Lagrangian and Eulerian

reference frames
 1

Eulerian frame
Describe flow in terms of field variables.
Imagine the flow is broken up into infinitesimally small control volumes
with fixed position in space.
Specify the value of each variable (density, pressure, temperature,
velocity) at every fixed point at every time.

𝒙
 2

Eulerian frame = “lab frame”

Pitot tubes

Thermocouples Hotwire anemometry

Laser Doppler
velocimetry
 3

Lagrangian frame
Follow a fluid particle (control mass) as it moves with the flow.
Sample variables (density, pressure, temperature, velocity) it
experiences as it moves over time.

𝒙
 4

Lagrangian frame
Weather balloons

Oceanographic sensors
 5
Lagrangian frame
 6

Reference frames

𝒙
Local and convective
acceleration
 8

Local and convective acceleration

Local acceleration
Velocity field is changing with
time at the particle’s current
position.

Convective acceleration
Fluid particle accelerates by
moving somewhere ( 𝒙, 𝒚, 𝒛 )
where the velocity is different.
convective acceleration:
Acceleration in 3D
 10

Acceleration in 3D
𝑦 𝑉 (Eulerian)

𝑥 (Lagrangian)

𝑧 "material derivative"
or
"substantial derivative"

𝑉
Similarly:

𝑉
𝑣
𝑢
𝑉
𝑣 𝑢
𝑢
11