Basic Fluid Dynamics

Momentum
p = mv
Viscosity
Resistance to flow; momentum diffusion
Low viscosity: Air
High viscosity: Honey
Viscosity
Dynamic viscosity

Kinematic viscosity v [L
2
T
-1
]

Shear stress
Dynamic viscosity

Shear stress t = cu/cy

Reynolds Number
The Reynolds Number (Re) is a non-dimensional
number that reflects the balance between viscous and
inertial forces and hence relates to flow instability (i.e.,
the onset of turbulence)
Re = u L/v
L is a characteristic length in the system
v is kinematic viscosity
Dominance of viscous force leads to laminar flow (low
velocity, high viscosity, confined fluid)
Dominance of inertial force leads to turbulent flow (high
velocity, low viscosity, unconfined fluid)
Poiseuille Flow
In a slit or pipe, the velocities at the walls are 0
(no-slip boundaries) and the velocity reaches its
maximum in the middle
The velocity profile in a slit is parabolic and
given by:
) (
2
) (
2 2
x a
G
x u =

x = 0 x = a
u(x)
G can be gravitational acceleration
times density or (linear) pressure
gradient (P
in
P
out
)/L
Poiseuille Flow
S.GOKALTUN
Florida International University
Entry Length Effects
Tritton, D.J. Physical Fluid Dynamics, 2
nd
Ed. Oxford
University Press, Oxford. 519 pp.
Re << 1 (Stokes Flow)

Tritton, D.J. Physical Fluid Dynamics, 2
nd
Ed. Oxford
University Press, Oxford. 519 pp.
Separation
Eddies and Cylinder Wakes
Re = 30
Re = 40
Re = 47
Re = 55
Re = 67
Re = 100
Re = 41
Tritton, D.J. Physical Fluid Dynamics, 2
nd
Ed. Oxford
University Press, Oxford. 519 pp.
Eddies and Cylinder Wakes
S
.
G
o
k
a
l
t
u
n

F
l
o
r
i
d
a

I
n
t
e
r
n
a
t
i
o
n
a
l

U
n
i
v
e
r
s
i
t
y

Streamlines for flow around a circular cylinder at 9 Re 10.(g=0.00001, L=300 lu, D=100 lu)
Eddies and Cylinder Wakes
Streamlines for flow around a circular cylinder at 40 Re 50.(g=0.0001, L=300 lu, D=100 lu) (Photograph
by Sadatoshi Taneda. Taneda 1956a, J. Phys. Soc. Jpn., 11, 302-307.)
S
.
G
o
k
a
l
t
u
n

F
l
o
r
i
d
a

I
n
t
e
r
n
a
t
i
o
n
a
l

U
n
i
v
e
r
s
i
t
y

Laplace Law
There is a pressure difference between
the inside and outside of bubbles and
drops
The pressure is always higher on the
inside of a bubble or drop (concave side)
just as in a balloon
The pressure difference depends on the
radius of curvature and the surface tension
for the fluid pair of interest: AP = /r in 2D
Laplace Law
In 3D, we have to account for two primary
radii:


R
2
can sometimes be infinite
But for full- or semi-spherical meniscii
drops, bubbles, and capillary tubes the
two radii are the same and
|
|
.
|

\
|
+ = A
2 1
1 1
R R
P
|
.
|

\
|
= A
R
P
2

2D Laplace Law
P
in
P
out
r

AP = /r = AP/r,
which is linear in 1/r (a.k.a. curvature)
Young-Laplace Law
When solid surfaces are involved, in addition to
the fluid1/fluid2 interface where the interaction
is given by the surface tension -- we have
interfaces between both fluids and the surface
Often one of the fluids preferentially wets the
surface
This phenomenon is captured by the contact
angle
Zero contact angle means perfect wetting
In 2D: AP = cos u/r
Young-Laplace Law
The contact angle affects the radius of the
meniscus as 1/R = cosu 1/R
size
:


R
size
R
u 0 30 60 90
R/R
size
1 1.15 2
Young-Laplace Law
The contact angle affects the radius of the
meniscus as 1/R = cosu 1/R
size
, so we end up
with


If the two R
size
s are equal (as in a capillary tube),
we get


If one R
size
is infinity (as in a slit), then


|
|
.
|

\
|
+ = A
2 1
1 1
cos
size size
R R
P u
|
|
.
|

\
|
= A
size
R
P
1
cos 2 u
|
|
.
|

\
|
= A
size
R
P
1
cosu