Advanced Fluid Mechanics

What it is about

You receive an in-depth introduction to the continuum description of fluids, the derivation and application of balance and momentum equations, as well as analytical solutions of the Navier–Stokes equations. In the end you will be able to explain boundary layer phenomena (laminar and turbulent), flow instabilities, as well as fundamental aspects of turbulent flows and transport processes (advection/diffusion) and apply them to simple technical problems.

What you will be able to do

• Explain the continuum concept in fluid mechanics
• Understand the structure and meaning of turbulent boundary layers
• Master the theory of laminar and temperature boundary layers
• Apply mathematical concepts to fluid mechanical questions
• Record and use balance and momentum equations
• Apply Navier–Stokes equations for incompressible fluids
• Apply wall laws for turbulent boundary layers to flow cases
• Specify and utilize boundary conditions for momentum and mass transport
• Characterize flow fields with streamlines, pathlines, and streaklines
• Use deformation and rotation tensor to describe flows
• Characterize transport phenomena in turbulent flows (advection/diffusion)
• Determine similarity parameters for given systems
• Determine characteristic time constants in simple fluid mechanical systems
• Estimate forces, pressures or velocities at the boundary of a traversed volume
• Discuss properties of turbulent flows
• Differentiate types of flow instabilities and laminar–turbulent transition

What the module consists of

• LectureCentral conveyance of the content; derivations on the board, supplemented by presentations and examples

Teaching method

• Board work and derivationsfor step-by-step derivation and mathematical grounding of the content
• Computer presentationsfor visualization and supplementation of the derivations
• Discussions and examplesfor context and application of the derived relationships
• Voluntary courseworkfor independent application of what was learned to smaller problems and for assessment of learning progress
• Voluntary seminar (90 min)joint solving of problem sheets and deepening of the lecture content under moderation