CLASSIFICATION OF FLUID FLOWS

CLASSIFICATION OF FLUID FLOWS

Earlier we defined fluid mechanics as the science that deals with the behavior of fluids at rest or in motion, and the interaction of fluids with solids or other fluids at the boundaries. There is a wide variety of fluid flow problems encountered in practice, and it is usually convenient to classify them on the basis of some common characteristics to make it feasible to study them in groups. There are many ways to classify fluid flow problems, and here we present some general categorie

Viscous versus Inviscid Regions of Flow

When two fluid layers move relative to each other, a friction force develops between them and the slower layer tries to slow down the faster layer. This internal resistance to flow is quantified by the fluid property viscosity, which is a measure of internal stickiness of the fluid. Viscosity is caused by cohesive forces between the molecules in liquids and by molecular collisions in gases. There is no fluid with zero viscosity, and thus all fluid flows involve viscous effects to some degree. Flows in which the frictional effects are significant are called viscous flows. However, in many flows of practical interest, there are regions (typically regions not close to solid surfaces) where viscous forces are negligibly small compared to inertial or pressure forces. Neglecting the viscous terms in such inviscid flow regions greatly simplifies the analysis without much loss in accuracy. The development of viscous and inviscid regions of flow as a result of inserting a flat plate parallel into a fluid stream of uniform velocity is shown in Fig. 1–17. The fluid sticks to the plate on both sides because of the no-slip condition, and the thin boundary layer in which the viscous effects are significant near the plate surface is the viscous flow region. The region of flow on both sides away from the plate and largely unaffected by the presence of the plate is the inviscid flow region.

24 Illustration of the strong interaction between viscous and ...

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Fluid Kinematics

Fluid Kinematics Fluid Kinematics deals with the motion of fluids such as displacement, velocity, acceleration, and other aspects. This topic is useful in terms of the exam and the knowledge of the candidate. Kinematics is the branch of classical mechanics that describes the motion of bodies and systems without consideration of the forces the cause the motion. Types of Fluid Flows Fluid flow may be classified under the following headings; Steady & Unsteady Flow Uniform & Non-uniform Flow Steady uniform flow Conditions do not change with position in the stream or with time. E.g. flow of water in a pipe of constant diameter at a constant velocity. 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. Unsteady uniform flow At a given instant in time the conditions at every point are the same but will change with time. E.g. A pipe of constant diameter connecte

Internal versus External Flow

Internal versus External Flow A fluid flow is classified as being internal or external, depending on whether the fluid flows in a confined space or over a surface. The flow of an unbounded fluid over a surface such as a plate, a wire, or a pipe is external flow. The flow in a pipe or duct is internal flow if the fluid is completely bounded by solid surfaces. Water flow in a pipe, for example, is internal flow, and airflow over a ball or over an exposed pipe during a windy day is external flow (Fig. 1–18). The flow of liquids in a duct is called open-channel flow if the duct is only partially filled with the liquid and there is a free surface. The flows of water in rivers and irrigation ditches are examples of such flows. Internal flows are dominated by the influence of viscosity throughout the flow field. In external flows the viscous effects are limited to boundary layers near solid surfaces and to wake regions downstream of bodies.

THE NO-SLIP CONDITION

THE NO-SLIP CONDITION Fluid flow is often confined by solid surfaces, and it is important to understand how the presence of solid surfaces affects fluid flow. We know that water in a river cannot flow through large rocks, and must go around them. That is, the water velocity normal to the rock surface must be zero, and water approaching the surface normally comes to a complete stop at the surface. What is not as obvious is that water approaching the rock at any angle also comes to a complete stop at the rock surface, and thus the tangential velocity of water at the surface is also zero. Consider the flow of a fluid in a stationary pipe or over a solid surface that is nonporous (i.e., impermeable to the fluid). All experimental observations indicate that a fluid in motion comes to a complete stop at the surfaceand assumes a zero velocity relative to the surface. That is, a fluid in direct contact with a solid “sticks” to the surface, and there is no slip. This is known as the no-slip

Fluid mechanics

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