UWA Handbook 2025

Unit Overview

Description

The aim of this unit is for students to gain a quantitative understanding of fluid behaviour, and be able to apply this knowledge to solve a wide range of engineering fluid mechanics problems. There is a range of learning activities in this unit, including lectures, problem-based tutorials, laboratory activities, the fluid mechanics photography competition, and optional ‘master classes' on everyday fluid phenomena (such as the fluid dynamics of sport, kitchen fluid mechanics, the automatic shut-off of a petrol pump and scaling relationships in the natural world). Topics covered include:

(1) Equations of fluid motion applied to a control volume: Principles of conservation of mass, momentum and energy applied to a fluid volume, key fluid properties including viscosity, surface tension and specific gravity.

(2) Dimensional analysis and similitude: Using the Buckingham-pi theorem to determine the dimensionless parameters that govern fluid systems, using dimensional analysis to get order of magnitude solutions to complex problems, designing models of fluid systems.

(3) Pipe flow: Evaluating the dissipation of mechanical energy in pipe flow due to friction and turbulence, predicting flow velocities, flowrates and pressures in pipes, use of pump curves to predict flowrates in pump-pipe systems;

(4) Open-channel flow: Manning's equation for predicting the depth of uniform open-channel flow, using specific energy curves to predict changes in depth in rapidly-varied flows, quantifying the depth increase and energy dissipation across hydraulic jumps;

(5) Equations of fluid motion in differential form: Principles of conservation of mass and momentum in differential form, solving the Navier-Stokes equations to determine profiles of velocity, shear stress and pressure in planar flows;

(6) An introduction to key fluid mechanics phenomena including turbulence, boundary layers, drag and lift and waves.

Credit

6 points

Offering
(see Timetable)

Availability	Location	Mode
Semester 2	UWA (Perth)	Face to face

Outcomes

Students are able to (1) apply the fundamental conservation laws of fluid mechanics (mass, momentum, energy) to solve industry-relevant engineering problems; (2) understand the dimensionless parameters that control a wide range of fluid mechanics phenomena, and use the principle of dynamic similarity to design models whose fluid mechanics replicate those of the prototype; (3) quantify energy dissipation due to friction and turbulence to predict flowrates in piping systems, and define the influence of pipe and pump characteristics on these flowrates; (4) use the relationship between flow energy and depth to predict the depth (and its variation) in open-channel flows; (5) develop solutions to the Navier-Stokes equations to determine profiles of velocity, shear stress and pressure in planar flows; and (6) provide visual illustration of a striking fluid mechanics phenomenon, and explain the mechanics underlying the phenomenon.

Assessment

Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) tests; (2) photography competition; and (3) laboratory test. Further information is available in the unit outline.

Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Unit Coordinator(s)

Associate Professor Marco Ghisalberti

Unit rules

Prerequisites

Enrolment in

MJD-ENGSC Engineering Science

and Successful completion of

( MATH1011 Multivariable Calculus
or MATX1011 Multivariable Calculus

and

MATH1012 Mathematical Theory and Methods
or MATX1012 Mathematical Theory and Methods

)

Incompatibility

ENSC3003 Fluid Mechanics
or GENG2010 Principles of Hydraulics
or GENG2003 Fluid Mechanics

Advisable prior study

ENSC2001 Motion
or ENSC2004 Engineering Mechanics

Contact hours

lectures: 3 hours per week
practical classes: 3 hours per week
labs: 6 hours per semester

Note

Enrolled students can access unit material via the LMS (Learning Management System).

Text

Cengel, Y. A. and Cimbala, J. M. Fluid Mechanics: Fundamentals and Applications, 2nd edn: McGraw-Hill 2010