Kinematics of Fluid

Flow
Neeraj Adhikari

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Velocity Field
Velocity is a vector quantity, requiring
a magnitude and direction for a
complete description
𝑉 = 𝑉(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧, 𝑡)
The velocity vector can be written in
terms of its three scalar components
𝑉 = 𝑢𝑖Ƹ + 𝑣 𝑗Ƹ + 𝑤𝑘෠

2-D, Steady Fluid Flow

𝑉ത = 𝑥 𝑖Ƹ − 𝑦𝑗Ƹ

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Vector Field
𝑎𝑦
Vector Field
𝑢= 2 2 𝑢 = −𝑥
𝑥 +𝑦
𝑎𝑥
𝑣=− 2 2 𝑣 = −𝑦
𝑥 +𝑦

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Velocity Field

(ii)
(i)

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Velocity and Acceleration of fluid particle

Let V is the resultant velocity at any point in fluid flow and u, v & w are its
component in x, y and z direction

Then velocity vector 𝑉 = 𝑢𝑖 + 𝑣𝑗 + 𝑤𝑘

The resultant velocity 𝑉 = 𝑢2 + 𝑣 2 + 𝑤 2

As we know that the velocity components in a fluid flow are, in general,

function of space and time
𝑢 = 𝑢 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧, 𝑡
𝑣 = 𝑣(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧, 𝑡)
𝑤 = 𝑤(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧, 𝑡)

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Where,

𝑑𝑥
𝑢 = lim
𝑑𝑡→0 𝑑𝑡

𝑑𝑦
v = lim
𝑑𝑡→0 𝑑𝑡

𝑑𝑧
w = lim
𝑑𝑡→0 𝑑𝑡

𝑑𝑠
V = lim
𝑑𝑡→0 𝑑𝑡

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Let ax, ay, az are the total acceleration in x, y, z direction respectively. Then
by chain rule of differential

𝑑𝑢 𝜕𝑢 𝑑𝑥 𝜕𝑢 𝑑𝑦 𝜕𝑢 𝑑𝑧 𝜕𝑢
𝑎𝑥 = = + + +
𝑑𝑡 𝜕𝑥 𝑑𝑡 𝜕𝑦 𝑑𝑡 𝜕𝑧 𝑑𝑡 𝜕𝑡

𝑑𝑢 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢
𝑎𝑥 = =𝑢 +𝑣 +𝑤 +
𝑑𝑡 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑡
𝑑𝑣 𝜕𝑣 𝜕𝑣 𝜕𝑣 𝜕𝑣
𝑎𝑦 = =𝑢 +𝑣 +𝑤 +
𝑑𝑡 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑡
𝑑𝑤 𝜕𝑤 𝜕𝑤 𝜕𝑤 𝜕𝑤
𝑎𝑧 = =𝑢 +𝑣 +𝑤 +
𝑑𝑡 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑡

Acceleration vector =𝑎𝑥𝑖 + 𝑎𝑦 𝑗 + 𝑎𝑧 𝑘

Resultant acceleration = 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑎 𝑦 2 + 𝑎𝑧2

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Local acceleration
The rate of increase of velocity with respect to time at a particular point in
the flow is known as local acceleration

Convective acceleration
The rate of increase of velocity due to particle’s change of position is known
as convective acceleration

In steady flow local acceleration is zero

In uniform flow the convective acceleration is zero

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Acceleration

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For the velocity field given by
𝑉 = 10𝑥𝑦𝑖 + 5𝑥 2 𝑗 + 𝑡 2 𝑥 + 𝑧 𝑘
Find the velocity and acceleration of a fluid particle at position
𝑟 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = 𝑖 + 2𝑗 + 3𝑘
At time t=1.

21 units, 493.13 units

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Types of fluid flow

1. Steady and un-steady flow

2. Uniform and non-uniform flow
3. One, two and three dimensional flow
4. Laminar and turbulent flow
5. Compressible and incompressible flow
6. Rotational and irrotational flow

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Steady flow

A flow is considered to be steady if the dependent fluid variables at any point

in the flow does not change with time.
However , these variables may be different at different points in the flowing
liquid
𝜕𝑢
=0
𝜕𝑡 𝑥𝑜, 𝑦𝑜, 𝑧𝑜

𝜕𝑝
𝑥𝑜, 𝑦𝑜 , 𝑧𝑜 =0
𝜕𝑡

𝜕𝜌
𝑥𝑜, 𝑦𝑜, 𝑧𝑜 =0
𝜕𝑡

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Unsteady flow

A flow is considered to be unsteady if the dependent fluid variables changes

with the passage of time at a position in the flow.
Steadiness of flow implies that the flow-pattern does not change with time
whereas unsteadiness refers to changing flow-pattern with passage of time
at the same point in the space
𝜕𝑢
𝑥𝑜 , 𝑦𝑜 , 𝑧𝑜 ≠ 0
𝜕𝑡

𝜕𝑝
𝑥𝑜, 𝑦𝑜 , 𝑧𝑜 ≠0
𝜕𝑡

𝜕𝜌
𝑥𝑜, 𝑦𝑜, 𝑧𝑜 ≠0
𝜕𝑡

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Uniform and Non-uniform flow

A flow is said to be uniform at an instant of time the velocity, both in

magnitude and direction, is identical throughout the flow field.

𝜕𝑉
=0
𝜕𝑠 𝑡 = 𝑐

If the velocity of the flow field changes from point to point in the flowing fluid
at any instant, the flow is said to be non-uniform

𝜕𝑉
≠0
𝜕𝑠 𝑡 = 𝑐

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All these types of flows can exists independent of each other so that any of
the four types of combinations of flows is possible
a. steady-uniform flow
b. Steady-non-uniform flow
c. Unsteady-uniform flow
d. Unsteady-non-uniform flow
Flow of liquid through a long pipe of constant diameter at a constant rate is
steady uniform flow
Flow of liquid through a tapering pipe at a constant rate is steady-non-
uniform flow
Flow of liquid through a long pipe of constant diameter, at either increasing
or decreasing rate is unsteady- uniform flow
Flow through taper pipe at either increasing or decreasing rate is unsteady-
non-uniform flow

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One, two and three dimensional flow

A flow is classified as one, two or three-dimensional depending upon the

number of space coordinates required to specify the velocity field.

Although most flow fields are inherently three-dimensional, analysis based

on fewer dimensions is frequently meaningful.

The complexity of analysis increases considerably with the number of

dimensions of the flow field.

For many problems encountered in engineering, a one dimensional analysis

is adequate to provide approximate solution of engineering accuracy

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When the various characteristics of flowing fluid are the functions of only
one of the three coordinate and time, i.e., these vary only in one direction,
then the flow is known as one-dimensional flow

When the various characteristics of flowing fluid are the functions of only any
two of the three coordinate and time, i.e., these may not vary in any one of
the directions, then the flow is known as two-dimensional flow

When the various characteristics of flowing fluid are in general function of

space and time i.e., these vary with the coordinates of any point x, y, and z
and time t. Such flow is known as three dimensional flow

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Types of flow Unsteady Steady

Three-dimensional V = f(x,y,z,t) V=f(x,y,z)

Two-dimensional V=f(x,y,t) V=f(x,y)

One-dimensional V= f(x,t) V=f(x)

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 𝑟 2
𝑢 = 𝑢𝑚𝑎𝑥 1 −
𝑅

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 Laminar and Turbulent flow

A laminar flow is one in which the fluid particles moves in smooth layers, or
laminas.

In the development of laminar flow, viscosity of the flowing fluid plays a

significant role

A turbulent flow is the one in which the fluid particles rapidly mix as they move
along due to random three-dimensional velocity fluctuations.

In most fluid mechanics problems turbulence is an unwanted but often

unavoidable phenomenon, because it generates more resistance to flow

In other problems-for e.g., the flow of blood through blood vessels-it is desirable
because the random mixing allows all of the blood cells to contact the walls of the
blood vessels to exchange oxygen and other nutrients.

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For a pipe flow, the type of flow is determined by a non-dimensional number
called Reynold number.

𝑉𝐿𝜌
𝑅𝑁 =
𝜇
If Reynold number is less than 2000, the flow is called laminar. If the
Reynold number is more than 4000, it is called turbulent flow. If the Reynold
number lies between 2000 and 4000, the flow may be laminar or turbulent

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Find the reynolds number if a fluid of viscosity 0.4 Ns/m2 and density of 900
Kg/m3 through a 20 mm pipe with a Velocity of 2.5 m/s?

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Compressible and Incompressible Flows

Flows in which variations in density are negligible are termed incompressible

flows
When density variations within a flow are not negligible, the flow is called
compressible.
The most common example of compressible flow concerns the flow of
gases, while the flow of liquid may frequently be treated as incompressible

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Rotational and irrotational flows

A flow is said to be rotational if the fluid particles while moving in the

direction of flow rotate about their mass centers.

A flow is said to be irrotational if the fluid particles while moving in the

direction of flow do not rotate about their mass centers.

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Simple analogy: (a) rotational circular flow is analogous to a roundabout,
while (b) irrotational circular flow is analogous to a Ferris wheel.

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 Velocity potential function

It is defined as a scalar function of space and time such that its negative
derivative with respect to any direction gives the fluid velocity in that
direction.
Mathematically the velocity potential is defined as 𝜙 = 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧, 𝑡) for
unsteady flow and 𝜙 = 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) for steady flow such that
𝜕𝜙
𝑢=−
𝜕𝑥

𝜕𝜙
𝑣=−
𝜕𝑦

𝜕𝜙
𝑤=−
𝜕𝑧

If velocity potential function satisfies, laplace equation, it represents the possible

steady incompressible irrotational flow

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Stream function

The stream function 𝜓 ‘psi’ is defined as a scalar function of space and time,
such that its partial derivative with respect to any direction gives the velocity
component at right angles (in the counter-clockwise direction) to this
direction
For two-dimensional and three-dimensional flow with axial symmetry
separate stream functions are considered.
For steady flow it is defined as 𝜓 = 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) such that

𝜕𝜓
=𝑣
𝜕𝑥

𝜕𝜓
= −𝑢
𝜕𝑦

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The stream function for a two-dimensional flow is given by 𝜓 = 2𝑥𝑦,
calculate the velocity at the point P (2,3). Find the velocity potential function
𝜙.
7.21 units/sec
𝜙 = 𝑥2 − 𝑦2

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Sketch the streamlines represented by 𝜓 = 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 . Also find the velocity
and direction at point (1,2).

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Relationship between the Steam function and Velocity potential function

𝑑𝑦 1
=−
𝑑𝑥 𝜓=𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡
𝑑𝑦Τ𝑑𝑥 𝜙=𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡

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Flow Visualization

Flow visualization is the visual examination of flow-field features

Important for both physical experiments and numerical (CFD) solutions.

Numerous methods
Streamlines and stream tube
Path-line
Streak-line
Timelines

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Streamline
A Streamline is a curve that is everywhere tangent to it at any
instant represents the instantaneous local velocity vector.
dy v
tan  = =
dx u  
u v
=
dx dy

in general for 3 − D

u v w
= = Stream line equation
dx dy dz
Where :
z u velocity component in -X- direction
v velocity component in-Y- direction
w
V w velocity component in -Z- direction
x
v u

y
V = u 2 + v2 + w2

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Since streamline is everywhere tangent to the velocity vector, there can be
no component of the velocity at right angles to the streamline and hence can
be no flow of liquid across streamline

In an unsteady flow where the velocity vector changes with time, the
pattern of streamlines also changes from instant to instant
In a steady flow, the orientation or the pattern of streamlines will be fixed.

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Consider the velocity field given by 𝑢 = 𝑦/(𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 ) and 𝑣 = −𝑥 /(𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 ).
Calculate the equation of the streamline passing through the point (0,5).

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Path-Lines
A path-line is defined as the line traced by a single fluid particle
as it moves over a period of time.

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 Path Line Stream Line

-This refers to a path followed by a fluid -This is an imaginary curve in a flow

particle over a period of time. field for a fixed instant of time, tangent
to which gives the instantaneous
velocity at that point .

-Two path lines can intersect each other as -Two stream lines can never intersect
or a single path line can form a loop as each other, as the instantaneous
different particles or even same particle can velocity vector at any given point is
arrive at the same point at different instants unique.
of time.

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Streak-lines
A streak-line is the locus of fluid particles that have passed sequentially
through a prescribed point in the flow

While a path line refers to the identity of a fluid particle, a streak line is
specified by a fixed point in the flow field.
Example If dye is injected into a liquid at a fixed point in the flow field, then
at a later time t, the dye will indicate the end points of the path lines of
particles which have passed through the injection point.

Therefore, in a steady flow, the path lines, streak lines and streamlines are
identical.

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Motion of fluid particle

Figure below shows a typical finite element, within which we have selected an
infinitesimal particle of mass dm and initial volume dx dy dz, at time t, and as it
may appear after a time interval dt.
The finite element has moved and changed its shape and orientation

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We can decompose this particle motion into four components:

Translation - Particle moves from one point to another

Rotation – Rotation of particle can occur about any or all of the x, y, or z

axes

Linear deformation – Particle’s sides stretch or contract

Angular deformation – In which the angle between the sides change

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Rotation and angular deformation of perpendicular line segments in a two-dimensional flow

A fluid particle is said to have undergone linear deformation if as it gets

deformed in the linear direction, so that two axes of the deformed particle
are parallel to the two axes of the un-deformed particle
A fluid particle is said to have undergone angular deformation is it deforms in
such a way that the two axes rotate by the same amount but in opposite
directions with respect to their previous positions
A fluid particle is said to have undergone rotation if its both the horizontal
and vertical axes rotate in same direction

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Fluid Rotation
A fluid particle moving in a general three-dimensional flow field may rotate
about all three coordinate axes

𝜔 = 𝑖𝜔𝑥 + 𝑗𝜔𝑦 + 𝑘𝜔𝑧

The positive sense of rotation is given by the right hand rule

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 Angular velocity and vorticity

Vorticity is a measure of the rotation of a fluid element as it

moves in the flow field. It is denoted by 𝜁 (Zeta)
𝜁 = 2𝜔 = 𝛻 × 𝑉

Nabla; del opetrator

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 Circulation
The circulation, Γ(Gamma), is defined as the line integral of the tangential
velocity component about any closed curve fixed in the flow
Γ = ර 𝑉 . 𝑑𝑠
𝑐
Where ds is an elemental vector tangent to the curve and having length ds
of the element of arc.

Γ > 0 → Counterclockwise
Γ < 0 → Clockwise

Nabla; del opetrator

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 Circulation and vorticity are the two primary measures of rotation
in a fluid.
Circulation, which is a scalar integral quantity, is a macroscopic
measure of rotation for a finite area of the fluid
Vorticity, however, is a vector field that gives a microscopic
measure of the rotation at any point in the fluid

Nabla; del opetrator

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The velocity distribution for a three-dimensional flow is
𝑢 = 𝑎 + 𝑏𝑦 − 𝑐𝑧
𝑣 = 𝑑 − 𝑏𝑥 − 𝑒𝑧
𝑤 = 𝑓 + 𝑐𝑥 − 𝑒𝑦
Does these velocity components represent irrotational flow? If not,
determine the vorticity and rotation

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