CHE2161 Mechanics of fluids
Faculty of Engineering
CHE2161 Mechanics of fluids is a level 2, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Engineering, offered in 2025 in Semester 2 at Clayton and Malaysia. It has no prerequisites and unlocks 7 units, leading on to 8 units in all.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2025
- Semester 2
- Clayton, Malaysia
- Assessment
- Exam 50%
- and 4 other tasks
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
This is the 2025 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
Reviews
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Requisites
Before CHE2161
Prohibitions
You can't enrol if you have passed any of these.
After CHE2161
7 units list CHE2161 as a prerequisite or corequisite.
- CHE3167Transport phenomena and numerical methodsNo reviews yet
- CHE4162Particle technologyNo reviews yet
- CHE4170Design projectNo reviews yet
- MEC3451Fluid mechanics 2No reviews yet
- MEC3602Biomedical microsystemsNo reviews yet
- MEC4416Momentum, energy & mass transport in engineering systemsNo reviews yet
- MEC4447Computers in fluids and energyNo reviews yet
Enrolment rules
Prerequisite: 24 credit points
E6011 Master of Professional Engineering - You are exempt from the prerequisite rule if you are enrolled in this course.
Equivalent units
The same content under another code. Only one of them counts.
Overview
This unit develops your physical understanding of fluid statics and fluid flow and the interaction of fluid forces with solids.
Topics include hydrostatics, Reynolds transport theorem, continuity and momentum equations, control volume analysis, the Bernoulli equation, viscous pipe flow, pumps, dimensional analysis, boundary layers, flow measurement techniques and applications of fluid forces in flow - lift and drag.
Offerings in 2025
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Second semester | Clayton | On campus |
| Second semester | Malaysia | On campus |
Assessment
- Mid-semester testsQuiz / TestThreshold hurdle21.5%
- Laboratory reportsWrittenThreshold hurdle12%
- Practical class exercisesExerciseThreshold hurdle11%
- Pre-workshop quizzes about recorded lectures and readingsExerciseThreshold hurdle5.5%
- Final assessmentExaminationThreshold hurdle50%
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Determine and solve fluid flow problems by employing Bernoulli's equation and control volumes to predict fluid behaviour with particular regard to the principles of continuity and momentum.
- 2
Use dimensional analysis and modelling to plan experiments, present results meaningfully and predict prototype performance.
- 3
Determine lift and drag forces for bodies including vehicles subjected to fluid motion.
- 4
Analyse and discern between laminar and turbulent flows, demonstrate an understanding of boundary layers and flow separation, and explain how these concepts impact on drag and fluid energy loss.
- 5
Determine the appropriate sizes and operating parameters for turbo machines by employing knowledge of the typical operation, limitations, and applications of these devices.
Workload and teaching
- Assessments4 hours
- Practical activities24 hours
- Laboratories4 hours
- Workshops24 hours
- Teaching approachProblem-based learning
- Teaching approachEnquiry-based learning
- Teaching approachActive learning
The minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of 3-6 hours of scheduled learning activities and 6-9 hours of independent study per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher-directed learning, peer-directed learning and online engagement. Independent study may include associated readings, assessment and preparation for scheduled activities.
The workshops will be complemented by practical sessions, focusing on a second problem set that is closely related to the worksheets. This is your opportunity to challenge yourself further, in a smaller group with more teaching staff available for assistance. The practicals will be assessed by submission of answers through a separate Moodle quiz. Each quiz will close the following week. For example, practical quiz 1 closes on Monday, Week 2.
The laboratory classes will illustrate concepts from the course in a practical way. They also require you to apply the theory to solve problems or answer questions. The objectives of the laboratory experiments are to:
- connect theory with practice.
- develop an ability to solve problems.
- interpret and present data.
- work with others.
- develop the capacity to ask the appropriate questions.
The workshops will focus on applying the theory from the recorded lectures to working through problems set out in printed worksheets and drawn from practical questions. The problems vary from ones that illustrate straightforward calculations to ones that require deeper insight, requiring you to determine the form of the problem and which equations are needed to solve it. This will be illustrated in the workshops and practical sessions by the teaching staff through individual or group guidance with the set problems. The workshops will be recorded to MULO. However, given the active nature of the teaching, we cannot guarantee that it will pick up all of the detail about what is said, presented or discussed. It is more effective to attend. The first workshop is in Week 1.
Learning resources
Required resources
Faculty-approved calculator is permitted in tests and exams (meaning only scientific calculators that are not programmable and detailed in the list below will be permitted in the examination. These calculators must be checked by the faculty and have either a Faculty of Engineering or a Faculty of Science approved sticker)
Where it fits
CHE2161 is part of 2 areas of study in the 2025 handbook.
Contacts
- Unit Coordinators
- Associate Professor Saman Ilankoon
- Associate Professor John Quinn
- Chief Examiners
- Associate Professor John Quinn
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for CHE2161?
CHE2161 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
What can I take after CHE2161?
CHE2161 is a prerequisite or corequisite for 7 units, including CHE3167, CHE4162, CHE4170, MEC3451, MEC3602 and MEC4416. Those lead on to 8 units in all.
When is CHE2161 offered?
In 2025, CHE2161 runs in Semester 2 at Clayton and Malaysia.
How much work is CHE2161?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does CHE2161 have an exam?
Yes. The exam is worth 50% of the final mark, alongside 4 other tasks.
Which majors and minors include CHE2161?
CHE2161 is part of Biomedical engineering and Chemical engineering.