Engineering and the Environment, University of Southampton

Knowledge and understanding
Completing the module should prepare you to understand the features of compressible flows (steady and unsteady) that are absent from incompressible flows, and be able to judge which of the various simplified models may be appropriate in a given situation.

Cognitive (thinking) skills
After completing the module, you should be able to

• Read and understand relevant sections of the set textbooks
• Proceed to further study of fluid dynamics and acoustics

Practical, subject specific skills
Students completing the module should be able to

• Calculate compressible flow conditions from pitot-static measurements.
  
• Calculate steady 1D compressible waves.
  
• Calculate normal shock properties..

Key transferable skills
The laboratory reporting component of this module will give you practice in assembling your own data and constructing a reasoned and logical report on the findings.

• To introduce students to the thermodynamic properties of fluids, especially gases.
• To bring together elements of thermodynamics and fluid dynamics, as a basis for describing compressible flows.
• To provide a starting point for further self-directed study in fluid mechanics.<
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• To generalise Bernoulli's equation to compressible flows.
• To introduce the perfect gas model and use it to illustrate compressible seady=flow velocity calculation.
• To explain the significance of specific entropy as an invariant property in ideal-fluid compressible flows.
• Toanalyse steady compressible flow in ducts and nozzles (1D only).
• To introduce one-dimensional waves and shocks, from a fluid dynamics viewpoint.

• Background maths:
  Partial derivatives. Vector fields; gradient, divergence, Laplacian (del squared).
  Line, surface, volume integrals

• Incompressible flow:
  Bernoulli's equation and total pressure losses in a low-speed wind tunnel (lab).

• Integral forms of mass and momentum conservation:
  Control volume formulation. Reynolds transport theorem.
• Uses of vector field theory:-VgradP force, Gauss' divergence theorem. Solenoidal vector fields: examples.
  Mass conservation law.
• Flows with solid boundaries:
  Matching conditions at solid-fluid interfaces. Boundary layers: growth and separation.
  Laminar-turbulent transition: Re(crit).
• Dimensional analysis
  General technique: examples in fluid dynamics.

• Lectures and video presentations.
  
• Laboratory session, working in teams under supervision

• Hands-on experience of wind tunnel measurements
  
• Discussion of video material
  
• Homework exercises (voluntary) to reinforce learning of concepts.

Secondary text

Introduction to Engineering Thermodynamics, 2001, R.E. Sonntag
C. Borgnakke, John Wiley
0471-32172-9

Fundamentals of Fluid Mechanicsb3rd edition update, 1998, B.R. MunsonbD.F. Young
T.H. Okiishi, John Wiley
0471-355502-X

Vector Calculus, 1998, P.C. Matthews, Springer-Verlag
3540-76180-2