Ch 4

Fluids in Motion
 Introduction
In the previous chapters we have defined some basic properties of fluids and have
considered various situations involving fluids that are at rest.

In general, fluids have a well-known tendency to move or flow. The slightest of

shear stresses will cause the fluid to move. Similarly, an appropriate imbalance of normal
stresses (pressure) will cause fluid motion.

In this chapter we will discuss various aspects of fluid motion without being concerned
with the actual forces necessary to produce the motion. That is, we will consider the
kinematics of the motion—(the velocity and acceleration of the fluid, and the description
and visualization of its motion. No forces)

The analysis of the specific forces necessary to produce the motion (the dynamics of the
motion) will be discussed in detail in the following chapters.

A wide variety of useful information can be gained from a thorough understanding of

fluid kinematics. Such an understanding of how to describe and observe fluid motion is
an essential step to the complete understanding of fluid dynamics.
 Flow Patterns: Pathline
The pathline is the line traced
out by a fluid particle.

t=2 t=3
t=0
t=1

Pathline
 Flow Patterns: Streamline
The streamline
is a curve that is
everywhere
tangent to the
local velocity
vector.
 Flow Patterns: Streakline
It is the instantaneous locus of all fluid particles
that have passed through a given point.
If at point A in a flow field, a dye is injected, then the photograph of the dye streak would
be a streakline. In other words, if fluid particles 1 through 4 have passed successively
through point A, the shown dotted line (joining all these particles at time t) would be the
streakline.

1
4 2
3

A
Streakline
Dividing Streamline and Stagnation Point

Dividing
Streamline

Stagnation
Point
• When an object divides the flow, then the streamline that
follows the flow division is called “dividing streamline”.
• The point of division is called the stagnation point (since the
flow is stagnant there).
 Laminar and Turbulent Flow

• In laminar flow, the fluid flows in layers parallel to each

other. No mixing.
• In turbulent flow, the velocity is fluctuating with time and
a strong mixing occurs between fluid layers.
 1 Dimensional Flow
Not very good assumption but many practical flows could be
modeled as 1 D flow
Pipe flow:
Function of radial
position, r, only !

Duct flow:
Function of axial
distance, x, only !
2 Dimensional Flow
3 Dimensional Flow
 Methods of Predicting
Velocity Field
•Analytical methods:
Solving a set of equations to get the velocity field.

• Numerical methods:
Solving the same set of
equations using numerical
methods.

Predicted streamline pattern over the

Volvo ECC prototype.
 Pathlines of floating particles
Experimental
methods
• We inject fluid
markers (ink or
dust) and study
the streamlines,
Smoke traces
pathlines and about an airfoil
streaklines. with a large
angle of attack.
 Volume Flow Rate
Volume
Q
Time
A (Vt )

t
VA

• Flow rate (or discharge, Q) is defined as

the rate at which a certain fluid volume
passes through a given section in the
flow stream.
• V is assumed to be constant.
 Volume Flow Rate, Q
If the velocity is constant
over the cross section,


dQ  V  dA V
But if V is not normal to dA
 
Q V  A
   
then dQ  V  dA  Q  AV  dA
 Average
Velocity 
Vaverage

Vmax

We define the  
average
velocity as
V A  Q  AV  dA
 
Q AV  dA But
V   what
A A is dA?
 Average Velocity Continued ..
V average

y=a
V= f(y) b
dA dy
b
dy y
y
y=0

dAcircle  2  r  dr dA
dr

dArec tan gle  b  dy r

dAtriangle  b( y )  dy
 Mass Flow Rate
 
dm  V  dA
 
 m  A V  dA
m    V  A
m    Q
 Acceleration in
Cartesian and Streamline Coordinates

(a) Cartesian coordinates (b) Streamline coordinates

Acceleration in Cartesian Coordinates

u v w

This is a vector result whose scalar

components can be written as
1D acceleration 2D acceleration

3D acceleration
 Convective
Local Acceleration
Acceleration
 Streamline Coordinates
In the streamline coordinate system the flow is described in terms of one
coordinate along the streamlines, denoted s, and the second coordinate normal
to the streamlines, denoted n.
Acceleration in Streamline Coordinates
Tangential Normal
acceleration, at acceleration, an

2
 V V  V 
a  (  V ) e t  ( ) en
t s r
Local
Convective
acceleration acceleration.
 Uniform Flow Patterns
aconvective  0


V
V 0
s
In the uniform flow, the velocity vector (magnitude + direction) does not change a long a
streamline.The streamlines should be straight and parallel to each other.
 Non-uniform Flow Patterns

aconvective  0


V
V 0
s
In figure a, the streamlines are straight but not parallel. So, a change in the velocity
magnitude will occur as we move along the streamline.
In figure b, the streamlines are parallel but they are not straight. So, a change in the
velocity direction occurs.
 System and Control Volume
• A fluid system is a given quantity of matter
consisting always of the same matter.
• A control volume (CV) is a geometric volume
defined in space and enclosed by a control surface.
 Lagrangian Method
There are two approaches to describe the velocity of a flowing field.

• The position of a
specific fluid particle
traveling along a
pathline is recorded
with time.
   
r (t )  x i  y j  z k
 
 dr (t )  
V (t )   u i  v j  wk
dt
Eulerian Method
• The properties of fluid
particle passing a
given point in space
are recorded with
time.
Eulerian Approach
• The Eulerian approach
is generally used to Traffic Engineer

analyze fluid motion.

 Control Volume Equation
(Reynolds Transport Equation)
This equation relates the time rate of change of a property of a system to the
time rate of change of the property in a control volume plus the net efflux of
the property across the control surface.

dBsys d  
 CV b d  CS bV  dA
dt dt
 Intensive and Extensive properties of a System
• Intensive properties are those
that are independent of the m 1
m
1
m

properties
Extensive
2 2
mass of the system. V 1 1
V V
• Extensive properties are those T 2 2
that are dependent on the T T
P

properties
Intensive
P P
system mass.   

The amount of an extensive property that a system possesses at a given instant, can be determined by adding
up the amount associated with each fluid particle in the system.

dBsys  b d
Bsys  sys b d
 Derivation of the
Control Volume Equation
(Reynolds Transport
Equation)

See also handouts

 l1  V1t
 Uniform Velocity distribution

dBsys d  
  b  d   bV  A
dt dt cs

If the velocity is not uniform over the cross section

dBsys d  
  b  d   bV  A
dt dt cs

If the flow is steady, this term is zero

 Application of Reynolds Transport Equation to

Conservation of Mass Principle

(Integral Form of the Continuity Equation)
dBsys d  
  b  d   bV  A
dt dt cs

0
dM sys d  
  (1)   d   (1)V  A
dt dt cs

d  
    d   V  A General form of the
dt cs Integral continuity
equation
 Continuity at a Point
Differential Form of the Continuity Equation
   
( u )  ( v)  ( w)  
x y z t
• If the flow is steady
  
( u )  ( v)  ( w)  0
x y z

• If the flow is also incompressible

u v w
  0
x y z
Applications
on Continuity
Equation
 Rotation
• The rotational rate of a fluid element is the average
rotational rate of two initially perpendicular sides of a
fluid particle.
1 v u
z  (  )
2 x y
1 w v
x  (  )
2 y z
1 u w
y  (  )
2 z x
 Vorticity
The Vorticity of a fluid particle is a vector equal to twice
the rotational rate of the particle.
   
 z  2( x i   y j   z k )
 w v  u w  v u 
z  (  ) i  (  ) j  (  ) k
y z z x x y
For irrotational flow:

w v u w v u
  
y z z x x y
 Vortices
• A forced vortex is a
rotational flow with
concentric circular
streamlines in which the
fluid rotates as a solid
body.
• A free (potential) vortex is
an irrotational flow in
which the velocity varies
inversely as the distance
from the center.
 Separation
• Separation in a
flow occurs when
the streamlines
move a way from
the body
boundaries and a
local re-circulation
region occurs.