Abu Dhabi University

College of Engineering and Computer Science

Course Syllabus
Civil Engineering Program
Spring Semester AY2013-2014
Course Name:
Course Code:
Course Pre-requisites:
Course Co-requisites:
Credit hours:
Instructors Name:
Telephone:
Class Location:
Office Location:

Fluid Mechanics
CIV242
CIV 201, MTT 200
XXX
3
Mohamed Elhakeem
02 501XXXX
E-mail: Mohamed.Elhakeem@adu.ac.ae
Class Time:
Office Hours:

1. Course Description
This is the first course in Water Resources Engineering. The course covers the following topics:
fluid properties; fluid statics and motion, pressure and force under hydrostatic conditions,
manometers, buoyancy and stability of floating and submerged bodies, mass, energy and momentum
conservation laws; dimensional analysis and modeling; fluid measurements.
2. Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. Describe the fluid physical properties (a)
2. Understand the concept of fluid pressure (or normal stress) and the importance of
hydrostatic forces in estimation of the stability of hydraulic structures (e.g., gates/dams)
(a, e)
3. Understand and apply the conservation laws of mass (the continuity equation); energy
(the Bernoulli equation) and momentum (the force equation) (a, e)
4. Understand the similitude concepts and what is the difference between a model and a
prototype? (a, e)

Expected Learning Outcomes and Associated Measures

Assessment
Tool(s)*

Course Learning Outcome

Relevant Program Learning Outcome
1) Describe the fluid physical a) Ability to apply knowledge of
mathematics, science, and engineering
properties (a)
Homeworkassignments
2) Understand the concept of fluid
pressure (or normal stress) and the
a) Ability to apply knowledge of
importance of hydrostatic forces in
mathematics, science, and engineering
Homework
estimation of the stability of
e) Ability to identify, formulate, and assignments
hydraulic
structures
(e.g.,
solve engineering problems
exams
gates/dams) (a, e)
3) Understand and apply the
conservation laws of mass (the
continuity equation); energy (the
Bernoulli
equation)
and
momentum (the force equation) (a,
e)

a) Ability to apply knowledge of

mathematics, science, and engineering
Homework
e) Ability to identify, formulate, and assignments
solve engineering problems
exams

4) Understand the similitude

a) Ability to apply knowledge of
concepts and what is the difference
mathematics, science, and engineering
Homework
between a model and a prototype?
e) Ability to identify, formulate, and assignments
(a, e)
solve engineering problems
exams
*Please note that the assessment tool(s) are to be used in assessing the course learning outcomes.

and/or

and/or

and/or

3. Weekly Outline
Week
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14

Topic

Readings (Textbook)

Introduction
Fluid properties
Fluid pressure
Hydrostatic forces
Hydrostatic forces
Review/Exam1
Fluid motion
Conservation of mass
Conservation of energy
Conservation of momentum
Review/Exam 2
Similitude and dimensional analysis
Introduction to friction flow
Review/Exam 3

Fluid Mechanics with engineering

applications

4. Pedagogy Learning Process

Fluid mechanics course will be taught using a variety of pedagogical models. These will include
theory-led teaching, case-method education and project-based/team-based. Teaching based on
exposition of theory will be applied to fluid mechanics. Learning the fundamentals in math and
physics will be prerequisites to the development and application of water resources engineering
skills.
Case-method teaching will use real-world business experiences in order to demonstrate the
application of general principles and to apply them to specific problems posed during the course of
instruction.
Project-based and team-based education will be experiential; students will learn by doing, as much as
they would in a natural sciences laboratory class. Project-based education will also give students an
opportunity to learn how to assemble and coordinate necessary information, assert authority and
delegate responsibility. This is particularly important in the industry, in which the essential tasks are
the management of people and information.
It will be common in CE courses for all pedagogical approaches to be employed. The CE faculty
members will bring together theory-based instruction and an intimate understanding of state-of-theart professional practices.

5. Textbooks and Learning Material

1. Finnemore, E, and Franzini, J. (2003) Fluid Mechanics with Engineering Application, 10th
edition, McGraw-Hill, Inc. ISBN 0-07-243202-0
2. Lecture notes (PPT) developed by the instructor.

6. Assessment of Student Learning

Assessment Weights and Descriptions
Assessment Tool
Homework Assignments
Exam 1
Exam 2
Exam 3

Percentage
20%
30%
30%
20%

Description
HW will be given on weekly basis
3 exams will be given during the course
3 exams will be given during the course
3 exams will be given during the course

7. Grading Key
Grade
A
B+
B
C+
C
D+
D
F
I

Percentage
90-100
85-89
80-84
75-79
70-74
65-69
60-64
Less than 60
N/A

Grade Point
4
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.0
0.0

8. Attendance
For all students, absence is marked at a maximum of 30% of total class time. Final dismissals (WA)
will be posted on the students academic record. The calculation of the absence percentage is based
on the total number of class meetings, regardless of the length of the meetings. For example, if a
class meets once a week for 15 weeks, then a student would need 5 absences to reach the 30%
threshold.
Students will be considered absent if they do not arrive on time for a lesson. Taking attendance will
start on the first day of classes and will continue until the last day of classes in the semester.
Final Dismissal will not be waived under any circumstances. The Registrar's Office will accept
excuses only from students missing an exam/major assignment due to absence. Students will be
permitted to take a make-up exam, if its weight is at least 10% of the course total mark upon
approval of a legitimate excuse.
Exams/Tests will be repeated when serious reasons similar to the following take place and
documented evidence are submitted to the Office of the Registrar on the day student returns to class.
Hospitalization,
Contagious Disease,
Death, may God forbid, of an immediate family member (father, mother, sibling, husband,
son, daughter, grandparent),
Car Accident,
Job Requirement (special assignment), with prior written approval from the Office of the
Registrar
4

Al Haj

Al Umra
Al Umra trips are not valid excuses for students to be absent.
In the case of excused absence for a final exam, the student has to apply for an Incomplete (I) grade
at the Office of the Registrar within 48 hours of the exam.
9. Academic Integrity
The mission of ADU includes developing students sense of ethics, morality, and social
responsibility. Students at ADU have the fundamental obligation to conduct themselves with utmost
integrity. To ensure an education environment characterized with Academic integrity (AI), ADU has
revised its Academic Integrity Policy (AIP).
The revised Academic Integrity Policy (AIP) copies available on the intranet under the link of the
Office of Academic Integrity (OAI) has identified violations of AI punishable by serious penalties,
including dismissal from ADU. The types of violations identified in AIP, along with the
description and examples of each violation, are:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Cheating
Plagiarism
Fabrication of data
Presenting false credentials
Collusion
Free Riding

At the beginning of each semester, your instructor will review the essential elements of AIP in class
and will describe the intrinsic values of compliance, and the consequences of non-compliance (i.e.,
penalties) with the Policy. In addition, OAI undertakes a widespread AI Awareness Campaign at the
beginning of each semester to educate students about AI issues and the ways students can avoid
violations.
In view of resources provided by ADU in this regard, all students are expected to strictly comply
with the tenet of AIP and conduct themselves with highest degree of integrity and ethical conduct.
Students in need of additional information or assistance are requested to seek help from OAI.
Failure to comply with the provisions of AIP will have severe consequences, including dismissal
from ADU.
10. Miscellaneous

Mobile phones: A student whose mobile phone rings during class will be asked to
leave the classroom and will receive a half absence. Should this happen during an exam, the
student will not be allowed to retake the exam at another time, while at the same time
receiving a full absence.

Eating/Drinking/Smoking: Students will be requested to refrain from engaging in

these activities while in class.

Only emails from university-provided email accounts will be recognized and used in
this course.