COMPRESSIBLE FLOW

What is compressible flow?

• a type of fluid flow where the fluid's density changes significantly as it moves

• Compressible flow is important in areas like aerodynamics, rockets, and jet

engines, where the speed is high and air behaves differently than at low speeds.
THERMODYNAMIC RELATIONS

Equation of State

The equation of state for a perfect gas

Compressibility factor (Z)
a dimensionless number that indicates how much a real gas deviates from ideal gas behavior. It is defined as:

• If 𝑍=1: The gas behaves like an ideal gas.

• If 𝑍<1: The gas is more compressible than an ideal gas (intermolecular attraction dominates).
• If 𝑍>1: The gas is less compressible (intermolecular repulsion dominates).

In high-speed and high-pressure conditions (like in nozzles, compressors, or shock waves), gases often deviate from ideal
behavior, especially near the critical point. Here, using 𝑍 helps correct the ideal gas equations to better predict properties
like density, enthalpy, and speed of sound.
Internal Energy and Enthalpy
• The sum of all the microscopic forms of energy of gas is called internal energy of the gas

• The enthalpy per unit mass is defined as

where e is the internal energy per unit mass

for a perfect gas

For calorically perfect gas, specific heats are constant,

First law of Thermodynamics
For a closed system or a fixed mass, the first law

Second Law of Thermodynamics and Entropy

Second law of thermodynamics defines a property, known as entropy of system

The enthalpy per unit mass is defined as

Differentiating the above equation, we have

For a calorically perfect gas
Isentropic Relations
BASIC EQUATIONS OF COMPRESSIBLE FLOW

Continuity Equation (conservation of mass)

For one-dimensional steady flow, the continuity equation is

Differentiating

continuity equation for compressible

flow in differential form
 Energy Equation for Isentropic Flow
When there is no heat interaction and no mechanical work is done, the energy equation in differential form can be
expressed as

Integrating

For a calorically perfect gas, we have

SPEED OF SOUND WAVE

For the time interval ‘dt’, the pressure wave has travelled a distance L and piston has moved through x

Thus at (L-x), the fluid will be compressed ; due to compression of the fluid 𝒑, 𝝆 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆
x
Differentiating the above equation, we have
Differentiating
The pressure-density relationship for an isothermal process is given by
PROPAGATION OF PRESSURE WAVES (Disturbances) IN A
COMPRESSIBLE FLUID
 If tangents are drawn to the different circles which
represent the propagated spherical waves on both sides,
they form a cone with its vertex B; This cone is known as
Mach cone

(region outside the cone)

(effect of disturbance is
felt only the region within
the Mach cone)
are defined as those which are to be obtained if the flow were brought to rest in an isentropic
process.

Neglecting the elevation changes, the Euler's equation of motion can be written as

The relationship between pressure and density for an isentropic process is

Differentiating the above equation, we get

Integrating the above equation, we get
the stagnation pressure and stagnation density can be obtained as
Consider one-dimensional steady flow of a perfect gas through a variable area duct

Neglecting the elevation changes, the Euler's equation of motion can be written as
Shock waves
• Shock waves are highly localized irreversibilities in the flow .

• Within the distance of a mean free path, the flow passes from a supersonic to a subsonic state, the velocity decreases
suddenly and the pressure rises sharply. A shock is said to have occurred if there is an abrupt reduction of velocity in
the downstream in course of a supersonic flow in a passage or around a body.

• Normal shocks are substantially perpendicular to the flow and oblique shocks are inclined at any angle.

• Shock formation is possible for confined flows as well as for external flows.

• Normal shock and oblique shock may mutually interact to make another shock pattern.

Bell X-1 [M>1] Concorde, a supersonic airliner Space Shuttle during reentry
Fanno Line Flows
• Fanno line flow is a type of compressible flow (usually of a
gas) through a constant-area duct, where:

• Friction is present
• No heat is added or removed (adiabatic)
• No work is done on or by the flow

It depends on whether the flow is subsonic or supersonic:

If subsonic (M < 1):

• Velocity increases If supersonic (M > 1):

• Pressure drops • Velocity decreases

• Temperature drops • Pressure increases

• Mach number goes toward 1 • Temperature increases

• Mach number also goes toward 1
In both cases, the flow tends toward Mach 1 — this is called choking.
Rayleigh Line Flows

Rayleigh line flow describes compressible flow of a gas in a constant-area

duct, where:
• Heat is added or removed
• No friction
• No work is done
• No change in duct shape (constant area)

If subsonic (M < 1) and you add heat:

• Velocity increases
• Pressure first increases a bit then drops If supersonic (M > 1) and you add heat:

• Temperature increases •Velocity decreases

• Mach number moves toward 1 (choking) •Pressure increases

•Temperature increases
•Mach number also moves toward 1 (choking again)
Too much heat → choked flow (Mach 1)
• The Fanno line represents all possible states for adiabatic flow
with friction.

• The Rayleigh line represents all possible states for flow with
heat addition/removal, but no friction.

These two points correspond to:

• A supersonic state
• A subsonic state

A normal shock is a sudden discontinuity where flow jumps from

supersonic to subsonic, obeying:

• Conservation of mass, momentum, and energy

• Increase in entropy
• No external heat or work across the shock (shock is very thin)

The shock itself involves neither friction nor heat exchange, but the regions before and after the shock may experience
friction or heat.
Calculation of Flow Properties Across a Normal Shock

consider a control surface around the wave

The energy equation can be simplified for an ideal gas as

By making use of the equation for the speed of sound and the equation
of state for ideal gas, the continuity equation can be rewritten to
include the influence of Mach number as:

Rearranging this equation for the static

pressure ratio across the shock wave,
Introducing the Mach number in momentum equation

The energy equation can be written in terms of

the temperature and Mach number
Then, solving this equation for Ma2 as a function of Ma1, we obtain two solutions. One solution is trivial Ma2 = Ma1 ,
which signifies no shock across the control volume. The other solution is

there would be no pressure or temperature increase across the shock.

In fact, the shock wave corresponding to Ma1 =1 is the sound wave across which, by definition, pressure and
temperature changes are infinitesimal. Therefore, it can be said that the sound wave represents a degenerated
normal shock wave.
Oblique Shock

An oblique shock is a type of shock wave that forms at an angle to the direction of supersonic flow, unlike a normal shock,
which is perpendicular.