Contributions to the Teaching and Learning of Fluid Mechanics

• Published in: Fluids (Basel) Vol. 6; no. 8; p. 269
• Main Author: Vaidya, Ashwin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01.08.2021
• Subjects: Aerospace engineering; CAD; Computational fluid dynamics; Computer aided design; Dimensional analysis; Education; Flow measurement; Fluid dynamics; Fluid flow; Fluid mechanics; Fluid-structure interaction; Hydrodynamics; Instructional design; Learning; Mathematical analysis; Mathematics; Mechanical engineering; Multiphase flow; n/a; Pedagogy; Physics; Science; Students; Teachers; Teaching; Vortices
• ISSN: 2311-5521; 2311-5521
• DOI: 10.3390/fluids6080269

Topics discussed in the lab are those which would be common to students from various branches of engineering at their institution including basic flow measurements, pressure driven flow in pipes, dimensional analysis, and other open ended projects. Besides the obvious financial and logistic advantages that come from sharing of resources, the authors point to its pedagogical value and efficiency. The construction of this tank additionally provides opportunity for training in computer aided design (CAD) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) as students perform comparative tests to validate flow structures in ideal and experimental conditions and also improve experimental designs so they meet expected flow conditions. The ideas introduced in this article can be replicated in any engineering program and also lead to interdisciplinary learning opportunities for students in physics and mathematics. The paper by Moghtadernejad, Lee, and Jadidi [13] introduces us to a course on multiphase flow where the instructors lead students on an experimental and theoretical investigation of splashes.