Aims

The aims of the course are to:

• Introduce the basic language of fluid dynamics (lift, drag, pressure, streamlines etc.).
• Familiarise students with the scope and applications of thermodynamics.
• Introduce the control volume concept
• Teach the conservation of mass, momentum and energy, and the Second Law of Thermodynamics, both for systems and for control volumes.
• Show how velocity and pressure are related.
• Teach the properties and behaviour of substances, especially of ideal gases.
• Examine engineering applications, such as buoyancy, flow measurement, lift and drag forces, etc.
• Demonstrate the application of the basic principles of Thermodynamics to the analysis of simple cycles.

Objectives

As specific objectives, by the end of the course students should be able to:

• Understand the concepts of mass, momentum, heat, work, energy and entropy in Thermofluid Mechanics.
• Understand the basic principles of hydrostatics.
• Understand how to use manometers and other instruments/tehcniques for the investigation of fluid flows.
• Identify a thermofluid system or control volume and the flows of mass, momentum, heat and work that are associated with a given problem.
• Understand the origin of lift and drag
• Apply the First and Second Laws of Thermodynamics to a system
• Evaluate entropy changes for reversible and irreversible processes.
• Decide when Bernoulli's equation is applicable to a fluid flow and then apply it.
• Understand the behaviour of pure substances, the meaning of selected properties (p,v,s, T,u,h) and their use in analyses, and how to determine their values using thermodynamic tables and analytical expressions (e.g. pv = RT).
• Understand the use of the isentropic relations for perfect gases.
• Understand the fundamental relationships of fluid dynamics and apply them to engineering problems.
• Perform thermodynamic analyses for ideal cycles such as the Otto ("gasoline engine"), Diesel and Joule ("gas turbine") cycles.

Content

PART 1 – FLUID MECHANICS (Dr N Atkins)

Introduction to Thermofluid Mechanics (1.0L)

• The significance of Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics
• What is a fluid? 
• Forces in fluids. 
• Terminology of Fluid Dynamics.

Fluid Statics (Hydrostatics) (2.0L)

• Basic equations. 
• Variation of pressure with depth. 
• Manometers and barometers.
• Forces on submerged bodies. 
• Buoyancy and Archimedes' principle. 

Control volume approach (1.0L)

• Systems and control volumes.
• Conservation of mass in control volumes. 

Steady momentum equation (2.0L)

• Newton's 2nd law applied to control volumes (steady flow momentum equation). 
• Steady momentum equation in two dimensions. 

Bernoulli's equation (2.0L)

• Derivation.
• Applications (Venturi, discharge, flow measurement). 
• Open channel flows.

Curved Streamlines (1.0L)

• Coanda effect. 
• Magnus effect. 
• Circulation and lift. 

Summary and examples (1.0L)

PART II – THERMODYNAMICS (1.0L) (Dr C Hall, Lectures 11 – 24)

Introduction and Fundamental Concepts (1L)

• What is Thermodynamics?
• The scope of Thermodynamics.
• Classical Thermodynamics versus Molecular Thermodynamics.
• Thermodynamic Systems, Properties and Thermodynamic State.
• Thermodynamic Equilibrium, The Two-property rule.

The First Law of Thermodynamics (1L)

• Work, Heat and Energy.
• General statement of the First Law for a closed system.
• Cyclic processes, adiabatic processes.

Property Relations and Ideal Gases (1L)

• Pure substances and phases.
• Definition of enthalpy (H), specific heat capacities.
• Ideal gas relations: perfect and semi-perfect gases.

Application of the 1st Law to Perfect Gases (1L)

• Isobaric, isochoric and isothermal processes.
• Adiabatic compression and expansion.
• Polytropic processes.

The Second Law of Thermodynamic (1.5L)

• Reversible and irreversible processes.
• The Kelvin-Planck and Clausius statements of the Second Law.
• Heat engines, refrigerators and heat pumps.
• Cycle efficiency and coefficient of performance.
• The Carnot cycle.

Temperature (0.5L)

• The Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics.
• Empirical temperature scales, the perfect gas temperature scale.
• Thermodynamic temperature. Temperature measurement.

Entropy (2L)

• Revision of 1st and 2nd Laws
• The Clausius Inequality.
• The definition of entropy (S)
• Entropy changes for reversible and irreversible processes.

Application and Interpretation of Entropy (1L)

• The “Tds” equations. Entropy of a perfect gas.
• Entropy changes of isolated systems: principle of maximum entropy.
• Molecular interpretation

Applications I: Reciprocating internal combustion engines (1L)

• Spark ignition and compression ignition engines.
• The Air-standard cycles: Otto and Diesel.
• Practical considerations.

Control volume analysis (1L)

• Mass conservation revisited.
• First Law applied to control volumes

Steady Flow Processes (1L)

• The steady flow energy equation (SFEE).
• Throttling processes; compressors and turbines

The Second Law for Control Volumes (1L)

• Entropy changes for flow processes.
• Steady reversible and irreversible flow.
• Isentropic flow.

The Applications II: Gas Turbines and Jet Engines (1L)

• The air-standard Joule cycle.
• The jet engine.

This syllabus contributes to the following areas of the UK-SPEC standard:

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Last modified: 05/06/2025 11:12

Aims

The aims of the course are to:

• Convey the fundamental role of mechanics in engineering.
• Introduce the concepts of kinematics to describe the motion of particles and rigid bodies.
• Introduce the concepts of dynamics and apply these to particles and to planar motion of rigid bodies.
• Develop an understanding of different methods for solving mechanics problems: Newton's Laws, Momentum and Energy.
• Develop skills in modelling and analysing mechanical systems using graphical, analytical and numerical approaches.

Objectives

As specific objectives, by the end of the course students should be able to:

• Apply concepts of kinematics to particles and rigid bodies in two dimensions.
• Specify the position, velocity and acceleration of a particle in 2-D motion in cartesian, polar and intrinsic coordinates using graphical, algebraic and vector methods.
• Differentiate a rotating vector.
• Understand and apply Newton's laws and the equations of energy and momentum of particles.
• Apply Newton's laws to variable mass problems.
• Apply the concept of angular momentum of a particle, and recognise when it is conserved.
• Apply the principles of particle dynamics to satellite motion.
• Determine the centre of mass and moment of inertia of a plane lamina
• Understand and apply the perpendicular and parallel axes theorems
• Understand and apply Newton's laws to rotational motion of planar motion of rigid bodies.
• Understand the concepts of energy, linear momentum and angular momentum of a rigid body, and recognise when they are conserved.
• Apply concepts of relative velocity, angular velocity and instantaneous centre of rigid bodies.
• Apply Newton's laws and d'Alembert's principle to determine the acceleration of a rigid body subject to applied forces and couples
• Be able to apply the concepts of linear momentum, angular momentum, impulses and energy to planar motion of rigid bodies, including impact problems.

Content

The course structure is summarised below: the square brackets are topic codes that correspond to the textbook reference table.

Introduction

• Newton's laws of motion [I1]
• Units [I2]
• Forces [I3]
• Free Body Diagrams [I4]
• Frames of reference [I5]

Kinematics of Particles

• Cartesian coordinates [KP1]
• Polar coordinates [KP2]
• Intrinsic coordinates [KP3]
• Differentiation of a unit vector [KP4]
• Velocity and acceleration in different coordinate systems [KP5]
• Numerical differentiation [KP6]
• Relative position, velocity and acceleration [KP7]

Dynamics of Particles

• Newton's Laws applied to particles [DP1]
• D'Alembert force for a particle [DP2]
• Equations of motion [DP3]
• Numerical solution methods [DP4]
• Conservation of Energy [DP5]
• Potential energy, equilibrium and stability [DP6]
• Linear momentum [DP7]
• Variable mass systems [DP8]
• Angular momentum [DP9]
• Satellite motion in steady circular and elliptical orbits [DP10]

Kinematics of Rigid Bodies

• Relative motion [KRB1]
• Angular velocity as a vector [KRB2]
• Rotating reference frames [KRB3]
• Instantaneous centres for planar motion [KRB4]

Dynamics of Rigid Bodies

• Centre of mass of a rigid body [DRB1]
• Moment of inertia of a planar rigid body [DRB2]
• Dynamics of a rigid body with a fixed axis of rotation [DRB3]
• D'Alembert forces and moments for planar motion of a rigid body [DRB4]
• Linear and angular momentum of rigid bodies in planar motion [DRB5]
• Kinetic energy of a translating and rotating planar body [DRB6]
• Impact problems in plane motion [DRB7]

REFERENCES

[1] Gregory, R. D. Classical Mechanics
[2] Malthe-Sorenssen, A. Elementary Mechanics Using Python
​[3] Hibbeler, R.C. Engineering Mechanics: Statics / Dynamics (two books with continuing chapters)
[4] Meriam, J.L. & Kraige, L.G., Engineering Mechanics. Vol.2: Dynamics
[5] Prentis, J.M. Dynamics of Mechanical Systems
 

Comments:

Gregory [1] is a rigorous textbook with a physics perspective.

Malthe-Sorrensson [2] has many numerical examples.

Hibbeler [3] contains many illustrative diagrams and examples.

Meriam and Kraige [4] contains many illustrative diagrams and examples.

Prentis [5] has a different perspective with a strong emphasis on mechanism analysis and graphical methods.

Topic cross references

This syllabus contributes to the following areas of the UK-SPEC standard:

Toggle display of UK-SPEC areas.

 
Last modified: 23/07/2025 16:43