Fluid Dynamics Key Equations

Steady Streamlines Unsteady Streamlines & Pathlines

For a two-dimensional velocity field: For a two-dimensional unsteady field:
⃗ (𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑢(𝑥, 𝑦)𝑖̂ + 𝑣(𝑥, 𝑦)𝑗̂
𝑢 ⃗ (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑡) = 𝑢(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑡)𝑖̂ + 𝑣(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑡)𝑗̂
𝑢
The streamlines are: The parametrised pathlines are:
1 1
∫ 𝑑𝑦 = ∫ 𝑑𝑥 𝑥 = ∫ 𝑢(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑡) 𝑑𝑡 𝑦 = ∫ 𝑣(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑡) 𝑑𝑡
𝑣(𝑥, 𝑦) 𝑢(𝑥, 𝑦)

Forces in Fluids
Shear Stress, 𝜏 𝐹 Pressure Force 𝐹𝑃 = 𝑃𝐴
𝜏=
𝐴 Viscous Force 𝑑𝑢
𝑑𝑢 𝐹𝑉 = 𝜏𝐴 = 𝜇 𝐴
𝜏=𝜇 𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑦 𝜇
Kinematic Viscosity, 𝑣 𝑣=
𝜌

Fluid Statics
Hydrostatic 𝑑𝑃 Manometer
= −𝜌𝑔
Equation 𝑑𝑧
Δ𝑃 = −𝜌𝑔Δ𝑧
Resultant Pressure
𝐹𝑅 = ∫ 𝑃 𝑑𝐴
Force
𝐴

𝐹𝑅 = ∫ 𝜌𝑔𝑦 𝑑𝐴
𝐴
𝑃2 − 𝑃1 = 𝑔𝑙(𝜌𝑎 − 𝜌𝑏 )
Point of Application ∫𝐴 𝑃𝑦 𝑑𝐴
𝑦′ = Archimedes’ Principle & Buoyancy
∫𝐴 𝑃 𝑑𝐴
“The magnitude of upthrust is equal to the
′ ∫ 𝑦 2 𝑑𝑦
𝑦 = weight of water displaced”
∫ 𝑦 𝑑𝑦
• 𝑑𝐴 must be a function of y

Mass Flow Rate Reynold’s Transport Theorem

Vectorial
𝑑 𝑑
∫ 𝜂𝜌 𝑑𝑉 = ∫ 𝜂𝜌 𝑑𝑉 + ∫ 𝜂𝜌 𝑢 ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
⃗ . 𝑑𝐴
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
𝑉𝑠𝑦𝑠(𝑡) 𝐶𝑉 𝐶𝑆

Rate of change of Rate of change Net flow rate of

𝑚̇ = ∫ 𝜌 𝑢 ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
⃗ . 𝑑𝐴 N in the system of N in the CV N out of the CV
𝐴 and system
Perpendicular 𝑢
⃗ 𝑚̇ = 𝜌𝑢𝐴 • 𝑁 is the property being conserved, 𝑁 = 𝜂𝑚
• 𝜌𝜂 is the property 𝑁 per unit volume

EngineeringNotes.net 1 Fluid Dynamics Key Equations

 Conservation of Mass
Steady Flow ∑ 𝑚̇𝑖𝑛 = ∑ 𝑚̇𝑜𝑢𝑡
𝑑
∫ 𝜌 𝑑𝑉 = − ∫ 𝜌 𝑢 ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
⃗ . 𝑑𝐴
𝑑𝑡
𝐶𝑉 𝐶𝑆
⃗ . ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
∫𝜌 𝑢 𝑑𝐴 = 0
Rate at which Net flow rate of
𝐶𝑆
the CV gains mass out of the
mass CV
Algebraic 𝑑𝑚 Steady, uniform flow ∑ 𝑢𝐴𝑖𝑛 = ∑ 𝑢𝐴𝑜𝑢𝑡
= ∑ 𝑚̇𝑖𝑛 ∑ 𝑚̇𝑜𝑢𝑡
Formulation 𝑑𝑡 with constant density

Conservation of Momentum
• Because 𝑁 = 𝑀 = 𝑚𝑢
⃗ , so 𝜂 = 𝑢
⃗
𝑑
∑𝐹 = ∫𝑢
⃗ 𝜌 𝑑𝑉 + ∫ 𝑢 ⃗ . ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
⃗ 𝜌𝑢 𝑑𝐴
𝑑𝑡
𝐶𝑉 𝐶𝑆
Steady Flow Steady, uniform, ∑ 𝐹𝑥 = ∑ 𝑚̇𝑢 − ∑ 𝑚̇𝑢
∑𝐹 = ∫ 𝑢
⃗ 𝜌𝑢 ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
⃗ . 𝑑𝐴 constant density 𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑖𝑛
𝐶𝑆
∑ 𝐹𝑦 = ∑ 𝑚̇𝑣 − ∑ 𝑚̇𝑣
Steady Flow,
𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑖𝑛
∑ 𝐹𝑥 = ∫ 𝑢𝑥 𝜌 𝑢 ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
⃗ . 𝑑𝐴
resolved into With Conservation
𝐶𝑆 ∑ 𝐹𝑥 = 𝑚̇(𝑢𝑜𝑢𝑡 − 𝑢𝑖𝑛 )𝑥
components of Mass for one
inlet and outlet ∑ 𝐹𝑦 = 𝑚̇(𝑣𝑜𝑢𝑡 − 𝑣𝑖𝑛 )𝑦
⃗ . ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
∑ 𝐹𝑦 = ∫ 𝑣𝑦 𝜌 𝑢 𝑑𝐴
𝐶𝑆

The Bernoulli Equation

𝑃1 1 2 𝑃2 1 Stagnation Point Flow
+ 𝑢1 + 𝑔𝑧1 = + 𝑢22 + 𝑔𝑧2 = 𝑐
𝜌 2 𝜌 2
This assumes:
• Steady flow
• Inviscid Flow
• Incompressible (constant 𝜌) flow
• Two points are on the same streamline/ 𝑃𝑚𝑎𝑥 1 2 𝑃0
have the same Bernoulli constant + 𝑢𝑚𝑎𝑥 =
𝜌 2 𝜌

Conservation of Energy for Steady Flow

For a uniform velocity profile:
𝑃 1
⃗ . ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑄̇ − 𝑊̇ = ∫ ( + 𝑢2 + 𝑔𝑧 + 𝑒) 𝜌 𝑢 𝑑𝐴 𝑃 1
𝜌 2 𝑞 − 𝑤 = Δ ( + 𝑢2 + 𝑔𝑧 + 𝑒)
𝐶𝑆 𝜌 2
1 Thermo Law
st 𝑑𝐸𝑠𝑦𝑠
= 𝑄̇ − 𝑊̇
𝑑𝑡
Derived from RTP 1
𝜂 = 𝑢2 + 𝑔𝑧 + 𝑒
2

EngineeringNotes.net 2 Fluid Dynamics Key Equations

 The Pipe Flow Energy Equation (PFEE)
𝑃1 1 2 𝑃2 1 The pipe flow energy equation only applies for
+ 𝑢1 + 𝑔𝑧1 = + 𝑢22 + 𝑔𝑧2 + 𝑤𝐿 − 𝑤𝑃
𝜌 2 𝜌 2 flow that is:
• 𝑤𝐿 is the lost energy • Steady
• 𝑤𝑃 = 𝑤 is the pump work • Adiabatic
𝑃1 1 2 𝑃2 1 2
+ 𝑢1 + 𝑧1 = + 𝑢 + 𝑧2 + ℎ𝐿 − ℎ𝑃 • Incompressible
𝜌𝑔 2𝑔 𝜌𝑔 2𝑔 2
• Uniform velocity field
• ℎ𝐿 is the lost head
• Between a single inlet and outlet
• ℎ𝑃 is the pump head

Laminar Flow between Horizontal Plates Laminar Flow in a Circular Pipe

ℎ2 Δ𝑃 𝑦2 𝑅 2 Δ𝑃 𝑟2
𝑢(𝑦) = − (1 − 2 ) 𝑢(𝑟) = − (1 − 2 )
2𝜇𝐿 ℎ 4𝜇𝐿 𝑅
Where 𝑢𝑚𝑎𝑥 equals ℎ2 Δ𝑃 Where 𝑢𝑚𝑎𝑥 equals 𝑅 2 Δ𝑃
− −
2𝜇𝐿 4𝜇𝐿

Turbulent Flow in Circular Pipes

Reynold’s Number, 𝑅𝑒 𝜌𝑢𝑑 𝑢𝑑 Friction Factor, 𝑓 𝑅𝑒
𝑅𝑒 = = 𝑓=
𝜇 𝑣 64
Mean Velocity, 𝑢 𝑄 Relative roughness, 𝑟 𝜀
𝑢= 𝑟=
𝐴 𝐷

Lost Head Pump Head

Lost head, ℎ𝐿 ℎ𝐿 = ℎ𝑓 + ℎ𝑙 Pump head, ℎ𝑃 𝑤𝑃
ℎ𝑃 =
𝑔
Major Losses, ℎ𝑓 𝐿𝑢2
ℎ𝑓 = 𝑓 𝑊̇𝑃
2𝑑𝑔 ℎ𝑃 =
𝑚̇𝑔
Minor Losses, ℎ𝑙 𝑢2
ℎ𝑙 = 𝑘 Δ𝑃𝑃
2𝑔 ℎ𝑃 =
𝜌𝑔

Material Derivative Eulerian & Lagrangian

For a quantity # following a particle: The Eulerian system follows a point in space
𝐷# 𝜕# 𝜕# 𝜕# 𝜕# over time: 𝑥
= +𝑢 +𝑣 +𝑤 in Cartesian
𝐷𝑡 𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 The Lagrangian system follows a particle’s
𝐷# 𝜕#
= + 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑(#). 𝑢 ⃗ in vector form position through space and time: 𝜒
𝐷𝑡 𝜕𝑡

The Continuity Equation (mass)

𝜕𝜌 1 𝐷𝜌 Compressibility, 𝛽 𝑑𝑉
⃗)=0
+ 𝑑𝑖𝑣(𝜌𝑢 = −𝑑𝑖𝑣(𝑢
⃗) = 𝛽 𝑑𝑃
𝜕𝑡 𝜌 𝐷𝑡 𝑉
Assuming continuum only 1 𝜕𝑉
𝛽=−
𝑉 𝜕𝑃
Incompressible flow 𝐷𝜌 𝜕𝜌
= ⃗)=0
= 𝑑𝑖𝑣(𝑢
𝐷𝑡 𝜕𝑡

EngineeringNotes.net 3 Fluid Dynamics Key Equations

 The Euler Equation
𝐷𝑢
⃗
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ (𝑃) + 𝑓𝑏𝑜𝑑𝑦 Assuming continuum & inviscid flow
𝜌 = −𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑
𝐷𝑡
Body forces 𝑓𝑏𝑜𝑑𝑦 = 𝜌𝑔 + 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑓 + 𝑓𝑒𝑥 𝑓𝑒𝑥 are applied external forces
Non-inertial forces 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑓 = −𝜌𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑓 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑓 is the non-inertial acceleration
Surface pressure ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝜕𝑃 𝜕𝑃 𝜕𝑃
𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑 (𝑃) = + +
force 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧

Speed of Sound Isentropic Flow

𝛾
In a perfect gas 𝑐 = √𝛾𝑅𝑇 𝑃0 𝛾 − 1 2 𝛾−1 Assuming
Mach number, 𝑀𝑛 𝑈 = [1 + 𝑀𝑛 ] • Steady flow
𝑃 2
𝑀𝑛 = 1
𝑐
𝜌0 𝛾 − 1 2 𝛾−1 • Inviscid flow
= [1 + 𝑀𝑛 ] • No body forces
𝜌 2
𝑇0 𝛾−1 2 • Perfect gas
=1+ 𝑀𝑛
𝑇 2 • Isentropic process
•Single streamline
Mach cone angle, 𝛼 1 Bulk velocity, 𝑈𝑏 1
𝛼 = sin−1 𝑈𝑏 (𝑧) = ∫ 𝑢𝑧 𝑑𝐴
𝑀𝑐 𝐴 𝐴
Area-velocity relation 𝑑𝐴 𝑑𝑈 2
= (𝑀𝑛 − 1)
𝐴 𝑈
Converging-diverging nozzle, throat area 𝐴∗ :
𝛾+1
𝐴 1 2 𝛾 − 1 2 2(𝛾−1)
∗
= [ (1 + 𝑀𝑛 )]
𝐴 𝑀𝑛 𝛾 + 1 2
Maximum flow rate through a nozzle:
𝛾+1
𝛾 2 2(𝛾−1)
𝑚̇𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝑃0 𝐴√ ( )
𝑅𝑇 𝛾 + 1

EngineeringNotes.net 4 Fluid Dynamics Key Equations