Fluid Mechanics

EM 3313

Basic Concepts
Ashraf A. Omar
School of Aerospace and Automotive Engineering
International University of Rabat (UIR)
Autumn 2023

Chapter 1 Basics Concepts

What is a fluid?
 A fluid is a substance in the gaseous or liquid form
 Distinction between solid and fluid?
Solid: can resist an applied shear by deforming. Stress is
proportional to strain
Fluid: Deforms continuously under applied shear. Stress is
proportional to strain rate

Solid Fluid

F F V
   
A

h
A

Chapter 1 Basics Concepts

What is a fluid?
Stress is defined as the force per unit
area.

Normal component: normal stress

In a fluid at rest, the normal stress is
called pressure

Tangential component: shear stress

Strain rate is the change in strain

(deformation) of a material with respect to
time.
Chapter 1 Basics Concepts
What is a fluid?
A liquid takes the shape of the
container it is in and forms a free
surface in the presence of gravity

A gas expands until it encounters

the walls of the container and fills
the entire available space. Gases
cannot form a free surface

Gas and vapor are often used as

synonymous words
Chapter 1 Basics Concepts
What is a fluid?

Solid Liquid Gas

A solid can be classified as a Liquids, are less rigid and Gases are primarily free-
substance that is rigid with flow easily. flowing, with little to
low intermolecular spacing no intermolecular force
and high intermolecular acting between them
forces.

Chapter 1 Basics Concepts

Difference between Solid Liquid and Gases
Solids Liquids Gases
Highly Strong intermolecular forces The intermolecular forces are The intermolecular forces are
between the molecules, leads to a stronger than gases but weaker practically non-existent. Thus, there
definite volume in Solids. than solids. is no definite volume.
Solids have a definite shape to them. Liquids do not have a definite Gases do not have a definite shape.
shape.
The intermolecular space between The intermolecular space is The intermolecular space is free-
solids is absent. moderate but present. flowing and plenty.
The force of attraction between the The force of attraction There is no intermolecular force of
molecules is incredibly high. between molecules is attraction between the molecules.
moderate.
They are incompressible. Liquids cannot be compressed Gases can be compressed quite
(incompressible). easily.
Solids have a definite shape and Liquids have a definite Gases have no definite volume
volume volume
Chapter 1
Basics Concepts
No-Slip Condition No-slip condition: A fluid in direct
contact with a solid ``sticks'‘ to the
surface due to viscous effects
Responsible for generation of wall
shear stress τw, surface drag D= ∫τw dA,
and the development of the boundary
layer
The fluid property responsible for the
no-slip condition is viscosity
Important boundary condition in
formulating Initial Boundary Value
Problem (IBVP) for analytical and
computational fluid dynamics analysis

Chapter 1 Basics Concepts

Boundary layer

When there is relative motion between a fluid and a solid a boundary

layer is formed. A boundary layer can be defined as an imaginary layer
of fluid, that is formed when solid and fluid are in relative motion,
at a layer where the velocity of the fluid is equal to 99% of free
stream velocity. BL develop due to the viscosity effect.

Chapter 1
Basics Concepts
Classification of Flows
We classify flows as a tool in making simplifying assumptions
to the governing partial-differential equations, which are
known as the Navier-Stokes equations

Conservation of Mass

Conservation of Momentum

Chapter 1 Basics Concepts

Viscous vs. Inviscid Regions of Flow
Regions where frictional effects
are significant are called viscous
regions. They are usually close
to solid surfaces.
Regions where frictional forces
are small compared to inertial or
pressure forces are called
inviscid

Chapter 1 Basics Concepts

Internal vs. External Flow
Internal flows are
dominated by the influence
of viscosity throughout the
flowfield

For external flows,

viscous effects are limited
to the boundary layer and
wake.

Chapter 1 Basics Concepts

Open Channel Flows

Chapter 1
Basics Concepts
Compressible vs. Incompressible Flow
A flow is classified as incompressible
(low speed) if the density remains nearly
constant.
Liquid flows are typically incompressible.
Gas flows are often compressible,
especially for high speeds.
Mach number, Ma = V/c is a good
indicator of whether or not compressibility
effects are important.
Ma 0.3 : Incompressible
Ma < 1 : Subsonic
Ma = 1 : Sonic
Ma > 1 : Supersonic
Ma >> 1 : Hypersonic
Chapter 1 Basics Concepts
Laminar vs. Turbulent Flow
Laminar: highly ordered fluid
motion with smooth streamlines.
Turbulent: highly disordered
fluid motion characterized by
velocity fluctuations and eddies
(Vortices).
Transitional: a flow that
contains both laminar and
turbulent regions
Reynolds number, Re= ρUL/μ
is the key parameter in
determining whether or not a
flow is laminar or turbulent.

Chapter 1 Basics Concepts

Steady vs. Unsteady Flow
Steady implies no change at a point
with time. Transient terms in N-S
equations are zero

Unsteady is the opposite of steady.

Transient usually describes a
starting or developing flow.
Periodic refers to a flow which
oscillates about a mean.
Unsteady flows may appear steady if
“time-averaged”
Chapter 1 Basics Concepts
 One-, Two-, and Three-Dimensional Flows
N-S equations are 3D vector equations.
Velocity vector, U(x, y, z, t)= [Ux(x, y, z, t),Uy(x, y, z, t),Uz(x, y, z, t)]
Lower dimensional flows reduce complexity of analytical and computational
solution
Change in coordinate system (cylindrical, spherical, etc.) may facilitate
reduction in order.
Example: for fully-developed pipe flow, velocity V(r) is a function of radius r and
pressure p(z) is a function of distance z along the pipe.

Chapter 1 Basics Concepts

System and Control Volume
A system is defined as a quantity
of matter or a region in space
chosen for study.
A closed system consists of a
fixed amount of mass.
An open system, or control
volume, is a properly selected
region in space.
We'll discuss control volumes
in more detail in Chapter 6.

Chapter 1 Basics Concepts

Systems may be considered to be closed or open, depending on
whether a fixed mass or a volume in space is chosen for study.

When analyzing the acceleration of gases as they flow through a nozzle,

a wise choice for the system is the volume within the nozzle, bounded
by the entire inner surface of the nozzle and the inlet and outlet cross-
sections. This is a control volume (or open system) since mass crosses
the boundary.

Chapter 1
Basics Concepts
• A closed system (also known as a control mass or simply a system)
consists of a fixed amount of mass, and no mass can cross its
boundary. An open system, or a control volume, is a selected region
in space. Mass may cross the boundary of a control volume or open
system.

Chapter 1
Basics Concepts
Fluid Mechanics - Key terms

AERODYNAMICS:
An area of fluid dynamics devoted to studying the properties and
characteristics of airflow.

ARCHIMEDES'S PRINCIPLE:
A rule of physics stating that the buoyant force of an object immersed in fluid
is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the object.

BERNOULLI'S PRINCIPLE:
A proposition, credited to Swiss mathematician and physicist Daniel
Bernoulli (1700-1782), which maintains that slower-moving fluid exerts
greater pressure than faster-moving fluid.

Chapter 1
Basics Concepts
BUOYANCY:
The tendency of an object immersed in a fluid to float. This can be explained by Archimedes
principle.

COMPRESSION:

To reduce in size or volume by applying pressure.

FLUID:

Any substance, whether gas or liquid, that conforms to the shape of its container.

FLUID DYNAMICS:

An area of fluid mechanics devoted to studying of the behaviour of moving, or flowing, fluids. Fluid
dynamics is further divided into hydrodynamics and aerodynamics.

FLUID MECHANICS:

The study of the behaviour of gases and liquids at rest and in motion. The major divisions of fluid
Chapter 1
mechanics are fluid statics and fluid dynamics. Basics Concepts
FLUID STATICS:
An area of fluid mechanics devoted to studying the behaviour of stationary fluids.
HYDRODYNAMICS:
An area of fluid dynamics devoted to studying the properties and characteristics
of water flow.

HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE:
The pressure that exists at any place in a body of fluid due to the weight of the
fluid above.

PASCAL'S PRINCIPLE:
The external pressure applied on a fluid is transmitted uniformly throughout the
entire body of that fluid.

Chapter 1
Basics Concepts
PRESSURE:
The ratio of force to surface area, when force is applied in a direction
perpendicular to that surface.

TURBINE:
A machine that converts the kinetic energy (the energy of movement)
in fluids to useable mechanical energy by passing the stream of fluid
through a series of fixed and moving fans or blades.

PUMP :
A pump is a device that moves fluids (liquids or gases), by mechanical
action, typically converted from electrical energy into Hydraulic
energy.

Chapter 1
Basics Concepts
Dimensions and Units
Any physical quantity can be characterized by dimensions.
The magnitudes assigned to dimensions are called units.
Primary dimensions: include mass M or force F, length L, time t
(MLT or FLT), and temperature T.
Secondary dimensions can be expressed in terms of primary
dimensions: include velocity V, energy E, and volume V.
Unit systems include English system (BG) and the metric SI
(International System). We'll use both.
Dimensional homogeneity is a valuable tool in checking for errors.
Make sure every term in an equation has the same units.
Unity conversion ratios are helpful in converting units. Use them.

Chapter 1 Basics Concepts

Dimensions: FLT and MLT System

Chapter 1 Basics Concepts

 Dimensional Homogeneity
All theoretically derived equations are dimensionally homogeneous—
that is, the dimensions of the left side of the equation must be the same
as those on the right side, and all additive separate terms must have the
same dimensions. We accept as a fundamental premise that all equations
describing physical phenomena must be dimensionally homogeneous.
If this were not true, we would be attempting to equate or add unlike
physical quantities, which would not make sense. For example, the
equation for the velocity, V, of a uniformly accelerated body is

where V0 is the initial velocity, a the acceleration, and t the time interval.
In terms of dimensions the equation is dimensionally homogeneous.

Chapter 1 Basics Concepts

 Restricted Homogeneous Equations
Equations that are restricted to a particular system of units can be
denoted as restricted homogeneous equations, as opposed to equations
valid In any system of units, which are general homogeneous equations.
Example: equation for the distance, d, travelled by a freely falling body
can be written as
(1)
and a check of the dimensions reveals that the constant must have the
dimensions of if the equation is to be dimensionally homogeneous.

Chapter 1 Basics Concepts

 Form of the well-known equation from physics for freely falling
bodies,
(2)
in which g is the acceleration of gravity. Equation 2 is dimensionally
homogeneous and valid in any system of units.

For g =32. 2 ft/s2 the equation reduces to Eq. 1 and thus Eq. 1 is valid
only for the system of units using feet and seconds (BG).

Equations that are restricted to a particular system of units can be

denoted as restricted homogeneous equations, as opposed to equations
valid in any system of units, which are general homogeneous
equations.

Chapter 1 Basics Concepts

Accuracy, Precision, and Significant Digits
Engineers must be aware of three principals that govern the proper use of
numbers.
1. Accuracy error : Value of one reading minus the true value. Closeness
of the average reading to the true value. Generally associated with
repeatable, fixed errors.
2. Precision error : Value of one reading minus the average of readings.
Is a measure of the fineness of resolution and repeatability of the
instrument. Generally associated with random errors.
3. Significant digits : Digits that are relevant and meaningful. When
performing calculations, the final result is only as precise as the least
precise parameter in the problem. When the number of significant
digits is unknown, the accepted standard is 3. Use 3 in all Tutorials
and exams.
Chapter 1 Basics Concepts