Fluid Kinematics

Kinematics of Motion
It is a branch of fluid mechanics, which describes the fluid motion, and its
consequences without considering the forces and moments that cause the
motion.

Fluid kinematics is the study of velocity and acceleration as a function of space

and time in the flow field.

The representation of fluid parameters as functions of the spatial coordinates is

termed a field representation of the flow

To describe a fluid flow we must determine the various parameters not only as a
function of the spatial coordinates (x, y, z, for example) but also as a function of
time, t

For example temperature field in class room, T = T(x,y,z,t)

Velocity Field
The velocity of a particle is the time rate of change of the position vector for that particle

The instantaneous velocity of the fluid particle passing through a point , at a given
instant is represented as V=V(x,y,z,t).

Vectorially, V=ui+vj+wk where u,v,w are three scalar components of velocity in x,y and z
directions and (t) is the time. Velocity is a vector quantity and velocity field is a vector
field.
Velocity Field
The velocity of a particle is the time rate of change of the position vector for that particle

The instantaneous velocity of the fluid particle passing through a point , at a given
instant is represented as V=V(x,y,z,t).

Vectorially, V=ui+vj+wk where u,v,w are three scalar components of velocity in x,y and z
directions and (t) is the time. Velocity is a vector quantity and velocity field is a vector
field.
Velocity Field
Eulerian and Lagrangian Flow Descriptions
Methods to describe flow fields and to analyze fluid mechanics problems

Eulerian Approach: The coordinates are fixed and we observe the flow field
characteristics as it passes by the fixed coordinates. We obtain information about the
flow in terms of what happens at fixed points in space as the fluid flows through those
points

Lagrangian Approach: This method involves following individual fluid particles as they
move about and determining how the fluid properties associated with these particles
change as a function of time
Eulerian and Lagrangian Flow Descriptions
It is usually easier to use the Eulerian method to describe a flowin either experimental
or analytical investigations

However in certain cases Lagrangian method is more convenient. For example, in some
numerical and experimental investigations individual fluid particles are tagged and are
followed throughout their motion. Oceanographic measurements obtained from devices
that follow with the ocean currents is also an example of Lagrangian Approach.

A Lagrangian description may also be useful in describing fluid machinery (such as

pumps and turbines) in which fluid particles gain or lose energy as they move along their
flow paths.
Types of Fluid Flow
Steady and Unsteady Flows

Uniform and Non-Uniform Flows

Laminar and Turbulent Flows

Compressible and Incompressible Flows

Rotational and Irrotational Flows

One, Two and Three Dimensional Flows

 Types of Fluid Flow
Steady and Unsteady Flows

Steady Flow
Steady flow is the type of flow in which the various flow parameters and fluid properties at
any point do not change with time. In a steady flow, any property may vary from point to
point in the field, but all properties remain constant with time at every point

Unsteady Flow
Unsteady flow is the type of flow in which the various flow parameters and fluid properties
at any point change with time
 Types of Fluid Flow
Uniform and Non-Uniform Flow

Uniform Flow
Uniform Flow is the type of flow in which velocity and other flow parameters at any
instant of time do not change with respect to space. Uniform flow field is used to describe a
flow in which the magnitude and direction of the velocity vector are constant, i.e.,
independent of all space coordinates throughout the entire flow field.

Non-Uniform Flow
Non-uniform flow is the type of flow in which velocity and other flow parameters at any
instant change with respect to space
 Types of Fluid Flow
Laminar and Turbulent Flows

Laminar Flow
Laminar Flow is a type of flow in which the fluid particles move along well defined paths
or stream-lines. The fluid particles move in layers gliding smoothly over one another.

Turbulent Flow
Turbulent Flow is a type of flow in which the fluid particles move in zigzag way in the flow
field. Fluid particles move randomly from one layer to another. Reynolds number is a
criterion. We can assume that for a flow in pipe, for Reynolds No. less than 2000, the flow
is laminar; between 2000-4000, the flow is transitional; and greater than 4000, the flow is
turbulent
 Types of Fluid Flow
Compressible and Incompressible Flows

Incompressible Flow
Incompressible Flow is a type of flow in which the density is constant in the flow field.
This assumption is valid for flow Mach numbers with in the range of 0.30. Mach number
is used as a criterion. Mach Number is the ratio of flow velocity to velocity of sound
waves in the fluid medium

Compressible Flow
Compressible Flow is the type of flow in which the density of the fluid changes in the flow
field. Density is not constant in the flow field. Classification of flow based on Mach
number is given below:
M < 0. 3 Low speed
M < unity Subsonic
M around unity Transonic
M > unity Supersonic
M > > unity, (say 7) Hypersonic
Types of Fluid Flow
One, Two and Three Dimensional Flows

The number of space dimensions needed to define the flow field completely
governs dimensionality of flow field. Flow is classified as one, two and three
dimensional depending upon the number of space co-ordinates required to specify
the velocity fields.

One-dimensional flow is the type of flow in which flow parameters such as velocity
is a function of time and one space coordinate only.
For Ex., V=V(x,t) 1-D, unsteady ; V=V(x) 1-D, steady

Two-dimensional flow is the type of flow in which flow parameters describing the
flow vary in two space coordinates and time.
For Ex., V=V(x,y,t) 2-D, unsteady; V=V(x,y) 2-D, steady

Three-dimensional flow is the type of flow in which the flow parametersdescribing

the flow vary in three space coordinates and time.
For Ex., V=V(x,y,z,t) 3-D, unsteady ; V=V(x,y,z) 3D, steady
Types of Fluid Flow
Three Dimensional Flows
Streamlines, Pathlines, Streaklines
Streamlines: A streamline is a line that is everywhere tangent to the velocity field. If
the flow is steady, nothing at a fixed point (including the velocity direction) changes
with time, so the streamlines are fixed lines in space.

Streaklines: A streakline consists of all particles in a flow that have previously passed
through a common point.

Pathlines: A pathline is the line traced out by a given particle as it flows from one
point to another (Lagrangian concept)

Timeline: Time line is a set of fluid particles that form a line at a given instant.
Streamlines, Pathlines, Streaklines
Streamlines, Pathlines, Streaklines
For steady flow, streamlines, streaklines, and pathlines are the same.

The streamline is often used in analytical work, while the streakline and pathline are
often used in experimental work.

For unsteady flow there is no easy way to produce streamlines experimentally in the
laboratory. The observation of dye, smoke, or some other tracer injected into a flow
can provide useful information, but for unsteady flows it is not necessarily
information about the streamlines

If the flow is steady, the path taken by a marked particle (a pathline) will be the same
as the line formed by all other particles that previously passed through the point of
injection (a streakline). For such cases these lines are tangent to the velocity field.
Hence, pathlines, streamlines, and streaklines are the same for steady flows
 Problem 4.4 Munson 7e / Problem 4.5 Munson 6e

A two-dimensional velocity field is given by u = 1+y and v = 1. Determine the

equation of the streamline that passes through the origin. On a graph, plot this
streamline.

Plot

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 Problem 4.8 Munson 7e / Problem 4.9 Munson 6e

The components of a velocity field are given by u = x+y, v= xy3+16 and w = 0.

Determine the location of any stagnation points (V=0) in the flow field.

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 Problem 4.15 Munson 7e / Problem 4.19 Munson 6e

A flying airplane produces swirling flow near the end of its wings. In
certain circumstances this flow can be approximated by the velocity field
u = -Ky/(x2+y2) and v = Kx/ x2+y2), where K is a constant depending on
various parameters associated with the airplane (i.e., its weight, speed)
and x and y are measured from the center of the swirl. (a) Show that for
this flow the velocity is inversely proportional to the distance from the
origin. That is V =Kx/ x2+y2)1/2 ,(b) Show that the streamlines are circles.

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