THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

ME 330 (Fluid Mechanics)

Course Syllabus Spring Fall

Unique #17425
[Meeting Location: BUR 116: TuTh 2-3:30 PM]
Instructor:

Dr. F. Todd Davidson

Campus Office: ETC 7.148D & 6.104
e-mail: todd.davidson@utexas.edu

Office Hours: MW: 10-12 AM; TuTh: 3:30-5 PM; or by prior arrangement
Teaching Assistant: Huakang Benny Li; bennylee0723@utexas.edu
Reqd Text: Fundamentals of Fluid Mechanics, 7th edition
Munson, Okiishi, Huebsch, and Rothmayer; John Wiley & Sons, 2013
You MUST have a copy of the text for in-class and open-book exam use.
Prereqs:

M 427K (Advanced Calculus)

EM 306 (Statics and Dynamics)
ME 326 (Thermodynamics)

Topics and Exams:

Chapter
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
11
Grading:

Description
Introduction
Fluid Statics
The Bernoulli Equation
Exam #1 (February 17th)
Fluid Kinematics
Control Volume Analysis
Differential Analysis of Fluid Flow
Exam #2 (March 31st)
Similitude, Dimensional Analysis, and Modeling
Viscous Flow in Pipes
Flow Over Immersed Bodies
Exam #3 (April 28th)
Compressible Flow
Final Exam (May 14th, 2-5 PM, Location: TBD)
3 Exams
Homework & Quizzes
Comprehensive Final Exam

55% [15, 20, 20]

10%
35%

Overview:

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. Predictions of flows
and resulting forces is a key part of this course.

Assignments:

Reading - A schedule of study and reading assignments is attached. 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.
Homework - Homework will be assigned weekly, due the following week.
Homework is due at the beginning of class. Homework will be considered
late if its not turned in within the first five minutes of class. Late homework
will not be accepted, baring extraordinary circumstances. Your solutions are
expected to be neat, well organized, and legible. Collaboration is
encouraged but your work must be your own. Academic dishonesty will
result in no credit being awarded for the entire assignment.
Quizzes Pop quizzes will be administered in class. The quizzes will focus
on information learned from reading assignments and homeworks.
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.

Final Exam:

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) may be awarded an A or A- for the course and allowed to forego the
final exam.

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:

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.

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://catalog.utexas.edu/undergraduate/introduction/
http://catalog.utexas.edu/general-information/appendices/appendix-c/student-discipline-andconduct/
2) An engineering student must have the Deans approval to add or drop a course. For answers
about policies and procedures please contact Engineering Student Services at (512) 4714321. Additional information can be found here:
http://www.engr.utexas.edu/undergraduate/forms/adddrop
3) Web-based, password-protected information is available for this course on Canvas http://canvas.utexas.edu/. Syllabi, handouts, assignments and other resources are types of
information that may be available.
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. 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. For more information please 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.