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Compressible Flows
Last Updated: 2026-06-03 00:14:36
Abstract
Topics: unsteady one-dimensional subsonic and supersonic flows, acoustics, sound propagation, supersonic flows with shocks and Prandtl-Meyer expansions, flow around slender bodies, shock tubes, reaction fronts (deflagration and detonation).Mathematical tools: method of characteristics and selected numerical methods.
Objective
Illustration of compressible flow phenomena and introduction to the corresponding mathematical description methods.
Content
The interaction of compressibility and inertia is responsible for wave generation in a fluid. The compressibility plays an important role for example in unsteady phenomena, such as oscillations in gas pipelines or exhaust pipes. Compressibility effects are also important in steady subsonic flows with high Mach numbers (M>0.3) and in supersonic flows (e.g. aeronautics, turbomachinery). The first part of the lecture deals with wave propagation phenomena in one-dimensional subsonic and supersonic flows. The discussion includes waves with small amplitudes in an acoustic approximation and waves with large amplitudes with possible shock formation. The second part deals with plane, steady supersonic flows. Slender bodies in a parallel flow are considered as small perturbations of the flow and can be treated by means of acoustic methods. The description of the two-dimensional supersonic flow around bodies with arbitrary shapes includes oblique shocks and Prandtl-Meyer expansions etc.. Various boundary conditions, which are imposed for example by walls or free-jet boundaries, and interactions, reflections etc. are taken into account.
Resources
Lecture Notes
Lecture notes will be provided.
Literature
A list of recommended textbooks is handed out at the beginning of the lecture.
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- BSC , MSC
- Frequency
- Yearly recurring
Examination
- Type
- session examination
- Mode
- written 90 minutes
- Aids
- - Zusammenfassung von 6 Seiten / Summary of 6 pages- Standard wissenschaftlicher Taschenrechner, nicht programmierbar / pocket calculator, standard scientific, non-programmable- herausgegebene Formelsammlung, ohne eigene Notizen / issued formulary, no personal annotations
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| lecture | Compressible Flows |
|
2 h weekly |
| exercise | Compressible Flows |
|
1 h weekly |
Offered In
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Additional Electives from the Fields of Specialization (CSE Master) (recognition of 227-0662-00L and 227-0662-10L requires the successful completion of both course units)
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Core Courses (The Core Courses in the Master’s program Mechanical Engineering listed below are indicative and include courses designed by the Department at the Master's level. With the approval of the tutor, students may also select Master's-level courses offered by other departments at ETH. These courses will be marked as non-regular in the LAG, but their categorization as Core Courses is possible if included in the approved LAG.)
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Fluid Dynamics (One of the course units 151-0208-00L Computational Methods for Flow, Heat and Mass Transfer Problems 151-0212-00L Advanced CFD Methods is compulsory.)
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Deep Track Courses (At least 20 credits must be completed within the deep track courses. Surplus credit points can be counted towards the electives.)
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Deep Track Aerospace Engineering (These courses can be credited either as a specialization subject or as an elective subject.)
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