Problem 5.

2 [Difficulty: 2]
Given: Velocity fields
Find: Which are 3D incompressible
Solution: We will check these flow fields against the continuity equation
( ) ( ) ( ) 0 =
c
c
+
c
c
+
c
c
+
c
c
t
w
z
v
y
u
x

Governing
Equation:
(Continuity equation)
Assumption: Incompressible flow ( is constant)
Based on the assumption, the continuity equation reduces to:
x
u
c
c y
v
c
c
+
z
w
c
c
+ 0 =
This is the criterion against which we will check all of the flow fields.
a)
u x y , z , t , ( ) 2 y
2
2 x z + = v x y , z , t , ( ) 2 y z 6 x
2
y z + = w x y , z , t , ( ) 3 x
2
z
2
x
3
y
4
+ =
x
u x y , z , t , ( )
c
c
2 z =
y
v x y , z , t , ( )
c
c
6 x
2
z 2 z =
z
w x y , z , t , ( )
c
c
6 x
2
z =
Hence
x
u
c
c y
v
c
c
+
z
w
c
c
+ 0 =
NOT INCOMPRESSIBLE
b)
u x y , z , t , ( ) x y z t = v x y , z , t , ( ) x y z t
2
= w x y , z , t , ( ) z
2
x t
2
y t
( )
=
x
u x y , z , t , ( )
c
c
t y z =
y
v x y , z , t , ( )
c
c
t
2
x z =
z
w x y , z , t , ( )
c
c
2 z t
2
x t y
( )
=
Hence
x
u
c
c y
v
c
c
+
z
w
c
c
+ 0 =
NOT INCOMPRESSIBLE
c)
u x y , z , t , ( ) x
2
2 y + z
2
+ = v x y , z , t , ( ) x 2 y z + = w x y , z , t , ( ) 2 x z y
2
+ 2 z + =
x
u x y , z , t , ( )
c
c
2 x =
y
v x y , z , t , ( )
c
c
2 =
z
w x y , z , t , ( )
c
c
2 2 x =
Hence
x
u
c
c y
v
c
c
+
z
w
c
c
+ 0 =
INCOMPRESSIBLE