What is Fluid Mechanics?

FLUID STATICS
The study of fluids at rest.

FLUID KINEMATICS
The study of fluid in motion,
FLUID MECHANICS where the pressure forces are not
considered.

FLUID DYNAMICS
The study of fluid in motion,
where the pressure forces are
considered.

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 COMPRESSIBLE vs. INCOMPRESSIBLE FLOW
A flow is classified as incompressible if the density remains nearly constant.
Liquid flows are typically incompressible.
Gas flows are often highly compressible, Especially for high speeds.
Mach number, Ma = V/c is a good indicator of whether or not compressibility effects
are important.
Ma < 0.3 : Incompressible (p change < 5%)
Thus compressibility effects of air at room temperature at speed < 100m/s can be
neglected.
Ma < 1 :Subsonic
Ma = 1 :Sonic
Ma > 1 :Supersonic
Ma >>1 :Hypersonic
Ma = =

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 Laminar & Turbulent Flows
Laminar: Smooth streamlines and highly ordered fluid motion.

Turbulent: Velocity fluctuations and highly disordered motion.

Typically occurs at high velocity.

Transition:The flow fluctuates between laminar and turbulent

flows.

Most flows encountered in practice are turbulent.

Laminar and turbulent flow regimes

of candle smoke.

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 Laminar & Turbulent Flows
Laminar flow, sometimes known as smooth streamline flow and highly ordered
motion.
It occurs when a fluid in parallel layers, with no disruption between the layers.
In fluid dynamics, laminar flow is a flow regime characterized by high momentum
diffusion and low momentum convection (movement of groups of molecules).
In non-scientific terms laminar flow is smooth, while turbulent flow is rough.

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 Laminar & Turbulent Flows
Turbulent flow is a fluid regime characterized by velocity fluctuations
and highly disordered.
Turbulent causes the formation of eddies (circular movement of fluid)
of many different length and scales.
Most of the kinetic energy of the turbulent motion is contained in the
large scale structures.

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2.3 REYNOLDS NUMBER
Reynolds number, Re is a dimensionless number.
It is the ratio of inertial forces to viscous forces.
They are used to characterize different flow regines, such as laminar or turbulent flow.
At large Re - inertial force are relatively large compared to viscous fluid thus the viscous force
cannot prevent the fluctuation of the fluid.
At small Re viscous force are large enough to suppress the fluctuations and keep the fluid in
line.

Inertial force: A force

that resist a change in
velocity

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Characteristic of Flow in Pipes
This type of flow known as an Internal Flow, which the pipe is assumed to be
completely filled with fluid.
The fluid flow in a pipe maybe laminar or turbulent depending on the Reynolds
number, Re.

Re < 2300 : laminar flow (characterized by smooth streamlines and highly ordered motion)
2300 < Re < 4000 : transitional flow (Occurs over some region in which the flow fluctuates between
laminar or turbulent)
Re > 4000 : turbulent flow (velocity fluctuations and highly disordered motion)

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2.4 Analysis of Flow in a Circular Pipe

The development of the velocity boundary layer in a pipe

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 The entrance region can be represented by entrance length Lh

Laminar:
= 0.05 Re

Turbulent: = 1.359 1/4

After the flow is fully developed, the slope becomes constant and the pressure
drop p is directly caused only by viscous effect.
By using the Bernoulli equation with losses, the pressure value at all position along
the same pipe can be calculated.

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The variation of wall shear stress in the flow direction for flow in a
pipe from the entrance region into the fully developed region.

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2.4 Analysis of Flow in a Circular Pipe
A) Major Losses
i. Friction (or Viscosity)
ii. Major Leakage

B) Minor Losses
i. Sudden enlargement of pipes
ii. Sudden contraction of pipes
iii. Pipe entry and exit
iv. Bend in pipes
v. Junction of pipes
vi. Minor leakage

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The Bernoulli equation
An approximate relation between pressure, velocity, and elevation.
Valid in region of steady, incompressible flow, where net functional forces is
negligible.
The sum of the kinetic, potential and flow energy of a fluid is constant along
the stream line.

1 1 2
+ + 1 = Constant (along a streamline)
p 2

Flow energy

1 1 2 2 2 2
+ + 1 = + + 2
p 2 p 2

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Laminar Flow Solution In Pipes

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