AA210A

Fundamentals of Compressible Flow

Chapter 1 - Introduction to fluid flow

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 1.2 Conservation of mass

Mass flux in the

x-direction

⎛ L⎞
M⎜ ⎟
⎝ ⎠ M
[ ρU ] = L3T = L2T

Momentum Mass per

per unit unit area
volume per
second

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 Divide through by the volume of the control volume.

1.2.1 Conservation of mass - Incompressible flow

If the density is constant the continuity equation reduces to

Note that this equation applies to both steady and unsteady

incompressible flow
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 1.2.2 Index notation and the Einstein convention

Make the following replacements

Using index notation the continuity equation is

Einstein recognized that such sums from vector calculus always

involve a repeated index. For convenience he dropped the
summation symbol.

Coordinate independent form

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 1.3 Particle paths, streamlines and streaklines in 2-D
steady flow
The figure below shows the streamlines over a 2-D airfoil.

The flow is irrotational and incompressible

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 Streamlines Streaklines

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 A vector field that satisfies can always be

represented as the gradient of a scalar potential

or

If the scalar potential is substituted into the continuity

equation the result is Laplaces equation.

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 A weakly compressible example - flow over a wing flap.

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 Particle paths
The figure below shows the trajectory in space of a fluid element
moving under the action of a two-dimensional steady velocity field

The equations that determine the trajectory are:

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 Formally, these equations are solved by integrating the
velocity field in time.

Along a particle path

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 Eliminate time between the functions F and G to produce
a family of lines. These are the streamlines observed in
the figures shown earlier.

The value of a particular streamline is determined by

the initial conditions.

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 This situation is depicted schematically below.

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 The streamfunction can also be determined by solving the first-order
ODE generated by eliminating dt from the particle path equations.

The total differential of the streamfunction is

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 Replace the differentials dx and dy.

The stream function, can be determined as the solution of a

linear, first order PDE.

This equation is the mathematical expression of the statement that

streamlines are parallel to the velocity vector field.

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 The first-order ODE governing the stream function can be written as

1.3.1 The integrating factor

On a streamline

What is the relationship between these two equations ?

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 To be a perfect differential the functions U and V have to satisfy
the integrability condition

For general functions U and V this condition is not satisfied. The

equation must be multiplied by an
integrating factor in order to convert it to a perfect differential.

It was shown by the German mathematician Johann Pfaff in

the early 1800’s that an integrating factor M(x,y) always exists.

and the partial derivatives are

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 1.3.2 Incompressible flow in 2 dimensions

The flow of an incompressible fluid in 2-D is constrained

by the continuity equation

This is exactly the integrability condition . Continuity is satisfied

identically by the introduction of the stream function,

In this case -Vdx+Udy is guaranteed to be a perfect

differential and one can write.

1.3.3 Incompressible, irrotational flow in 2 dimensions

The Cauchy-Reimann
conditions
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 1.3.4 Compressible flow in 2 dimensions

The continuity equation for the steady flow of a

compressible fluid in two dimensions is

In this case the required integrating factor is the

density and we can write.

The stream function in a compressible flow is proportional to

the mass flux and the convergence and divergence of lines
in the flow over the flap shown earlier is a reflection of
variations of mass flux over different parts of the flow field.

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 1.4 Particle paths in three dimensions

The figure above shows the trajectory in space traced out by a particle
under the action of a general three dimensional unsteady flow,

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 The equations governing the motion of the particle are:

Formally, these equations are solved by integrating the velocity field.

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 1.5 The substantial derivative

The acceleration of a particle is

Insert the velocities. The result is called the substantial or

material derivative and is usually denoted by

The time derivative of any flow variable evaluated on a fluid

element is given by a similar formula. For example the rate
of change of density following a fluid particle is

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 1.5.1 Frames of reference

Transformation of position and velocity

Transformation of momentum

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 Transformation of kinetic energy

Thermodynamic properties such as density, temperature and

pressure do not depend on the frame of reference.

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 1.6 Momentum transport due to convection

Density Volume flux in the y direction

M
[ ] L3
ρ = V =
L
=
L3
=
Volume
[ ] T L2T Area ⋅ Sec
Outward unit
normal vector y
U V
Control volume surface x
U
Momentum flux

⎛ L⎞ ⎛ L⎞
M⎜ ⎟ M⎜ ⎟
⎝ ⎠ L ⎝ ⎠
[ ρUV ] = L3T ⎛⎜⎝ T ⎞⎟⎠ = L2TT

x-momentum Volume
per unit x-momentum convected in the
per unit y-direction per unit area per
volume area per
second
second
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 The conservation equation for momentum

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 Divide through by the volume

x - component

In the y and z directions

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 In index notation the momentum conservation equation is

Rearrange

In words,

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 1.7 Momentum transport due to molecular motion

1.7.1 Pressure

1.7.2 Viscous friction - Plane Couette Flow

Force/Area needed to maintain the motion of the upper plate

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 1.7.3 A question of signs

1.7.4 Newtonian fluids

1.7.5 Forces acting on a fluid element

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 Pressure-viscous-stress force components

Momentum balance in the x-direction

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 Divide by the volume

x - component

In the y and z directions

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 In index notation the equation for conservation of momentum is

Coordinate independent form

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 1.7 Conservation of energy

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 1.8.1 Pressure and viscous work

Fully written out this relation is

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 The previous equation can be rearranged to read in terms of energy fluxes.

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 Energy balance.

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 In index notation the equation for conservation of energy is

Coordinate independent form

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 1.9 Summary - the equations of motion

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 Some remarks on the pressure field
Two dimensional steady, inviscid, incompressible flow
Conservation of mass

∂U ∂V
+ =0
∂x ∂y

Conservation of momentum

∂U ∂U ∂ ⎛ P⎞
U +V =− ⎜ ⎟
∂x ∂y ∂x ⎝ ρ ⎠
∂V ∂V ∂ ⎛ P⎞
U +V =− ⎜ ⎟
∂x ∂y ∂y ⎝ ρ ⎠
Vorticity

∂V ∂U
Ω= −
∂x ∂y
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 For any steady, inviscid, incompressible, irrotational
velocity field the pressure field exists!

∂V ∂U
Ω= − =0
∂x ∂y

∂ ⎛ P⎞ ⎛ ∂U ∂U ⎞ ∂U ∂V 1 ∂
∂x ⎜⎝ ρ ⎟⎠
= − U
⎜⎝ ∂x + V
∂y ⎟⎠
= −U
∂x
− V
∂x
= −
2 ∂x
(U 2
+ V 2
)
∂ ⎛ P⎞ ⎛ ∂V ∂V ⎞ ∂U ∂V 1 ∂
∂y ⎜⎝ ρ ⎟⎠
= − U
⎜⎝ ∂x + V
∂y ⎟⎠
= −U
∂y
− V
∂y
= −
2 ∂y
(U 2
+ V 2
)
∂ ⎛P 1 2 2 ⎞
+
∂x ⎜⎝ ρ 2
(U + V )⎟⎠ = 0
∂ ⎛P 1 2 2 ⎞
+
∂y ⎜⎝ ρ 2
(U + V )⎟⎠ = 0
+ (U + V 2 ) = const
P 1 2
ρ 2

This is the incompressible Bernoulli pressure

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 1.10 Problems

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