Prof. Caterina Valeo

Prof. Caterina Valeo

she/her

PhD, PEng. Professor of Mechanical Engineering

MECH 345: Mechanics of Fluids

Undergraduate course, University of Victoria, Department of Mechanical Engineering, 2020

Comprehensive undergraduate course in fluid mechanics covering fundamental principles of fluid statics, dynamics, and flow analysis for engineering applications.

Course Information on UVic Website

Course Description

This course provides students with fundamental understanding of fluid mechanics principles and their applications to engineering systems. Topics include fluid properties, flow kinematics and dynamics, conservation principles, pipe flow, boundary layers, and dimensional analysis.

Prerequisites: MECH 220, MATH 200, and MECH 240 or MECH 295

Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:

  1. Flow Analysis: Articulate the broad range of situations in nature and technology which involve fluid mechanics, and explain basic flow analysis techniques used for investigation and design

  2. Flow Classifications: Demonstrate understanding of flow classifications (steady/unsteady, internal/external, laminar/turbulent, 1D/2D/3D) and appropriately apply these classifications with approximations such as continuum flow, inviscid flow, incompressible flow

  3. Mathematical Tools: Apply concepts of vector fields (velocity, force, acceleration), scalar fields (pressure, density, temperature), and vector calculus to engineering analysis of fluid systems

  4. Conservation Principles: Properly apply system and control volume methods based on conservation of mass, momentum, and energy to the analysis and design of engineering fluid systems

  5. Hydrostatics: Apply fluid statics to fluids at rest or Newton’s Second Law to fluids in rigid body motion, using calculus to determine pressure variation, forces and moments on submerged surfaces, buoyancy and stability of floating bodies

  6. Internal Flows: Apply mass, momentum, and energy conservation to steady internal (pipe) flows, interpret laminar and turbulent flow models, and estimate head loss and power requirements in piping systems

  7. Boundary Layers: Apply integral methods and empirical models to analyze boundary layer flows and evaluate drag on bodies in fluid flow

  8. Dimensional Analysis: Apply principles of dimensional homogeneity to engineering analysis, and use dimensional analysis and similitude for compact data representation, design of experiments, and classification of flow regimes using dimensionless parameters

Course Topics

  • Fluid Properties: Physical properties and their consequences on fluid flow (Mach and Reynolds numbers)
  • Conservation Principles: Mass, momentum, and energy conservation for fluid flow
  • Hydrostatics: Pressure distribution, forces on submerged surfaces, buoyancy, stability
  • Flow Kinematics: Velocity fields, streamlines, pathlines, acceleration
  • Control Volume Analysis: Application to engineering systems
  • Pipe Flow: Laminar and turbulent flow in pipes, head loss calculations
  • Boundary Layers: Drag on bodies, flow separation
  • Dimensional Analysis: Similitude and dimensionless parameters

Laboratory Experiments

Four mandatory laboratory experiments (16% of final grade):

  1. Linear Momentum Experiment: Application of momentum conservation principles
  2. Energy Equation in Venturi Flow: Bernoulli’s equation and flow measurement
  3. Friction in Laminar and Turbulent Pipe Flow: Reynolds number effects and friction factors
  4. Friction in Airflow: Drag measurements and boundary layer analysis

Note: Attendance and completion of all laboratory experiments are compulsory. Failure to complete all laboratory requirements will result in a grade of N.

Assessment

ComponentWeight
Laboratory Experiments (4)16%
Term Test 114%
Term Test 214%
Term Test 310%
Final Exam46%

Textbook

Fluid Mechanics by Frank M. White
McGraw Hill Education, 2016
ISBN: 9780073398273 (hardcopy) | 9781259169922 (loose-leaf)

Instructor Information

Instructor: Prof. Caterina Valeo
Office: EOW 543
Email: valeo@uvic.ca
Office Hours: Wednesdays 10:30-11:30 AM or by appointment

Class Schedule

  • Lectures: Mondays and Thursdays, 11:30 AM - 12:50 PM
  • Laboratory Sections:
    • B01: Mondays 5:00-7:50 PM
    • B02: Tuesdays 4:30-7:20 PM
    • B03: Wednesdays 5:00-7:50 PM

This course provides the fundamental fluid mechanics knowledge essential for mechanical engineering practice and advanced study in thermal-fluids systems, environmental engineering, and energy systems.