A new interactive web app is making one of the most challenging areas of engineering education easier to understand, allowing university students to actually see how fluid mechanics works rather than relying on complicated static equations alone.

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.

Dr Siddharth Gadkari, Lecturer in Chemical Process Engineering at the University of Surrey and lead developer of the app, said:

“The great thing about this is that it is open access, so students at any university can use it. Our aim was to turn a traditionally difficult subject into something students can genuinely explore and understand. When they can change a parameter and immediately see what happens, the learning becomes deeper, more engaging and much less intimidating.”

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.

Dr Gadkari added:

“Because the app runs entirely in a browser and is open source, it has the potential to support a wide range of learners and professionals who work with liquid and gas systems – from water engineers and pumping specialists to those designing pipe networks in industrial settings.”

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.

[ENDS]