MIDDLE EAST TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

3.3 SPEED OF SOUND

Pressure wave
moving Stationary Control
with velocity a pressure wave volume

p + dp p p + dp p
dV  + d a  a  dV  + d 
dV V=0 a  dV a
h + dh h h + dh h

p p

p + dp p + dp
p p

x x

V V
dV
x
x
 (a  dV)
a

The transformation is a dynamic transformation, since it only affects dynamic properties (velocity,
stagnation pressure, stagnation temperature) but does not affect the static properties (static pressure,
static temperature)

ME 411 GAS DYNAMICS 3. INTRODUCTION TO COMPRESSIBLE FLOW LECTURE 02 - 1/7

 MIDDLE EAST TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

a) Continuity Equation
Stationary Control
pressure wave volume

p + dp p
a  dV  + d 
a  dV a
h + dh h

For steady flow, mass flow rate is constant

 = constant
m

For one-dimensional flow, properties are uniform (constant) over each cross-section.

 = ρaA = ( ρ + dρ )(a - dV ) A
m

where A is the cross-sectional area of the tube

0
ρaA = ρaA - ρAdV + aAdρ - AdρdV

a
dV = dρ
ρ

ME 411 GAS DYNAMICS 3. INTRODUCTION TO COMPRESSIBLE FLOW LECTURE 02 - 2/7

 MIDDLE EAST TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

b) Momentum Equation

Sum of the external forces acting on the control volume must be balanced by the rate of change of linear
momentum across the control volume
Control
Control
volume
volume

(p + dp)A pA  (a - dV )
m 
ma

Fx
Fx

  ) (a - dV )
 + (-m
 = ( p + dp) A - pA = ma
Fx

  )  -(a - dV )
 + (m
= ( p + dp) A - pA  Adp = ma

 - ma
pA + Adp - pA = ma  m
 dV

Adp =  AVdV

1
dV = dp
ρa

ME 411 GAS DYNAMICS 3. INTRODUCTION TO COMPRESSIBLE FLOW LECTURE 02 - 3/7

 MIDDLE EAST TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

c) Energy Equation
Stationary Control
pressure wave volume

p + dp p
a  dV  + d 
a  dV a
h + dh h

Across an infinitesimal pressure wave, the frictional effects can be neglected, since the pressure wave is
very thin

The time is too short for heat transfer so that the process can be considered adiabatic

a2 (a - dV )2
h+ = ( h + dh ) +
2 2
0
a2 a2 (dV )2
h+ = h + dh +  adV 
2 2 2

dh = adV

ME 411 GAS DYNAMICS 3. INTRODUCTION TO COMPRESSIBLE FLOW LECTURE 02 - 4/7

 MIDDLE EAST TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

d) Second Law of Thermodynamics

1
Momentum equation dV = dp
ρa dp
 dh =
ρ
Energy equation dh = adV

From thermodynamics, Gibbs relation is

dp
Tds = dh -
ρ

Hence ds = 0

Therefore across an infinitesimal pressure wave, the entropy is constant

Continuity equation a
dV = dρ
ρ dp
 a2 =
1 dρ
Momentum equation dV = dp
ρa

To evaluate a thermodynamic property, the property to be held constant during differentiation should be
specified. For the present case, entropy is constant

 p 
a2 =  
 ρ  s

ME 411 GAS DYNAMICS 3. INTRODUCTION TO COMPRESSIBLE FLOW LECTURE 02 - 5/7

 MIDDLE EAST TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

In isentropic flow, the density and pressure of a gas is related by

p
 constant
ρk

Taking logaritms
(11.6)
lnp - klnρ = ln(constant)

Differentiating

dp dρ
-k =0
ρ ρ

p
a= k
ρ

e) Equation of State

For a perfect gas p = ρRT

a = kRT

ME 411 GAS DYNAMICS 3. INTRODUCTION TO COMPRESSIBLE FLOW LECTURE 02 - 6/7

 MIDDLE EAST TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

1.4 MACH NUMBER

Speed of the fluid V

M= =
Local speed of sound a

Speed of the fluid V is a measure of directed motion of gas particles and V2 is a measure of kinetic
energy per unit mass of the directed flow .

Local speed of sound a is proportional to T1/2 which is a measure of random motion of gas particles and
a2 is a measure of kinetic energy per unit mass of the random flow .

V V 2 / 2 Directed kinetic energy per unit mass

M= = =
a a 2 / 2 Random kinetic energy per unit mass

M<1 Subsonic flow

M=1 Sonic flow
M>1 Supersonic flow

M < 0.3 Incompressible flow

0.9 < M < 1.1 Transonic flow
M>5 Hypersonic flow

ME 411 GAS DYNAMICS 3. INTRODUCTION TO COMPRESSIBLE FLOW LECTURE 02 - 7/7