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Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics (MCEN30018)
Undergraduate level 3Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
For information about the University’s phased return to campus and in-person activity in Winter and Semester 2, please refer to the on-campus subjects page.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 1
Robert Gordon
Semester 2
Jimmy Philip
Please refer to the LMS for up-to-date subject information, including assessment and participation requirements, for subjects being offered in 2020.
Overview
Availability | Semester 1 Semester 2 |
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Fees | Look up fees |
AIMS
This course is an introduction to basic principles of fluid mechanics and thermodynamics. These two subjects are introduced together in a single course, reflecting the large degree of cross-over in applications and basic first principles between the two subjects.
Fluid mechanics is a very important core subject, influencing a diverse range of engineering systems (aircraft, ships, road vehicle design, air conditioning, energy conversion, wind turbines, hydroelectric schemes to name but a few) and also impacts on many biological (blood flow, bird flight etc) and even meteorological studies. As engineers, we are typically concerned with predicting the force required to move a body through a fluid, or the power required to pump fluid through a system. However, before we can achieve this goal, we must start from fundamental principles governing fluid flow.
Thermodynamics could be defined as the science of energy. This subject can be broadly interpreted to include all aspects of energy and energy transformations. Like fluid mechanics, this is a hugely important subject in engineering, underpinning many key engineering systems including power generation, engines, gas turbines, refrigeration, heating etc. This unit again starts from first principles to introduce the basic concepts of thermodynamics, paving the way for later more advanced units
This course aims to develop a fundamental understanding of thermodynamics and fluid mechanics, based on first principles and physical arguments. Real world engineering examples will be used to illustrate and develop an intuitive understanding of these subjects.
INDICATIVE CONTENT
Topics include:
Fluid Mechanics - fluid statics, static forces on submerged structures, stability of floating bodies; solid body motion; fluid dynamics; streamlines; pathlines and streaklines; conservation of mass, momentum and energy; Euler's equation and Bernoulli's equation; control volume analysis; dimensional analysis; incompressible flow in pipes and ducts; boundary layers; flow around immersed bodies; and drag and lift.
Thermodynamics - heat and work, ideal non-flow and flow processes; laws of thermodynamics; Carnot's principle; Clausius inequality; direct and reversed heat engines; thermal efficiencies; properties of pure substances; change of phase; representation of properties; steam and air tables; and vapour equation of state, ideal gases.
Intended learning outcomes
INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES (ILOs)
Having completed this unit the student is expected to -
- Have developed an intuitive fundamental understanding of thermo-fluid systems
- Be able to determine the thermodynamic and physical properties of numerous substances
- Apply the first and second laws of thermodynamics to several engineering devices
- Apply control volume analysis to numerous fluid mechanical systems
- Appreciate the elegance of dimensional analysis
- Be able to analyse simple, incompressible and inviscid fluid flows, such as pipe and pump flow systems
- Appreciate basic tenets of external flows, including lift, drag & separated flows.
Generic skills
On completion of this subject, students should have developed the following generic skills:
• Ability to apply knowledge of science and engineering fundamentals
• Ability to undertake problem identification, formulation, and solution
• Ability to utilise a systems approach to complex problems and to design and operational performance
• Ability to function effectively as an individual and in multidisciplinary and multicultural teams, as a team leader or manager as well as an effective team member.
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
ENGR20004 | Engineering Mechanics |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Summer Term (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
MAST20029 | Engineering Mathematics |
Summer Term (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
Or:
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
MAST20009 | Vector Calculus |
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
MAST20030 | Differential Equations | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
NOTE: As of 2021, ENGR20005 Numerical Methods in Engineering will be a pre-requisite subject.
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
Students cannot enrol and gain credit for this subject and -
- ENGR30001 Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics
- MCEN30015 Thermofluids
Recommended background knowledge
PHYC10003 Physics 1 and PHYC10004 Physics 2
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Assessment
Due to the impact of COVID-19, assessment may differ from that published in the Handbook. Students are reminded to check the subject assessment requirements published in the subject outline on the LMS
Additional details
- Two Laboratory reports not exceeding 1500 words (equal weight) (20%), approximately 10 hours work each. Associated with Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) 1, 3 and 7
- Two assignments during semester, each not exceeding 1500 words and requiring approximately 10 hours of work (10% each). Associated with ILOs 4-6
- One 50 minute written test in week 6 or 7 (10%). Associated with ILOs 1-7
- One 3 hour examination at the end of semester (50%). Associated with ILOs 1-7
Hurdle Requirement - students must pass the exam component to pass the subject
Note: Some laboratory reports and assignments will be completed in teams of two.
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Principal coordinator Robert Gordon Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 36 hours of lectures and 20 hours of tutorials and laboratories Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 2 March 2020 to 7 June 2020 Last self-enrol date 13 March 2020 Census date 30 April 2020 Last date to withdraw without fail 5 June 2020 Assessment period ends 3 July 2020 Semester 1 contact information
Robert Gordon
- Semester 2
Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 36 hours of lectures and 20 hours of tutorials and laboratories Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 3 August 2020 to 1 November 2020 Last self-enrol date 14 August 2020 Census date 21 September 2020 Last date to withdraw without fail 16 October 2020 Assessment period ends 27 November 2020 Semester 2 contact information
Jimmy Philip
Time commitment details
170 hours
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
None
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Informal specialisation Science-credited subjects - new generation B-SCI Major Mechanical Systems Informal specialisation Selective subjects for B-BMED Informal specialisation Bachelor of Design Elective Subjects Major Mechanical Systems Specialisation (formal) Mechanical with Business Specialisation (formal) Mechanical Specialisation (formal) Mechatronics - Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Biomedicine
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Bachelor of Design
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art)
- Bachelor of Music
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
Subject coordinator approval required
Last updated: 11 April 2024