production
Skip to Content

EM3019: FLUID MECHANICS (2021-2022)

Last modified: 31 May 2022 13:05


Course Overview

The course begins with dimensional analysis and the concept of dynamic similarity applied to fluid flow phenomena.  This is followed by sections on the energy and momentum equations applied to a range of problems in civil, mechanical, chemical and petroleum engineering, including steady flow in pipes, design of pump-pipeline systems, cavitation, forces on bends, nozzles and solid bodies, turbomachinery and propeller theory.  A section on unsteady flow applies inertia and water hammer theory to the calculation of pressure surge in pipes.  The final section deals with flow through porous media such as flow through soils and rocks.

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 3
Session First Sub Session Credit Points 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Professor Thomas O'Donoghue

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • EG2012 Engineering Mathematics 2 (Passed)
  • Any Undergraduate Programme
  • One of Programme Level 3 or Programme Level 4 or Programme Level 5
  • EG2501 Design & Computing in Engineering Practice (Passed)
  • EG2004 Fluid Mechanics & Thermodynamics (Passed)
  • One of BSc Engineering (General) or BSc Engineering (Civil) or BSc Engineering (Mechanical) or Bachelor of Engineering in Engineering (Civil) or Master of Engineering in Civil Engineering or Bachelor of Engineering in Eng (Civil and Structural) or Master of Engineering in Civil and Structural Engineering or Master of Engineering in Civil Eng with Subsea Technology or Bachelor of Engineering in Eng (Civil and Environmental) or Master of Engineering in Civil and Environmental Engineering or Bachelor of Engineering in Engineering (Mechanical) or Bachelor of Engineering in Eng (Mech with European Studies) or Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering or Master of Engineering in Mech Eng with Euro Studs or Master of Engineering in Mech Eng with Subsea Technology or Bachelor of Engineering in Eng (Mech with Oil & Gas Studies) or Master of Engineering in Civil Engineering with Management or Master of Engineering in Mechanical Eng with Management or Master of Engineering in Chemical Engineering or Bachelor Of Science In Engineering (Chemical) or Bachelor of Engineering in Chemical Engineering or Master of Engineering in Petroleum Engineering or Bachelor of Engineering in Petroleum Engineering or Bachelor Of Science In Engineering (Petroleum) or Bachelor of Engineering in Eng (Mechanical and Electrical) or Master of Engineering in Mechanical & Electrical Eng

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

  1. Similarity & Dimensional Analysis: dynamic similarity, common dimensionless numbers and scaling laws; Buckingham PI method; applicaitons (5 Lectures - Professor O'Donoghue);
  2. Energy Equation & Applications:  derivation of steady flow energy equation; applications to steady flow in pipes, systems with pumps and turbines, cavitation issues and pump-pipeline matching  (5 Lectures - Professor O'Donoghue);
  3. Unsteady Flow in Pipes: inertia head; water hammer; surge protection (5 Lectures - Profesor O'Donoghue);
  4. Momentum Equation & Applications:  derivation of momentum equation; application to forces of jets on plates, vanes, pipe bends and nozzles; propeller theory and wind turbines; radial flow reaction machines  (5 Lectures - Professor O'Donoghue);
  5. Porous Media Flow:  porous media properties; permeability and Darcy's law; confined and unconfined flows; wells  (5 Lectures - Dr Tanino). 

Each student does two extended laboratory exercises, one on hydraulic machines and another on unsteady pressure surge and water hammer.  The exercises are 'extended' as they involve analysis and consideration of results outside of the laboratory hours. 


Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 31 August 2023 for 1st half-session courses and 22 December 2023 for 2nd half-session courses.

Summative Assessments

First Attempt

1x Lab Report (10%)
1x Online Open Book Exam (90%)

Alternative Resit Arrangements

Resit of only the failed assessment component(s)

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
FactualRememberILO’s for this course are available in the course guide.

Compatibility Mode

We have detected that you are have compatibility mode enabled or are using an old version of Internet Explorer. You either need to switch off compatibility mode for this site or upgrade your browser.