1. Basic properties of fluids. Fluid statics. Hydrostatic forces on surfaces; manometers. Center of pressure. Calculation of pressures and forces on the walls of tanks.
2. Kinematics of ideal fluids: Stokes operator, Bernoulli’s theorem, continuity equation, and stream function. Euler equations. Velocity potential function. Archimedes’ principle. Irrotational flow.
3. Kinematics of real fluids: stress–strain relationships. Boundary conditions. Equations of motion of real fluids (Navier–Stokes equations). Laminar and turbulent flow. Flow over solid boundaries; boundary layer theory. Incompressible flow in conduits; Hagen–Poiseuille theory. Applications to simple fluid mechanics problems. Dimensional analysis and similarity, nondimensionalization, Buckingham π theorem.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, the student will have been introduced to:

• The fundamental concepts of fluid mechanics.
• The theory of statics of incompressible fluids.
• The governing equations of incompressible fluid dynamics: continuity, momentum, and energy equations.
• The Euler and Bernoulli equations.
• The concepts of laminar and turbulent flow.
• Dimensional analysis and hydraulic similarity.

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• Identify physical phenomena addressed by fluid mechanics.
• Calculate pressure distributions in static fluids and forces acting on surfaces in contact with static fluids.
• Analyze flow using the control volume approach.
• Apply dimensional analysis and hydraulic similarity.
• Provide a mathematical description of real fluid motion for basic flows based on the Navier–Stokes equations, applying appropriate simplifications for civil engineering problems.
• Explain the field formulation of the Navier–Stokes equations and connect mathematical and mechanical concepts for the modeling of physical fluid mechanics problems.