The objective of this introductory text is to familiarise students with the basic elements of fluid mechanics so that they will be familiar with the jargon of the discipline and the expected results. At the same time, this book serves as a long-term reference text, contrary to the oversimplified approach occasionally used for such introductory courses. The second objective is to provide a comprehensive foundation for more advanced courses in fluid mechanics (within disciplines such as mechanical or aerospace engineering). In order to avoid confusing the students, the governing equations are introduced early, and the assumptions leading to the various models are clearly presented. This provides a logical hierarchy and explains the interconnectivity between the various models. Supporting examples demonstrate the principles and provide engineering analysis tools for many engineering calculations.

"I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and highly recommend it: particularly for the more mathematically inclined. This is a text that will be kept long after a degree and used as a reference book throughout one’s career." - Richard S. Miller, AIAA Journal January 2012

Dr Joseph Katz is Professor of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics at San Diego State University. His rich and diverse academic and engineering background covers typical aerospace and automotive disciplines such as computational and experimental aerodynamics, vehicle dynamics, race car aerodynamics, and engine cooling. As a race car designer for the past 25 years, Dr Katz has participated in a large number of projects involving open wheel (F1 and Indy), prototype (IMSA), hill-climb, and NASCAR. His fluid mechanics research interests include unsteady aerodynamics and incompressible flow with a strong emphasis on developing numerical techniques. Prior to his academic position, he spent four years at the NASA Ames research center full-scale wind tunnel facility. For his work in developing the PMARC computational tool, he and his team received the 1997 NASA Space Act Award. In recent years, he has been active in the aerodynamic development of unmanned aerial vehicles (Global Hawk, E-Hunter), which now operate successfully throughout the world. Dr Katz received numerous awards for being the most influential teacher and outstanding educator (AIAA), and he is the author of several books and more than 100 other publications. His book on race car aerodynamics can be found on the desks of most race car designers around the world.