Fluid mechanics is one of the most challenging undergraduate courses for engineering students. The fluid mechanics lab facilitates students' learning in a hands-on environment. The primary objective of this book is to provide a graphical lab manual for the fluid mechanics laboratory. The manual is divided into six chapters to cover the main topics of undergraduate-level fluid mechanics. Chapter 1 begins with an overview of laboratory objectives and the introduction of technical laboratory report content. In Chapter 1, error analysis is discussed by providing examples. In Chapter 2, fluid properties including viscosity, density, temperature, specific weight, and specific gravity are discussed. Chapter 3 revolves around the fluid statics include pressure measurement using piezometers and manometers. Additionally, hydrostatic pressure on the submerged plane and curved surfaces as well as buoyancy and Archimedes' Principle are examined in Chapter 3. In Chapter 4, several core concepts of fluid dynamics are discussed. This chapter begins with defining a control system based on which momentum analysis of the flow system is explained. The rest of the chapter is allotted to the force acting on a control system, the linear momentum equation, and the energy equation. Chapter 4 also covers the hydraulic grade line and energy grade line experiment. The effect of orifice and changing cross-sectional area by using Bernoulli's' equation is presented in Chapter 4. The application of the siphon is extended from Chapter 4 by applying Bernoulli's' equation. The last two chapters cover various topics in both internal and external flows which are of great importance in engineering design. Chapter 5 deals with internal flow including Reynolds number, flow classification, flow rate measurement, and velocity profile. The last experiment in Chapter 5 is devoted to a deep understanding of internal flow concepts in a piping system. In this experiment, students learn how to measure minor and major head losses as well as the impact of piping materials on the hydrodynamics behavior of the flow. Finally, open channels, weirs, specific energy, and flow classification, hydraulic jump, and sluice gate experiments are covered in Chapter 6.
About the Author: Robabeh Jazaei is an Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering in the Department of Physics and Engineering at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. She received her Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Dr. Jazaei has years of professional and academic experience. She taught a broad range of courses and laboratories with the focus of solid and fluid mechanics, as well as structural design in several universities. She is well known for practicing pedagogy with illustrative approach to simulate the interest in engineering courses and facilitate students' learning. Dr. Jazaei taught fluid mechanics in 2002 for the first time and since then she has been inspired to provide graphical guidance to help students to enjoy the fluid mechanics' laboratory. From 2018-2020, she has not only lectured fluid mechanics continuously but also worked closely with civil engineering students in 14 laboratories at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. During these years, Dr. Jazaei realized the need to help students perform fluid mechanics experiments and write an effective technical report. Dr. Jazaei also served as an adviser for many senior design and research teams. Her research interest has focused on a broad spectrum of the numerical and experimental analysis of structures, concrete failure mechanisms, and nanomaterials characterization in cementitious composites. She received several academic and professional certifications for design, construction management, and professional development. Dr. Jazaei is a voting member of American Concrete Institute (ACI) Committee 241-A01 (The Application and Implementation of Nano-Engineered Concrete), member of American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), American Society of Mechanical Engineering (ASME), and American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).