Physics 526: Fluid Mechanics

To be taught, spring 2007; offered alternate years

Basic equations, potential flow, effects of viscosity, scaling. Compressible flow including characteristics and shock waves. Magnetohydrodynamics, including MHD waves, shocks, and confinement. Fluid and MHD instabilities. Turbulence.

Text: notes by J. Eilek, which will appear on-line here during the course of the term.

Supplemental reading: Fluid Dynamics for Physicists, by Faber; Magnetohydrodynamics, by Davidson.

NEW: great sites for fluid images:
Gallery of Fluid Mechanics
eFluids.com

CGS vs. SI units:
units and dimensions ; SI constants ;
CGS constants ; Maxwell's equations

Useful math facts:
fun with vector identies
morn fun with curvilinear coordinates

Introduction and contents
updated, 21 April 2007 ps ; pdf

Section I: INTRODUCTION AND INCOMPRESSIBLE FLOW
Weeks 1-4
Basic Concepts and Tools notes: Chapter 1 ps , pdf
Laminar Flow: basics notes: Chapter 2 ps , pdf
Potential Flow notes: Chapter 3 ps , pdf
Vorticity notes: Chapter 4 ps , pdf
More applications notes: Chapter 5 ps , pdf

Section II: COMPRESSIBLE FLOW
Weeks 5-8
Compressible Flow: basics notes: Chapter 6 ps , pdf
Signal Propagation notes: Chapter 7 ps , pdf
One-Dimensional Steady Flow notes: Chapter 8 ps , pdf
Shocks & Jump Conditions ps , pdf
One-Dimensional Unsteady Flow ps , pdf
Two-Dimensional Steady Flow ps , pdf
Similarity Solutions ps , pdf

SPRING BREAK!

Section 3: MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
Weeks 9-12
Foundations of MHD ps , pdf
Simple Equilibria ps , pdf
Not-so-simple Equilibria ps , pdf
MHD effects in fluid flows ps , pdf
Waves and shocks in MHD ps , pdf
Magnetic Reconnection ps , pdf

Section 4: INSTABILITIES & TURBULENCE
Weeks 13-15
Fluid Instabilities ps , pdf
Ideal MHD Instabilities ps , pdf
Resistive MHD Instabilities ps , pdf
Fluid Turbulence I: classical ps , pdf
Fluid Turbulence II: newer ps , pdf
MHD Turbulence & Dynamos ps , pdf

and ... that's all folks!

Courses