Fluid Mechanics Course 🪽 External Flow: Boundary Layers, Drag & Lift
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Drag on Immersed Bodies

Inside this lesson
  • Write F_D = ½ρV²A·C_D and distinguish friction drag from form (pressure) drag
  • Choose the correct reference area A (frontal vs planform/wetted) for a given body type
  • Compute drag force from a given C_D, and estimate C_D from standard bluff-body values
  • Explain the drag crisis and why a turbulent boundary layer can lower a bluff body's total drag
  • Use the boundary_layer simulator to connect the wake size to the C_D curve

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Educational content covering topics typical of a first- and second-year mechanical engineering curriculum. Not a substitute for accredited coursework, and not suitable for real fluid-system design without review by a licensed professional engineer.