MALAWI UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. PROGRAMME:
BMED/BCHEM/BMME/BPTE/BMNE
2. SUBJECT:
Fluid Mechanics 1
3. YEAR/LEVEL OF STUDY:
2
4. COURSE TITLE:
Introduction to Fluid Mechanics
5. COURSE CODE:
FLMC-2101
6. DURATION:
14 weeks
7. PRESENTED TO:
Senate
8. PRESENTED BY:
Engineering Department
9. LECTURES HOURS PER WEEK:
2
10. TUTORIAL HOURS PER WEEK:
1
11. PRACTICAL HOURS PER WEEK:
1
12. STUDENT INDEPENDENT LEARNING HOURS PER WEEK:
13. TOTAL COURSE CREDITS:
10
14. PREREQUISITE COURSES:
None
15. COREQUISITE COURSE:
None
16. DELIVERY METHODS:
16.1.
Mode of Delivery: Face to Face
16.2.
Teaching methods: Lectures, Tutorials, Practicals
17. ASSESSSMENT METHODS: Coursework; Projects; Lab work, Assignments, Examination
18. ASSESSMENT WEIGHTING: 40% Continuous; 60% Examination
19. AIM(S) OF THE COURSE:
The aim of this module is to equip students with fundamental knowledge and skills of
fluid mechanics. The knowledge gained in this module will help students to solve
theoretical problems in fluid mechanics.
20. LEARNING OUTCOMES:
On completion of this module, students should be able to:
a. apply the fundamental equations in solving fluid mechanics problems
b. apply control volume analysis to solve problems in fluid flow.
c. use potential flow theory to solve problems in fluid mechanics.
d. perform dimensional analysis for problems in fluid mechanics.
e. design and analyse operation of centrifugal pumps
f. apply capillary model to the design of packed beds columns and filters
21. TOPICS OF STUDY:
a. Introduction: Definition of a fluid and its physical properties. Basic concepts of Fluid
Mechanics, Forces and Shear stress. Importance and Application of fluid mechanics
– Fluid properties – Density, Viscosity, Vapour Pressure, Bulk modulus of Elasticity,
Surface Tension, Capillarity – Pascal’s Law – Law of Hydrostatics. Pressure
measurement
b. Flow Measurement and Visualization: Velocity measurement, Measurement of
Discharge, Measurement of Viscosity, Flow Visualization techniques.
c. Basic Equations of Fluid Mechanics: Formulation of a Transport Theorem,
Conservation of Mass, Conservation of Momentum, Conservation of Moment of
Momentum, Conservation of Energy.
d. Pipe Flow: Laminar and turbulent pipe flow; Friction factor: Effects of roughness;
Colebrook equation; Moody diagram; Pipe systems and pressure losses.
e. Dimensional Analysis And Principles of Model Testing: Principles governing testing
of Models, Significance of dimensionless numbers, Model testing Ships, Distorted
Models.
f. Pumps: Introduction to pump types. Dimensional analysis. Pump and pipeline
characteristics. Cavitation and NPSH. Theoretical analysis of fluid flow
22. PRESCRIBED TEXTS:
 White, F.M. (2010). Fluid Mechanics. (7th Ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.
 Douglas,J.F., Gasiorek J. M., Swaffield J. A. & Jack L.B. (2005). Fluid
Mechanics (5th Ed.) Pearson, Prentice Hall
 Massey, B. S., Mechanics of fluids. (8th ed). revised by John Ward-Smith
(2006). Taylor & Francis
23. RECOMMENDED TEXTS/READINGS:
 Fox, R.M., Pritchard P.J. & Mc Donald A.T. (2009). Introduction to Fluid
Mechanics. (7th Ed.). India: John Wiley & Sons.
 Potter, M.C. & Wiggert D.C. (2009). Mechanics of Fluids. Prentice Hall.
 Kay, J.M. & Nedderman, R.M. (1985), Fluid Mechanics and Transfer
Processes, CUP.
24. This course outline /module specification was approved by Senate on