1738)
Leonhard Euler: calculus was first applied to the motion of water.

Fluid
mechanics

Fluid Statics

Study of fluids at
rest

Fluid
Dynamics

The study of effect


of forces on Fluid
motion

Fluid
Kinematics

Study of fluid on
motion

The design of canal, levee, and dam systems;


The design of pumps, compressors, and piping and ducting used in the water and

air conditioning systems of homes and businesses, as well as the piping systems
needed in chemical plants;

The aerodynamics of automobiles and sub- and supersonic airplanes;


Development of many different flow measurement devices such as gas pump

meters.

Automobile streamlining.
Large-scale wind turbines, energy generation from ocean waves, aerodynamics of

large buildings.

The fluid mechanics of the atmosphere and ocean and of phenomena such as

tornadoes, hurricanes, and tsunamis);

Biomechanics (e.g., artificial hearts and valves and other organs such as the liver;

understanding of the fluid mechanics of blood, synovial fluid in the joints, the
respiratory system, the circulatory system, and the urinary system);

Sport (design of bicycles and bicycle helmets, skis, and sprinting and swimming

clothing, and the aerodynamics of the golf, tennis, and soccer ball);

Smart fluids (e.g., in automobile suspension systems to optimize motion under

all terrain conditions, military uniforms containing a fluid layer that is thin until
combat, when it can be stiffened to give the soldier strength and protection,

Fluid lenses with humanlike properties for use in cameras and cell phones);

Microfluids (e.g., for extremely precise administration of medications).

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