ENCH293-25S1 (C) Semester One 2025

Fluid Mechanics 1

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 17 February 2025
End Date: Sunday, 22 June 2025
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 2 March 2025
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 11 May 2025

Description

This course will provide a basic understanding of the behaviour of fluids on the macro- and micro- scale, where students are able to design pipe and pumping systems for single-phase fluids. There will also be unit conversion, dimensional analysis, and scale-up.

This course introduces students to the fundamental principles of fluids. What causes fluid to flow from one location to another? Why do some fluids move in a chaotic manner, whilst others move in a smooth, stable motion? This course will introduce the fundamental equations that govern these phenomena. It will introduce Bernoulli’s equation and the Navier-Stokes equations that are both important in understanding fluid mechanics problems. The course will concentrate on the application of these concepts to engineering systems including pumps, piping networks, and drag. The course will also introduce a variety of topics that are important in practical engineering including units, physical variables, curve fitting, and dimensional analysis.
The following topics are taught in this course:
• Introduction to units and physical variables
• Physical properties of fluids
• Hydrostatics and buoyancy
• Navier-Stokes equations
• Stoke’s law
• Bernoulli’s equation
• Pipe systems
• Flow measurements
• Pumps (types, performance, selection)
• Curve fitting and solving equations using MS Excel
• Dimensional analysis
• Drag
• Compressible flow

Learning Outcomes

  • Convert various engineering units commonly encountered in the field.
  • Formulate and solve problems in fluid mechanics, including those involving static pressure, flow profiles, pressure drop, and pumping.
  • Identify and explain different types of flow measurement techniques.
  • Demonstrate a practical understanding of uncertainties in a laboratory flow system.
  • Utilize Excel proficiently for fluid mechanics calculations.

Prerequisites

Subject to approval of the Dean of Engineering and Forestry.

Timetable 2025

Students must attend one activity from each section.

Lecture A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Monday 09:00 - 10:00 E6 Lecture Theatre
17 Feb - 6 Apr
28 Apr - 1 Jun
Lecture B
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Tuesday 08:00 - 09:00 E6 Lecture Theatre
17 Feb - 6 Apr
28 Apr - 1 Jun
Lecture C
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Thursday 10:00 - 11:00 E6 Lecture Theatre
17 Feb - 6 Apr
28 Apr - 1 Jun
Lab A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Tuesday 12:00 - 13:30 Civil 130 Structures Lab
28 Apr - 4 May
02 Thursday 12:00 - 13:30 Civil 130 Structures Lab
28 Apr - 4 May
03 Wednesday 16:30 - 18:00 Civil 130 Structures Lab
28 Apr - 4 May
04 Tuesday 15:00 - 16:30 Civil 130 Structures Lab
28 Apr - 4 May
05 Wednesday 15:00 - 16:30 Civil 130 Structures Lab
28 Apr - 4 May
06 Wednesday 12:00 - 13:30 Civil 130 Structures Lab
28 Apr - 4 May
07 Tuesday 13:30 - 15:00 Civil 130 Structures Lab
28 Apr - 4 May
08 Wednesday 13:30 - 15:00 Civil 130 Structures Lab
28 Apr - 4 May
09 Thursday 13:30 - 15:00 Civil 130 Structures Lab
28 Apr - 4 May

Timetable Note

Workload
36 lectures.
Students are encouraged to attend all lectures or study Echo360 videos if attending is not feasible. They should spend 6 hours each week reviewing lecture content, studying textbooks and references, taking notes, and preparing for labs. Additionally, students are expected to dedicate 10 hours per assignment, which carries a weighting of 10%.

Course Coordinator

Daniel Holland

Lecturers

Alfred Herritsch and Kai Sellschopp

Guest Lecturer

Prof Robert Davis

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage  Description
Final Exam 60%
Fluid Flow Lab Report 15% Lab in term 2 - 2 weeks after lab
Water Feature demonstration 04 Mar 2025 5% Water Feature Demonstration
Assignment One 21 Mar 2025 10%
Assignment 2 20 May 2025 10%

Textbooks / Resources

Recommended Reading

De Nevers, Noel; Fluid mechanics for chemical engineers ; 3rd ed; McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2005.

Himmelblau, David Mautner , Riggs, James B; Basic principles and calculations in chemical engineering ; 7th ed. ; Prentice Hall Professional Technical Reference, 2004.

Holland, F. A. , Bragg, R; Fluid flow for chemical engineers ; 2nd ed. ; Edward Arnold, 1995.

Wilkes, James O. , Bike, Stacy G; Fluid mechanics for chemical engineers ; Prentice Hall PTR, 1999.

Notes

Relation to Other Courses
This is a core chemical engineering course and is a prerequisite of ENCH393 in the 3rd year.

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $1,122.00

International fee $6,238.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see Chemical and Process Engineering .

All ENCH293 Occurrences

  • ENCH293-25S1 (C) Semester One 2025