Introductory Fluid Mechanics for Physicists and Mathematicians

This book introduces the core ideas of fluid mechanics using both theoretical and experimental methods. The text presents a logical assembly of important ideas, approaches and specialist applications in one self–contained volume. Its unique focus combines the fundamental topics of fluid mechanics, such as equations of motion, ideal flows, viscous effects and turbulent flow. Engineering topics such as heat transfer and aerodynamics are briefly introduced. Full treatments of both incompressible and compressible flows are included. There is also a section of problems and worked solutions. The extensive material in this comprehensive text serves as a thorough background in fluid mechanics and the area of compressible flows. Introductory Fluid Mechanics for Physicists and Mathematicians is a valuable resource for physicists and mathematicians, and for undergraduate and postgraduate students in both disciplines. Readers will gain a strong working knowledge of fluid mechanics and a detailed understanding which will allow them to contribute to the new and evolving areas of study that are constantly emerging in this area.

Preface xvii 1 Introduction 1 2 Flow of Ideal Fluids 25 3 Viscous Fluids 75 4 Waves and Instabilities in Fluids 93 5 Turbulent Flow 117 6 Boundary Layer Flow 139 7 Convective Heat Transfer 175 8 Compressible Flow and Sound Waves 209 9 Characteristics and Rarefactions 219 10 Shock Waves 241 11 Aerofoils in Low–Speed Incompressible Flow 295 12 Aerofoils in High–Speed Compressible Fluid Flow 341 13 Deflagrations and Detonations 363 14 Self–similar Methods in Compressible Gas Flow and Intermediate Asymptotics 383 Problems 417 Solutions 427 Bibliography 455 Index 463

“Summing Up: Recommended.  Upper–division undergraduates and graduate students in physics and mathematics.”  ( Choice , 1 January 2014)