Impact of Physical Model Projects and Multidisciplinary Teams in Fluid Mechanics Education

This study looks at how adding physical model design and cross‑disciplinary teamwork can improve undergraduate fluid‑mechanics courses. Fluid mechanics is often hard to teach because it relies on complex math and abstract ideas. To tackle this, we set up a structured program where mechanical and civil engineering students worked together in project teams. The research examined two things: how building real fluid‑system models by hand affects students’ grasp of the concepts, and how interacting with peers from another discipline influences learning outcomes. We gathered both quantitative and qualitative data from a group of forty‑nine students. The results show that using physical models helps students internalize fluid‑dynamics ideas much more effectively.

Even though students were hesitant at first, working in multidisciplinary teams gave them a broader view of different engineering perspectives and taught them collaborative problem‑solving skills. This work offers a step‑by‑step guide for creating, running, and evaluating physical‑model projects in engineering education. It includes a systematic approach to curriculum design, assessment rubrics, and managing interdisciplinary teams, all aimed at boosting student engagement and retaining complex thermal‑fluid concepts.

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