Applications of Fluid Dynamics

Module aims

To explore a number of applications of fluid dynamics to areas within and beyond aeronautics, in fields such as convective heat and mass transfer, wind energy, bio-fluid mechanics, and road vehicle aerodynamics. At the same time the course aims to deepen the understanding of the physics and governing equations of fluid dynamics.

Specifically in the four parts of the course students will:
(i) obtain an understanding of the flow features around road vehicles, how this generates aerodynamic forces and affects vehicle performance;
(ii) learn how to apply fluid mechanics to describe the mechanics of flow in the human respiratory and cardiovascular systems;
(iii) gain some basic knowledge of the physical principles of operation of wind turbines and a good understanding of methods for their analysis and design; and
(iv) understand the way in which fluid mechanics may be combined with thermodynamics to model the transport of heat and mass.

Learning outcomes

Students would be able to:

• Describe the main features of the flow around a road vehicle, and provide an overview of how the aerodynamic forces arise.
• Explain how the aerodynamic forces are affected by vehicle shape and motion. 
• Analyse aerodynamic drag and relate to the features of both passenger and heavy road vehicles.
• Give an overview of testing and computational methods and to understand the need for designers to make trade-offs with other factors.
• Know and describe the essential characteristics and components of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems.
• Apply dimensional analysis to derive key parameters describing physiological flows.
• Relate simple models of pulse propagation in arteries to the dynamics of a compressible fluid.
• Construct appropriate models to describe transport and exchange process, including defining equations, boundary conditions and deriving solutions in simple cases.    
• Know the various types of wind turbines and assess their aerodynamic performance. 
• Predict how much power can be extracted from the wind using the actuator disk theory.
• Analyse the performance of HAWT and VAWT using the blade-element momentum theory.
• Understand the diffusive nature of heat conduction and how this will lead to convection at a fluid – solid boundary for which there is a temperature gradient present.
• Learn how to formulate and use the boundary layer equations for forced convection.
• Realise that the transfer of heat and mass is analogous and learn to exploit this analogy.
• Understand the relative importance of free and forced convection and in particular when one may be neglected for the other.
• Appreciate the important role that boundary conditions play in all heat and mass transfer problems.

Module syllabus

Pre-requisites

AERO50001 Aerodynamics 2

Teaching methods

Lectures, tutorials.

Assessments

Examined Assessment
2.5 hour written examination in January (100%)
Non-Examined Assessment
1 x Progress test (peer marked)

Reading list