CHAPTER=3

Fluid Kinematics
 Introduction
• Fluid kinematics is the branch of fluid mechanics in which the study
of the different fluid flows is carried out but without the help of the
causing parameters.
• Fluid kinematics can be understood properly with the help of the
following points.
Fluid Kinematics
• deals with the motion of fluids, such as displacement, velocity,
acceleration, and other aspects.
• Kinematics is the branch of classical mechanics that describes the
motion of bodies and systems without consideration of the forces
that cause the motion.
• Mainly concern with velocity of fluid. Once the velocity is known,
pressure and force can be determined
• Motion can be described in terms of space-time relationship
 Cont..
• In engineering, the prediction and
understanding of fluid motion are crucial,
particularly for designing hydraulic structures
such as dams, bridges, and canals.
• This field focuses on the patterns and design
of the flow rather than the external elements
applied to the fluid.
• For instance, when designing a bridge, engineers
must assess the potential impact of water flow on
bridge piers. The flow velocity around the piers,
shifts in water flow due to changes in riverbed
profiles, and scour patterns are all assessed using
principles of Fluid Kinematics. Any failure to
adequately understand these could result in a
disastrous bridge collapse.
 Cont..
• We will not consider forces that causes the
motion of fluid but three parameters are
considered for this analysis;
• Displacement
• Velocity
• Acceleration
• Velocity of fluid at different coordinate is studied
• Different behavior of motion is also studied like;
Steady or unsteady, Uniform of non-uniform,
laminar or turbulent, rotational or irrational, etc.
 Cont..
• The concept of Fluid Kinematics is all about
studying fluid in motion.
• It investigates how fluids like water, oil, and air
move without delving into the reasons behind
such movements. Two core concepts play vital
roles in Fluid Kinematics: velocity and
acceleration.
Types of Fluid Flows
• Fluid flow can be classified into different
categories based on various parameters.
These parameters consist of the nature of the
flow, flow patterns etc.
• Fluid flow may be classified under the
following headings;
 Steady and Unsteady Flow

Example: Unsteady=Flow in the pipe whose valve is closed or opened

gradually
steady= Flow with constant rate
Cont..
• Steady? Unsteady
 Uniform & Non-uniform Flow

Example: Flow through the tapering pipe, flow through the canal bed, etc.
Cont.
Laminar & Turbulent Flow
Cont..
Laminar & Turbulent Flow
Rotational & Irrotational Flow

Example: Flow above wash basin

Rotational and irotational flow
Cont..
• Combining these, the most common flow types in Fluid Kinematics are:
1. Steady uniform flow
• Conditions do not change with position in the space or with time.
• E.g. flow of water in a pipe of constant diameter at a constant velocity.
2. Steady non-uniform flow
• Conditions change from point to point in the stream but do not change
with time.
• E.g. Flow in a tapering pipe with the constant velocity at the inlet.
3. Unsteady uniform flow
• At a given instant, the conditions at every point are the same but will
change with time.
• E.g. A pipe of constant diameter connected to a pump pumping at a
constant rate which is then switched off.
4. Unsteady non-uniform flow
• Every flow condition may change from point to point and with time at
every point.
• E.g. Waves in a channel
Compressible and incompressible flow

Compressible flow incompressible flow

• If the density of fluid • If the density of fluid is
changes during flow, the constant, the flow is said to
flow is said to be be incompressible flow.
compressible flow. e.g. flow of water through
e.g. flow of gas through channel
nozzles.
• The change in density is due
to the variation of pressure
and temperature.
One, two and three dimensional flow
1D-flow
• In one dimensional (1D) flow, fluid properties
are a function of time and one space co-
ordinate. In other words, conditions vary only
in the direction of flow not across the cross-
section.
• v = f(x, t)
• The streamlines in 1D flow are straight and
parallel.
• e.g. flow in pipe
2D-flow
• In two dimensional (2D) flow, fluid properties are
a function of time and two space co-ordinates. In
other words, conditions vary in the direction of
flow and in one direction at right angle to this.
• v = f(x, y, t)
• The streamlines in 2D flow are curves (plane
curves).
• e.g. flow in main stream of wide river, flow
between parallel plates
3D-flow
• In three dimensional (3D) flow, fluid properties
are a function of time and three space co-
ordinates. In other words, conditions vary in the
direction of flow, across the cross section and
across the depth of flow.
• v = f(x, y, z, t)
• The streamline in 3D flow are space curves (curve
in 3D space).
• e.g. flood flow in river, flow in converging or
diverging pipe.
In general
• fluid flow is three-dimensional. In many cases
the greatest changes only occur in two
directions or even only in one. The changes in
the other direction can be effectively ignored
making analysis much more simpler.
 Fluid Kinematics
Lagrangian approach Eulerian Approach

• Identify original position of • Instantaneous picture at different location is

particles identified and kinematics behavior at that
• Then study the continuous section is observed
behavior of particles • Define frame of reference and entire flow
• Each fluid particles is observed field is described with space coordinate
with respect to time. • एउटा point लिने र त्यसको reference मा
• Kinematics behavior will be the other particles को behavior check गने
function of original coordinate
Lagrangian approach

◦ A (x0,y0,z0)=spatial coordinate (identity of particles)

• Kinematics behavior of fluid particles will be

the function of its identity.

S =f(x0,y0,z0,t )
Cont..
 Problems in Lagrangian approach
• To identify each particle’s behavior is too
complicated because to integrate each
particle’s motion and to find integral constant
is problematic
• Therefore to study overall behavior of
particles Eulerian approach is used
Eulerian approach
• Observer is fixed at one point • u= f1(x,y,z,t)
and the distance from the • v= f2(x,y,z,t)
reference point is previously • w= f3(x,y,z,t)
determined, then with
reference to that reference • Resultant velocity (V)=√u2+v2+w2
point behavior of fluid which is also the function of
particles is determined. (x,y,z,t)
• Motion of fluid particles at the
point in the space
• Velocities at any point (x,y,z) is
determined and the number
of particles passing through
that point is calculated
Different between Lagrangian and Eulerian approach

Lagrangian Eulerian
• An observer concentrate on • An observer concentrates
the movement of single on the fixed point particles
fluid particles • An observer remains
• An observer has to move stationary and observe
with the fluid particles to changes in the fluid
absorb its movement parameters at the fixed
• S =f(x0,y0,z0,t ) point only
• S =f(x,y,z,t )
Individual
behavior
Overall behavior
Different Flow Pattern
Streamline
• Streamline is a line that is everywhere tangent to the
velocity field.
• Streamlines are obtained analytically by integrating
the equations defining lines tangent to the velocity
field. i.e. dy/dx = v/u
• where u, v, and w are the velocity components in the x,
y and z directions.
• To draw the streamline, instantaneous picture of flow
field is drawn (Eulerian approach) in which we studied
fluid behavior of particular section of point or space
co-ordinate.
Differential equation of streamline

Streamline is the concept of Eulerian approach in which imaginary curve is

drawn at instantaneous location and the tangent drawn at that points gives
the direction of velocity vector
Properties
• Close to a solid boundary, streamlines are parallel to that
boundary.
• Fluid cannot cross a streamline. (as the velocity component
perpendicular to it is zero)
• Streamlines cannot cross each other.
• Any particles starting on one streamline will stay on that
same streamline.
• Streamline spacing varies inversely with velocity.
• Series of streamlines represent flow pattern at an instant.
• In unsteady flow, position of streamlines can change with
time.
• In steady flow, the position of streamlines does not change.
 Numerical
• A 2D incompressible flow field is given by
𝑉=3x𝑖-3y𝑗. Find the equation of streamline
passing through (1,1).

→
 Pathline
• Based on the lagrangian approach in which behavior
of each fluid particles is observed from starts to end.
• All the paths trace is studied
• Locus of the fluid particles
• It only defines the path followed by the fluid particles
but not velocity vector
Equation for drawing pathline

Substitute the values of x, y and z. Integrate by

taking lower and upper limits of space and time.

Properties:
• Can intersect each other
• Path line can intersect itself by forming loop
Stream tube
• An imaginary tube formed by a group of
streamlines through a small closed curve is
called stream tube.
• e.g. pipes, nozzles.
• This concept is useful for the analysis of flow
of large body of fluid.
Properties
• The walls of a stream tube are streamlines.
• It has finite dimensions.
• Fluid cannot flow across a streamline, so fluid
cannot cross a stream tube wall.
• A stream tube is not like a pipe. Its walls move
with the fluid.
• In unsteady flow stream tubes can change
position with time.
• In steady flow, the position of stream tubes does
not change.
Streaklines
• Different fluid particles
reach at point (say; P, Q and
R) at the same interval of
time. Imaginary curve
drawn at all these points
called streakline
• Streak line is a locus of fluid
particles passing through a Substitute the values of x, y and z.
specified point in the flow Integrate by taking lower and
field
• e.g. path taken by smoke upper limits of space and time (t0
coming out of chimney, and t).
movement of particles after
dye is injected.
Note: If flow is steady then streamline, path line and streakline
coincide