Engineering Mechanical Engineering Flow in Porous Media and Open Channels Flow in Porous Media and Open Channels is a specialized area of fluid mechanics that analyzes the dynamics of fluid movement under two distinct conditions critical to numerous engineering applications. Flow in porous media examines the percolation of fluids, such as water or oil, through a solid matrix containing interconnected voids—like soil, rock, or industrial filters—where movement is governed by pressure gradients and viscous drag, often described by Darcy's Law. Conversely, open-channel flow studies the gravity-driven movement of liquids with a free surface exposed to the atmosphere, as seen in rivers, canals, and partially filled pipes, where factors like channel geometry, slope, and surface roughness are paramount. Together, these principles are fundamental to fields like hydrogeology, petroleum engineering, civil infrastructure design, and environmental management.
Fundamental Concepts in Fluid Mechanics Properties of Fluids Density Definition and Units Variation with Temperature Variation with Pressure Measurement Methods Specific Weight Definition and Calculation Relationship to Density Specific Gravity Definition and Applications Temperature Effects Viscosity Dynamic Viscosity Definition and Units Temperature Dependence Pressure Effects Kinematic Viscosity Definition and Units Relationship to Dynamic Viscosity Measurement Methods Non-Newtonian Fluids Shear-Thinning Fluids Shear-Thickening Fluids Surface Tension Molecular Basis Effects on Fluid Behavior Temperature Dependence Capillarity Capillary Rise Capillary Depression Contact Angle Effects Applications in Porous Media Compressibility Definition and Effects Compressible vs Incompressible Flow Bulk Modulus Definition and Calculation Relationship to Compressibility Fluid Statics Pressure in Fluids Definition and Units Pressure at a Point Variation with Depth Pascal's Law Absolute Pressure Gauge Pressure Atmospheric Pressure Pressure Measurement Manometers Simple Manometers Differential Manometers Inclined Manometers Bourdon Gauge Electronic Pressure Transducers Hydrostatic Force on Surfaces Force on Plane Surfaces Horizontal Surfaces Inclined Surfaces Vertical Surfaces Force on Curved Surfaces Center of Pressure Location Determination Pressure Prism Method Buoyancy Archimedes' Principle Buoyant Force Calculation Stability of Floating Bodies Metacentric Height Conditions for Stability Righting Moment Stability of Submerged Bodies Center of Gravity Center of Buoyancy Principles of Fluid Motion Flow Descriptions Lagrangian Approach Eulerian Approach Streamlines Pathlines Streaklines Reynolds Transport Theorem Control Volume Analysis System vs Control Volume Application to Conservation Laws Conservation of Mass Continuity Equation for Incompressible Flow Continuity Equation for Compressible Flow One-Dimensional Applications Three-Dimensional Form Conservation of Momentum Linear Momentum Equation Applications to Control Volumes Momentum Correction Factor Conservation of Energy Bernoulli's Equation Derivation and Assumptions Limitations Modified Forms Energy Equation with Losses Energy Grade Line Hydraulic Grade Line Dimensional Analysis and Similitude Dimensions and Units Fundamental Quantities Derived Quantities Unit Systems Dimensional Homogeneity Principle and Applications Buckingham Pi Theorem Steps in Application Selection of Repeating Variables Common Dimensionless Numbers Reynolds Number Physical Significance Application to Flow Regimes Critical Values Froude Number Physical Significance Application to Open-Channel Flow Critical Values Weber Number Physical Significance Surface Tension Effects Euler Number Pressure Effects Mach Number Compressibility Effects Model Studies and Similitude Geometric Similarity Kinematic Similarity Dynamic Similarity Scale Effects Distorted Models