Gas dynamics Dr.

Sajida Lafta

CHAPTER TWO
INTRODUCTORY CONCEPT TO COMPRESSIBLE FLOW

2.1 Some Concepts of Compressible Fluid Flow

Pressure disturbance in fluid flow produce pressure pulse which travel with acoustic
velocity or sound velocity, C. The velocity of the sound is entirely dependent on the
compressible of the fluid; therefore, it plays a major role in compressible fluid flow.

2.2 Velocity of Sound

Sound waves are basically infinitesimal pressure waves propagating through fluid in a
plane, cylindrical or spherical form. They are produced by some disturbance in the flow,
such as the closing of valve, the existence of a small projection on the duct smooth wall,
etc…
The pressure waves has three specifications:-
 It travels with speed of sound.
 It changes the properties of the media which it passes.
 It takes the shape of the source of the disturbance.

2.3 Velocity of Sound for a Plane

For simplicity, we take a plane wave in order to obtain an expression for velocity of
sound. Consider combination of piston and cylinder and make small disturbance in form
of compression as shown in Figure (2.1).

Figure(2.1):Combination of piston and cylinder.

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Gas dynamics Dr. Sajida Lafta

Figure(2.2):Changes through propagating weak pressure wave

Figure(2.3):Changes relative to weak pressure wave

- Wave front propagates steadily to the right with velocity (C)

- Fluid through which wave front passed will be with the flowing properties:-
Pressure P+dP
Density ρ +dρ
And move to right with velocity dV
On the right of wave the properties P, ρ and V=0

To simplify the analysis as shown in Figure (2.3) observer travels with velocity of the
wave front. Fluid flows steadily to the left and passes through the wave, the velocity
reduced from C to C-dV and pressure rises to P+dP and density to ρ +dρ

By taking a stationary control volume and neglecting shearing force, the governing
equations will be as follows:-
- Applying momentum equation for shown control volume:

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Gas dynamics Dr. Sajida Lafta

𝐹𝑥 = 𝑚 𝑉2𝑥 − 𝑉1𝑥

𝐴𝑃 − 𝐴 𝑃 + 𝑑𝑃 = 𝑚 ∗ 𝐶 − 𝑑𝑉 − 𝐶

−𝐴𝑑𝑃 = −𝑚 𝑑𝑉

𝑚 𝜌𝐶𝐴
𝑑𝑃 = 𝑑𝑉 = 𝑑𝑉
𝐴 𝐴
𝑑𝑃 = 𝜌𝐶𝑑𝑉 (1)

- Applying continuity equation:

𝜌𝐶𝐴 = 𝜌 + 𝑑𝜌 ∗ 𝐶 − 𝑑𝑉 ∗ 𝐴

𝜌𝑑𝑉 = 𝐶𝑑𝜌
𝑑𝜌
𝑑𝑉 = ∗𝐶 (2)
𝜌
Combined Eq.(1) with Eq.(2) we get:

𝑑𝜌 𝑑𝑃
= 2
𝜌 𝜌𝐶
𝑑𝑃
𝐶2 =
𝑑𝜌
𝑑𝑃
𝐶=
𝑑𝜌

- Since the variation in the pressure and temperature are very small, the process is
reversible.
- Also, since the process is very rapid and small variation in the temperature, the process
can be assumed adiabatic.

- Therefore, the whole process is isentropic.

-The same result is applicable to small wave disturbance obtained for cylindrical wave
spreading from line source and spherical wave spreading from point source.
For incompressible fluid dρ=0, and thus C=∞, which is not represent the reality.
Therefore, no real fluid is perfectly incompressible.

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Gas dynamics Dr. Sajida Lafta

2.4 Velocity of Sound in Perfect Gas , liquid and solid bodies

𝑃
For perfect gas, the isentropic relation is given by: 𝜌𝐾
= 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡

Taking the ln of the equation, the following equation obtains:-

ln 𝑃 − K ln 𝜌 = ln 𝐶

Differentiating and note that 𝑃 = 𝜌𝑅𝑇

𝑑𝑃 𝑑𝜌
=𝐾
𝑝 𝜌

𝑑𝑃 𝑃
=𝐾
𝑑𝜌 𝜌

Velocity of the sound, C in a perfect gas

𝐶 2 = 𝐾𝑅𝑇
𝐶 = 𝐾𝑅𝑇

Where:
For air, K=1.4 , R=0.287 kJ/kg.°k and T in °k

*To find the velocity of the sound through liquid and solid bodies:

we can use bulk modulus of compression EL for liquid and modulus of elasticity, ES for
solids.
𝑑𝑃 𝑑𝑃 𝑑𝑃
𝐸𝐿 = − = =𝜌
𝑑∀/∀ 𝑑𝜌/𝜌 𝑑𝜌
𝑑𝑃 𝐸
=
𝑑𝜌 𝜌

𝐸
𝐶=
𝜌

For both liquid EL and solid ES should be in (N/m2 ) and 𝜌 (kg/m3)

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Gas dynamics Dr. Sajida Lafta

2.5 Mach Number

Mach number is defined by:-

𝑉
𝑀=
𝐶
Where:
V = is the velocity of the fluid or bodies
C = is the velocity of the sound corresponding to the fluid condition at the point where V
is measured.

2.6 Types of the Flo ws

Incompressible flow M=0

Subsonic flow M<1
Sonic flow M =1
Supersonic flow M >1

2.7 Physical Difference Between Incompressible, Subsonic and Supersonic Flows

The influence of the compressibility of the medium can lead to qualitative difference
between the physical natures of incompressible and compressible flows. To do the
difference, we must study first the motion of point source, then motion of a finite body.

- Motion of a point source of sound

Assume the point source to be a very small sphere immersed in a fluid flowing with
uniform velocity V and extending indefinitely in all directions. The radius of the sphere
varies periodically with time, thus emitting continuously spherical sound wave
spreading out at velocity C relative to the fluid.

Figures below show several pressure pulse patterns for different values of the speed of
the source compared with the speed of sound in the fluid.

Assume :
V = is the fluid velocity or point source velocity.
C = is the sound velocity corresponding to the fluid

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Gas dynamics Dr. Sajida Lafta

a. Incompressible flow
1. Point source moves very slowly. i.e. V<< C
2. The pressure pulse wave spread uniformly in all direction.
3. Pressure pattern is symmetric sphere as shown in Figure (2.4 a).

b. Subsonic flow
1. Point source moves with subsonic velocity. i.e. V< C
2. The pressure pulse wave spread in all direction.
3. Pressure pattern is no longer symmetrical as shown in Figure (2.4 b).

c. Sonic flow
1. Point source moves with sonic velocity. i.e. V= C
2. The pressure pulse wave spread in all direction in such manner that at the front,
the pressure pattern becomes straight line or at boundary of subsonic and
supersonic flows.
3. Pressure pattern is straight line at the front of the body as shown in Figure(2.4 c).

d. Supersonic flow
1. Point source moves with supersonic velocity. i.e. V> C
2. The pressure pulse waves spread in all directions in such manner that are included
in a cone which called ( Mach cone).
3. Pressure pattern is cone at the front of the body as shown in Figure(2.4 d).

a - Stationary point source b - Moving point source V< C

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Gas dynamics Dr. Sajida Lafta

c- Source moving at V = C

d - Source moving at V > C

Figure (2.4): Shows the flow patterns for incompressible , subsonic, sonic and
supersonic flows.

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Gas dynamics Dr. Sajida Lafta

- The half angle of the Mach cone is called as the Mach angle (𝜶 ) that can be easily
calculated from the geometry of the Figure (2.4) :

𝑪𝒕 𝟐𝑪𝒕 𝟑𝑪𝒕 𝑪 𝟏
𝐬𝐢𝐧𝜶 = = = =⋯= =
𝑽𝒕 𝟐𝑽𝒕 𝟑𝑽𝒕 𝑽 𝑴
𝟏
𝜶 = 𝐬𝐢𝐧−𝟏
𝑴

Figure (2.5): Types of the Flows

Since the aircraft is moving supersonically we can imagine a Mach cone originating
from the forward tip of the craft as is illustrated in Figure(2.5).

When the surface of the cone reaches the observer, the “sound” of the aircraft is
perceived. The Mach angle(ɑ) in figure is related to the elevation of the plane, z, and the
ground distance, x, by
𝒛
𝜶 = 𝐭𝐚𝐧−𝟏
𝒙
Mach number is related to the Mach angle through the relation: M=1/sin(ɑ) as shown
in Figure (2.6).

Figure(2.6) Mach cone for supersonic flow.

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Gas dynamics Dr. Sajida Lafta

2.8 Von Karmans Rules of Supersonic Flow

Von Karmans issued three rules concerning the wave propagation, these rules are as
follows:-

1. The rule of forbidden signals

The effect of pressure changes produced by a body moving at a speed faster than sound
cannot reach point a head of the body.

2. The zone of action and zone of silence

A moving source in stationary supersonic stream produced effects only on point that lie
on or inside the Mach cone extending downstream from the point source.

3. The rule of concentrated action

The pressure wave pattern is considered as a measure of the intensity of the pressure
distribution at each point in the flow field.

 For stationary source (incompressible flow) the intensity of the disturbance is

symmetrical about the source.
 For subsonic flow, the intensity is unsymmetrical .
 For supersonic flow, the pressure distribution is largely concentrated in the
neighborhood of the Mach cone that forms the outer limits of the zone action.

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Gas dynamics Dr. Sajida Lafta

Sheet Ch.2
Q1- Calculate the velocity of the sound at (27 °C) in the following medias:

a- Air
b- Water (with bulk modulus of comp. = 225 *107 N/m2 , density =1000 kg/m3 )
c- Steel (with modulus of elasticity = 20*1010 N/m2 , density =7800 kg/m3 )

Q2- A Mach No. (0.6) airplane flies at an altitude of (10000) meters where the atmospheric
temperature is (- 4.4 °C) . Calculate the airplane velocity.

Q3- Air at temperature of (25°C) is flowing with a velocity of 180 m/s. A projectile is
fired into the stream with a velocity of (800 m/s) in the opposite direction to that of the
air flow . Calculate the angle that the Mach waves from the projectile make to the
direction of motion.

Q4- A compression pulse changes the velocity of the fluid over which it passes by 3.3 m/s.
Calculate the pressure rise dp across the pulse for:
a- Water b- Air at 1 bar and 30 °C

Q5- An observer on the ground does not hear the sonic boom caused by an airplane moving
at 5 Km altitude until it is 9 Km past him. What is the approximate Mach number of the
airplane?

Q6- Start from first principle to show that, for perfect gas the velocity of the sound is given
by: 𝐶 = 𝐾𝑅𝑇

Q7- A jet fighter is expected to fly at 3000 Km/hr through air at high altitude where the
atmospheric temperature (-50 °C) . A model of the airplane is to be tested in a wind tunnel
with air at (100 °C) . Calculate the air speed in the tunnel for dynamic similarity.

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