MECHENG 325: Dynamics of Fluids and Structures

Course outline, 2016

Welcome to Dynamics of Fluids and Structures. This course concerns some topics in fluid dynamics and structural
dynamics that are of particular interest and importance for mechanical engineers.
The Lecturers
We are Dr. Roger Halkyard (Course director, Room 1.908, Ext 83894, r.halkyard@auckland.ac.nz), Dr Rajnish Sharma
(Room 1.1005, Ext 88144, r.sharma@auckland.ac.nz) and Professor Richard Flay (Room 902.409, Ext 87451,
r.flay@auckland.ac.nz). Please speak to us if you have any problems. When sending electronic mail to the lecturers of
the course, please write on the subject line: MECHENG325 (with no spaces), then the title for your query.
Timetabled Hours
There are three lectures per week: 9-10 am Mon. (MLT1), Tue., Wed. (ENG 1.401)
Additional timetabled hours and rooms are as follows:
Tutorials (weekly, starting in Week 1): Thur 3-4 pm (ENG 4.501-3); OR
Fri 1-2 pm (ENG 4.501-3)
Labs (occasional):

Weeks 5-6 (ENG 3.206) and Weeks 10-11 (ENG 3.319)

Note: Room allocations may change from those given.

Topics
Fluid mechanics topics will be selected from:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Mass, energy and momentum equations (revisited)

Rotational motion and angular momentum equation
Dimensional analysis and similarity
Boundary layers, Turbulence, logarithmic overlap law
Pipe losses and piping networks, Bernoulli obstruction theory
External flows, forces on lifting bodies
Pumps and turbines
Open channel flows

The following structural dynamics topics will be covered in the course:

1
2
3
4
5
6

Vibration of more realistic single degree of freedom systems

Complex exponential notation
Vibration of multiple degree of freedom systems
Dynamics, vibration and machinery
Dynamics of rigid bodies in three dimensions
Introduction to spectral analysis

References to the relevant sections of the texts will be made in the lecture notes. You will be given problem sheets.
Recommended Texts
The following texts are recommended:

J L Meriam and L G Kraige. Engineering Mechanics: Volume 2, Dynamics. Wiley, New York. (the 7th
edition is current, but earlier editions are equally suitable.)
Y A Cengel, R H Turner & J M Cimbala. Fundamentals of Thermal-Fluid Sciences (SI version). McGraw
Hill.

You probably have these books already from your previous studies.

D J INMAN, Engineering Vibration, Prentice Hall International Editions, (1994, 2001 or 2014) is a more
specialised vibration text, which may be useful if you plan to study vibration at a higher level.

Additional information on vibration and fluid mechanics can be found in books such as Theory of Vibration by
Thomson and Fluid Mechanics by F M White, which are available from the Eng. Library.
Labs
These have been developed to reinforce the theoretical material. Attendance counts as part of your coursework. You
are required to make some calculations and hand in some results as part of your coursework.
Lab. A:
Lab. B:

Flow metering and losses in pipes / bends (ENG 3.206, 2 hours, weeks 5-6)
Vibration of a two degree of freedom system (ENG 3.319, 2 hours, weeks 10-11)

Lab. groups and scheduling will be according to the laboratory streams on SSO. Please check your timetable NOW, and
record your scheduled date/time in your diary.
Assessment
Assessment is 70% final exam, 30% coursework, made up as follows:
Labs (2)
Test 1
Project
Exam

10 (5 each)
10
10
70

As above
Monday, 15 August (Week 5) in FPAA from 6.30-7.30 pm.
Due at SSS, 12 pm Wednesday, October 12 (Week 11).
3 hours, closed book, restricted calculators.

The coursework dates are provisional, pending finalising of the assessment planner.

ACADEMIC HONESTY
All your submissions in this course should be your own individual work. Evidence of copying will be treated in
accordance with the University regulations on cheating.

Approximate lecture and tutorial programme - 2016

Starts
Week 1

18/7

Week 2

25/7

Mon
1. Intro, Conservation
Equations
4. Angular momentum

Week 3

1/8

7. Similarity

Week 4

8/8

10. Pipe losses

Week 5

15/8

13. Pumps and turbines

Week 6

22/8

16. Lift and drag

Break
Week 7
Week 8

12/9
19/9

Week 9
Week 10

26/9
3/10

19.SDOF vib. review

22. Multi-component
SDOF systems
25. Vib. 2 DOF.
28. Vib. and mach.

Week 11

10/10

Week 12

17/10

31. 3D rigid body

kinematics.
34. 3D rigid body
kinetics

E & OE
Roger Halkyard
Course Director 4/7/16

Lectures
Tue
2. Conservation
Equations
5. Angular
momentum
8. Turbulence and
Boundary Layers
11. Piping networks
14. Pumps and
turbines
17. Open channel
flows

Wed
3. Conservation
Equations
6. Dimensional
analysis
9. Turbulence and
Boundary Layers
12. Bernoulli obstr.
theory / flow metering
15. External flows

Tutorials

Labs

TBA
TBA
TBA
Internal flows
Pumps and turbines

Fluids lab (3.206)

18. Open channel

flows

External flows

Fluids lab (3.206)

20. Real springs

23. Complex-exp.
notation.
26. Vib. 2 DOF.
29. Vib. and mach.

21. Energy methods

24. Vib. 2 DOF.

SDOF vibration
SDOF vib/2 DOF vib

27. Vib. 2 DOF.

30. Vib. and mach.

2 DOF vib
Vib. and machinery

32. 3D rigid body

kinetics
35. Spectral analysis

33. 3D rigid body

kinetics
36. Spare

3D rigid body
dynamics
3D rigid body
dynamics

Vib. lab (3.319)

Vib. lab (3.319)