Fluid Dynamics Concepts and Techniques

This course covers the fundamental concepts and techniques of fluid dynamics, providing a comprehensive understanding of how fluids behave under different conditions. It starts with the explanation of Lagrangian and Eulerian perspectives of flow, fluid element trajectories, and the Cartesian vector form of a velocity field. The course uses the example of a traffic engineer observing the flow of cars and a city police following specific cars to explain the difference between Eulerian and Lagrangian viewpoints. It further discusses three basic techniques to analyze a fluid flow problem: control volume or integral equation approach, small fluid element, and dimensional analysis approach. The course also delves into the concepts of fluid element trajectories, including streamlines, path lines, and streak lines, and the angular velocity and vorticity of a fluid element. It concludes with an in-depth understanding of conservation equations, focusing on mass, momentum, and energy, and their relevance in high-speed compressible flows.