01 / Reading Guide
Reading Guide
Citation
White, F. M., & Xue, H. (2021). Fluid Mechanics (9th ed.). McGraw Hill.
Chapter Summary
The ninth edition has eleven chapters and five appendices: physical properties of fluids, compressible flow tables, conversion factors, equations of motion in cylindrical coordinates, and estimating uncertainty in experimental data. The publisher describes an informal, student-oriented writing style "with the flavor of an interactive lecture", and presents the subject as "a judicious compromise between theory and experiment", with experimental results offered as a natural complement to the theory. Frank White is described by McGraw Hill as a long-time teacher who has written four textbooks on fluid mechanics and heat transfer. The catalogue lists chapter titles without section lists, so the entries below describe what each title names.
Chapter 1: Introduction
The opening chapter; the catalogue gives the title only.
Chapter 2: Pressure Distribution in a Fluid
The chapter on how pressure varies within a fluid. The publisher's list of updates says that student feedback was used to revise Chapters 2 to 7, where "the backbone of fluid mechanics is laid out".
Chapter 3: Integral Relations for a Control Volume
Conservation laws written in integral form for a control volume.
Chapter 4: Differential Relations for Fluid Flow
The differential counterpart of the integral approach of Chapter 3.
Chapter 5: Dimensional Analysis and Similarity
The chapter on dimensional analysis and similarity, which comes before the application chapters.
Chapters 6–7: Viscous Flow in Ducts; Flow Past Immersed Bodies
Two chapters of application: flow in ducts with viscosity, and the flow past bodies placed in a stream. The India edition lists a Moody chart among its end matter.
Chapter 8: Potential Flow and Computational Fluid Dynamics
On McGraw Hill's US page this chapter is titled "Potential Flow and Computational Fluid Dynamics"; the India edition lists it as "Potential Flow". The chapter combines classical potential flow with an introduction to computational fluid dynamics.
Chapter 9: Compressible Flow
The chapter on compressible flow, supported by compressible flow tables in Appendix B.
Chapters 10–11: Open-Channel Flow; Turbomachinery
The last two chapters cover free-surface channel flow and turbomachinery.
Key Concepts
The explanations below are general definitions of the concepts that the chapter titles name.
Chapters 1–5: Pressure, Control Volumes and Similarity
- Pressure distribution: how pressure varies through a fluid, the subject of Chapter 2.
- Control volume: a defined region of space across which the integral conservation relations are written.
- Differential relations: the equations of flow written at a point.
- Dimensional analysis and similarity: expressing a problem through dimensionless groups so that results transfer between scales.
Chapters 6–9: Ducts, Immersed Bodies, Potential Flow and Compressible Flow
- Viscous flow in ducts: internal flow in which viscous friction matters.
- Flow past immersed bodies: external flow around objects.
- Potential flow and computational fluid dynamics: idealized flow solutions and numerical methods for flow.
- Compressible flow: gas flow in which density changes matter.
Chapters 10–11: Open-Channel Flow and Turbomachinery
- Open-channel flow: flow with a free surface.
- Turbomachinery: pumps, turbines and similar machines.
Critical Analysis
Strengths
- A deliberate style. The publisher states that the informal and student-oriented style has been retained and enhanced throughout the revisions, and a reviewer quoted on McGraw Hill's page (John Paccione, University of Albany) calls the text a very good foundation that is rigorous enough without being overwhelming.
- Broad subject range. The eleven chapters run from the basic relations through dimensional analysis, viscous flow, external flow, potential flow, compressible flow, open channels and turbomachines, so the book can serve a first course and a second course on specialized topics.
- Experiment alongside theory. The publisher says the book presents experimental results as a complement to the theory, and Appendix E on estimating uncertainty in experimental data supports that emphasis.
- Large problem collection. The India edition lists 1,681 problem exercises sorted by topic. The edition notes also mention updated examples and data, revised art and photographs, and an emphasis on readability.
Limitations
- Size and breadth. With eleven substantial chapters and chapters on compressible flow, potential flow, open channels and turbomachinery, a one-semester course must select; the publisher's page does not mark which chapters are optional.
- Computational fluid dynamics gets part of a chapter. On McGraw Hill's US page, CFD shares Chapter 8 with potential flow, so students who need numerical methods for flow will need a dedicated text.
- Regional variation. The India edition lists a slightly different chapter-8 title and a different appendix list than McGraw Hill's US page, so check your edition's contents.
Where It Fits in the Course
White and Xue is the fuller of the two introductory engineering textbooks on this course list. Young, Munson and Okiishi's A Brief Introduction to Fluid Mechanics (third edition) covers eleven chapters in a shorter volume and lacks chapters on compressible flow and potential flow; White and Xue adds those two and also places a chapter on differential relations before dimensional analysis. Take the brief text for a one-semester introduction, and White and Xue where the course covers differential analysis, compressible flow or turbomachinery, or where the book is meant as a reference for later courses.
Nakayama's Introduction to Fluid Mechanics is a gentler, visualization-led alternative, and Lauga's Fluid Mechanics: A Very Short Introduction offers a non-mathematical overview of the central ideas. The graduate-level next step is Kundu, Cohen, Dowling and Capecelatro's Fluid Mechanics, which develops the subject from the governing equations. For aerospace students, Anderson's Fundamentals of Aerodynamics continues into airfoils, wings and compressible flow.
How to Use This Book
The book is for mechanical, civil, chemical and aerospace students taking a first or second course in fluid mechanics. The publisher does not list prerequisites; calculus and introductory mechanics are the usual background.
- Core: Chapters 1–7, from pressure distribution through control volumes, differential relations, dimensional analysis, ducts and external flow. The publisher highlights Chapters 2 to 7 as the backbone of the subject.
- Add by course: Chapter 8 (potential flow and computational fluid dynamics), Chapter 9 (compressible flow, with Appendix B tables), Chapter 10 (open-channel flow) and Chapter 11 (turbomachinery), according to the syllabus.
- Throughout: Use the end-of-chapter problems sorted by topic, and the appendix tables, as the standard working tools.