BITS Pilani

Pilani Campus

Low Reynolds Number Flows

Jitendra S Rathore

Objectives:
1. Navier-Stokes equation
2. Reynolds number and its role

3. Low Reynolds number and applications

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Navier Stokes Equation:

Fundamental principles in fluid mechanics
(1)

(2)

Conservation of mass

1 D
.V 0
Dt

Conservation of momentum

F ma

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Navier Stokes Equation:

(1)

Continuity equation

u x u y

0
x
y
(2)

No voids or gaps
No pile up in fluid flow
Same amount of fluid at
every point

Navier-Stokes equation

2

DV

g P V
Dt

2
Dux
P

g x
u x
Dt
x

Dux u x
u x
u x

ux
uy
Dt
x
y
t

Total derivative
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Navier Stokes Equation:

Reynolds number
Convective acceleration

u x
u x
u x
1 p 2u x 2u x

g x
ux
uy

2
2

Local rate of change of

momentum per unit mass

Scaling
u x
V
V
Inertia terms = u x
x
L

2u x V
2
Viscous terms =
2
x
L
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Reynolds number:
Reynolds (1883)

inertia forces V 2 L2 VL
Reynolds number (Re)

viscous forces
L V

External flows (Unbounded)

Internal flows

,
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Reynolds number:
Human swimmer (L = 1.8 m)
paddling in a swimming pool
(V=1.5 m/sec) has a Reynolds
number

VL VL
Re

106 1

Swims at very high Reynolds number i.e. inertial

terms in NS equation are much larger then the
viscous terms
rely on inertia when we (macroswimmers) swims
If we stop propelling ? ---------7
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Low Reynolds number:

Re

VL

Small L

Large

Small V

(1) Microorganisms: Micro/nanoswimmers

(E. coli bacteria swimming in water)

kg
10 3 & 10-3 Pa. sec
m
3

V = 10-30 m/sec
L = 10 m

Re 10-5 to10-4 1

(2) Movement of glaciers: Re 10-4

(3) Molten lava:

Small V

Re 10-11 Large

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Low Reynolds number flows:

Re

VL

1 Negligible inertial terms

Also known as Stokes Flow or Creeping flow.

2u x 2u x
u x
u x
u x
1 p

g x
ux
uy

2
2

2u x 2u x
p

2
2
x

Stokes equation (2D)

2
p V
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Key properties of Stokes

domain :

Re

VL

2u x 2u x
p

2
2
x

u x
t

1.

Steadiness. Can we neglect

also?

2.

Linearity (Lift ?)

3.

Reversibility (Effect of shape on drag ?)

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1 Unsteadiness:
2u x 2u x
u x
u x
u x
1 p

g x
ux
uy

2
2

Re

u x
t

VL

u x
2u x
ux

x
x 2

Can we neglect this term also?

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1 Unsteadiness:
Scaling

L2

u x
t

u x
ux
x

2u x

x 2

V2
L

L2

VL

VL L

Re St

L2
1

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1 Unsteadiness:
Microorganisms (nanoswimmers)

V = 100 m/sec
L = 1 m

2
m
1000 Hz & 10-6
sec

1000 106
St

10
4
V
10
Re St 10-3 1

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If a micro/nano object stops propelling himself how long it

take to come to rest?

ma F Drag

4 3 dU
6RU
R
3
dt

m
R

dU

U

6R
dt
4 3
R
3

ln U

k u U oe

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2
6 2

6R
2R
2 10

1 sec

6
4 3 9
9 10
R
3

l U o 100 106 1010 m 1A

No costing at low Reynolds number.

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2 Linearity:
High Re

Low Re

Lift f (V, )

Lift ?

2
p V

Magnus effect

If V1 and V2 are the two solutions

then (aV1 + bV2) is also a
solution.

Spin or swing of a ball

Soccer free kick
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2 Linearity:

Lift

1. Flow from left to right

2. Shear flow i.e. flow is
not
constant
over
vertical direction
3. Rotation about a-b

Vavg
b

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2 Linearity:
Vavg

Vavg

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2 Linearity:
Vavg

Vavg
Lift

Lift
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2 Linearity:
Rotation by 180
A

Lift

Lift
A

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2 Linearity:

No Lift at low Reynolds number

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3 Reversibility:

2
p V

2u x 2u x
p

2
2
x

If V , P is the solution then V , - P is also solution.

Change sign of stresses

forces

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Reversibility (effect of shape on drag):

Low Reynolds number

Case A
U

Case B

DA

DB

DA

Shape matters less

Streamlining is not an issue at low Re number
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Creeping flow around a sphere:

V

Vr
r

V
. 0

2
p V

2a

V 0 at r a
V V at r

3a a 3
Vr V cos 1
3 - -(1)
2r 2r

3a 5a 3
V V sin 1
3 - -(2)
4r 4r

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Creeping flow around a sphere:

1 P 2Vr 2 Vr
1 2Vr cot Vr 2Vr
2
2
2
2
2
r r
r r r

r
r

2
2
r

cot V

V
1 P 2V 2 V
1 2V cot V
2 Vr

2
2
2
2
2
2
2
r
r r
r sin r
r
r
r

P 3aV

cos - -(3)
3
r
r

P 3aV

sin - -(4)
2

2r

P P

3aV
cos
2
2r

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Creeping flow around a sphere:

r

V sin
1 Vr V

r
r
r
r

3a 5a 3
1
3

4r 4r

D p pdA cos
A

D f dA sin
A

D r
0

2
sin

P
cos

a
sin d
r a
r a

D 4V a 2V a 6V a
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1 Unsteadiness:
Large Reynolds number

St

L
V

vortex shedding freq

Strouhal number
Fundamental parameter in unsteady processes
applications
Wire oscillating in wind
Singing of wires
Tacoma bridge failure (1940)
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