Calculus in Engineering: A Practical Companion for

Fluid Mechanics & Strength of Materials

120-Day Study Plan — Worked Examples &
Calculations

This document is a compact, example-driven guide showing how calculus underpins core results in Fluid
Mechanics and Strength of Materials (SOM). It includes derivations, problem setups, and worked solutions
with clear boundary-condition handling.

How to Use This Companion

• Skim the overview sections to recall the calculus concepts you need.

• Work through each example end-to-end. Replicate steps by hand to internalize the methods.

• Use the boxed 'Key Patterns' at the end of each example to recognize similar problems.

• Revisit the formula summaries in revision weeks (Days 91–120).

1. Calculus Essentials for FM & SOM
Differentiation measures rates of change (e.g., velocity du/dt, strain dε/dx). Integration accumulates
quantities (areas, volumes, displacements). Ordinary Differential Equations (ODEs) appear in beam
bending and simple 1-D heat conduction; Partial Differential Equations (PDEs) appear in full fluid flow
and heat transfer models.

Common operators:
- First derivative: dy/dx; Second derivative: d²y/dx².
- Chain rule & product rule for composite functions.
- Definite integrals with limits (apply boundary/initial conditions to determine constants).
- Vector calculus (∇·, ∇×, ∇) for continuity and momentum in fluids (briefly touched here).

2. Strength of Materials: Beam Deflection by Double Integration

For Euler–Bernoulli beams, curvature is proportional to bending moment: EI d²y/dx² = M(x), where E is
Young’s modulus, I is second moment of area, and y(x) is deflection. We integrate twice and apply
boundary conditions to find constants.

Worked Example 1: Cantilever Beam (Length L) with End Load P

Governing equation: M(x) = -P(L - x); so EI d²y/dx² = -P(L - x).
Integrate #1: EI dy'/dx = ∫-P(L - x) dx = -P(Lx - x²/2) + C■.
Integrate #2: EI y(x) = ∫[-P(Lx - x²/2) + C■] dx = -P(Lx²/2 - x³/6) + C■ x + C■.
Boundary conditions: y(0)=0, y'(0)=0 ⇒ C■=0, C■=0.
Deflection: y(x) = P x² (3L - x) / (6 E I).
Tip deflection: y(L) = P L³ / (3 E I).

Worked Example 2: Simply Supported Beam (Length L) with Uniformly Distributed

Load w
Support reactions: R_A = R_B = wL/2 (symmetry).
Bending moment: M(x) = R_A x - (w x²)/2 = (wL/2) x - (w/2) x².
EI d²y/dx² = M(x) ⇒ integrate twice.
Integrate #1: EI y'(x) = ∫M(x) dx = (wL/4) x² - (w/6) x³ + C■.
Integrate #2: EI y(x) = (wL/12) x³ - (w/24) x■ + C■ x + C■.
Boundary conditions: y(0)=0, y(L)=0 ⇒ solve for C■, C■.
Result: C■ = (w L³)/24, C■ = 0.
Deflection: y(x) = (w / (24 E I)) [ 2 L x³ - x■ + L³ x ].
Max deflection at x = L/2: y_max = 5 w L■ / (384 E I).

3. SOM: Torsion of Circular Shafts – Angle of Twist

For a prismatic circular shaft with torque T(x), the twist rate is: dθ/dx = T(x) / (G J), where G is shear
modulus, J is polar moment of inertia. Integrate along the length:
θ = ∫[ T(x) / (G J) ] dx.

Worked Example: Shaft of length L, two segments with different J values and torques. Compute θ = Σ ∫
segment T / (G J) dx piecewise and sum. Boundary condition θ(0)=0 gives absolute angle.

4. SOM: Energy Methods – Strain Energy & Castigliano’s Theorem

Strain energy in bending: U = ∫ [ M(x)² / (2 E I) ] dx. Castigliano’s theorem: Deflection at a load P is ∂U/∂P
(with other loads held constant).

Worked Example: Cantilever with end load P.

M(x) = -P(L - x).
U = ∫■^L [ P² (L - x)² / (2 E I) ] dx = P² L³ / (6 E I).
Deflection at tip: δ = ∂U/∂P = P L³ / (3 E I) (matches double-integration result).

5. Fluid Mechanics: Bernoulli’s Equation via Integration of Euler’s

Equation
Along a streamline for steady, inviscid, incompressible flow:
ρ ( V dV ) + dp + ρ g dz = 0.
Integrate between points 1 and 2:
∫■² ρ V dV + ∫■² dp + ∫■² ρ g dz = 0 ⇒ (ρ/2)(V■² - V■²) + (p■ - p■) + ρ g (z■ - z■) = 0.
Divide by ρg:
p/(ρ g) + V²/(2 g) + z = constant (Bernoulli’s equation).

6. Fluid Mechanics: Fully Developed Laminar Pipe Flow

(Hagen–Poiseuille)
Assume steady, incompressible, axisymmetric, fully developed laminar flow in a horizontal circular pipe of
radius R. Momentum balance (Navier–Stokes in cylindrical coordinates) reduces to:
(1/r) d/dr ( r τ_{rz} ) = dp/dz, with τ_{rz} = µ du/dr.
Combine and integrate:
(1/r) d/dr ( r µ du/dr ) = dp/dz ⇒ d/dr ( r du/dr ) = (dp/dz) r / µ.
Integrate once:
r du/dr = (dp/dz) r² / (2 µ) + C■ ⇒ du/dr = (dp/dz) r / (2 µ) + C■ / r.
Finite velocity at r=0 ⇒ C■ = 0.
Integrate again:
u(r) = (dp/dz) r² / (4 µ) + C■.
No-slip at wall u(R)=0 ⇒ C■ = -(dp/dz) R² / (4 µ).
Velocity profile: u(r) = -(dp/dz) (R² - r²) / (4 µ) (parabolic).
Volumetric flow rate: Q = ∫■^{2π}∫■^{R} u(r) r dr dθ = - (π R■ / 8 µ) (dp/dz).
Mean velocity: U = Q / (π R²) = - (R² / (8 µ)) (dp/dz).

7. Fluid Mechanics: Head Loss via Darcy–Weisbach

Integrate the mechanical energy equation between 1–2 including head loss h_f:
p■/(ρg) + α■ V■²/(2g) + z■ = p■/(ρg) + α■ V■²/(2g) + z■ + h_f.
For steady pipe flow with uniform profiles (α ≈ 1) at same elevation: h_f = f (L/D) (V² / (2g)), where f is the
Darcy friction factor (function of Reynolds number and roughness). Integration appears in determining V
from measured head loss and in Moody-chart/Colbrook solutions.

8. Fluid Mechanics: Boundary Layer – Wall Shear Stress from Gradient

In a viscous boundary layer, wall shear stress relates to the velocity gradient at the wall:
τ_w = µ (du/dy)|_{y=0}.
Calculus appears when differentiating approximate velocity profiles to estimate drag and skin-friction
coefficients.

9. Heat Transfer (Bonus): 1-D Steady Conduction through a Plane Wall

Governing ODE: d²T/dx² = 0 with boundary conditions T(0)=T■, T(L)=T■. Integrate twice: T(x) = T■ + (T■
- T■) x / L (linear profile). Heat rate: q = -k A dT/dx = k A (T■ - T■) / L.

10. Worked Numeric Problems

Problem A – Beam Tip Deflection (Cantilever, End Load)
Given: L = 2.0 m, E = 210 GPa, I = 6.0×10■■ m■, P = 2 kN.
Formula: δ = P L³ / (3 E I).
Compute: L³ = 8.0 m³; numerator = 2000 × 8 = 16000 N·m³.
Denominator = 3 × 210×10■ × 6×10■■ = 3 × 1.26×10■ = 3.78×10■ N·m².
δ = 16000 / (3.78×10■) = 4.232×10■³ m ≈ 4.23 mm.
Problem B – Laminar Pipe Flow Rate (Hagen–Poiseuille)
Given: R = 10 mm, µ = 1.0×10■³ Pa·s, dp/dz = -500 Pa/m (pressure drop along flow).
Q = - (π R■ / 8 µ) (dp/dz). Here, (dp/dz) is negative, so Q is positive.
Compute: R■ = (0.01)■ = 1×10■■ m■; π R■ / (8 µ) = 3.1416 × 10■■ / (8×10■³) = 3.1416 × 10■■ / 0.008
= 3.927×10■■.
Q = 3.927×10■■ × 500 = 1.963×10■³ m³/s ≈ 1.96 L/s.

Problem C – Simply Supported Beam under UDL

Given: L = 3 m, E = 200 GPa, I = 4×10■■ m■, w = 1000 N/m.
Max deflection: y_max = 5 w L■ / (384 E I).
Compute: L■ = 81 m■; numerator = 5 × 1000 × 81 = 405,000 N·m■.
Denominator = 384 × 200×10■ × 4×10■■ = 384 × 800,000 = 307,200,000 N·m².
y_max = 405,000 / 3.072×10■ = 1.318×10■³ m ≈ 1.32 mm.

Problem D – Head Loss in Pipe (Darcy–Weisbach)

Given: D = 0.05 m, L = 20 m, V = 1.5 m/s, g = 9.81 m/s², f = 0.02.
h_f = f (L/D) (V² / (2 g)) = 0.02 × (20/0.05) × (1.5² / (2 × 9.81)).
Compute: (L/D) = 400; V²/(2g) = 2.25 / 19.62 = 0.1147 m.
h_f = 0.02 × 400 × 0.1147 = 0.916 m.

11. Key Patterns & Checklists

Beam Bending: Write M(x) correctly → set EI y'' = M(x) → integrate twice → apply boundary conditions
(deflection/slope at supports).
Torsion: θ = ∫ T/(GJ) dx; check units and segment properties.
Bernoulli: Integrate Euler along streamline; include heads (pressure, velocity, elevation) and losses if
present.
Laminar Pipe Flow: Solve radial ODE with regularity at r=0 and no-slip at r=R.
Head Loss: Use Darcy–Weisbach; compute Reynolds number to select friction factor model when
needed.
Heat Conduction: Integrate twice for 1-D steady problems; apply boundary temperatures/fluxes.

12. Quick Formula Summary

• Beam curvature: EI y'' = M(x); Cantilever tip δ = P L³ / (3 E I); Simply supported UDL: y_max = 5 w L■ /
(384 E I).

• Torsion: dθ/dx = T/(GJ); angle θ = ∫ T/(GJ) dx.

• Bernoulli: p/(ρg) + V²/(2g) + z = constant (add h_f for losses).

• Laminar pipe flow: u(r) = -(dp/dz)(R² - r²)/(4µ); Q = - (π R■ / 8 µ) (dp/dz).

• Head loss: h_f = f (L/D) (V² / (2g)).

• 1-D steady conduction: d²T/dx²=0 ⇒ T(x) linear; q = kA (∆T/L).

End of Companion — Practice is Key

Re-derive at least one example from each section during your revision days. If a step feels unclear, rewrite
the governing equations and carefully re-apply boundary conditions — that is where most mistakes
happen.