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Mechanics of Fluids

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90 The principles governing fluids in motion<br />

Fig. 3.1<br />

convective acceleration, that is, the rate <strong>of</strong> increase <strong>of</strong> velocity due to the<br />

particle’s change <strong>of</strong> position. Although in steady flow ∂u/∂t is zero, the convective<br />

acceleration is not necessarily zero, so the substantial acceleration is<br />

not necessarily zero.<br />

A particle may also have an acceleration in a direction perpendicular to<br />

the direction <strong>of</strong> flow. When a particle moves in a curved path, it changes<br />

direction and so has an acceleration towards the centre <strong>of</strong> curvature <strong>of</strong><br />

the path, whether or not the magnitude <strong>of</strong> the velocity is changing. If the<br />

radius <strong>of</strong> the path-line is rp the particle’s acceleration towards the centre <strong>of</strong><br />

curvature is u 2 /rp. Alternatively, if the streamline has a radius <strong>of</strong> curvature rs,<br />

the particle’s acceleration an towards the centre <strong>of</strong> curvature <strong>of</strong> the streamline<br />

has in general a convective part u 2 /rs and a temporal part ∂un/∂t, where<br />

un represents the component <strong>of</strong> velocity <strong>of</strong> the particle towards the centre<br />

<strong>of</strong> curvature. Although, at that moment, un is zero it is, unless the flow is<br />

steady, increasing at the rate ∂un/∂t. Thus<br />

an = u2<br />

rs<br />

3.3 THE CONTINUITY EQUATION<br />

+ ∂un<br />

∂t<br />

(3.2)<br />

The principle <strong>of</strong> the conservation <strong>of</strong> mass expresses the fact that matter can<br />

neither be created nor destroyed. The continuity equation is a mathematical<br />

statement <strong>of</strong> that principle. Applying the principle to a fixed region within<br />

a fluid, see Fig. 3.1, we can write:<br />

The rate at which mass enters the region<br />

= The rate at which mass leaves the region<br />

+ The rate <strong>of</strong> accumulation <strong>of</strong> mass in the region<br />

If the flow is steady (i.e. unchanging with time) the rate at which mass is<br />

accumulated within the region is zero. The expression then reduces to:<br />

The rate at which mass enters the region<br />

= The rate at which mass leaves the region<br />

This relation may now be applied to a stream-tube whose cross-section<br />

is small enough for there to be no significant variation <strong>of</strong> velocity over it.<br />

A length δs <strong>of</strong> the stream-tube is considered between the cross-sectional

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