AER11001

Aerospace Aerodynamics and Thermodynamics

Introduction to fluid flow

 Solids – fluids - gases
Microscopic view of a gas Microscopic view of a solid

Microscopic view of a liquid

Particles well
separated with no Tightly packed, usually
regular arrangement in a regular pattern.

vibrate and move Close together with no

Vibrate (jiggle) but
freely at high regular arrangement.
generally do not
speeds.
Vibrate, move about, move from place
and slide past each to place
other
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 What is viscosity?

Internal stickiness of a fluid

Liquids flow under the action of shear stress
Response is not instantaneous throughout the liquid
Viscosity measures how rapidly a liquid responds to shear stress -
deforms
High viscosity fluid deforms at a slower rate than a low viscosity fluid.

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 Measuring viscosity?
Consider 2 plates separated by a thin layer of fluid
The lower plate is set moving
Drags the fluid immediately next to it along
Due to adhesive forces between the fluid and
surface, The fluid next to the top surface
remains stationary
A velocity gradient is set up between the 2 plates

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A shearing force, F, is required to make the lower plate move
 

where A = area, μ = viscosity

Hence

where τ = shear stress

Or considering the limit Δy → 0

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 Viscosity and flow

Pa = N m–2
 
𝑑𝑢 m s–1 /m = s–1
𝜏 =− 𝜇
𝑑𝑦
Hence units of viscosity are N m–2 s = Pa s
Can also define kinematic viscosity ν = μ/ρ This has units of m2 s–1
Viscosity alters the way the fluid flows.
Temperature and pressure can significantly alter the viscosity and as
such the flow of the fluid.
A fluid can be categorized with the way the viscosity changes.
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 Newtonian Fluids
Fluids with constant viscosity
i.e.
dv
t =- m
dy
E.g.
Water
Most gases
Molten glass

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 Non-Newtonian Fluids

Bingham pastes
– A minimum shear stress has to
be exceeded for flow
• E.g.
– Toothpaste
– Printing ink
d
t =t0 - m 0 t > t0
d
d
=0 t < t0
d
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 Non-Newtonian Fluids
Shear thinning fluids
– Become less viscous as a shear stress
is applied
• E.g. paint, mayonaise
Shear thickening fluids
– Become more viscous as a shear
stress is applied
– E.g. cornstarch and (a limited amount
of) water
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zoTKXXNQIU&feature=fvwrel

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 Classification of fluid flow

We shall be dealing with types of flow in this lecture

 Steady
 Unsteady
 Viscous
 Inviscid
 Laminar
 Turbulent
NOTE: This is a simplified introduction and will be
covered later in the course!
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 Viscous and Inviscid flow
Flows can be broadly classed as either viscous or inviscid
Viscous - One where viscous effects are important and can not be
ignored
Inviscid - One where viscous effects do not significantly influence
the flow and thus neglected.
To model an inviscid flow we can set the viscosity to be zero – thus
all viscous effects are zero.

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 Viscous and Inviscid flow
Experimentally this is difficult as all fluids of interest (water, air etc)
have viscosity
A flow which exists exterior to a body maybe treated as inviscid –
external flows
In these cases viscous effects that may exist are confined to a thin
layer called a boundary layer – exist where there are high velocities
and / or large length scales – confined to a thin layer near the wall.
Viscous flows are generally found in pipes, where substantial losses
can be generated
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 Viscous and Inviscid flow
Streamline velocity
Streaklines from smoke spaced variation
equally, positioned far upstream Molecules at edge stick to
surface, slowing ones above
skin friction – drag
Dependent on viscosity
Boundary layer
Inviscid
Flow

Airfoil

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