Space Technology, Section-A, Module -1, Lecture-1 Class 1

1.1 REVIEW OF FLUID MECHANICS

Before we discuss thrust generated from a rocket motor, we review basic

assumptions and physical laws that govern fluid motion encountered in rocket
propulsion systems.

Continuum hypothesis

Here fluid is viewed at the macroscopic level where it is assumed that fluid is
continuous. The molecular level discontinuities in fluid are not considered.
This hypothesis holds good for most propulsion systems except certain electric
propulsion systems.

Laws Governing Fluid Motion

A. Continuity (Conservation of Mass):

The equation physically signifies the law of conservation of mass.

Consider an arbitrary control volume bounded by imaginary control surface
(Figure 1). Consider a small elementary control volume dV. Then,

𝑑𝑑𝑆𝑆⃗

�⃗
𝑈𝑈
𝜌𝜌
CV (Control
CS (Control Volume)
Surface)

Figure 1
 ∂   dM V
∫∫∫
∂t 
CV
ρ dV + ∫∫

CS
ρU ⋅ dS =0 ⇒
dt
+ ρeU e Ae =0

Rate of change of Mass fluxthrough

mass inside control the control surfaces
volume V

Let us discuss further with an example.

Example: Consider a bend pipe with 900angle. First a control volume is to be

chosen.

CS
ρ1
A1
CV
U1

ρ2 A2
U2
Figure 2

The dotted line represents the control surface. Assume flow is steady and
apply continuity equation to this control volume. This results in
 
∫∫ ⋅ dS =
ρU 0
CS

 
U ⋅ dS is positive for mass flowing out and negative for mass flowing in.
Then,
−𝜌𝜌1 𝐴1 𝑈𝑈1 + 𝜌𝜌2 𝐴2 𝑈𝑈2 = 0
or ρ1 AU
1 1 = ρ 2 A2U 2

or Mass flux going in = Mass flux going out

B. The Newtons Second Law (Momentum Equation)

Momentum equation is based on Newton’s second law of motion, which says

that the net force acting on a body causes a rate of change in momentum of
the body.
Over a control volume, mathematically the equation can be written as


∂     d (mU )
∫∫∫
∂t 
ρUdV + ∫∫CS ρUU ⋅ dS= ∑ F= dt
CV

This is a vector equation and has three components in x,y,z directions and
therefore can be expressed as three different equations.

For example the x-momentum equation is given by

∂  
∫∫∫
∂t 
ρ udV + ∫∫ ρ uU ∑ Fx
⋅ dS =
CV CS

Rate of change of Momentum flux through External forces

momentum inside the control surfaces, CS on the system
control volume,CV

here u is the velocity component in x direction.

Similarly equations can also be written for the y-momentum.

∂  
∫∫∫
∂t CV ∫∫
ρ vdV +  ∑ Fy
ρ vU ⋅ dS =
CS

Let us discuss further an application using the same example of 90˚ bend
pipe.
Now applying X and Y momentum equations to this control volume for steady
flow,
 Pa
ρ1 P1 CS
A1
U1 CV

Pa Pa

-Fx
-FY
P2
ρ2, A2, U2
Figure 3

X-momentum equation
 
∑ Fx
∫∫ ρ uU ⋅ dS =
CS

Y-momentum equation
 
∫∫ ρ vU ∑ Fy
⋅ dS =
CS

Let 𝐹⃗ be the reaction on the pipe due to the fluid. So force acting on the fluid is
−𝐹⃗ .
𝐹⃗ = 𝐹𝑥 𝚤̂ + 𝐹𝑦 𝚥̂
Other forces acting on the control volume are the pressure forces as shown in
figure 3.
����⃗ = −𝜌𝜌1 𝑈𝑈12 𝐴1
�⃗. 𝑑𝑑𝑠
∑ 𝐹𝑥 = 𝑃1 𝐴1 − 𝑃𝑎 𝐴1 − 𝐹𝑥 & ∯ 𝜌𝜌𝑢𝑈𝑈
�⃗. ����⃗
∑ 𝐹𝑦 = 𝑃2 𝐴2 − 𝑃𝑎 𝐴2 − 𝐹𝑦 & ∯ 𝜌𝜌𝑣𝑈𝑈 𝑑𝑑𝑠 = 𝜌𝜌2 𝑈𝑈22 𝐴2

Therefore,
𝐹𝑥 = 𝜌𝜌1 𝑈𝑈12 𝐴1 + (𝑃1 − 𝑃𝑎 ) 𝐴1
𝐹𝑦 = (𝑃2 − 𝑃𝑎 )𝐴2 − 𝜌𝜌2 𝑈𝑈22 𝐴2
First law of thermodynamics or the conservation of energy(Energy Equation)

The energy equation is the statement of the first law of thermodynamics. For

an open system or a control volume, this equation takes the following form:

∂  U2   U2  
∫∫∫
∂t CV 
ρ e +
2
+ gz  dV +

∫∫ ρ  e +
CS  2
+ gz  U ⋅ dS = δ Q − δ W

The total external work can be represented as a sum of shaft/stirring/electrical
work and flow work
  
δ W =

∫∫
−  δ W ′ + 
CS
pU .dS 

Total External Flow
work (shaft/stirring/ work
electrical)
work

∂  U2   U2    
∫∫∫
∂t 
CV
ρ 

e +
2
+ gz 

dV + ∫∫ ρ  e +
CS  2 
∫∫
+ gz  U ⋅ dS + 
CS
pU .dS = δ Q − δ W ′

∂  U2   p U2  
∫∫∫
∂t CV 
ρ e +
2
+ gz  dV +

∫∫ ρ 
CS
+
ρ 2
+ gz  U ⋅ dS = δ Q − δ W ′


Neglecting changes in potential energy and with given enthalpy (h) as

p
h= e +
ρ

The energy conservation equation becomes

∂  U2   U2   
∫∫∫
∂t 
CV
ρ e +
 2
 dV +

∫∫ ρ  h +
CS  2 

 U ⋅ dS =δ Q − δ W ′


An example application of integral form of energy equation will be discussed

later.