Final ePortfolio Reflective Letter.

The learning technique in this course was developed by many types of activities. In the classroom every Tuesday and Thursday we are taught first the theory and background behind the topics in fluid mechanics. Then after learning the fundamentals we do practice problems in class and homework to reinforce what we learned. Then the semester long course project  applied all the course objectives as well as the homework and in class lectures.

  • Describe the nature of fluids and define different fluid properties such as viscosity and pressure;
  •  Compute pressure and the forces (magnitude, location, and direction) associate with it in a stagnant fluid;
  •  Discuss what buoyancy is and determine object stability while floating or submerged in a fluid;
  • Explain the fluid dynamics in pipes and fittings;
  • Apply the principles of conservation of energy (Bernoulli’s equation) and mass to fluid flow systems;
  • Compute friction losses in pipes for a variety of configurations (series, parallel, network, etc.);
  • Identify and solve for different very specific industrial problems, such as, openchannel flow, cavitation, water hammer, drag, lift, forces in pipes, and learn about different instruments to measure fluid flow quantities (such as, pressure, fluid velocity, flow velocity, etc.);
  • Explain how fluid-machinery work (focused on pumps);
  •  Compute and select the appropriate pump for different pipe system configurations.

Where your learning is demonstrated in the course?

I learned most by practicing the homework  and going to class and listening during lecture. During lecture Dr. Ayala does many example problems to get the class to think critically without having us crunch a bunch of numbers in the calculator because the solutions are always provided on blackboard. Instead we try to understand the concept behind the new material and then practice it.

What areas did you feel you were most successful, or improved the most?

I felt most successful during the second test  because it made us practice iterations using excel. Excel spreadsheets are heavily encouraged to use during this class and makes iterating easier. Not only in the lecture but is crucial in fluids lab as well. Saves time but it takes practice. I haven’t used excel in such a complex way in years and I needed the practice because it will be used in the future.

How do you see this course’s content intersecting with your field or career?

Fluids is EVERYWHERE around us, therefore it is important in various fields of mechanical engineering such as Aerodynamics, Hydraulics, Bio-Fluids, and much more. But all those fields are very interesting to me and this class will help me apply it in the future. I currently do not work in the field of engineering but after I graduate, this class will sure be used in various fields.

Have you been able to apply concepts you have learned in the course to what you do at work or in other courses?

I have applied this course to the corresponding project and the interesting part about the project was each group came up with a different design and had to apply what they learned in this course for the project. I have applied some of the excel spreadsheet skills I learned in this class to fluids lab and well as thermal applications.  Even though that class is different it is part of the curriculum and I could use the skill of spread sheet iteration to help me with problems

How, when, where and why you might use this information or skill in the future?

All the topics that we learned in fluids will be important in the future for any field of mechanical engineering. Fluids are all around us. For example this objectives we learn in this class can be used in the industry for a companies that make pumps or designing a pipeline. The norfolk Naval Shipyard is a popular hiring government job for new graduates we will have apply many things we learn in fluids. Even the small tasks I do such as giving my car an oil change will involve fluid mechanics.