Overview:

This module consists of two thematic and overlapping areas: thermodynamics and fluid mechanics. The purpose of the module is to combine what students have been taught in years 1 and 2 on fluid mechanics and thermodynamics and apply them to real and practical problems. The fluid mechanical element to this course is built wholly around the fascinating and important area of compressible flows. This is a problem which is highly nonlinear but still tractable analytically and using graphical solutions because the flow adjustment is either through shocks or isentropic adjustments.

Topics covered:

The topics that will be taught include:

Thermodynamics

Combustion Theory
 Reactions and fuels
 Flames - deflagration
 Flames - detonation
 Heat transfer (radiative and conductive)
 Thermodynamics cycles for gas turbines and rockets (exergy analysis)
Fluid Mechanics

Normal shock analysis, discussion of T-s and p-rho diagrams
 Oblique shock analysis and link to normal shock analysis
 Expansion fans and Prandtl-Meyer expansion
 Linearised expansions to study lifting aerofoil
 Inlets or diffusers for supersonic aircraft
 Duct flow – influence of changes in cross-sectional area
 Nozzle and exit flows 
Learning outcomes:

Upon completion of this module students will be able to:

Understand and be able to work with advanced applications in thermodynamics and fluid mechanics.
 Have an appreciation of practical limits and constrains pertinent to thermodynamics and fluid mechanic applications.
 Identify and define the requirements, constraints and design parameters of a project that involve a thermodynamics/fluid component.
 Generate concepts, exercise critical thinking, implement a methodology to compare ideas and use engineering judgment to choose a viable solution in this context.
 Gain knowledge and apply the design process, mathematics and engineering analysis to the development and creation of integrated engineering solutions within the remit of the course and through the use of combined disciplines or sub-disciplines as required.
 Understand the wide use and important of mechanics of fluids and thermodynamics in their future professional lives.