Course Outline
MEC302 Thermofluids 2
Course Coordinator:Charith Rathnayaka Mudiyanselage (crathnayaka@usc.edu.au) School:School of Science, Technology and Engineering
2026Semester 1
UniSC Sunshine CoastUniSC Moreton Bay |
Blended learning | Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online. |
Please go to unisc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.
What is this course about?
Description
Thermofluids is an area of study that combines thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer. This course will extend on the foundational concepts covered in the Thermofluids 1 course and will introduce you to more advanced concepts of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics and heat transfer through a variety of learning methods and assessment types.
How will this course be delivered?
| Activity | Hours | Beginning Week | Frequency |
| Blended learning | |||
| Learning materials – Online learning materials (asynchronous) | 1hr | Week 1 | 13 times |
| Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Solving problems related to weekly thermodynamics, fluid mechanics and heat transfer concepts | 2hrs | Week 1 | 13 times |
| Laboratory 1 – Three laboratory sessions per semester | 3hrs | Week 8 | 3 times |
| Seminar – Face-to-face seminars for the whole cohort | 1hr | Week 2 | 2 times |
Course Topics
- Revision of Fundamental Concepts
- The Second Law of Thermodynamics
- Entropy
- Internal Fluid Flow and Piping Systems
- Navier-Stokes Equations and Differential Analysis of Fluid Flow
- External Fluid Flow
- Dimensional Analyis and Similarity
- Steady Heat Conduction
- Forced Convection
- Heat Exchangers
What level is this course?
300 Level (Graduate)
Demonstrating coherence and breadth or depth of knowledge and skills. Independent application of knowledge and skills in unfamiliar contexts. Meeting professional requirements and AQF descriptors for the degree. May require pre-requisites where discipline specific introductory or developing knowledge or skills is necessary. Normally undertaken in the third or fourth full-time study year of an undergraduate program.
What is the unit value of this course?
12 units
How does this course contribute to my learning?
| Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... | Graduate Qualities Mapping Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming... | Professional Standard Mapping * Engineers Australia Stage 1 Professional Engineer Competency Standards | |
| 1 | Examine and appraise the application of concepts in thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer through theoretical and experimental techniques |
Knowledgeable Creative and critical thinker Engaged |
1.1, 1.2, 2.2 |
| 2 | Manipulate and apply the laws and principles used in thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer |
Knowledgeable Creative and critical thinker Empowered |
1.1, 1.2, 1.3 |
| 3 | Identify hypotheses for modelling engineering thermal and fluid systems and verify their suitability |
Creative and critical thinker Empowered Engaged |
1.2, 2.1, 2.2 |
| 4 | Solve intermediate-level problems in thermodynamics, fluid mechanics and heat transfer, and model the systems through sketches |
Creative and critical thinker Empowered |
1.3, 2.2, 3.2 |
| 5 | Demonstrate the ability to work collaboratively in teams |
Empowered Ethical Engaged Sustainability-focussed |
3.1, 3.2, 3.6 |
| 6 | Develop models to address particular engineering problems and communicate that models clearly and coherently in written and oral forms using correct terminology and appropriate formats |
Knowledgeable Empowered Ethical Engaged Sustainability-focussed |
1.2, 2.2, 3.2 |
* Competencies by Professional Body
| CODE | COMPETENCY |
| Engineers Australia Stage 1 Professional Engineer Competency Standards | |
| 1.1 | Knowledge and Skill Base: Comprehensive, theory based understanding of the underpinning natural and physical sciences and the engineering fundamentals applicable to the engineering discipline. |
| 1.2 | Knowledge and Skill Base: Conceptual understanding of the mathematics, numerical analysis, statistics, and computer and information sciences which underpin the engineering discipline. |
| 1.3 | Knowledge and Skill Base: In-depth understanding of specialist bodies of knowledge within the engineering discipline. |
| 2.1 | Engineering Application Ability: Application of established engineering methods to complex engineering problem solving. |
| 2.2 | Engineering Application Ability: Fluent application of engineering techniques, tools and resources. |
| 3.1 | Professional and Personal Attributes: Ethical conduct and professional accountability. |
| 3.2 | Professional and Personal Attributes: Effective oral and written communication in professional and lay domains. |
| 3.6 | Professional and Personal Attributes: Effective team membership and team leadership. |
Am I eligible to enrol in this course?
Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.
Pre-requisites
Pre-requisite courses: MEC200 and MTH203
Co-requisites
Not applicable
Anti-requisites
ENG300
Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)
Students are assumed to have foundational skills in mathematics and physical sciences. A solid knowledge of calculus is also required.
Microcredential Information
Not applicable
How am I going to be assessed?
Grading Scale
Standard Grading (GRD)
| High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL). |
Details of early feedback on progress
The formative assessment for this course includes online quizzes. The results of these quizzes will provide you with feedback on your performance. Additional feedback will be provided during regular contact sessions via worked examples and formative peer-assisted problem-solving activities.
Assessment tasks
| Delivery mode | Task No. | Assessment Product | Individual or Group | Weighting % | What is the duration / length? | When should I submit? | Where should I submit it? |
| All | 1 | Practical / Laboratory Skills | Individual | 30% | Three lab sessions (3 hr each). Pre-lab quiz questions and individual laboratory reports (1200 word equivalent) |
Week 12 | Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check |
| All | 2 | Oral and Written Piece | Individual and Group | 30% | 1500-word written report (group) and 10-minute oral presentation |
Week 7 | Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check and in class |
| All | 3 | Examination - Centrally Scheduled | Individual | 40% | 3 hours |
Exam Period | Exam Venue |
| All | 4 | Quiz/zes | Individual | 0% | Short answer / multiple-choice / analytical working |
Week 3 | Online Test (Quiz) |
| All - Assessment Task 1:Laboratory Reports | |||||||||||||||||||
| Goal: | The goal of this task is to investigate fundamental principles of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics and heat transfer through experimental applications and subsequent analyses. |
||||||||||||||||||
| Product: | Practical / Laboratory Skills | ||||||||||||||||||
| Authorship Statement: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Format: | Prior to each session, you will complete a series of pre-lab questions online. During the lab session, you will conduct an experiment and start working on a report. The experimental work will be conducted in a group format, however the pre-lab questions and the lab reports are to be submitted individually by all students. A template will be provided for the calculations and report. Students attend a total of three lab sessions. |
||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria: |
|
||||||||||||||||||
| Generic Skills: | Communication, Collaboration, Problem solving, Organisation, Applying technologies, Information literacy |
||||||||||||||||||
| All - Assessment Task 2:Group Report and Presentations | |||||||||||||||||||
| Goal: | The goal of this task is to investigate and apply principles of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics and heat transfer through a given engineering context. You will be required analyse, discuss and present a thermofluids topic. |
||||||||||||||||||
| Product: | Oral and Written Piece | ||||||||||||||||||
| Authorship Statement: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Format: | The written group report will be approximately 1500 words while the corresponding group oral presentation will be approximately 10 minutes followed by a Q&A time. |
||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria: |
|
||||||||||||||||||
| Generic Skills: | Communication, Collaboration, Problem solving, Organisation, Applying technologies, Information literacy |
||||||||||||||||||
| All - Assessment Task 3:Examination | ||||||||||||||||
| Goal: | The goal of this task is to evaluate your knowledge of concepts in thermodynamics, fluid mechanics and heat transfer, and to demonstrate the use of standard methods to analyse problems within the discipline. |
|||||||||||||||
| Product: | Examination - Centrally Scheduled | |||||||||||||||
| Authorship Statement: | ||||||||||||||||
| Format: | Centrally scheduled 3-hour examination. |
|||||||||||||||
| Criteria: |
|
|||||||||||||||
| Generic Skills: | Communication, Problem solving, Organisation, Applying technologies, Information literacy |
|||||||||||||||
| All - Assessment Task 4:Zero-Weight Formative Quiz for Early Feedback | ||||||||||||||||
| Goal: | This zero-weight formative assessment for this course includes online quiz/zes. The results of these quiz/zes will provide students with feedback on their performance early in the semester. |
|||||||||||||||
| Product: | Quiz/zes | |||||||||||||||
| Authorship Statement: | ||||||||||||||||
| Format: | Online quizz/es will be distributed via the online learning management system (Canvas) which will require students to respond with a mixture of short answer, multiple-choice and analytical working. This will be an individual task. |
|||||||||||||||
| Criteria: |
|
|||||||||||||||
| Generic Skills: | Communication, Problem solving, Organisation, Applying technologies, Information literacy |
|||||||||||||||
Directed study hours
A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.
Schedule
| Period and Topic | Activities |
1 |
Revision of Fundamental Concepts |
2 |
Second Law of Thermodynamics |
3 |
Entropy |
4 |
Entropy |
5 |
Internal Fluid Flow and Piping Systems |
6 |
Navier-Stokes Equations and Differential Analysis of Fluid Flow |
7 |
External Fluid Flow |
9 |
Dimensional Analyis and Similarity |
10 |
Steady Heat Conduction |
11 |
Forced Convection |
12 |
Heat Exchangers |
What resources do I need to undertake this course?
Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.
Prescribed text(s) or course reader
You need regular access to the resource(s) below. Many texts are available as ebooks through the Library at no additional cost.
| Required? | Author | Year | Title | Edition | Publisher |
| Required | Yunus A. Cengel, John M. Cimbala, Robert H. Turner. | 2016 | Fundamentals of Thermal-Fluid Sciences (SI Units) | 5th Edition in SI units (or a later edition) | McGraw-Hill Education |
| Required | Yunus A. Cengel, John M. Cimbala | 2017 | Fluid Mechanics: Fundamentals and Applications | 4th Edition in SI Units (or a later edition) | McGraw-Hill Education |
| Recommended | Yunus A. Çengel,Boles,Michael A. Boles | 2014 | Thermodynamics | 8th edition in SI units (or a later edition) | McGraw-Hill Education |
| Recommended | Yunus A. Cengel, Afshin J. Ghajar | 2014 | Heat and Mass Transfer | Fifth edition in SI units (or a later edition) | McGraw-Hill Education |
Specific requirements
All students will be required to wear closed footwear for laboratory spaces (for lab classes and tutorials that are held in a laboratory space). Students who do not have appropriate footwear will not be permitted to enter laboratory spaces due to health and safety requirements.
How are risks managed in this course?
Risk assessments have been performed for all studio and laboratory classes and a low level of health and safety risk exists. Some risk concerns may include equipment, instruments, and tools; as well as manual handling items within the laboratory. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.
What administrative information is relevant to this course?
Assessment: Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.
Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.
In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.
Assessment: Additional Requirements
Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying: The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4% The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale You have not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconduct.Assessment: Submission penalties
Late submission of assessment tasks may be penalised at the following maximum rate: - 5% (of the assessment task's identified value) per day for the first two days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. - 10% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the third day - 20% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the fourth day and subsequent days up to and including seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. - A result of zero is awarded for an assessment task submitted after seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. Weekdays and weekends are included in the calculation of days late. To request an extension you must contact your course coordinator to negotiate an outcome.Links to relevant University policy and procedures
For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:
- Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
- Review of Assessment and Final Grades
- Supplementary Assessment
- Central Examinations
- Deferred Examinations
- Student Conduct
- Students with a Disability
For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching
Student Charter
UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.
General Enquiries
- In person:
- UniSC Sunshine Coast - Student Central, Ground Floor, Building C, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs
- UniSC Moreton Bay - Service Centre, Ground Floor, Foundation Building, Gympie Road, Petrie
- UniSC SouthBank - Student Central, Building A4 (SW1), 52 Merivale Street, South Brisbane
- UniSC Gympie - Student Central, 71 Cartwright Road, Gympie
- UniSC Fraser Coast - Student Central, Student Central, Building A, 161 Old Maryborough Rd, Hervey Bay
- UniSC Caboolture - Student Central, Level 1 Building J, Cnr Manley and Tallon Street, Caboolture
- Tel:+61 7 5430 2890
- Email:studentcentral@usc.edu.au