Fluid mechanics is an exciting and fascinating subject with unlimited practical applications ranging from microscopic biological systems to automobiles, airplanes, and spacecraft propulsion. Fluid mechanics has also historically been one of the most challenging subjects for undergraduate students because proper analysis of fluid mechanics problems requires not only knowledge of the concepts but also physical intuition and experience. Our hope is that this book, through its careful explanations of concepts and its use of numerous practical examples, sketches, figures, and photographs, bridges the gap between knowledge and the proper application of that knowledge. Fluid mechanics is a mature subject; the basic equations and approximations are well established and can be found in any introductory textbook. Our book is distinguished from other introductory books because we present the subject in a progressive order from simple to more difficult, building each chapter upon foundations laid down in earlier chapters. We provide more diagrams and photographs that other books because fluid mechanics, is by its nature, a highly visual subject. Only by illustrating the concepts discussed, can students fully appreciate the mathematical significance of the material.

This book has been written for the first fluid mechanics course for undergraduate engineering students. There is sufficient material for a two-course sequence, if desired. We assume that readers will have an adequate background in calculus, physics, engineering mechanics, and thermodynamics. The objectives of this text are

• To present the basic principles and equations of fluid mechanics.
• To show numerous and diverse real-world engineering examples to give the student the intuition necessary for correct application of fluid mechanics principles in engineering applications.
• To develop an intuitive understanding of fluid mechanics by emphasizing the physics, and reinforcing that understanding through illustrative figures and photographs.

The book contains enough material to allow considerable flexibility in teaching the course. Aeronautics and aerospace engineers might emphasize potential flow, drag and lift, compressible flow, turbomachinery, and CFD, while mechanical or civil engineering instructors might choose to emphasize pipe flows and open-channel flows, respectively.

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Preface (281.0K)