Introduction to Fluid Dynamics

 

AMS107/PHYS107/AMS217:  Introduction to Fluid Dynamics

 Instructor:  Prof. Nic Brummell, Applied Math and Statistics

 

This course focuses on the fundamentals of fluid dynamics as applied to astrophysical and geophysical systems. We will deal with: a kinematic understanding of fluid flows (how do we describe flows?, the continuum hypothesis, Eulerian and Lagrangian descriptions, etc); a dynamic understanding of fluid flows i.e. the various equation sets describing inviscid and viscous flow derived from conservation laws; dynamic similarity and scale analysis; inviscid potential flows; gravity waves; exact solutions of Navier-Stokes equations; boundary layer formulations; and a selection of more advanced topics such as numerical simulations, compressible flows and some introductory discussions of fluid instabilities, waves, chaos, nonlinear equilibration, and turbulence.

The course is aimed at providing the student with a basic understanding of fluid dynamics, both intuitively and from an applied mathematics point of view.

By the end of the course, you will know how to fly and how to throw a good curve ball in baseball!

The regular lecture material will be augmented with video presentations and experimental demonstrations.

Primary Required Text: 

Kundu & Cohen (= K), Fluid Mechanics (>3rd ed., Academic Press)

 

Extra video sessions and office hours: 

Wednesdays at 5pm BE 330.

The URL for the video if you are not coming to the session is here.

• 01/25:  "Flow Visualization".

• 02/01:  "Eulerian Lagrangian Description" (in your own time, this one, sorry; I have a meeting)

• 02/08:  "Pressure Fields and Flow Acceleration".

• 02/15:  (Post-Valentine day special!)  "Vorticity Parts 1 and 2".

• 02/29: (Leap Day special!)  "Rotating Flows" and "Surface Tension"
• (Extra credit:  Bouncing Droplets by my good friend, Prof. John Bush)

 

Announcements

 

• YOU ARE FINALLY AND TOTALLY DONE!
• Congratulations on surviving a hard quarter
• I hope you learned something and enjoyed the class
• If you ever want to chat about fluid dynamics, do not hesitate to come see me
• In case you are interested, here are the final exam answers

 

• 03/16/2012:  CLASS IS OVER!  FINAL EXAM IS WED 21ST MARCH AT 4PM IN THE USUAL ROOM.
• For the exam:

• BRING PENCILS, PAPER AND YOUR BRAIN!  That's all you'll need.
• It will be in two parts: 
• First part -- easy conceptual questions like the midterm.
• Second part -- 3 or 4 homework-like questions.
• Don't be afraid of the Navier-Stokes equations!  Try and make the mathematics of the various equations correspond to real physical effects and quantities in your mind.
• Make sure you know what viscosity does to the world!

PS. PLEASE REMEMBER TO FILL IN THE ONLINE CLASS EVALUATION FORMS!

 

• 03/01/2012:  IF YOU MISSED LECTURE DUE TO CAMPUS PROTESTS ...
• Here are my lecture notes
• You can also read Kundu et al 6.9-6.10 and 6.13 (old book, editions < 5; 6.3-6.6 new book edition 5)
• Here is a pic of the streamlines for flow around a cylinder for various circulation values

 

• 02/29/2012:
• By pretty much unanimous vote, the class voted to still have a lecture on Thursday despite the potential disruption of the campus by the protests.  Therefore, THURSDAY'S CLASS IS ON!
• I do urge people however to read about the issues behind the protests.  One place to start is here.

 

• 02/28/2012: 

• HW4 solutons are up (see HW section)

• Midtem solutions are up too (see HW section)

• Also VIDEO SESSION TOMORROW (LEAP DAY!)

• 02/21/2012:  Grads, you have some extra homework -- see the Homework page

• 02/23/2012:  MID-TERM!!!
  
  • The mid-term is here
  • Rules: 
  • Try and do this the first time without using your notes or book,  Write in a blue pen.
  • If you find that you cannot do everything, THEN consults your notes/book and fill in the rest with a red pen.
  • You can spend some time reading your notes/book BEFORE trying the first shot if you want.
  • Hand in whatever you do for full marks guaranteed.
• 02/20/2012:  Here are some direct links to some of the videos I showed on vortex rings
  
  • John Hart's video of vortex propogation
  • John Hart's video of vortex collision
  • Prof. Lim's video of vortex ring collision
  • Prof. Lim's video of vortex ring leapfrogging
  • Crazy video of of lots of vortex rings (dolphins, volcanos, etc)

• 02/14/2012:
• Video session tomorrow, Wed 15th Feb, BE330 "Vorticity Parts I & II"  1 hour.

• 02/12/2012:
  • HW3 solutons are up (see HW section)
• 01/31/2012:
• HW2 solutons are up (see HW section)
• No formal video session tomorrow but feel free to watch the "Eulerian-Lagrangian" video in your own time (go here)

• 01/27/2012: Results of the Fountain-Off!  The Fountain Challenge was a great success.  Congratulations to the three teams that entered -- Matteo and David, Ryan and Matt, and Sarah and Vu.  Excellent fountains by all.  Here are some videos of the fun:
• Ryan and Matt
• David and Matteo
• Sarah and Vu, part 1
• Sarah and Vu, part 2
• I don't know WHAT this is all about!

• 01/27/2012:  Class pictures from HW1 are here

• 01/25/2012: The room for the videos has changed to BE330

• 01/17/2012: WE ARE CHANGING ROOMS!  NEW LOCATION: COLLEGE EIGHT, CLASSOOM 252

• 01/09/2012: PLEASE NOTE THAT THE FIRST DAY OF CLASS IS THURSDAY 12TH JAN.  There is no class on Tues 10th Jan.