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Advanced Fluid Mechanics 3: Potential Flows & Boundary Layers

Learn how to analyze the structure of high Reynolds number inviscid flows using potential flow theory. Explore vorticity generation in viscous boundary layers, circulation and lift, flow separation, and the transition to turbulence.

Advanced Fluid Mechanics 3: Potential Flows & Boundary Layers

Learn how to analyze the structure of high Reynolds number inviscid flows using potential flow theory. Explore vorticity generation in viscous boundary layers, circulation and lift, flow separation, and the transition to turbulence.

In this graduate-level online course from the MIT Department of Mechanical Engineering, you will learn how to apply key concepts in advanced fluid mechanics to better understand and solve real-world engineering problems.

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The final module in a three-course sequence covering incompressible fluid mechanics, this course focuses on high Reynolds number flows and potential flow theory. You will also learn about the generation of vorticity in viscous boundary layers, connections between circulation and lift, generation of drag in the boundary layer, geometric effects in flow separation, and transition to turbulence. A separate final short module briefly introduces the role of surface tension in engineering fluid mechanics. This course features lecture and demo videos, lecture concept checks, practice problems, and extensive problem sets.

Based on material from 2.25 Advanced Fluid Mechanics -- one of the most popular first-year graduate classes in MIT’s Mechanical Engineering Department -- this series consists of the following three modules:

  • Advanced Fluid Mechanics 1: Fundamentals
  • Advanced Fluid Mechanics 2: The Navier-Stokes Equations for Viscous Flows
  • Advanced Fluid Mechanics 3: Potential Flows, Lift, Circulation & Boundary Layer

Through lecture and demo videos, lecture concept checks, practice problems, and extensive problem sets, this series is designed to help you gain the ability to apply the governing equations, the principles of dimensional analysis and scaling theory to develop physically-based, approximate models of complex fluid physics phenomena.

Learners who complete these three consecutive courses will be able to apply their knowledge to analyze and break down complex problems they may encounter in industrial and academic research settings.

The material is of relevance to engineers and scientists across a wide range of mechanical, chemical and process industries who must understand, analyze and optimize flow processes and fluids handling problems. Applications are drawn from hydraulics, aero and hydrodynamics as well as the chemical process industries.

What you'll learn

  • Inviscid flows
  • Potential flow solutions
  • Vorticity
  • Circulation
  • Drag and lift
  • Boundary layers
  • Flow Separation and transition to turbulence
  • Surface Tension Phenomena in engineering systems

Prerequisites

Comfort with undergraduate-level fluid mechanics, multivariable calculus and undergraduate differential equations: elementary vector and tensor manipulation, Fourier transforms, solving second order linear ODEs and PDEs. Students without this background will find there is a steep learning curve and may have to put in more than the estimated time effort.

Note: it is highly recommended to have completed all of the material in Module 2 (2.25.2x) before commencing study of this module.

Meet your instructors

  • Featured image for Gareth McKinley
    Engineering Professor
  • Featured image for Bavand Keshavarz
    Lecturer
  • Featured image for John Liu
    Lecturer, Mechanical Engineering

Who can take this course?

Because of U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) restrictions and other U.S. federal regulations, learners residing in one or more of the following countries or regions will not be able to register for this course: Iran, Cuba, North Korea and the Crimea, Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic regions of Ukraine.