M.S.

Mechanical & Process

Engineering
4
th
Semester



Introduction
GAS DYNAMICS
It is the branch of fluid mechanics concerned with causes and effects
arising from the motion of compressible fluids particularly gases.
Fluid Mechanics
Statics Fluid Dynamics
Aerodynamics Hydrodynamics Gas Dynamics
In this subject we are concerned with following fundamental physical laws
1. Law of conservation of mass
2. Newtons second law of motion
3. First law of thermodynamics
4. Second law of thermodynamics
Above laws are applicable to all fluids and all flow processes
Above laws are applied to a fluid utilizing the continuum concept
Continuum
Due to elastic collisions limits of velocity are between
zero and very high velocity
Continuum concept may not be applicable for a gas
at low pressure (High altitudes)
Distance b/w two consecutive collisions is mean free path
Mean free path is inversely related to molecular diameter
All materials, solid or fluid, are composed of molecules discretely
spread and in continuous motion.
However, in dealing with fluid-flow relations on a mathematical basis, it
is necessary to replace the actual molecular structure by a hypothetical
continuous medium, called the continuum
Continuum postulate assumes that every differential element of body of
fluid contains a large number of molecules such that the average
statistical properties of molecules in the differential volume represent
macroscopic properties of fluid in region of that differential volume.
Continuum, contd.
For continuum postulate to hold, mean free path ()<< characteristic length (L)
OR
For boundary layer flows
For continuum flows Kn < 0.01 i.e.
For Kn > 0.01 gas is a combination of discrete particles
Compressibility
Amount by which a substance can be compressed is given by a property
compressibility
Compressibility is
fractional change in
volume per unit change in
pressure
Isothermal Compressibility
Rise in temp is controlled by
some heat transfer mechanism
Isentropic Compressibility
Compressibility in
the form of density
Liquid d is small
Gas d
Is small for low speed flow
Is large for high speed flow
Another index
where
Collisions between the fluid molecules causes the propagation of sound
waves
Propagation of sound waves is affected by molecular density of the
medium
Where molecular density is low, dissipation of energy occurs without
colliding with any molecule (free particle flow)
It is an important quantity in gas dynamics
We shall study further details about speed of sound in Chapter 3
For Ideal Gas
The Acoustic Speed
The speed at which a sound wave or small pressure disturbance is propagated
in the fluid medium
s
a
t
1
=
s
s
dp
d
|
|
.
|

\
|
=

t
1
s
p
a
|
|
.
|

\
|
c
c
=

2
It is the ratio of local fluid speed V to its acoustic speed
Mach Number