Free Online Fluid Mechanics Course | IIT Kharagpur | Prof. Suman Chakraborty
Course Details
| Exam Registration | 422 |
|---|---|
| Course Status | Ongoing |
| Course Type | Core |
| Language | English |
| Duration | 12 weeks |
| Categories | Mechanical Engineering, Computational Thermo Fluids |
| Credit Points | 3 |
| Level | Undergraduate |
| Start Date | 19 Jan 2026 |
| End Date | 10 Apr 2026 |
| Enrollment Ends | 02 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Registration Ends | 20 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Date | 25 Apr 2026 IST |
| NCrF Level | 4.5 — 8.0 |
Introduction to Fluid Mechanics: A Foundational Course for Engineers
Fluid Mechanics is the cornerstone of countless engineering and scientific disciplines, from designing aerodynamic vehicles and efficient pipelines to understanding blood flow and weather patterns. If you've ever wanted to build a strong, fundamental understanding of how fluids behave and move, a structured course led by an expert is the perfect starting point.
We are excited to detail a comprehensive 12-week introductory course in Fluid Mechanics, offered under the guidance of one of India's most distinguished professors in the field. This course is meticulously designed to transform complex principles into understandable concepts, empowering you to analyze and solve real-world fluid flow problems.
Meet Your Instructor: Prof. Suman Chakraborty
Learning from the best accelerates your understanding. This course is curated by Prof. Suman Chakraborty, an Institute Chair Professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department at the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur.
Prof. Chakraborty is not just an academic; he is a leading global researcher and a recognized authority in fluid dynamics. His credentials speak volumes:
- Award-Winning Scientist: Recipient of the Santi Swaroop Bhatnagar Prize (2013), the highest scientific award from the Government of India.
- Internationally Recognized Fellow: Elected Fellow of the American Physical Society, Royal Society of Chemistry, ASME, and all Indian National Academies.
- Prolific Researcher: Author of over 380+ journal publications, focusing on microfluidics, nanofluidics, and biomedical applications.
- Global Experience: Alexander von Humboldt Fellow and former visiting professor at Stanford University.
- Leadership: Heads the School of Medical Science and Technology and serves as Associate Dean for Sponsored Research at IIT Kharagpur.
With Prof. Chakraborty guiding the curriculum, you are assured of learning cutting-edge concepts grounded in rigorous fundamental science.
Course Overview: What You Will Learn
This undergraduate-level course is crafted to provide a strong foundational understanding of fluid mechanical principles. It emphasizes deriving governing equations from first principles and applying them to practical scenarios.
Course Duration: 12 Weeks
Level: Undergraduate
Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of Mathematics
Categories: Mechanical Engineering, Computational Thermo Fluids
Detailed 12-Week Course Layout
The course is systematically broken down into weekly modules, ensuring a logical progression from basic concepts to more advanced applications.
| Week | Topic | Focus Area |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Introduction and Basic Principles | Course overview and fundamental concepts. |
| Weeks 2-3 | Properties of Fluids | Understanding density, viscosity, pressure, and surface tension. |
| Weeks 3-4 | Fluid Statics | Study of fluids at rest, pressure variation, and forces on submerged surfaces. |
| Weeks 5-6 | Fluid Kinematics | Describing fluid motion (velocity, acceleration) without considering forces. |
| Weeks 7-8 | Dynamics of Inviscid Flows | Applying Bernoulli’s equation and analyzing flow without viscosity. |
| Weeks 9-11 | Integral Forms of Control Volume Equations | Conservation of mass, momentum, and energy for finite control volumes. |
| Weeks 11-12 | Dynamics of Viscous Flows | Introduction to real flows with viscosity, boundary layers, and internal flows. |
Who Should Take This Course?
This course is ideal for:
- Undergraduate Students in Mechanical, Civil, Chemical, Aerospace, and Biomedical Engineering.
- Professionals in industries like automotive, aerospace, oil & gas, and HVAC looking to solidify their core knowledge.
- Any Interested Learner with a basic math background who wants to understand the physics of fluids.
Industry Relevance & Support
The principles taught in this course are directly applicable in major industries, which often seek engineers with strong fluid mechanics fundamentals. Key supporting industries include:
- Oil & Gas: IOCL, SHELL, BPCL for pipeline design, refinery operations, and fluid transport.
- Automotive & Aviation: GE, AIRBUS, TATA Motors for vehicle aerodynamics, engine cooling, and fuel systems.
- Energy & Power: Turbomachinery, hydroelectric power, and cooling systems.
- Biomedical Sector: Design of medical devices, drug delivery systems, and lab-on-a-chip technologies (aligning with Prof. Chakraborty's research expertise).
Conclusion: Your Pathway to Mastering Fluids
The "Introduction to Fluid Mechanics" course is more than just a series of lectures. It is a structured journey from first principles to applied problem-solving, designed by a world-class educator. Whether you aim to excel in academics, enhance your professional skills, or simply satisfy a scientific curiosity, this course provides the robust foundation needed to navigate the fascinating world of fluid dynamics.
By the end of 12 weeks, you will possess the analytical tools to understand and predict fluid behavior, a skill set invaluable across engineering and scientific frontiers. Begin your journey into the flow today.
Enroll Now →