Visual learning app could transform how students understand fluid mechanics

Developed by engineers at the University of Surrey, the free, open-access Fluid Mechanics Interactive Learning Hub enables learners to experiment with fluid-flow systems by adjusting key parameters, such as wall angles, pipe diameters, fluid height or pump configurations, and instantly visualising how forces, pressures and velocities respond. Each scenario is accompanied by step-by-step calculations, helping users link mathematical theory directly to realistic behaviour. 

Fluid mechanics is a core module across chemical, civil and mechanical engineering programmes, but it is traditionally taught through abstract equations that many first-year students encounter for the first time. Surrey’s new app uses simulation-based learning to make these concepts far more intuitive, supporting students as they build confidence in a subject widely regarded as one of the toughest in the curriculum. 

The app was built collaboratively with Surrey undergraduates, who tested multiple early versions and shaped the final design. The result is a simple, highly visual interface that encourages exploration – allowing learners to run “what-if” scenarios that would be difficult to reproduce physically in a lab. 

The tool is now being used with Surrey’s Chemical Engineering first year undergraduates, with plans to expand its use across additional engineering classes. 

The project received funding through the Global University Sponsorship Program (GUSP) run by Fluor, a Fortune 500 engineering company that supports innovative education across selected institutions worldwide – including the University of Surrey. Additional support came from Surrey’s Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences Innovation Fund, which backs new teaching tools that enhance the student experience. 

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