An Introduction to Fluid Dynamics

by G. K. Batchelor, G.K. Batchelor

Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 0521663962

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Book Description

First published in 1967, Professor Batchelor's classic work is still one of the foremost texts on fluid dynamics. His careful presentation of the underlying theories of fluids is still timely and applicable, even in these days of almost limitless computer power. This reissue ensures that a new generation of graduate students experiences the elegance of Professor Batchelor's writing.

Book Reviews

'This book gives an excellent introduction to fluid dynamics ... many interesting and important photographs of fluid flows are included in order to help the students who do not have an opportunity of observing flow phenomena in a laboratory. The book also contains exercises at the end of each chapter. In comparison with many currently available books, I find this book by Batchelor especially stimulating and useful for students of applied mathematics and engineering.' L. Debnath, Zentralblatt MATH

' ... a must-read for a proper understanding of the subject ...' Resonance

Customer Reviews

Although I do think that the book is over-rated, your critique is unfair. First, the book is not too advanced. Similar materials are used to teach university students in their 3rd or 4th year of studies, sometimes even earlier, in many countries. If you are not able to grasp the basic, how are you going to read the current papers in journals? How are you going to contribute new knowledge? It's better to start early with a young mind. Then, it is not a reference book (I don't need to say more in this). Also, you may be in the wrong course, or your professor suggested an unsuitable, but not necessarily bad, book for reading. The book was written with applied mathematics (you can surf around the net and see what applied mathematics means in the UK) courses in mind. You may find Lighthill's 'An informal introduction to theoretical fluid mechanics' or Tritton's 'Physical fluid dynamics' or Faber's 'Fluid dynamics for physicists' useful. Finally, I have confidence in the ability of a Berkeley student. You maybe smart, but you need to work hard too, very hard!

G.K.Batchelor was regarded as the leading figure in fluid mechanics from 1950 ~ 2000. He was a founder of AMTP(Applied mathmatics and theoretical physics) group in Cambridge Univ. and also a founder of 'Jounal of Fluid Mechanics', a leading and top class journal in the field of fluid mechanics. Also was a favorite student of G.I.Taylor.

I think this volume is a bridge between the old classic(ex. H. Lamb's Hydrodynamics) and today's many texts for fluid mechanics somewhat biased to applications and computations.

It deals with all branches of fluid mechanics except Gas dynamics, free convection, lubrication theory, magnetohydrodynamics and hydrodynamics stability. The first three chapters summarise basic concepts in thermo & fluid mechanics and trasport phenomena. I think chapter 1,2,3 are very severe and deep. And there are collections of important photos of fluid phenomena.(You can also refer M. Van Dyke's 'An album of fluid motion)

Although the title is 'An introduction to...' it's not an introductory level, and the mathematics it deals are somewhat omitted. I think this text is an advance graduate level.

You can usually tell when a textbook is written by an author from Cambridge. Batchelor is no exception. Classical approach with emphasis both on the theory as well as devolpment of a deep and intuitive understanding of concepts. The overall approach is fabulous, and Batchelor goes to painstaking details to explain concepts. The few complaints I have regarding the book though are that: 1) Being a mathematics student, I would have enjoyed seeing some complex methods of solving the fluid motion equations(specifically laplace's eqn) 2) Some of the explanations were a little long and repetitive. Could have been more concise in certain areas, and given readers some credit for capacity to understand.

This classic text outlines the fundamental theory of fluid mechanics. It is an excellent source for careful and exhaustive derivations of the fundamental equations and physical discussions of basic problems. It is NOT a user's guide nor an introductory text.