Physics and Astronomy - Course Details

PHYS570NN: Physics of Fluids and Granular Matter (PAST/FUTURE SEMESTER)

Offering:
Spring

Prerequisites:

View Additional Prerequisites

Description:
Beginning with the classical Euler equations of motion of a continuous ideal fluid, we will derive the Navier-Stokes equations for a viscous fluid, discuss gravity and sound waves, boundary layer (singular perturbation) theory, vortex motion, instabilities and elementary concepts of turbulence. An interesting application will compute the virtual mass renormalization of a body moving in a fluid. These concepts will then be applied to the more difficult problem of the flow of granular materials, including the rheology of suspensions of solids in liquids and gases and the mechanics of a fluid-free aggregation of solid particles. Topics include packing, dilatancy, granular temperature and dispersive grain flow in both the presence and absence of interstitial liquid. The course will involve irregular homework assignments and a semester project (to be done cooperatively with teams of other students in the class) to create a 1-D numerical hydrocode and apply it to demonstrating the origin of stellar winds and the Bunsen theory of geyser eruptions.

Instructor(s):
MELOSH, HENRY

Email:
jmelosh@purdue.edu

Textbook(s) for Spring 2019

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