Fluid Mechanics

Chapter 6
Incompressible
Inviscid Flow

1
 Main Topics
• Momentum Equation for Frictionless Flow: Euler’s
Equation
• Euler’s Equation in Streamline Coordinates
• Bernoulli Equation – Integration of Euler’s Equation
Along a Streamline for Steady Flow
• The Bernoulli Equation Interpreted as an Energy
Equation
• Energy Grade Line and Hydraulic Grade Line

2
6.1 Momentum Equation for Frictionless
Flow: Euler’s Equation
Euler’s Equation (Incompressible and inviscid)

(6.1)

Continuity (Incompressible)

(5.1c)

3
Momentum Equation for Frictionless
Flow: Euler’s Equation
Rectangular Coordinates

(6.2a)

(6.2b)

(6.2c)

4
Momentum Equation for Frictionless
Flow: Euler’s Equation
Cylindrical Coordinates

(6.3)
5
 Euler’s Equation in
Streamline Coordinates
Along a Streamline
(Steady Flow, ignoring body forces)

(6.4b)

6
 Euler’s Equation in
Streamline Coordinates
Normal to the Streamline
(Steady Flow, ignoring body forces)

(6.5b)

7
 Example 6.1
FLOW IN A BEND
The flow rate of air at standard conditions in a flat duct is to
be determined by installing pressure taps across a bend. The
duct is 0.3 m deep and 0.1 m wide. The inner radius of the
bend is 0.25 m. If the measured pressure difference between
the taps is 40 mm of water, compute the approximate flow
rate.

Given: Flow through duct bend as shown.

where ∆h = 40 mm H2O. Air is at STP.

8
Find: Volume flow rate, Q.
Solution: Apply Euler's n component equation across flow
streamlines.
Governing equation:
Assumptions:
1 Frictionless flow.
2 Incompressible flow.
3 Uniform flow at measurement section.
For this flow, p = p(r), so


9


10
6.2 Bernoulli Equation – Integration of
Euler’s Equation Along a Streamline
for Steady Flow
Euler’s Equation in Streamline Coordinates
(assuming Steady Flow)

Integration Along s Coordinate

11
Bernoulli Equation – Integration of Euler’s
Equation Along a Streamline
for Steady Flow
Bernoulli Equation

(6.8)

1. Steady Flow
2. No Friction
3. Flow Along a Streamline
4. Incompressible Flow
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 Homeworks

6.3
6.4
6.7
6.10
6.21
6.23

13
 Bernoulli Equation
Derivation Using Rectangular Coordinates

14
Bernoulli Equation – Integration of Euler’s
Equation Along a Streamline for
Steady Flow
Static, Stagnation, and Dynamic Pressures
(Ignore Gravity)

(6.11)

Stagnation Dynamic
Static

15
 Bernoulli Equation – Integration of
Euler’s Equation Along a Streamline
for Steady Flow
Pitot Tube

(6.12)
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Pitot Tube

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 Example 6.2
PITOT TUBE
A pitot tube is inserted in an air flow (at STP) to measure the
flow speed. The tube is inserted so that it points upstream into
the flow, and the pressure sensed by the tube is the stagnation
pressure. The static pressure is measured at the same location
in the flow, using a wall pressure tap. If the pressure
difference is 30 mm of mercury, determine the flow speed.

Given: A pitot tube inserted in a flow as

shown. The flowing fluid is air and the
manometer liquid is mercury.
Find: The flow speed.
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Governing equation:
Assumptions:
1 Steady flow.
2 Incompressible flow.
3 Flow along a streamline.
4 Frictionless deceleration along stagnation streamline.
Writing Bemoulli's equation along the stagnation streamline
(with ∆Z = 0) yields Eq. 6.11

p0 is the stagnation pressure at the tube opening where the

speed has been reduced, without friction, to zero. Solving for V
gives

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 From the diagram,

At T = 200C, the speed of sound in air is 343 m/s.

Hence, M = 0.236 and the assumption of incompressible
flow is valid.

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 Example 6.3
NOZZLE FLOW

Air flows steadily at low speed through a horizontal nozzle

(by definition a device for accelerating a flow), discharging to
atmosphere. The area at the nozzle inlet is 0.1 m2. At the
nozzle exit, the area is 0.02 m2. Determine the gage pressure
required at the nozzle inlet to produce an outlet speed of 50
m/s.

21
Assumptions:
1 Steady flow.
2 Incompressible flow.
3 Frictionless flow.
4 Flow along a streamline.
5 zl = z2 .
6 Uniform flow at sections (1) and (2).
The maximum speed of 50 m/s is well below 100 m/s, which
corresponds to Mach number M ≈ 0.3 in standard air. Hence,
the flow may be treated as incompressible.
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

23
 Example 6.4
FLOW THROUGH A SIPHON

A U-tube acts as a water siphon. The bend

in the tube is 1 m above the water surface;
the tube outlet is 7 m below the water
surface. The water issues from the bottom
of the siphon as a free jet at atmospheric
pressure. Determine (after listing the
necessary assumptions) the speed of the
free jet and the minimum absolute
pressure of the water in the bend.

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 

26
27
 Example 6.5
FLOW UNDER A SLUICE GATE

Water flows under a sluice gate on a horizontal bed at the inlet

to a flume. Upstream from the gate, the water depth is 0.45 m
and the speed is negligible. At the vena contracta downstream
from the gate, the flow streamlines are straight and the depth
is 50 mm. Determine the flow speed downstream from the
gate and the discharge in cubic meter per second per meter of
width.

28
Solution: Under the assumptions listed below, the flow
satisfies all conditions necessary to apply the Bernoulli
equation. The question is, What streamline do we use?
Governing equation:
Assumption:
1 Steady flow.
2 Incompressible flow.
3 Frictionless flow.
4 Flow along a streamline.
5 Uniform flow at each section.
6 Hydrostatic pressure distribution (at each location,
pressure increases linearly with depth). 29


30


31
We have arrived at the same equation (Eq. 1) for the
streamline at the bottom and the streamline at the free
surface, implying the Bernoulli constant is the same for both
streamlines. We will see in Section 6.5 that this flow is one
of a family of flows for which this is the case. Solving for
V2 yields

32
×

33
 Example 6.6
BERNOULLI EQUATION IN
TRANSLATING REFERENCE FRAME
A light plane flies at 150 km/hr in standard air at an altitude of
1000 m. Determine the stagnation pressure at the leading edge
of the wing. At a certain point close to the wing, the air speed
relative to the wing is 60 m/s. Compute the pressure at this
point.

34
Given: Aircraft in flight at 150 km/hr at 1000 m altitude in
standard air.
Find: Stagnation pressure, P0A, at point A and static pressure,
PB, at point B.
Solution: Flow is unsteady when observed from a fixed
frame, that is, by an observer on the ground. However, an
observer on the wing sees the following steady flow:

35
At z = 1000 m in standard air, the temperature is 281 K and
the speed of sound is 336 m/s. Hence at point B, MB = VB/C =
0.178. This is less than 0.3, so the flow may be treated as
incompressible. Thus the Bernoulli equation can be applied
along a streamline in the moving observer's inertial reference
frame.

36
37
38
 Homeworks

6.32
6.36
6.42
6.46
6.55
6.60
6.63

39
 6.3 The Bernoulli Equation
Interpreted as an Energy Equation

40
The Bernoulli Equation Interpreted
as an Energy Equation
Basic Equation

1. No Shaft Work
2. No Shear Force Work
3. No Other Work
4. Steady Flow
5. Uniform Flow and Properties
41
The Bernoulli Equation Interpreted
as an Energy Equation
Hence

Assumption 6: Incompressible

Assumption 7:

42
The Bernoulli Equation Interpreted
as an Energy Equation
“Energy Equation”

1. No Shaft Work
2. No Shear Force Work
3. No Other Work
4. Steady Flow
5. Uniform Flow and Properties
6. Incompressible Flow
7. u2 – u1 – δQ/dm = 0
43
 Example 6.7
INTERNAL ENERGY AND HEAT TRANSFER IN
FRICTIONLESS INCOMPRESSIBLE FLOW

Consider frictionless, incompressible flow with heat transfer.

Show that

Given: Frictionless, incompressible flow with heat transfer.

Solution: In general, internal energy can be expressed as u =
u(T, v ). For incompressible flow, v = constant, and u =
u(T). Thus the thermodynamic state of the fluid is
determined by the single thermodynamic property, T. For
any process, the internal energy change, u2 -ul, depends
only on the temperatures at the end states.

44
for incompressible flow, since dv = 0.
Since the internal energy change, du, between specified end
states, is independent of the process, we take a reversible
process, for which

45
 Example 6.8
FRICTIONLESS FLOW WITH HEAT TRANSFER

Water flows steadily from a large open reservoir through a

short length of pipe and a nozzle with cross-sectional area A =
560 mm2. A well-insulated 10 kW heater surrounds the pipe.
Find the temperature rise of the water.
Given: Water flows from a large reservoir through the system
shown and discharges to atmospheric pressure. The heater
is 10 kW; A4 = 560 mm2.
Find: The temperature rise of the water between points (1)
and (2).

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50
 6.4 Energy Grade Line and
Hydraulic Grade Line
Energy Equation

(6.16a)

H is the total head of the flow; it measures the total

mechanical energy in units of meters or feet.

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Energy Grade Line and Hydraulic
Grade Line
Energy Grade Line (EGL)

EGL= (6.16b)

Hydraulic Grade Line (HGL)

HGL= (6.16c)

52
 Energy Grade Line and Hydraulic
Grade Line

EGL – HGL=

(6.16d)

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 6.6 Irrotational Flow

Irrotationality Condition

(6.22)

Irrotational flow

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 Irrotational Flow
Velocity Potential

(6.27)

(6.29)

(6.33)

• Velocity Potential automatically satisfies Irrotationality

Condition

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 Irrotational Flow
2D Incompressible, Irrotational Flow

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 Irrotational Flow
The slope of a potential line
(6.34)
(a line of constant ϕ)

The slope of a streamline

(6.345)
(a line of constant ψ)

Lines of constant ψ and constant ϕ are orthogonal.

57
 Irrotational Flow
Elementary Plane Flows

58
 Example 6.10

Consider the flow field given by ψ = ax2 - ay2 , where a = 3 s-1.

Show that the flow is irrotational. Determine the velocity
potential for this flow.
Given: Incompressible flow field with ψ = ax2 - ay2 , where
a = 3 s-1.
Find: (a) Whether or not the flow is irrotational.
(b) The velocity potential for this flow.
Solution: If the flow is irrotational, ∇2ψ = 0. Checking for the
given flow,

59
 ψ = ax2 - ay2
so that the flow is irrotational. As an alternative proof, we can
compute the fluid particle rotation (in the xy plane, the only
component of rotation is ωz):

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

61
The slopes of lines of constant φ and constant ψ are negative
reciprocals. Therefore lines of constant φ are orthogonal to lines
of constant ψ.

62
 Homeworks

6.75
6.79
6.82
6.87

63
 Superposition of Elementary
Plane Flows
Superposition

64
 Example 6.11
FLOW OVER A CYLINDER:
SUPERPOSITION OF DOUBLET AND UNIFORM FLOW

For two-dimensional, incompressible, irrotational flow, the

superposition of a doublet and a uniform flow represents flow
around a circular cylinder. Obtain the stream function and
velocity potential for this flow pattern. Find the velocity field,
locate the stagnation points and the cylinder surface, and
obtain the surface pressure distribution. Integrate the pressure
distribution to obtain the drag and lift forces on the circular
cylinder.

65
Given: Two-dimensional, incompressible, irrotational flow
formed from superposition of a doublet and a uniform flow.
Find:
(a) Stream function and velocity potential.
(b) Velocity field.
(c) Stagnation points.
(d) Cylinder surface.
(e) Surface pressure distribution.
(f) Drag force on the circular cylinder.
(g) Lift force on the circular cylinder.

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Solution: Stream functions may be added because the flow
field is incompressible and irrotational. Thus from Table
6.2, the stream function for the combination is

The velocity potential is

The corresponding velocity components are obtained using

Eqs. 6.30 as

67
The velocity field is

68
Note that Vr = 0 along r = a, so this represents flow around a
circular cylinder, as shown in Table 6.3. Flow is irrotational,
so the Bernoulli equation may be applied between any two
points. Applying the equation between a point far upstream
and a point on the surface of the cylinder (neglecting elevation
differences), we obtain

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70
 Drag is the force component parallel to the freestream flow
direction. The drag force is given by

since dA = a dθ b, where b is the length of the cylinder normal

to the diagram.

71
Lift is the force component normal to the freestream flow
direction. (By convention, positive lift is an upward force.)
The lift force is given by

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 Example 6.12
FLOW OVER A CYLINDER WITH CIRCULATION:
SUPERPOSITION OF DOUBLET UNIFORM FLOW
AND CLOCKWISE FREE VORTEX
For two-dimensional, incompressible, irrotational flow, the
superposition of a doublet, a uniform flow, and a free vortex
represent the flow around a circular cylinder with circulation.
Obtain the stream function and velocity potential for this flow
pattern, using a clockwise free vortex. Find the velocity field,
locate the stagnation points and the cylinder surface, and
obtain the surface pressure distribution. Integrate the pressure
distribution to obtain the drag and lift forces on the circular
cylinder. Relate the lift force on the cylinder to the circulation
of the free vortex.
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Given: Two-dimensional, incompressible, irrotational flow
formed from superposition of adoublet, a uniform flow,
and a clockwise free vortex.
Find:
(a) Stream function and velocity potential.
(b) Velocity field.
(c) Stagnation points.
(d) Cylinder surface.
(e) Surface pressure distribution.
(f) Drag force on the circular cylinder.
(g) Lift force on the circular cylinder.
(h) Lift force in terms of circulation of the free vortex.

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Solution: Stream functions may be added because the flow
field is incompressible and irrotational. From Table 6.2, the
stream function and velocity potential for a clockwise free
vortex are

Using the results of Example 6.11, the stream function for the
combination is

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 As in Example 6.11, Vr = 0 along r = a, so this flow field
once again represents flow around a circular cylinder, as
shown in Table 6.3. For K = 0 the solution is identical to that
of Example 6.11.
The presence of the free vortex (K > 0) moves the
stagnation points below the center of the cylinder. Thus the
free vortex alters the vertical symmetry of the flow field. The
flow field has two stagnation points for a range of vortex
strengths between K = 0 and K = 4 π Ua.
A single stagnation point is located at θ = -π/2 when K =
4πUa

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Even with the free vortex present, the flow field is irrotational,
so the Bernoulli equation may be applied between any two
points. Applying the equation between a point far upstream
and a point on the surface of the cylinder we obtain

Thus, neglecting elevation differences,

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Drag is the force component parallel to the freestream flow
direction. As in Example 6.11, the drag force is given by

since dA = a dθ b, where b is the length of the cylinder normal

to the diagram.
Comparing pressure distributions, the free vortex contributes
only to the terms containing the factor K. The contribution of
these terms to the drag force is

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Lift is the force component normal to the freestream flow
direction. (Upward force is defined as positive lift.) The lift force
is given by

Comparing pressure distributions, the free vortex contributes only

to the terms containing the factor K. The contribution of these
terms to the lift force is

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

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