THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

ME 330 (Fluid Mechanics)

Course Syllabus Spring 2014

Unique #18290
[Meeting Location: BUR 116: TuTh 2:00-3:30 PM]
Instructor:

Dr. Alex Heltzel

Campus Office: WRW 111
e-mail: alexheltzel@utexas.edu

Office Hours: MW: 10-12 AM; TuTh: 11-12 AM; or by prior arrangement
Reqd Text: Fundamentals of Fluid Mechanics, John Wiley & Sons:
Munson, Young, Okiishi, and Huebsch; 2009, 6th ed ition or
Munson, Rothmayer, Okiishi, and Huebsch; 2013, 7th edition.
Note: You may also buy the electronic version of these; but you MUST
have a printed copy of the text for in-class and open-book exam use.
Prereqs:

Overview:

M 427K (Advanced Calculus)

EM 306 (Statics and Dynamics)
ME 326 (Thermodynamics)
A working knowledge of math, physics, and chemistry is assumed.
Fluid mechanics is the study of substances that deform continuously under
the application of a shear stress, i.e., a tangential force per unit area. The
distinction between a fluid and the solid state of matter is clear if you
compare fluid and solid behavior. A solid may deform when a shear stress is
applied, but it does not deform continuously like a fluid.
An understanding of the basic principles and concepts of fluid mechanics is
essential to the analysis of any system in which a fluid (gas or liquid) is the
working medium. In our time together, we will study fluids at rest and in
motion for incompressible internal and external flows using integral,
differential, and empirical analysis techniques.

Assignments:

A schedule of study and reading assignments is attached. Homework problems

are assigned separately. You are expected to be conversant with the essentials
of each lesson from your readings prior to class. Lectures will focus on the
fundamental concepts and more difficult aspects of the lesson material.
Engineering is a problem solving profession. Your success in this course, as
in engineering practice, will depend upon your ability to address a variety of
practical problems. Therefore, there is absolutely no substitute for putting
pencil to paper and working through a problem by yourself. You are
encouraged to work more problems than those suggested. Solutions will be
provided and discussed upon request. The more problems of different types

that you address, the better you will understand the principals involved.
Remember, you learn best by doing . . . using a clean sheet of paper.
Homework:

The assigned homework is your opportunity for practice. Assignments will

typically be turned in weekly; they will normally be graded and returned to you
a week later. Late homework will receive reduced credit. Your solutions are
expected to be neat, well organized, and legible. Free collaboration on
homework is permitted and encouraged. However, the homework solutions
that you submit are expected to be your own work. Simple copying of any
material is scholastic dishonesty and will be dealt with accordingly. Any
student handing in a homework assignment containing any solution that is
merely copied from the solutions manual, another student, or a previous
semester will be awarded no credit for that entire homework assignment.
I am well aware that students are able to obtain solutions for end of
chapter problems in our textbook. Doing so, and then relying heavily on
these, ultimately short changes the learning process and is a proven,
ineffective means for learning that will very likely impact your final grade
and what you learn.

Graded Opportunities: (The +/- letter grading system will be used to assign final grades)
3 Exams
55% [15, 20, 20]
Graded Homework
15%
Comprehensive Final Exam
30%
Class Format: Interactive lectures, i.e., students are expected to come to class prepared to
participate in discussion of the reading material assigned for that day.
Attendance:

Attendance will be taken; regular attendance is expected. Repeated absences

will be reported to the Office of the Dean of Engineering for disposition.
Frequent absences, lack of attention, or lack of participation will be taken
into account in assigning grades.

Evaluation:
Each of you will be provided with an opportunity to evaluate the course and
the instructor at the end of the semester. We will use the standard form
supplemented with some additional questions. Feedback is welcome at any
time during the semester as to how the course (its content or administration)
may be improved. Questions about any aspect of the course are always
welcome.
Grading Policy: A final exam will be administered during the scheduled exam period.
Students who have a course average greater than or equal to 90.00 % at the end
of the semester (based on all graded homework and the three semester exams)
will be awarded an A or A- for the course and allowed to forego the final exam.

Other Administrative Matters

1) University of Texas policies on academic honesty will be strictly enforced. To access the UT
Honor Code (statement of ethics) and for an explanation or example of what constitutes
plagiarism see
http://registrar.utexas.edu/catalogs/gi09-10/ch01/index.html.
2) An engineering student must have the Deans approval to add or drop a course after the
fourth class day of the term. Adds or drops are not approved after this except for good cause.
Good cause is interpreted to be documented evidence of an extenuating nonacademic
circumstance (such as health or personal problems) that did not exist on or before the fourth
class day. Applications for approval to drop a course after the fourth class day should be
made in the Office of Student Affairs, ECJ 2.200.
3) Web-based, password-protected class sites are available for all accredited courses taught at
The University. Syllabi, handouts, assignments and other resources are types of information
that may be available within these sites. Site activities could include exchanging e-mail,
engaging in class discussions and chats, and exchanging files. In addition, class e-mail rosters
will be a component of the sites. Students who do not want their names included in these
electronic class rosters must restrict their directory information in the Office of the Registrar,
Main Building, Room 1. For information on restricting directory information see:
http://www.utexas.edu/student/registrar/catalogs/gi00-01/app/appc09.html. Course
documents will be posted on: http://courses.utexas.edu/; i.e., BlackBoard with UT EID login.
4) All students should become familiar with the University's official e-mail student notification
policy. It is the student's responsibility to keep the University informed as to changes in his
or her e-mail address. Students are expected to check e-mail on a frequent and regular basis
in order to stay current with University-related communications, recognizing that certain
communications may be time-critical. It is recommended that e-mail be checked daily, but at
a minimum, twice per week. The complete text of this policy and instructions for updating
your e-mail address are available at http://www.utexas.edu/its/policies/emailnotify.html. In
this course e-mail will be used as a means of communication with students. You will be
responsible for checking your e-mail regularly for class work and announcements.
5) The University of Texas at Austin provides, upon request, appropriate academic adjustments
for qualified students with disabilities. Any student with a documented disability (physical or
cognitive) who requires academic accommodations should contact the Division of Diversity
and Community Engagement, Services for Students with Disabilities, 471-6259,
http://www.utexas.edu/diversity/ddce/ssd/.
6) By UT Austin policy, you must notify me of your pending absence at least fourteen days
prior to the date of observance of a religious holy day. If you must miss a class, an
examination, a work assignment, or a project in order to observe a religious holy day, you
will be given an opportunity to complete the missed work within a reasonable time after the
absence.

Lesson Schedule, Topics, and Assignments

ME 330 (Fluid Mechanics)
Spring Semester 2014
Date

Subject /Topic

Readings

14 Jan

Introduction

Chap 1; Peruse Appendices

16 Jan

Fluid Statics: Pressure, Manometry

Chap 2, Sec 2.1 - 2.6

21 Jan

Fluid Statics: Hydrostatic Forces

Chap 2, Sec 2.8 - 2.10

23 Jan

Fluid Statics: Hydrostatic Forces

28 Jan

Buoyancy, Rigid Body Motion

Chap 2, Sec 2.11 - 2.12

30 Jan

Fundamental Concepts
Velocity Field

Chap 3, Sec 3.1 - 3.5

4 Feb

Fundamental Concepts
Bernoulli Equation; Pressure

Chap 3, Sec 3.6 & 3.8

6 Feb

Intro to Fluid Kinematics

Acceleration/Rotation/Deformation

Chap 4, Sec 4.1 - 4.2

Chap 6, Sec 6.1

11 Feb

Exam #1

13 Feb

Integral Analysis:
Reynolds Transport Theorem

Chap 4, Sec 4.3 - 4.4

18 Feb

Integral Analysis:
Conservation of Mass and Momentum

Chap 5, Sec 5.1

20 Feb

Integral Analysis:
Linear Momentum
Conservation of Energy

Chap 5, Sec 5.2.1 - 5.2.2

Chap 5, Sec 5.3

25 Feb

Differential Analysis:
Conservation of Mass
Stream Function

Chap 6, Sec 6.2

27 Feb

Differential Analysis:
Navier-Stokes Equations

Chap 6, Sec 6.3 & 6.8

4 Mar

Solutions to Navier-Stokes Equations

Chap 6, Sec 6.9

Peruse Sec 6.10

Date
6 Mar

Subject /Topic
Incompressible Inviscid Flow
Euler Equations

Readings
Chap 6, Sec 6.4

Spring Break
18 Mar

Plane Potential Flows

Chap 6, Sec 6.5 - 6.7

20 Mar

Dimensional Analysis
Buckingham Pi Theorem
Determination of Pi Terms

Chap 7, Sec 7.1 - 7.6

25 Mar

Exam #2

27 Mar

Dimensional Analysis
Determination of Pi Terms
Similitude

Chap 7, Sec 7.8 - 7.10

1 Apr

Viscous Flow in Pipes: Laminar Flow

Chap 8, Sec 8.1 - 8.2

3 Apr

Viscous Flow in Pipes: Turbulent Flow

Chap 8, Sec 8.3

8 Apr

Energy Considerations:
Major and Minor Losses
Moody Chart

Chap 8, Sec 8.4 - 8.5

10 Apr

Pipe Flow Problems

15 Apr

External Flows: Boundary Layers

Chap 9, Sec 9.1 - 9.2

17 Apr

Boundary Layers and Drag

Chap 9, Sec 9.3

22 Apr

Exam #3

24 Apr

Flows with Pressure Gradient; Lift

29 Apr

Lift; Airfoils;
Intro to Compressible Flows

1 May

Course Wrap-Up, Critique, and Evaluation

9 May

Comprehensive Final Exam

Chap 9, Sec 9.4

(9-12 AM) Location TBD