Overview
  • Welcome

    Welcome to the Mechanical Principles B module. We hope that you’ll enjoy your time studying with us and get a lot of benefit from the new knowledge you will acquire.

    Please read through this note and the ‘Module Descriptor’ which is available in the Module Overview folder for the ‘Mechanical Principle B’ module in GCULearn. Once you have completed this you will be ready to start working on week one’s module material.

    In many ways, engineering is the practical application of theoretical maths and scientific principles. We aim to develop your mechanical knowledge that will give you the skills and abilities to become a competent professional engineer.

    All Engineers require a sound understanding of fluid mechanics and thermodynamics. Issues, involving aspects of thermofluids, are involved in the vast majority of engineering problems. This module introduces the elementary principles and concepts and the fundamental theoretical and applied tools required for solving typical problems in engineering.

    The module is split into two topics; namely, fluids mechanics and thermodynamics. For the fluid mechanics element, the module applies the principles of fluid mechanics and the techniques used to predict the behaviour of fluids in different engineering applications. The module looks at the pressures and forces exerted by a static fluid, viscosity, the flow of fluids through pipelines and analyse simple systems with hydraulic machines, such as pumps and turbines.

    For the thermodynamics part, the module aim to give an introduction to the laws of thermodynamics and the relevant properties, thus providing an appreciation of energy conversion processes by covering the following topics: thermodynamic systems, properties of pure substances, gases and the first law of thermodynamics and its application to closed system.

    The first six weeks are allocated to fluids mechanics and the remaining six weeks to thermodynamics. Each week will consist of description of conceptual framework on GCULearn and where appropriate model calculations to support the concept being demonstrated in either fluids mechanics or thermodynamics. Each section of the course includes an introduction to it, and self-assessment questions, with many also containing videos and other tools to help you understand the topics.

    Once you have completed these, there will be tutorial exercises for you to practice what you have learned. To assess whether you are ready to move on to the next session there will be a topic test every three weeks. The feedback from this test will help you to identify areas of the notes that you may need to study and practice again before moving on to the next section.
  • Learning Outcomes


    On completion of this module the student should be able to:

    1. demonstrate an understanding of fluids and their basic properties;
    2. measure and calculate fluid pressure;
    3. analyse flows, pressures and energies in pipe systems;
    4. understand the forces acting on pipe bends and nozzles due to fluid momentum;
    5. apply the principles of work and energy in compressible fluid flow systems;
    6. evaluate heat, work and energy terms for closed systems using the 1st law of thermodynamics.
  • Assessment


    The module will be assessed using two class tests (Coursework 1 & 2). The first class test is scheduled to take place at the end of week 6 and the second class test at the end of week 12. You will have 2 weeks to attempt each class test. The mark for the two class tests will be averaged with equal weighting to give one final percentage mark for the module.

    A minimum aggregate pass mark of 40% is required in the final module mark.
    CourseworkTrimesterWeek DescriptionPercentage of final mark
    Coursework 1B6Class Test 150%
    Coursework 2B12Class Test 250%
  • Feedback Strategy


    Student self-assessment exercises will be identified within the module as well as tutorial exercises and students are encouraged to attempt as many of these exercises as they can. Solutions to these exercises are available via the student solutions manual which is available on-line and in the GCU library. Some of these exercises will also be scored using the grading centre in GCULearn to assist students in judging and assessing their progress and engagement with the module.

    Feedback will be supplied through the marking of the class tests and their associated mock papers and through discussion with the tutors and via GCULearn. Normally feedback on class test performance will be given within two weeks of the date of the class test.


  • Introduction to thermodynamics and Basic Concepts
    ⎯ What is thermodynamics, Thermodynamic System, Closed system, Open system, Approach to Thermodynamic Systems
    ⎯ Properties and State of a Substance
    ⎯ State and Equilibrium, thermodynamic Equilibrium and Quasi Equilibrium Process
    ⎯ Processes and Cycles

    Properties and Units
    ⎯ Temperature and Scales
    ⎯ Pressure in Thermodynamics: Units and Measurements
    ⎯ Specific Volume and Density

    Energy Forms
    ⎯ Internal Energy, Enthalpy
    ⎯ Work and Heat
    ⎯ Specific heat Capacity
    ⎯ Internal Energy (U), Kinetic Energy (KE) and Potential Energy (PE).

    Energy Transfer by Heat and Work
    ⎯ Energy Transfer by Heat: Conduction, Convection, Radiation
    ⎯ Energy transfer by Work: Work across static and Moving boundaries
    ⎯ Energy Equation and First Law of Thermodynamics

    Properties of Working Substances
    ⎯ Properties of Gases
    ⎯ Ideal Gases (Perfect Gases): Boyles Law, Charles Law, Combined Gas Law, Ideal Gas Equation of State
    ⎯ Definitions of Specific Heats for Ideal Gases

    Applications of First Law of Thermodynamics to Ideal Gases
    ⎯ Constant-Volume Process for Ideal Gases
    ⎯ Constant Pressure Process
    ⎯ Constant Temperature/ Isothermal Process
    ⎯ Polytropic Process
    Module Content/Syllabus

    Fluid properties:
    ⎯ System of Units (SI) (video)
    ⎯ Definition of a Fluid
    ⎯ Fluids properties: Density, Specific Volume, Specific Weight, Relative Density, Pressure

    Newton’s Law of Viscosity:
    ⎯ Plate movement on fluid surfaces (video)
    ⎯ Dynamic viscosity & Kinematic viscosity
    ⎯ Causes of Viscosity in Fluids

    Hydrostatic Pressure and Manometers
    ⎯ Hydrostatics (video)
    ⎯ Absolute, gauge and vacuum pressure
    ⎯ Hydraulics
    ⎯ Pressure head
    ⎯ Manometers (video)

    Fluid dynamics
    ⎯ Uniform Flow, Steady Flow
    ⎯ Mass flow rate and Volume flow rate
    ⎯ Mean velocity
    ⎯ Continuity of flow
    ⎯ Velocity in branched pipes and junctions

    Equation of fluid motion
    ⎯ Bernoulli equation (video)
    ⎯ Kinetic Energy, Potential Energy, Pressure Energy
    ⎯ Application of Bernoulli's equation

    Steady Flow Energy Equation (SFEE)
    ⎯ Energy losses
    ⎯ Steady Flow Energy Equation
    ⎯ Applications of SFEE
    Hydraulic Power Generation (video)
    Steady incompressible flow with a pump (video)






    Schedule

    Week Lectures Tutorials References - Epp S     Assessment    
    FLUID MECHANICS ↓
    1 Fluid properties Activities 1.1-1.4 Section 1.1-1.10
    2 Newton's law of viscosity     Activities 2.1-2.4 Section 2.1-2.12
    3 Hydrostatic pressure and manometers     Activities 3.1-3.6 + Test1    Section 3.1-3.14
    Problem T1.1
    4 Fluid dynamics     Activities 4.1-4.4 Section 4.1-4.14
    5 Equation of fluid motion     Activities 5.1-5.4 Section 5.1-5.12
    6 Steady Flow Energy Equation (SFEE)     Activities 6.1-6.4 + Test2 Section 6.1-6.10
    Problem T2.1    		 Assessment of Fluids (2week)
    (THERMODYNAMICS) ↓
    7 Introduction and Basic Concepts     Tutorials 7 Section 7.1-7.8
    8 Properties and Units     Tutorials 8 Section 8.1-8.3
    9 Energy Forms     Tutorials 9 + Test3 Section 9.1-9.6
    Problem T3.1
    10 Energy Transfer by Heat and Work     Tutorials 10 Section 10.1-10.2
    11 Properties of Working Substances     Tutorials 11 Section 11.1-11.3
    12 Properties of Working Substances     Tutorials 12 + Test4 Section 12.1-12.4
    Problem T4.1    		 Assessment of Thermodynamics (2week)
  • Indicative Reading


    “Fundamentals of Fluid Mechanics” Bruce R. Munson, Wade W. Huebsch, Alric P. Rothmayer, (7th Edition) (Wiley 2012), ISBN-13:978-1118399712.

    “Fluid Mechanics, 6/E” John Swaffield, Lynne Jack, J. F. Douglas, John Gasiorek (6th Edition) (Person 2011), ISBN-10: 0273717723.

    “Principles of Engineering Thermodynamics” Michael J. Moran, Howard N. Shapiro, Daisie D. Boettner, Margaret B. Bailey ( 8th Edition): SI Version (Wiley 2015), ISBN: 978-1-118-96088-2.

    “Thermodynamics: An Engineering Approach” Yunus A. Cengel, Michael A. Boles (8th edition) (McGraw-Hill 2014), ISBN-10: 0073398179

    “Fundamentals of Thermodynamics” Claus Borgnakke, Richard E. Sonntag (8th Edition): SI Version (Wiley 2013), ISBN: 978-1-118-32177-5.


    Best Wishes

    The Module Team