Physics 426 Topics in Fluid Mechanics

Autumn 2005, KPTC 103 TuTh 1:30 to 2:50

This course provides a brief introduction to the fundamentals of fluid mechanics. We will also look at a few problems from active research areas, e.g. boundary layer separation and dynamic wetting. The goal is to develop intuitions about the nonlinear dynamics of fluid flow using dimensional analysis, scaling arguments and simple, quantitative mathematical models.

Course Description

Home work set #1

1. Introduction

material derivative, ideal fluid, vorticity, viscous effects

2. Simple Flows with Solid Boundaries

Couette Flow, impulsive motion, convection & diffusion of vorticity

3. High Reynolds Number Flows

phenomenology, irrotational flow, conformal mapping techniques, D'Alembart's paradox

4. Boundary Layer

Prandtl's solution, boundary layer separation

5. Simple Flows with Fluid Boundaries

surface tension & wetting, waves, Tanner's law for spreading

6. Vortices & Eddies

viscous eddies, vortex rings, isotropic turbulence

7. Student Research Talks