Fluid Mechanics

Prof. Franz Durst studied Aeronautical Engineering at the Technical University of Stuttgart (from 1961 - 1967). He continued his university education at Imperial College of the University of London and completed his M.Sc.-degree in 1968 and his Ph.D.-degree in 1972.During his time at Imperial College in London he was involved in research and development work in fluid mechanics measuring techniques, like Hot-Wire- and Laser-Doppler-Anemometry. He continued this development work after joining a Special Research Centre at the Technical University of Karlsruhe in 1972. There the Phase-Doppler-Anemometry was developed for particulate two-phase flows with application to dispersion flows and sprays. He stayed at the centre in Karlsruhe for 10 years, carrying out research in laminar & turbulent fluid flows. Polymer flows, thin film flows and applications in wet-film coating, wind tunnel research and water treatments were part of his research in this time.
In 1982 Prof. Durst took over the directorship of the "Institute of Fluid Mechanics at the Friedrich Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg". He built it up to a nationally and internationally highly recognized research institute in fluid mechanics.
One field of fluid mechanics was of particular interest to Prof. Durst relating to the validity of the basic equations of fluid mechanics, the continuity and the Navier-Stokes equations. He found out that, in their conventional from, these equations do not allow micro-channel and micro-capillary flows to be correctly predicted. The same is the case for shock wave flows and all other flows with strong density, pressure and temperature gradients. He derived the extended form of the basic equation of fluid mechanics and, with the help of some Ph.D.-students, he showed that these equations permit flows with strong gradients of fluid properties to be correctly predicted. The 2^nd edition of his Fluid Mechanics textbook contains a complete chapter dealing with this new field of fluid mechanics.

Introduction, Important and Developments of Fluid Mechanics.- Mathematical Basics.- Physical Basics.- Basics of Flow Kinematics.- Basic Equations of Fluid Mechanics.- Hydrostatics and Aerostatics.- Similarity Theory.- Integral Forms of the Basic Equations.- Stream Tube Theory.- Potential Flows.- Wave Motions in Non-Viscous Fluids.- Introduction to Gas Dynamics.- Incompressible Fluid Flows.- Time-Dependent Flows.- Fluid Flows of Small Reynolds Numbers.- Flows of Large Reynolds Numbers.- Instable Flows.- Turbulent Flows.- Numerical Solutions.- Fluid Flows with Heat Transfer.- Introduction into Fluid Flow Measurement.

From the reviews:

"Durst ... cover in a modest volume a wide spectrum of topics including incompressible and compressible flows, gas dynamics, heat transfer, numerical solutions, flows of small and large Reynolds numbers, turbulence, and fluid-flow measurements. ... the volume will be valuable for graduate students pursuing fluid mechanics research. It provides thorough analytical coverage of a wide range of fluid mechanics topics and offers brief introductions to numerical and experimental topics. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduate through professional collections." (R. N. Laoulache, Choice, Vol. 46 (9), May, 2009)