APP MTH 4102 - Fluid Mechanics - Honours

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2024

Fluid flows are important in many scientific and technological problems including atmospheric and oceanic circulation, energy production by chemical or nuclear combustion in engines and stars, energy utilisation in vehicles, buildings and industrial processes, and biological processes such as the flow of blood. Considerable progress has been made in the mathematical modelling of fluid flows and this has greatly improved our understanding of these problems, but there is still much to discover. This course introduces students to the mathematical description of fluid flows and the solution of some important flow problems. Topics covered are: the mathematical description of fluid flow in terms of Lagrangian and Eulerian coordinates; the derivation of the Navier-Stokes equations from the fundamental physical principles of mass and momentum conservation; use of the stream function, velocity potential and complex potential are introduced to find solutions of the governing equations for inviscid, irrotational flow past bodies and the forces acting on those bodies; analytic and numerical solutions of the Navier-Stokes equation.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code APP MTH 4102
    Course Fluid Mechanics - Honours
    Coordinating Unit Mathematical Sciences
    Term Semester 1
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 3 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Prerequisites (MATHS 2102 or MATHS 2106 or MATHS 2201) and (MATHS 2101 or MATHS 2202 or ELEC ENG 2106))
    Incompatible APP MTH 3002
    Assumed Knowledge MATHS 2104 or MATHS 2107
    Restrictions Honours students only
    Course Description Fluid flows are important in many scientific and technological problems including atmospheric and oceanic circulation, energy production by chemical or nuclear combustion in engines and stars, energy utilisation in vehicles, buildings and industrial processes, and biological processes such as the flow of blood. Considerable progress has been made in the mathematical modelling of fluid flows and this has greatly improved our understanding of these problems, but there is still much to discover. This course introduces students to the mathematical description of fluid flows and the solution of some important flow problems.

    Topics covered are: the mathematical description of fluid flow in terms of Lagrangian and Eulerian coordinates; the derivation of the Navier-Stokes equations from the fundamental physical principles of mass and momentum conservation; use of the stream function, velocity potential and complex potential are introduced to find solutions of the governing equations for inviscid, irrotational flow past bodies and the forces acting on those bodies; analytic and numerical solutions of the Navier-Stokes equation.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Professor Yvonne Stokes

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    Students who successfully complete the course should:

    1. understand the basic concepts of fluid mechanics.

    2. understand the mathematical description of fluid flow.

    3. understand the conservation principles governing fluidflows.

    4. be able to solve inviscid flow problems using streamfunctions and velocity potentials.

    5. be able to compute forces on bodies in fluid flows.

    6. be able to solve (analytical and numerical) viscous flow problems.

    7. be able to use mathematical software packages in solution methods.
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)

    Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth

    Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.

    all

    Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving

    Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.

    4,5,6,7
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    None.
    Recommended Resources
    1. Elementary fluid dynamics, Acheson, Oxford University Press.
    2. An introduction to fluid mechanics, Batchelor, Cambridge University Press.
    3. Introduction to theoretical and computational fluid dynamics, Pozrikidis, Oxford University Press.
    4. Fluid dynamics theory, computation, and numerical simulation, Pozrikidis, Springer.
    Online Learning
    All course materials will be made available on MyUni.


  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    This course relies on course videos, online quizzes and workshops to guide students through the material, tutorial classes for peer and tutor support, and a sequence of written assignments that provide opportunities for students to practise techniques and develop their understanding of the course.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    Activity Quantity Workload hours
    Course videos and quizzes 64
    Workshops 12 12
    Tutorials 10 20
    Assignments 5 60
    TOTALS 156
    Learning Activities Summary
    Schedule
    Week 1 Eulerian and Lagrangian coordinates, pathlines, streaklines, streamlines.
    Week 2 Suffix notation, material derivative.
    Week 3 Decomposition of local fluid motion, mass conservation, incompressible flow.
    Week 4 Stream function, forces, Cauchy equation of motion, Navier-Stokes equations.
    Week 5 Solutions of the Navier-Stokes equations.
    Week 6 Revision.
    Week 7 Fourier pseudospectral methods.
    Week 8 Fourier pseudospectral methods.
    Week 9 Euler equations, Bernoulli equation, velocity potential, Laplace equation, sources, sinks.
    Week 10 Line vortex, dipoles, superposition, forces on bodies, circulation.
    Week 11 Complex potential
    Week 12 Revision
    Week 13 Revision


  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment
    Task Type Weighting Learning Outcomes
    Quizzes Formative and Summative 5 % All
    Assignments Formative and Summative 25 % All
    Exam Summative 70 % All
    Assessment Related Requirements
    An aggregate score of at least 50% is required to pass the course.
    Assessment Detail
    Assessment Item Distributed Due Date Weighting
    Quizzes Weekly Weekly 5 %
    Assignment 1 Week 2 Week 4 5 %
    Assignment 2 Week 4 Week 6 5 %
    Assignment 3 Week 6 Week 8 5 %
    Assignment 4 Week 9 Week 11 5 %
    Assignment 5 Week 11 Week 13 5 %
    Exam Exam period 70 %
    Submission
    Assignments must be submitted according to the policies and procedures published on the Fluid Mechanics - Honours MyUni site.
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M11 (Honours Mark Scheme)
    GradeGrade reflects following criteria for allocation of gradeReported on Official Transcript
    Fail A mark between 1-49 F
    Third Class A mark between 50-59 3
    Second Class Div B A mark between 60-69 2B
    Second Class Div A A mark between 70-79 2A
    First Class A mark between 80-100 1
    Result Pending An interim result RP
    Continuing Continuing CN

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
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