Skip to main content
Unit outline_

MECH3261: Fluid Mechanics 2

Semester 1, 2024 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit aims to provide students with a detailed understanding of the theory and practice of fluid mechanics in the context of mechanical engineering. Students will gain skills in problem solving in areas of pipe, pump and channel flow; lift and drag on immersed bodies; boundary layer theory and gas dynamics. At the end of this unit students will have the ability to critically assess and solve problems commonly found in fluid mechanics practice, such as sizing pumps and piping systems, designing channels, and determing the lift and drag characteristics of submerged bodies. Additionally, they will develop a structured and systematic approach to problem solving.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
AMME2200 or (AMME2261 and AMME2262)
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Michael Kirkpatrick, michael.kirkpatrick@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Michael Kirkpatrick, michael.kirkpatrick@sydney.edu.au
The census date for this unit availability is 2 April 2024
Type Description Weight Due Length
Supervised exam
? 
Final exam
Supervised exam
46% Formal exam period 2 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3
Participation group assignment Lab
Participate in lab. Submit a brief report by end of week of lab session.
6% Multiple weeks Approx 3 page report including graphs
Outcomes assessed: LO3
Small continuous assessment Weekly Practice Problems
Set of practice problems. Submit online.
24% Weekly 5 - 8 pages of calculations
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO2
Online task Weekly 'Test Yourself' Tasks
Online task to allow students to gauge progress.
24% Weekly Approx 2 pages of calculations
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

  • Weekly Practice Problems: Each week you will receive a set of problems to allow you to practise your problem solving skills. You will submit your full worked solutions on Canvas. Worth 2% each. The weekly Practice Problems are worth a total 24% of the final mark for the unit.
  • Weekly 'Test Yourself' Task: An online quiz to allow you test your understanding of the week's topic. Worth 2% each. The weekly 'Test Yourself' tasks are worth a total 24% of the final mark for the unit.
  • Lab: A one hour laboratory class. You will be assessed on your participation within the lab (3%) and a brief report (3%), to be submitted within one week of your lab session. Each student is to submit their own report. The lab is worth a total 6% of the final mark for the unit.
  • Final exam: A two hour supervised exam will be conducted in the exam period. The final exam is worth a total 46% of the final mark for the unit.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on the course Canvas site.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

Important note:  There are two criteria for passing this course. You must get at least 50% overall and at least 45% in the final exam.

 

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Weekly Practice Problems and 'Test Yourself' tasks: These must be submitted before the due time on the Canvas site. These are small continuous assessments designed to keep you on track and provide rapid feedback on your progress, so late submissions will not be accepted. Approved special consideration applications will result in a mark adjustment involving reweighting of remaining assessments for the unit. Lab reports: Reports submitted late will be subject to the University's standard late penalty.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Multiple weeks Participate in lab and write brief report Practical (3 hr) LO1 LO3
STUVAC Study for the final exam Independent study (12 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 01 Revision Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 02 Internal Flow - Pipe Flow & Turbulence Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 03 Internal Flow - Minor Losses & Networks Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 04 External Flow - Boundary Layers Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 05 External Flow - Drag & Lift Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 06 Turbomachinery - Fundamentals Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 07 Turbomachinery - Design Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 08 Turbomachinery - Scaling Laws Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 09 Compressible Flow - Fundamentals Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 10 Compressible Flow - Nozzles & Shocks Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 11 Open-Channel Flow - Fundamentals Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 12 Open-Channel Flow - Varying Flow & Hydraulic Jumps Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 13 Review Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Weekly Preparatory Study - Read the prescribed sections of textbook, watch the theory videos, and create your own summary of each week's material. This should be done before the live lecture. Set aside 3 hours per week for this task. Independent study (36 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Practice Problems - Complete the weekly Practice Problems. Set aside 3 hours per week for this task. Independent study (36 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Test Yourself - Complete the weekly Test Yourself online task. Set aside 1 hour per week for this task. Independent study (12 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3

Attendance and class requirements

The Faculty of Engineering has a policy that students attend 90 percent of timetabled activities for a unit of study http://sydney.edu.au/handbooks/engineering/general/faculty_resolutions.shtml.

  • Preparatory study: This course follows a flipped classroom model in which students must complete preparatory study that involves reading the prescribed sections of the textbook and watching the pre-recorded theory videos before attending the classes.
  • Lectures: The lectures in this course are interactive sessions built around solving worked examples. Examples have been developed that act as vehicles to introduce key concepts and theory within the context of a real-life scenario. Questions and discussion are welcome during these classes. Lectures will be recorded.
  • Tutorial: There is one tutorial session per week. Tutorials will involve a tutor working through a few tutorial problems. Questions and discussion are welcome during these classes. Tutorials will not be recorded.
  • Laboratory: The laboratory class provides students with hands-on experience in data collection and practical experience taking measurements of real flow. Students will be assessed on their participation during the lab, and a brief individual report. Students should read through the lab notes before attending the lab.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

This textbook is essential in order to complete the course. This course follows a flipped classroom model in which students must complete preparatory study that involves reading the prescribed sections of the textbook and watching the pre-recorded videos before attending the classes.

Fluid Mechanics: Fundamentals and Applications - Fourth Edition in SI Units - Yunus Cengel and John Cimbala

Either hard copy or electronic versions of the textbook will suffice.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. determine the appropriate flow and geometrical parameters of pipe and duct systems, turbomachinery, sub- and supersonic nozzles, open channels in order to be able to design real world fluid systems
  • LO2. solve fluid mechanics problems related to: turbulent and laminar pipe and duct flow, boundary layers, drag and lift on immersed bodies such as wings, turbomachinery - pumps, fans and turbines, compressible flow - including nozzles and shocks, open channel flow - constant and varying channels and hydraulic jumps
  • LO3. simplify fundamental theory in order to use it in the analysis of real-world pipe flow, boundary-layer flow, lift and drag calculations, turbomachinery, compressible flow and open-channel flow calculations

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

This year I am preparing a set of pre-recorded videos summarising the underlying theory for each topic. These are designed to complement the textbook readings.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.