Gas dynamics Dr.

Sajida Lafta

CHAPTER ONE
BASIC CONCEPTS FROM FLUID DYNAMICS AND
THERMODYNAMICS

1.1 Definitions

- Gas Dynamics
Is that branch of fluid dynamics which deals with the flow of gases. It is limited here to
include only cases of compressible flow. Other widely names called aerodynamics,
aerothermodynamics and rarified gas dynamics.

- Fluid
It defined as a substance which deforms continuously when subjected to a shearing force
as long as the force is applied. It may be either gas or liquid.

- Liquid
Is a fluid which is only slightly compressible under ordinary conditions and exhibiting
only negligible variations in the density.

- Gas
Is a highly compressible fluid, however in cases of low speed gases behave largely as
incompressible fluids.

- Velocity
Is defined as the instantaneous velocity of the center of the gravity of the smallest fluid
practical that can be regarded as a continuum.

- Stream line
Is the curve which is everywhere tangent to the velocity vector.

- Mass flow rate

Is the mass flowing per unit time.

- Mass velocity
Is defined as mass flow rate per unit area.

- Perfect or inviscid fluids

Fluid which has zero viscosity, therefore zeros shearing stress, slips freely over the solid
boundary and has uniform velocity profile as shown in Figure(1.1).

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Gas dynamics Dr. Sajida Lafta

Figure(1.1): One dimension flow.

- Real or viscous fluids

It is a real fluid with viscosity and non-uniform velocity profile as shown in Figure(1.2).

Figure(1.2): Real flow in varying area duct.

- System
Is a fixed quantity of matter in space separated from surrounding by the boundary. It
uses in thermodynamics and solid mechanics rather than in fluid dynamics.

- Control volume
Is an arbitrary volume in the space, the control volume is bounded by control surface
through which both matter and energy are allowed to cross.

1.2 Assumptions
Several reasonable assumptions that can make the analysis of gas dynamics simpler.
These assumptions are as follows:-

1. Perfect or invicid fluids

Fluid which has zero viscosity, therefore zero shearing stress, slip freely over the solid
boundary and has uniform velocity profile.

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2. Steady state
It means that the fluid particles at any point are not function of time.
3. One-dimensional flow
It means that the fluid particles at any point are uniform over each cross section of the
duct.

4. Pure substance
It is a substance which it is chemical compositions is both homogenous and invariable
during processes.

5. Isentropic flow
This means that the flow between state (1) to state (2) is frictionless and adiabatic i.e.
(the control volume is isolated from the surrounding) as shown in Figure (1.3).

Figure(1.3): Schematic representation of one-dimensional flow.

1.3 Applications
a. Transport of gases at low speed.
b. Jet and rocket propulsion systems.
c. Fluid within the engine, flow of gases between turbine blades, wind tunnel, shock
tube, etc.

1.4 Methods of Analysis

1. The principle of conservation of the mass.
 For steady flow, the mass flow rate is constant
 For one-dimensional flow, the continuity equation can be written as:
ρVA=Constant
 For incompressible, i.e, dρ=0
AV= Constant
 For infinitesimal change in compressible flow
ρVA=Constant
 Take ln and differentiate we obtain:

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Gas dynamics Dr. Sajida Lafta

dρ/ρ+ dV/V+dA/A=0
2. The principle of conservation of the momentum.
If we observe the motion of a given quantity of mass, Newton’s second law tells us that
the linear momentum will be changed in direct proportion to the applied forces. This is
expressed by the following equation:
𝑫 𝒎𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒖𝒎 𝝏
𝑭= 𝑫𝒕
= 𝝏𝒕 𝒄𝒗
𝑽𝝆𝒅𝒀 + 𝒄𝒔
𝑽𝝆 𝑽. 𝒏 𝒅𝑨 (1)

Here V besides it is a velocity vector it also represents the momentum per unit mass.
This equation is usually called the momentum or momentum flux equation. ΣF
represents the summation of all forces on the fluid within the control volume which
maybe forces due to pressure, viscosity, gravity, surface tension … etc..

For steady flow the time rate of change of linear momentum stored inside the
control volume is
𝜕
𝜕𝑡 𝑐𝑣
𝑉𝜌𝑑𝑡 = 0 (2)

And momentum equation simplify to:

𝑭 = 𝒄𝒔 𝑽𝝆 𝑽.𝒏 𝒅𝑨 (3)

The x-component of this equation would appear as

𝑭𝒙 = 𝒄𝒔 𝑽𝒙 𝝆𝑽𝒙𝒅𝑨 (4)
If there is only one section where fluid enters and one section where fluid leaves the
control volume, we know (from continuity) that:

𝑚 = 𝑚𝑜𝑢𝑡 = 𝑚𝑖𝑛 (5)

And the momentum equation for a finite control volume becomes:
𝑭𝒙 = 𝒎 𝑽𝒐𝒖𝒕 − 𝑽𝒊𝒏 (6)

Where:
Σ Fx = is algebraic sum of the x- components of all the forces applied on the fluid.
Vx = is the velocity components in x-direction.

- Euler equation for compressible flow is given by:

dp/ρ + VdV+ gdz=0 (7)
For incompressible, the above equation gives Bernoulli equation.

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Gas dynamics Dr. Sajida Lafta

3. The principle of conservation of the energy

Energy equation can be applied on:
a. Closed systems
 Constant volume process
 Constant pressure process
 Constant temperature process
 Polytropic process
 Adiabatic process
b. Open systems
Consider a control volume between two sections (1) and (2)
Work done at the entry=P 1/ ρ1 and
Work done at the exit=P 2/ ρ2
Net work, wn = (w+ P2/ ρ2- P 1/ ρ1)
q- wn = change in total energy

q-w= (h2-h1)+ [(V2)2- (V 1)2]/2 + g(z2-z1)

q-w= (h2-h1)+ [(V 2)2- (V 1)2]/2 + g(z2-z1)
Steady flow energy equation for gases Δz is negligible and w is zero Therefore, the
energy equation becomes:
q= (h2-h1)+ [(V 2)2- (V 1)2]/2
For infinitesimal volume dq=dh+VdV
For adiabatic process, i.e, the control volume is thermally insulated. q=0
0= (h2-h1)+ [(V 2)2- (V 1)2]/2
h2+( V 2)2/2 =h1+ (V 1)2/2

4. Second laws of the thermodynamics.

It is impossible to construct a system which will operate in a cycle, extract heat from a
reservoir, and do an equivalent amount of work on the surrounding.

Efficiency, ƞ= work done/heat supply

Principle of the entropy increase
ds= dq/T
For adiabatic dq=0, therefore, ds=0

5. Equation of the state.

Similarly, as in mass flow rate, we can obtain an expression for an infinitesimal change
in perfect gas as follows:
𝑃 = 𝜌𝑅𝑇
ln 𝑃 = ln 𝜌 + ln 𝑅 + ln 𝑇
𝑑𝑃 𝑑𝜌 𝑑𝑇
= +
𝑃 𝜌 𝑇