Fluid Mechanics Laboratory The Fluid Mechanics Laboratory is an integral part of the Department of Engineering Science and Materials at the Mayagüez Campus of the University of Puerto Rico. The facilities are used to offer Fluid Mechanics Laboratory (INGE-4016} and Fluid Mechanics Theory (INGE-4015), as well as, to run demonstrative experiments to Civil, Mechanical and Agricultural Engineering students. The Fluid Mechanics course is an introduction to the mechanics of incompressible and compressible fluids. It covers the principles and more important theories of modern fluid mechanics.The Fluid Mechanics Laboratory course is an indispensable supplement to the theory. It covers measuring devices and techniques, error analysis in experimental works and analysis of assumptions in the theory of fluid mechanics.

Typically a total of twelve experiments are given during the semester and a report is requested from eight experiments. Civil and Mechanical Engineering students (about 320 students per year) take these courses. Other Departments use the facilities.Civil Engineering students from Water Resources Engineering (INCI-4138), Waterworks and Sewerage Design (INCI-4145), and Applied Hydraulics (INCI-5OO6) courses are benefited with the laboratory installations. From Mechanical Engineering, students in Engineering Design (INME-4025) and Fluid Machinery (INME-4028) prepare demonstrations and improve their undergraduate research projects by using the laboratory facilities. Agricultural Engineering students from the Irrigation and Drainage Engineering course (TMAG-4065) also use the laboratory for demonstrative experiments.

The overall condition of the existing equipment and infrastructure is very good. Much effort has been put in the last five years in the development of educational materials; including, computer software and laboratory manuals developed in-house.

The staff consists of a Director and two full-time technicians trained to assist the instructors during the laboratory sessions and to provide maintenance and repair to the equipment.

The Fluid Mechanics Laboratory consists of five rooms:

Service and Consulting

The Fluids Mechanics Lab has access to experienced researchers and technicians that offer consulting services to the industry, government and other universities. The lab is increasingly obtaining field measurements equipment for fluid flow variables such as pressure and discharge. It also has the capability for calibration of several floe meters and uses DAS and conventional methods for comparisons.

A study on leakage at the olympic swimming pool of the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez was recently submitted. This study used non-destructive techniques to detect major leakage in the system. The study was used by the construction team to reduce labor and time, starting the rehabilitation work very near the leak problem. The lab has also served other researchers during the calibration and verification of flow and pressure instruments.