Time Schedule:
Alexander Horner-Devine
CEE 570
Seattle Campus
Applications of the equations of motion to the flow of ideal and real fluids. Fundamentals of fluid potential motion. Viscous flows; Navier-Stokes equations and some exact solutions. Boundary-layer theory. Introduction to turbulence. Two- and three-dimensional examples, including free surface flows. Applications of field equations to problems of engineering significance. Prerequisite: CEE 342 or equivalent.
Class description
In this course we develop tools for analyzing fluid flows that we observe in the environment and that are significant to environmental maintenance. The class emphasizes fundamental fluid mechanical processes and applies these principles to environmental flows such as wind-driven lake setup, gravity currents, tidal pumping, turbulent mixing of pollutants in rivers and others. The approach is mathematical, but the emphasis is on generating the intuition necessary to approach a wide range of problems in environmental fluid mechanics. To this end, the course includes a number of interesting laboratory experiments and demos.
Student learning goals
General method of instruction
The course consists of 3 lecture hours per week plus an additional hour. The additional hour will be used alternately for extra lecture time and in-class laboratory experiments.
Recommended preparation
The course assumes at least one prior fluid mechanics course as well as a solid mathematics background.
Class assignments and grading
There is one problem set per week, an in-class midterm and a take-home final. The assignments are intended to allow students to explore the solutions that we derive in class and extend them to new flows.
The class grade is based on the assignments (40%), midterm (30%) and final (30%).
