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.

 

Lectures:

Porter Academy 144, Tues/Thurs, 2:00-3:45pm

 

Primary Required Text: 

Kundu,  Cohen and Dowling (= K), Fluid Mechanics (5th ed., Academic Press)

 

Extra video sessions and office hours: 

Wednesday at 5pm in BE358

The URL for the set of videos if you are not coming to the session is here, or get them directly on YouTube here

• 01/15:  "Flow Visualization"
• 01/22:  "Eulerian Lagrangian Descriptions"
• 01/29:  "Pressure and fluid acceleration"
• 01/05:
• 02/12:  "Vorticity I and II"
• 01/19:  "Rotating flows" 
• 02/26:  "Secondary Flows"
• 03/05:  "Waves in Fluids" & "Stratified Flow"
• 03/12: "Fundamentals of Boundary Layers" & "Low Reynolds Number Flow"

 

Announcements Archive

• 03/19:
• YOU ARE DONE!  Congratulations on completing the course!
• It was a pleasure teaching you all.  i hope you learned something and had some fun.  Don't hesitate to contact me if you need something at any time in the future.
• Here is the final exam
• Here are the final exam answers, in case you are interested
• 03/14:
• Here is an example problem in viscous flow.  This is a tough problem though, sorry!
• Here are the answers to the above problem.
• 03/13:
• Composite pics of flow past a cylinder
• 03/12: 
• VIDEOS WED 5pm BE358 "Fundamentals of Boundary Layers"
• 03/11:
• EXAM!!!!  The exam will be at 8am (eek!) in the usual room on TUESDAY MAR 18th
• 03/03: 
  • VIDEOS WED 5pm BE358 "Waves in Fluids"
  02/27: Here is the plot for the flow around a cylinder with circulation that enables us to generate lift inviscidly
• Flow around circulating cylinders
• 02/25: 
• VIDEOS WED!   At your leisure:  "Secondary Flows"
• 02/18: 
• VIDEOS WED!   BE 358 at 5pm  "Rotating Flows"
• HW 4 answers are posted
• EXTRA HW (4.5) for GRADS ONLY!
• SELF-TEST MIDTERM IS POSTED IN HW SECTION
• 02/18:  Here is the air hockey video demonstration of the fictitious Coriolis force acting in a rotating frame!
• 02/18:  Taylor-Proudman demonstrations:
• High Rossby number
• Low Rossby number (wire at middle)
• Low Rossby number (wire at top)
• Here is another page about this stuff
• 02/12:  VIDEOS TODAY!   BE 358 at 5pm  "Vorticity I and II"
• 02/12: Vortex ring stuff:
•  Here is the vortex ring YouTube video I was talking about (Beware of the awful music!)
• Vortex propogation movie
• Vortex collision movie
• Vortex collision movie 2 - low Re
• Vortex collision movie 2 - High Re
• Vortex leapfrog movie
• Vortex rings blown by volcanoes!
• Vortex rings generated by swimming fish!
• 02/05:  No video session today (but you can start watching the next [vorticity] ones if you want)
• 02/04:  HOMEWORK 4 is set, due a week from today (Feb 11th).  You have covered all the material now.
• 01/31:  Answers to HW3 are posted in the Homework section
• 01/29:  Movie time tonight 5pm BE358: "Pressure and fluid acceleration"
• 01/23:   Watch the Mavericks big wave surf competition going on the big swell here right now! 
• http://www.mavericksinvitational.com/
• 01/22:    No formal video viewing session today (Wed 22nd):  Watch "Eulerian Lagrangian Descriptions" in your own time
• 01/22:    HERO'S FOUNTAIN COMPETITION VIDEOS:  Excellent job, teams.  Here are the videos of the contraptions:
• Team 1: Allison. Sarah N., Sarah B.
• Team 2: JoFawna, Nicole, Sebastian, Aya, Richard
• Team 3: David. Lydia, Anna, Christie
• Thanks to guest judge, Sarah Gilchrist.
• 01/21:  Compendium of class pics from HW1 is HERE.
• 01/20:  HERO'S FOUNTAIN COMPETITION TODAY, BEGINNING OF CLASS, 2PM!
• 01:15:   First video session today: BE358 "Flow visualisation"
• 01/14:  I FORGOT TO MENTION:  If any **UNDERGRAD** team wants to enter the "Fountain Challenge" and show the grad teams what they can do, then feel free to build yourselves a fountain and compete for the big money!!
• 12/10:  Get ready ... !  First class Tues Jan 7th.