Fluids - Lecture 10 Notes: Substantial Derivative

Fluids – Lecture 10 Notes
1. Substantial Derivative
2. Recast Governing Equations
Reading: Anderson 2.9, 2.10
Substantial Derivative
Sensed rates of change
The rate of change reported by a flow sensor clearly depends on the motion of the sensor.
For example, the pressure reported by a static-pressure sensor mounted on an airplane in
level flight shows zero rate of change. But a ground pressure sensor reports a nonzero rate
as the airplane rapidly flies by a few meters overhead. The figure illustrates the situation.
p
wing location at p1 (t)
t = to
p2 (t)
p2 (t) p1 (t)
t
to
Note that although the two sensors measure the same instantaneous static pressure at the
same point (at time t = to ), the measured time rates are different.
dp1 dp2
p1 (to ) = p2 (to ) but (to ) 6= (to )
dt dt
Drifting sensor
We will now imagine a sensor drifting with a fluid element. In effect, the sensor follows the
element’s pathline coordinates xs (t), ys (t), zs (t), whose time rates of change are just the
local flow velocity components
dxs dys dzs
= u(xs , ys , zs , t) , = v(xs , ys , zs , t) , = w(xs , ys , zs , t)
dt dt dt
pressure ps
field
pathline
Dp dps
V Dt dt
ps (t)
t
sensor drifting with local velocity
Consider a flow field quantity to be observed by the drifting sensor, such as the static pressure
p(x, y, z, t). As the sensor moves through this field, the instantaneous pressure value reported
by the sensor is then simply
ps (t) = p (xs (t), ys (t), zs (t), t) (1)
1
This ps (t) signal is similar to p2 (t) in the example above, but not quite the same, since the
p2 sensor moves in a straight line relative to the wing rather than following a pathline like
the ps sensor.
Substantial derivative definition

The time rate of change of ps (t) can be computed from (1) using the chain rule.
dps ∂p dxs ∂p dys ∂p dzs ∂p
= + + +
dt ∂x dt ∂y dt ∂z dt ∂t
But since dxs /dt etc. are simply the local fluid velocity components, this rate can be ex-
pressed using the flowfield properties alone.
dps ∂p ∂p ∂p ∂p Dp
= + u + v + w ≡
dt ∂t ∂x ∂y ∂z Dt
The middle expression, conveniently denoted as Dp/Dt in shorthand, is called the substantial
derivative of p. Note that in order to compute Dp/Dt, we must know not only the p(x, y, z, t)
field, but also the velocity component fields u, v, w(x, y, z, t).
Although we used the pressure in this example, the substantial derivative can be computed
for any flowfield quantity (density, temperature, even velocity) which is a function of x, y, z, t.
D( ) ∂( ) ∂( ) ∂( ) ∂( ) ∂( ) ~ · ∇( )
≡ + u + v + w = + V
Dt ∂t ∂x ∂y ∂z ∂t
The rightmost compact D/Dt definition contains two terms. The first ∂/∂t term is called
the local derivative. The second V~ · ∇ term is called the convective derivative. In steady
flows, ∂/∂t = 0, and only the convective derivative contributes.
Recast Governing Equations

All the governing equations of fluid motion which were derived using control volume concepts
can be recast in terms of the substantial derivative. We will employ the following general
vector identity
∇ · (a~v ) = ~v · ∇a + a ∇·~v
which is valid for any scalar a and any vector ~v .
Continuity equation
Applying the above vector identity to the divergence form continuity equation gives
∂ρ
~

+ ∇ · ρV = 0
∂t
∂ρ ~ · ∇ρ + ρ ∇· V
~ = 0
+ V
∂t
Dρ ~ = 0
+ ρ ∇· V (2)
Dt
The final result above is called the convective form of the continuity equation. A physical
interpretation can be made if it’s written as follows.
2
1 Dρ ~
− = ∇·V
ρ Dt
−fractional density rate = velocity divergence
or . . . fractional volume rate = velocity divergence
For a fluid element of given mass, the volume must vary as 1/density, which gives the second
interpretation above. Both interpretations are illustrated in the left figure below, where the
fluid element expands when it flows through a flowfield region where ∇ · V ~ > 0. In low
speed flows and in liquid flows the density is essentially constant, so that Dρ/Dt = 0 and
by implication ∇· V~ = 0.
Momentum equation
The divergence form of the x-momentum equation is
∂(ρu)
~ = − ∂p + ρgx + (Fx )viscous

+ ∇ · ρuV
∂t ∂x
Applying the vector identity again, and also cancelling some terms by use of the continuity
equation (2), produces the convective form of the momentum equation. The y- and z-
momentum equations are also derived the same way.
Du ∂p
ρ = − + ρgx + (Fx )viscous (3)
Dt ∂x
Dv ∂p
ρ = − + ρgy + (Fy )viscous (4)
Dt ∂y
Dw ∂p
ρ = − + ρgz + (Fz )viscous (5)
Dt ∂z
The Du/Dt etc. substantial derivatives are recognized as the acceleration components expe-
rienced by a fluid element. This leads to a simple physical interpretation or these equations
as Newton’s law applied to a fluid element of unit volume.
mass/volume × acceleration = total force/volume
The element’s mass/volume is simply the density ρ, and the total force/volume consists of
the buoyancy-like pressure gradient force, the gravity force, and the viscous force.
∆ ρ = D ρ ∆t ∆V = DV ∆t
Dt Dt
t + ∆t V
t + ∆t
t t
∆ .V p + ρ g +Fviscous
∆−
expanding fluid element accelerating fluid element

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Fluids – Lecture 10 Notes

ps (t) = p (xs (t), ys (t), zs (t), t) (1)

Substantial derivative definition

Recast Governing Equations

mass/volume × acceleration = total force/volume

expanding fluid element accelerating fluid element

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