ME 2201 Fluid Mechanics

Semester 4
Module IV
• Dimensional Analysis
• Non-dimensionalization of Differential Equations
• Dimensional analysis using Π theorem
• Similarity and Model study

• Inviscid Flow or Potential Flow Theory

• Understanding and application of stream function and velocity potential
• Elementary plane flows

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{Dimensional Analysis} Introduction:
• Planning, Presentation and Interpretation of Data

• Best Presented in dimensionless form

• Real (non-idealized) flow problems are complex –

physically and geometrically

• Experimental or Simulation data

• Generalized form is needed.

𝜌𝑈𝐿
𝑅𝑒 =
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𝜇ME 2201 3
Non - dimensionalization of differential
equations
2D Steady, Newtonian, Incompressible Flow:

Continuity Equation

x-comp of NS Eqn

y-comp of NS Eqn

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Non - dimensionalization of differential
equations – Cont’d
∗ 𝑥 ∗ 𝑦
• Fundamental entities of measurement: 𝑥 = ;𝑦 =
𝐿 𝐿
• Mass (𝑚), Length (𝐿), Time (𝑡)
• Derived entities of measurement: ∗
𝑡
• Velocity (𝑣), Force (𝑓) 𝑡 =
𝐿ൗ
• Ref. Length: 𝐿 𝑉∞
• Ref. Velocity: 𝑉∞
∗ 𝑢 ∗ 𝑣
• Divide respective parameters to obtain non- 𝑢 = ;𝑣 =
dimensional parameters 𝑉∞ 𝑉∞
• Ref. Pressure: No Natural Scale
• 𝜌𝑉 2 ∞ ∗
𝑝
𝜇𝑉∞ 𝑝 =
•
𝐿 𝜌𝑉 2 ∞
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Non - dimensionalization of differential
equations – Cont’d

1/Re

1/Fr2 1/Re

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Non - dimensionalization of differential
equations – Cont’d – Example 1

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Buckingham Pi Theorem
States that, we can transform a relationship between 𝑛 dimensional parameters
of the form
𝑔 𝑞1 , 𝑞2 , … . . , 𝑞𝑛 = 0
Into a corresponding relationship between 𝑛 − 𝑚 independent dimensionless Π
parameters in the form
𝐺 Π1 , Π2 , … . . , Π𝑛−𝑚 = 0
OR
Π1 = 𝐺1 (Π2 , … . . , Π𝑛−𝑚
Consider a smooth sphere in a steady flow, the Drag force 𝐹𝐷 on the sphere due
to moving fluid is dependent of Fluid properties (𝜌, 𝜇), Flow properties (𝑉) and
geometry (𝐷).
𝐹𝐷 = 𝑓 𝜌, 𝜇, 𝑉, 𝐷
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Buckingham Pi Theorem – Cont’d – Solution
Steps
• List number of relevant parameters, 𝑛: 𝑛 = 5
• List primary dimensions of each parameter
𝐹𝐷 𝜌 𝜇 𝑉 𝐷
𝑀𝐿𝑡 −2 𝑀𝐿−3 𝑀𝐿−1 𝑡 −1 𝐿𝑡 −1 {𝐿}
• Select repeating parameters, 𝑚 – (educated guess + experience is key;
guidelines available)
𝜌 𝑉 𝐷
𝑚=3
1. Simple parameter for geometry – 𝐷
2. Simple parameter for flow – 𝑉
3. Relative simple parameter for fluid - 𝜌, 𝜇
4. No dependent parameter – 𝐹𝐷
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Buckingham Pi Theorem – Cont’d – Solution
Steps
• No. of dimensionless Π groups: n − 𝑚 = 2
• Equate exponents ( to find exponents for 𝑚 as functions of non-repeating
parameters)
Π1 = 𝜌𝑎 𝑉 𝑏 𝐷𝑐 𝐹𝐷
𝑀𝐿−3 𝑎 𝐿𝑡 −1 𝑏 {𝐿}𝑐 𝑀𝐿𝑡 −2 = 𝑀0 𝐿0 𝑡 0

Π2 = 𝜌𝑑 𝑉 𝑒 𝐷 𝑓 𝜇
𝑀𝐿−3 𝑑 𝐿𝑡 −1 𝑒 {𝐿}𝑓 {𝑀𝐿−1 𝑡 −1 } = 𝑀0 𝐿0 𝑡 0
• Solving:
𝑎 = −1, 𝑏 = −2, 𝑐 = −2, 𝑑 = −1, 𝑒 = −1, 𝑓 = −1

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Buckingham Pi Theorem – Cont’d – Solution
Steps
𝐹𝐷
Π1 = ൗ𝜌𝑉 2 𝐷2

𝜇
Π2 = ൗ𝜌𝑉𝐷

Π1 = 𝐺1 (Π2 )

𝐸𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠 → 𝐺1

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Imp Dimensionless Groups in Fluid
Mechanics

Reynolds Froude Euler

Mach Weber Cavitation

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Flow Similarity and Model Study

• Geometric – Same shape. Const. Length Scale

• Kinematic - Const. Velocity Scale. Ex: 𝑅𝑒
• Dynamic - Const. Force Scale. Ex: 𝐹𝑟
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Flow Similarity and Model Study – Cont’d –
Solved Example

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Flow Similarity and Model Study – Cont’d –
Solved Example

~ 12000 rpm

~ 320 rpm

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In some speed ranges, vortices are shed from the rear of bluff cylinders placed across a
flow. The vortices alternately leave the top and bottom of the cylinder, as shown,
causing an alternating force normal to the freestream velocity. The vortex shedding
frequency, f, is thought to depend on ρ, d, V, and μ.
Use dimensional analysis to develop a functional relationship for f. Vortex shedding
occurs in standard air on two cylinders with a diameter ratio of 2. Determine the
velocity ratio for dynamic similarity, and the ratio of vortex shedding frequencies.

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{Inviscid & Potential Flow} Introduction:
What: Flows in which the net effect of
viscous forces is negligible are termed as
Inviscid Flows.

• Inviscid = non-viscous ≠ frictionless flows.

• For real fluids 𝜇 ≠ 0

When: Inertial forces are very high as

compared to viscous forces. [High 𝑅𝑒; Net
viscous stresses are zero]
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{Inviscid & Potential Flow} Introduction:
Where: Useful for quick analysis • Potential Flow = Irrotational Flow
for Aerodynamic and few • Consequence of 𝜇 = 0(ideal) => {No
hydrodynamic flows rotational Force}

Why: Because it allows to develop

governing equations in Laplacian
form, for which multiple solutions
already exists.

How: By introducing stream

function and velocity potential
function.
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Euler’s Equation:
• Governing Equation for Inviscid flow.
• Ignoring viscous forces in NS Equation.

• For steady flows stream lines and pathlines

coincide, so equation of motion is represented in
terms of coordinate s (distance along streamlines)
and coordinate n (distance normal to streamlines)
• * for unsteady flow, streamlines give instantaneous 𝑉*

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Bernoulli’s Equation:
• Euler’s Equation is simplified as compared to
NS Equation but still difficult to solve in
conjunction with continuity equation.
• For a steady flow, Euler’s equation can be
integrated along streamline to give out
simplified
• Bernoulli’s
Equation:
• Incompressible, steady, frictionless and along
a streamline
• *Streamlines: Tangent to velocity vector at every point in flow
field.*

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Solution Framework
• To solve for flow field, we have to find
𝑢, 𝑣, 𝑤 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑝

• 𝑝 can be found from Bernoulli’s Equation

• 𝑢, 𝑣, 𝑤 can be found from continuity

• How to do that becomes a problem, simply

because there are two unknown variables and only
one equation.

• We introduce a mathematical function that

combines both variables
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Stream Function (𝜓)

• Continuity Equation (2D, Incompressible flow):

𝜕𝜌 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
+ 𝜌𝑢 + 𝜌𝑣 + 𝜌𝑤 = 0
𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
𝜕𝜓
𝜕𝑢 IF, 𝑢 =
𝑣=න − 𝑑𝑦 𝜕𝑦
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑣 𝜕2𝜓 𝜕2𝜓
+ = − =0
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦𝜕𝑥

𝜕𝑢 𝜕2𝜓 𝜕2𝜓 𝜕𝜓
𝑣=න − 𝑑𝑦 = න − 𝑑𝑦 = න − 𝑑𝑦 = − ∇2 𝜓 = 0
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥
Laplacian form
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Stream Function (𝜓) - Cont’d
• Reduces a 2 variable equation to a 1 variable equation of higher order.
• Curves of Constant 𝜓 are streamlines of the flow.
• Distance between stream lines helps in determining volume flow rate and
consequently velocity field.

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Vorticity and Rotationality

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Velocity Potential (𝜙) ROTATION = 𝜔𝑧 =
𝑑 𝛼+𝛽
𝑑𝑡 2

𝑢ቚ
𝑦+Δ𝑦

y Time=t
a
Assume v|x < v|x+Dx
𝑢ቚ
𝑦 Dx

𝑣ቚ 𝑣ቚ
and u|y > u|y+Dy
𝑥 𝑥+Δ𝑥

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Velocity Potential (𝜙) – Cont’d
1
𝜔𝑧 = ∇×𝑉 𝜕𝜙
2 𝑢=
𝜕𝑥

• For Irrotational flow: Then 𝜕𝑣 𝜕𝑢 𝜕2𝜙 𝜕2𝜙

= = =
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦
1
𝜔𝑧 = ∇ × 𝑉 = 0
2 𝜕𝜙
𝑣=
𝜕𝑦
∇×𝑉 =0

𝜕𝑣 𝜕𝑢
− =0 In 3D, similarly it can be shown that
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦
Irrotationality 𝜕𝜙
condition 𝑉𝑧 =
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𝜕𝑧 ME 2201 27
Velocity Potential (𝜙) – Cont’d

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Velocity Potential (𝜙) and Stream function (𝜁)
Irrotational condition

𝜕𝜓 𝜕𝜙
𝑢= =
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥
𝜕𝜓 𝜕𝜙
𝑣=− =
Incompressible condition 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

*mathematically obtained by taking the product of

gradient (𝑑𝑦/𝑑𝑥) for 𝜙 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝜓*

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Velocity Potential (𝜙) – Cont’d

Stream Function (y) Velocity Potential (f)

only 2D flow all flows
Irrotational (i.e. Inviscid or
viscous or non-viscous flows zero viscosity) flow
Exists
Incompressible flow (steady or Incompressible flow (steady
for
unsteady) or unsteady state)
compressible flow (steady compressible flow (steady or
state only) unsteady state)

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Laplace Form

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Elementary Plane Flows

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Elementary Plane Flows

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Elementary Plane Flows

• Examples include whirlpools, tornadoes, spiral galaxies etc.

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Example Problems

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Example Problems

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Example Problems

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Example Problems

𝑉𝑚𝑎𝑥

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Example Problems

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Example Problems

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