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    Basics of Fluid Mechanics

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    Reviewed by Nadim Zgheib, Assistant Professor, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley on 3/3/24

    Comprehensiveness rating: 4

    The book covers practically all fluid mechanics topics of interest for an undergraduate course. These include fluid statics (buoyancy, stability, surface tension), integral analysis including conservation of mass, momentum, and energy (including Bernoulli's equation), differential analysis with Navier-Stokes equations, internal (viscous pipe flow), and external flows, as well as similarity analysis. The book also covers compressible flow, and other topics that are usually covered as technical electives or in a graduate level fluids course. A main issue however is the lack of sufficient problems to solve. There are only a few problems for each chapter.

    Content Accuracy rating: 4

    The text is generally accurate similar to classical fluid mechanics books usually taught at the undergraduate level. However, it appears to have more typos than your average intro to fluids books.

    Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

    This is a classical fluid mechanics book. The content has been around for decades and centuries, and as such the issue of material becoming obsolete does not apply for this introductory fluid mechanics book.

    Clarity rating: 4

    I find the book can be hard to read for a typical undergraduate fluid mechanics student. The topics are very appropriate for an undergraduate course, but the delivery is more appropriate for a graduate level student as it is math heavy.

    Consistency rating: 4

    I could not identify any major issues with consistency. However symbols referring to the same variable can take on different forms, which is not ideal. For example g in mathscript and non-mathscript forms.

    Modularity rating: 4

    I found the delivery to be appropriately similar to other classical fluids courses at the undergraduate level.

    Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

    The book starts with an introductory chapter to fluid mechanics, then jumps to fluid statics, integral analysis, differential analysis, dimensional analysis, ... I find this organization to be suitable. At any rate, instructors do not necessarily follow the same layout as the book.

    Interface rating: 5

    I did not identify and major issues.

    Grammatical Errors rating: 4

    There are more grammatical errors than other books I have used.

    Cultural Relevance rating: 5

    This book is not culturally insensitive.

    Comments

    The book can be made more readable to undergrads and it should include more problems at the end of each chapter.

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