Conservation Equations in Fluid Flow

Q1. Choose the correct answer

(i) The continuity equation is the result of application of the following law to the
flow field
(a) Conservation of momentum
(b) Conservation of energy
(c) Conservation of mass
(d) Conservation of force
[Ans.(c)]

(ii) A flow field satisfying .V 0 as the continuity equation represents always a
(a) steady flow
(b) unsteady and non-uniform flow
(c) steady and uniform flow
(d) incompressible flow
[Ans.(d)]

(iii) The 2-D flow with velocity V x 2 y 2 i 4 y j is

(a) compressible and irrotational
(b) compressible and rotational
(c) incompressible and irrotational
(d) incompressible and rotational
[Ans.(d)]
Q2.
Check whether the following sets of velocity components represent a possible
incompressible flow
(i) u 3 xy , v x 3 xy 3
(ii) u 2 x 2 xy z 2 , v x 2 4 xy y 2 , w 2 xy yz y 2
Solution
(i)Here, u 3xy and v x3 xy 3
u v
Hence, 3 y and 3xy 2
x y
For a two-dimensional, incompressible flow the continuity equation can be written in
differential form as
u v
0
x y
u v
Substituting the values of and in continuity equation, we find
x y
u v

x y

3 y 3xy 2 0

Hence the continuity equation for an incompressible flow is not satisfied. Therefore, it is
not a possible incompressible flow.
(ii)
Here, u 2 x 2 xy z 2 , v x 2 4 xy y 2 and w 2 xy yz y 2

1
 u v w
Hence, 4x y , 4 x 2 y , and y
x y z
For a three-dimensional, incompressible flow the continuity equation can be written in
differential form as
u v w
0
x y z
u v
Substituting the values of and in continuity equation, we find
x y
u v
4x y 4x 2 y y 0
x y
Hence the continuity equation for an incompressible flow is satisfied. Therefore, it is a
possible incompressible flow.
Q3.
For a three-dimensional velocity field, x and y component of velocity are given by
u x y z , v xy yz zx
Determine a possible z component of velocity, w, for an incompressible flow. How many
possible z components are there?
Solution
For an incompressible flow the continuity equation can be written in differential form as
u v w
0
x y z
Given u x y z , and v xy yz zx
u
Hence, 1 , and
x
v
x z
y
u v
Substituting , and in the continuity equation, we get
x y
w
1 x z 0
z
w
or x z 1
z
Integrating with respect to z, we have
z2
w xz z f x, y
2
There are infinite number of possible z components, since f x, y is arbitrary. the
simplest one would be found by setting f x, y 0

Q4.
The velocity components in a two-dimensional flow field in cylindrical polar coordinate
are given by vr r sin 2 , v 2r sin 2

2
Check whether the velocity field describes the motion of an incompressible flow or not?
Solution
For a two-dimensional, incompressible flow the continuity equation in cylindrical polar
coordinate can be written in differential form as
vr vr 1 v
0
r r r
Here, vr r sin 2 and v 2r sin 2
vr
Hence, r sin 2 sin 2 , and
r r
v
2r sin 2 r 2sin 2 r 1 cos 2

2r sin 2
vr v
Substituting , and in the continuity equation, we get
r
vr vr 1 v r sin 2 1
sin 2 2r sin 2 0
r r r r r
Hence the continuity equation for an incompressible flow is satisfied. Therefore, it is a
possible incompressible flow.

Q5.
The velocity field in a fluid flow is given by
y3 x3
V 2 x x 2 y i xy 2 2 y j
3 3
(a) Check whether the flow is (i) incompressible or compressible, (ii) irrotational or
rotational.
(b) If the flow is incompressible, obtain an expression for stream function.
Solution
(a) (i) For a two-dimensional, incompressible flow the continuity equation can be
written in differential form as
u v
0
x y
y3 x3
Given u 2 x x 2 y , and v xy 2 2 y
3 3
u
Hence, 2 2 xy , and
x
v
2 xy 2
y
u v
Substituting , and in the continuity equation, we get
x y
u v
2 2 xy 2 xy 2 0
x y

3
 Hence the continuity equation for an incompressible flow is satisfied. Therefore, the flow
is incompressible.
(ii) For a two-dimensional flow, rotation is given by
1 v u
xy
2 x y
For the given velocity field
u
y 2 x 2 , and
y
v
y 2 x2
x
1 v u 1
Thus, xy y 2 x 2 y 2 x 2 0
2 x y 2
Since xy 0 , the flow is irrotational.
(b) From the definition of stream function , we get

u
y
y3
or udy 2 x x 2 y dy
3
y4 x2 y 2
or 2 xy f x C1
12 2

v
x
x3
vdx xy 2 2 y dx
3
2 2 4
x y x
or 2 xy g y C2
2 12
Comparing the above two equations, we have
x4 y4
f ( x) , g ( y )
12 12
Hence, the stream function for the flow is
y4 x2 y 2 x4
2 xy C
12 2 12
where C is a constant.
Q6.
The stream function in a two-dimensional, incompressible flow field is given as
3xy .
(a) Determine the velocity components.
(b) Check whether the flow is irrotational or rotational.
Solution
(a)From the definition of stream function , we get

4

u
y

v
x
Thus, the velocity components become

u 3 xy 3 x
y y

v 3xy 3 y
x x

The velocity is then V ui vj 3 xi 3 yj

(b)For the above velocity components, we have
v
0
x
u
0
y
The rotation is given by
1 v u
z 0
2 x y
Since the rotation is zero, the flow is irrotational.