Fluid Mechanics 101

Calculators & Tools

Dr. Aidan Wimshurst

Fluid Mechanics 101

Contents
1 First Cell Height Calculator 3

2 Inlet Turbulence Conditions Calculator 4

3 Particle Settling Velocity Calculator 5

4 Humidity Calculator 6

Dr. Aidan Wimshurst 2

Fluid Mechanics 101

1 First Cell Height Calculator

Start by calculating the flow Reynolds number.
ρU L
Re = (1)
µ
where ρ is the fluid density, U is the freestream velocity, L is the characteristic length of the
geometry and µ is the dynamic viscosity. An empirical correlation for fully developed turbulent
flow over a flat plate is then used to estimate the skin friction coefficient (cf ):

cf = [2 log10 (Re) − 0.65]−2.3 (2)

This correlation could be replaced with any empirical correlation for turbulent flow over a flat
plate. However, as this calculator is only used as an estimate, the choice of correlation does
not matter significantly. Having computed the skin friction coefficient, the wall shear stress
is calculated.
1
τw = ρU 2 cf (3)
2
The friction velocity can then be computed from the wall shear stress:
s
τw
uτ = (4)
ρ

Finally, the equation for y + can be rearranged to give the height of the wall adjacent cell
centroid from the wall (yp ):
y+µ
yp = (5)
uτ ρ
This value can be used to size the wall adjacent cells when creating an initial mesh.

NOTE: The distance of the cell centroid from the wall is given by yp while the overall
height of the cell is given by yH where:

yH = 2yp (6)

When constructing the mesh, most mesh generators will use the overall size of the cell (yH )
rather than the cell centroid height (yp ), so take care to use the correct value when constructing
the mesh.
Having created an initial mesh, a solution should be calculated using CFD. With this initial
solution, the wall adjacent cell centroid height should then be adjusted to give the correct y + .

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Fluid Mechanics 101

2 Inlet Turbulence Conditions Calculator

Start by calculating the turbulent kinetic energy (k) from the turbulence intensity (I) and the
inlet velocity (U ):
3
k = U 2I 2 (7)
2
Next the user needs to specify the length scale (l) of the turbulence at the inlet. For an
internal pipe flow, this is usually ∼ 10% of the pipe diameter. For external flows the length-
scale is likely to be significantly different and an appropriate value should be chose carefully,
depending on the ambient conditions.

Using the turbulent length-scale (l), the turbulent dissipation rate () is calculated next.
Cµ = 0.09 is a model coefficient of the k −  and k − ω turbulence models.

k 3/2
 = Cµ (8)
l
From the definition of the specific dissipation rate, ω is calculated next.

ω= (9)
Cµ k

Finally, the kinematic viscosity is computed:

k
νt = (10)
ω

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Fluid Mechanics 101

3 Particle Settling Velocity Calculator

Start with an initial guess for the settling velocity of the particle (U ), by taking Stokes solution
for the terminal settling velocity of a spherical particle falling in a viscous fluid.

gD2
U= (ρp − ρf ) (11)
18µ

where g is the acceleration due to gravity (9.81 m/s2 ), D is the diameter of the particle, µ
is the dynamic viscosity of the fluid, ρp is the density of the particle and ρf is the density of
the fluid.

However, Stokes solution is only valid for Re < 1. Hence, evaluate the particle Reynolds
number (Re) next:
ρU D
Re = (12)
µ
With the particle Reynolds number, we can evaluate the actual drag coefficient of the particle
using the Schiller-Naumann empirical model.

 24
(1 + 0.15Re0.687 ) Re < 1000
CD =  Re (13)
0.44 Re > 1000

Now that the drag coefficient has been calculated, an updated guess can be made for the
particle settling velocity. To simplify the iteration process, define a drag function f :
CD Re
f= (14)
24
With the drag function computed, update the settling velocity using a modified form of Stokes
solution:
gD2
U= (ρp − ρf ) (15)
18µf
Now continue to iterate, by calculating the particle Reynolds number, the drag function and
the settling velocity until converged. Use under-relaxation for stability.

Dr. Aidan Wimshurst 5

Fluid Mechanics 101

4 Humidity Calculator
Start by calculating the saturated vapour pressure (Pg ) using the Arden-Buck equation. Note
that the temperature (T ) is in ◦ C (not Kelvin) and the calculated vapour pressure is in kPa.
 h   i
0.61121 exp 18.678 − T ∗ T
234.5   T +257.14 i
T > 0◦ C
Pg = h (16)
0.61121 exp 23.036 − T ∗
333.7
T
T +279.82
T < 0◦ C
Now calculate the partial pressure of the water vapour (PH20 ) in the air-water vapour mixture,
by rearranging the definition of the relative humidity (φ):
PH20
φ= (17)
Pg
PH20 = φPg (18)
Next, calculate the specific humidity (ω), which is defined as the ratio of the mass of water-
vapour to the mass of dry air:
mH20
ω= (19)
mair
MH20 PH20
 
ω= (20)
MAir P − PH20
NOTE: This equation can be derived by applying the ideal gas law to the dry air and water
vapour individually. (V ) is the gas volume, (RAir ) is the specific gas constant for air, (RU ) is
the universal gas constant and (MAir ) is the molar mass of air.
PAir V = mAir RAir T (21)
PH20 V = mH20 RH20 T (22)
mH20
ω= (23)
mAir
RAir PH20
ω= (24)
RH20 PAir
(RU /MAir )PH20
ω= (25)
(RU /MH20 )PAir
Apply Dalton’s Law of partial pressures:
P = PAir + PAir (26)
MH20 PH20
 
ω= (27)
MAir P − PH20
Finally, compute the absolute humidity (ϕ) from the specific humidity. The absolute humidity
is defined as the mass of water vapour per unit mass of air-water vapour mixture.
mH20
ϕ= (28)
mAir + mH20
mH20 /mAir
ϕ= (29)
1 + mH20 /mAir
ω
ϕ= (30)
1+ω
The mass-fraction of water vapour (YH20 ) in the CFD computations is equivalent to the
absolute humidity. Apply this at the inlet to the CFD computations:
YH20 = ϕ (31)

Dr. Aidan Wimshurst 6

Fluid Mechanics 101

References
1. Buck, A. L. (1981), ’New equations for computing vapor pressure and enhancement
factor, J. Appl. Meteorol., 20: 1527–1532

2. Buck, A. L. (2012), Model CR-1A Hygrometer with autofill operating manual, Buck
Research Instruments, LLC.

Dr. Aidan Wimshurst 7