The University of the West Indies

Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering

CVNG 2005: Mechanics of Fluids II
Objective
Fluid mechanics is fundamental to our understanding of many natural phenomena,
ranging from the structure of galaxies in the universe to the structure of hurricanes,
tornadoes and other terrestrial flows in the atmosphere, rivers, and below the ground. In
civil engineering practice, fluid mechanics finds numerous applications for the resolution
of problems relating to fluid flows and fluid structure interactions; such as: flow in a
pipeline, flow in rivers and through bridge waterways, flow of groundwater to wells,
transport of contaminants, oceanographic flows and air flow around buildings. Of special
importance is the study and analysis of flow induced forces, such as the fluid dynamic
forces of impact, drag and lift on structures, and flow induced vibration. It can be seen
therefore, that a clear understanding of the principles of fluid mechanics is essential for
the safe and optimal design of structures and facilities, such as bridges, dams, drainage
systems, harbours, pipelines, sea defence works, spillways, water wells; just to name a
few. The purpose of teaching this higher level introductory course is to provide a
deeper, and broader, understanding of some aspects of the basic principles of fluid
mechanics and their application to civil engineering projects. The principal topics
covered will be open channel flow and potential flow theory.
Course outline
This course will be covered in approximately 30 hours of lectures and tutorials. There
will be a three hour-long end of the semester examination, which will account for 70 %
of the total marks. An information sheet (draft available on myelearning) will be provided
in the examination paper. Only non-programmable calculators will be permitted, and the
students will be asked to answer any four out of five questions.
Open Channel Flow Objective
The analysis of flow in river systems and manmade open channels for the design of
irrigation, drainage and flood control schemes is of fundamental importance in Civil
Engineering Hydraulics. The course will introduce all the basic theory for the analysis of
open channel flow and will show how these can be applied in design.
Open Channel Flow Delivery and Assessment:
This module will be covered in approximately 18 hours of lectures and tutorials. In
addition, there will be two laboratory experiments. Furthermore, three questions will be
set from this module in the end of semester examination.
For the experimental work, students will be divided into small groups and will carry out
two experiments in the Fluid Mechanics Laboratory. The allocation of the two
experiments will be carried out by the technician in charge of the Fluid Mechanics
laboratory on a random basis. Individual reports will be required for each one of the two
experiments, and these will account for 30 % of the total marks (15% for each of the two
reports). The laboratory sessions will be supervised by Mr. C Stoute and Ms P Felix,
Graduate Assistant. Laboratory sessions will start in either Week 5 or Week 6.

List of experiments:
Hydraulic Jump
Flow over a broad crested weir
Prescribed format of the laboratory report:
Introduction and objectives
Theory
Experimental procedure
Experimental data
Calculations: Explain in detail the procedure and include spreadsheet tables
where necessary
Analysis, evaluation and discussion of results
Conclusions
References
Each report should be limited to a maximum of 11 pages, including all appendices.

Potential Flow Objective

Flow fields outside boundary layers are normally considered potential flows. Such flows
find considerable application in problems relating to flows in porous media, atmosphere
and oceans. Historically, such flows were analyzed on the assumption of an ideal fluid
(which has no viscosity) and led to the development of theoretical hydro (and later)
Aerodynamics. The objective of this unit is to introduce the basic hydrodynamic
concepts, and equations, and show their applications for the analysis of some real life
problems and phenomena such as: Flow through a bend in a pipeline or an open
channel; the structure of tornadoes and hurricanes; hoop stress in cylindrical structures;
fluid dynamic forces on structures and aerodynamics of sports balls etc.
Potential Flow Delivery and Assessment
This unit will be covered in approximately 12 hours of lectures and tutorials. Two
questions will be set from this unit in the end of semester examination.

Reading List:
Chadwick, A., and Morfett, J, 1998, or 2004 Hydraulics in Civil and Environmental
Engineering, E&FN Spon (highly recommended text)
Munson, B. R. Fundamentals of Fluid Mechanics 5th Ed., (as CD-Rom and as book
in UWI Main Library (supplement for Potential Flows)
Massey, B. S., 1998, Mechanics of Fluids, Seventh Edition, Stanley Thornes.

Dr M. Schankat
6th September 2010