i

COURSE NOTES
ME 420 COMPRESSIBLE FLUID FLOW I
SP 2014 MWF 10:10-11:00 AM, 303 Willard Bldg.
Instructor: Prof. Gary Settles, 301D Reber Bldg., 3-1504, gss2@psu.edu,
www.mne.psu.edu/PSGDL
**************

COURSE POLICY
PREREQUISITES: ME 320 or equivalent introductory fluid mechanics course
ME 300 or equivalent introductory thermodynamics course
TEXT: There is no textbook required for this course. The course notes serve as a de facto
textbook, and can be purchased from the Architectural Engineering Copy Center, 101
Engineering Unit A for a reasonable price. These will be available before the beginning of the
course. Several compressible-flow texts will also be placed on reserve in the Engineering
Library in case you need them (see list at end of Course Policy), but you need not purchase any
textbook. The course notes contain introductory material, tables and charts, and images of every
Powerpoint slide that I will use in teaching the course.

ANGEL: Please go to https://cms.psu.edu and log in to the ME 420 class website. A collection
of useful documents and links may be found on the Lessons page, along with folders containing
documents concerning exams and homework assignments in this course. I intend to use ANGEL
as a key resource for you, and I will be posting material there rather than distributing or emailing
it to you. When emails to the class are called for, Ill use the Angel communication facility to do
that. Also you can earn an initial class participation credit by uploading a recognizable photo of
yourself to the course roster.
GRADES: The possible grades in this undergraduate technical elective course are A through F.
I will administer two in-class exams which will each count 20% toward your final grade. These
exams will occur in February and April (see the schedule). The final exam will be given at the
regularly-scheduled time, and will be worth 25% of your final grade. The 6 assigned
homeworks, which will be collected and graded, will be worth 35%.
Your letter grade will be based on your course average determined in the above manner,
and will generally conform to standard University scale: A (93-100), A- (90-92), B+ (87-89), B
(83-86), B- (80-82), C+ (77-79), C (70-76), D (60-69), and F (0-59).. I take note of your class
participation as well, but I dont use it directly in determining your grade. (Class participation is
encouraged and can only help you; it cannot hurt you.)
Your exams will consist of both problems and questions (such as short-answer and
complete-the-graph) which will test your comprehension of key concepts from the course
material. If you miss an exam for serious reasons, your grade may be based on your other exams
and homeworks in lieu of a makeup exam. (See me beforehand if possible, but in any case try
not to miss one!) The final exam cannot be missed.
ii

Note that, once I assign a final grade, University regulations prevent me from changing it
unless I made a mistake in grading, which I don't often do. Youll do much better to invest your
time and energy in making a good grade in the first place, than to try to plead it up after the fact.
Finally, late withdrawals from the course will be given a "WN" grade. Any
circumstances leading to a deferred grade are discouraged, but please talk to me if you encounter
a problem. You must apply to the Registrar if a conflict final exam is necessary, and this too
should be avoided if possible (talk to me first if you have this problem, too).

PACE: Since I use prepared Powerpoint slides and talk rapidly, the lectures may proceed
somewhat faster than you are used to. Please interrupt me if you have questions or comments. I
will attempt to pace the lectures so that the majority of the class is neither bored nor left behind.
If I err in either direction, I expect you to let me know about it. If all the material in the course
outline is not covered by semester's end, then the remaining material will be truncated.
CLASS ATTENDANCE: Attendance at all lectures is highly recommended. I call the roll at the
beginning of each class to learn who you are and to encourage attendance. However, I will make
no attempt to enforce attendance, and it will not explicity play a role in your final grade. You are
responsible for all material covered in class (discussion, videos, etc.), whether or not it is in the
course notes. You need not inform me if you occasionally must miss a lecture, leave early, etc.;
just make sure you catch up on what you missed from one of your colleagues and/or see me
during my office hours.
SCHEDULE: Travel forces me to miss a scheduled class once in awhile. You will be informed
beforehand of any canceled classes (unless possibly winter-weather-related). Normally Ill
arrange for a substitute lecturer to take my place.
LAB TOUR: Following Faculty Senate guidelines and time permitting, one lecture period late in
the semester will be devoted to a compressible nozzle flow demonstration laboratory.
OFFICE HOURS: My office hours for the semester will be announced and posted on my office
door, 301D Reber. Feel free to drop in during office hours with no appointment necessary.
However, if you need to speak with me at a different time I will make arrangements to do so,
preferably by appointment at a mutually convenient time. See me or email me (gss2@psu.edu)
to make such an appointment. Don't hesitate to do this. You can send me an email message any
time and I will try to provide a timely response.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: Collaboration on homework problems is permitted and may be
helpful to you. Any occurrence of cheating on exams will be dealt with according to established
University rules and procedures. See the College of Engineering academic integrity policy at:
http://www.engr.psu.edu/CurrentStudents/acadinteg.aspx
COMPRESSIBLE FLOW II: ME 520: The second semester of this material, including nozzle
design, transonics, hypersonics, etc., is available to undergrads as well as grad students. Almost
every year a few undergrads who enjoyed ME 420 also take 520 as another 3-credit tech elective.
If you have a GPA over 3.0 and want to take ME 520 in the fall as a Tech Elective, it can easily
be arranged. The level of difficulty of ME 520 is similar to that of ME 420.
GOALS OF ME 420: Aside from covering the material in the syllabus, the course strives to
reinforce some of the fluids and thermodynamics youre supposed to have learned in e.g. ME
300 and 320. (Note that compressible flow = thermofluid flow.) I also introduce right-brain
engineering and physical thinking, and I stress the importance of images in learning this material.
iii

ME 420 expects you to solve some conceptual problems in addition to the traditional plug-and-
crank problems. In particular, note that this is NOT just a course in applied math. When were
done, youll be able to recognize a shock wave or a boundary layer if you meet one on the street.
CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR: I will treat you with respect and I expect to be treated the same
way. Please turn off the cell phones and get rid of the chewing gum before class. The lectures
will start and end on time; please dont be chronically late. Extended conversations and sleeping
in class are not appreciated.

HOMEWORK GUIDELINES
Write your name on the first page of your solution
Work each problem on a separate sheet of paper
Number the problem clearly at the top of the page
Circle the answer to each part of each problem
Teamwork
Up to three team members are allowed, but each student must be involved in the
solution of every problem. Identify all team members on the first page of the solution.
Each team, not each student in the team, must turn in a homework solution in order to
receive a grade
Homework is handed in at the beginning of the class at which it is due. However, you may
alternatively place your homework in the ME420 IN folder in 242 Reber. Homework not
handed-in in class or placed in the folder by 2:30PM on the due date will be considered late.
See the class schedule on page v for homework due dates. Homework is due on Friday of the
week indicated in the schedule unless otherwise indicated.
A Teaching Assistant (TA) is expected to be assigned to this class. The TA will grade the
homeworks and hold office hours to go over the homework with you. See him/her regarding
homework issues, but see me regarding exam issues, etc.
A thorough and careful solution of homework problems is more important than getting the
exact numerical answer correct
Sloppy, incomplete, or minimal homework solutions will receive poor grades
Remember that understanding the homework solutions is important to your success on the
exams. The homework problems are mostly undergraduate-level and are designed to give
you some practice with the standard gas-dynamic calculations that you will be tested on.
Homework and exam solutions will be posted in the display case outside the 301D Reber
suite after your solutions are collected. Sorry, no PDF files of homework or exam solutions
will be provided, as it is all too easy for distribution of these to get out of control.

TEXTBOOKS ON RESERVE FOR THIS CLASS IN THE ENGINEERING LIBRARY
1) QC168.J6 1984, J.E.A. John, GAS DYNAMICS, 2nd ed. Boston, Allyn Bacon, 1984
2) QC168.T5, P. Thompson, COMPRESSIBLE FLUID DYNAMICS, McGraw Hill, 1971
3) QA913.S497, A. Shapiro, THE DYNAMICS AND THERMODYNAMICS OF COMPRESSIBLE FLUID
FLOW, Ronald Press, 1953, Vols. 1 & 2
iv

COURSE SYLLABUS
ME 420 COMPRESSIBLE FLUID FLOW I

1. INTRODUCTION
- Overview: density change, compressible flow, gas dynamics, and thermo-fluid dynamics
- The basic conservation equations and examples of their use
- 1-D flow approximation
2. ONE-DIMENSIONAL FLOW
- Wave propagation, sound speed, and Mach number
- ISENTROPIC FLOW
- equations of motion, tabulated, and computed solutions
- static and stagnation properties
- converging-diverging (Laval) nozzles
- NORMAL SHOCK WAVES
- what is a shock wave?
- equations of motion, tabulated, and computed solutions
- moving and reflected normal shocks
- blast waves in the atmosphere
<<<<<<<<<<EXAM # 1, February (in class)
- APPLICATIONS
- Laval nozzle performance
- supersonic wind tunnels
- inlets for supersonic engines
- other compressible-flow facilities
3. TWO-DIMENSIONAL FLOW
- OBLIQUE SHOCK WAVES
- eqns. of motion, tabulated, charted and computed solns.
- wave reflections and crossings; shock polar diagram
- conical oblique shocks
- PRANDTL-MEYER EXPANSION FANS
- equations of motion, tabulated, and computed solutions
<<<<<<<<<<EXAM # 2, April (in class)
- APPLICATIONS
- supersonic inlets and diffusers
- Laval nozzle performance and supersonic free jets
4. COMPRESSIBLE PIPE FLOW (coverage depends on end-of-semester timing)
- Fanno-Line (frictional) pipe flow
- Rayleigh-line (diabatic) pipe flow
- pipe flow examples (e.g. natural gas pipeline problem)
<<<<<<<<<<FINAL EXAM


COURSE OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of this course,
students should be able to:
1. Solve a range of
compressible-flow problems
often encountered in
engineering practice,
including isentropic flow,
nozzle Mach number, and
shock wave motion.
2. Apply physical thinking to
problems of fluids and
thermo-dynamics.
3. Integrate previous course
material in fluids and thermo-
dynamics, both of which
factor equally in
compressible flows.
4. Apply computer methods,
such as spreadsheet solutions
and Javascript calculators, to
compressible-flow problems.
5. Identify and utilize the strong
visual nature of flow patterns
in engineering practice in the
thermal sciences.
6. Demonstrate practical design
skills such as supersonic
nozzle and duct design
---------
This course complies with the
College of Engineering Academic
Integrity Policy; see
. http://www.engr.psu.edu/Curren
tStudents/acadinteg.aspx

v

ME 420 SCHEDULE FOR SPRING 2014
Week of Topics
Jan 12 Introduction, overview, discuss class policy, review of prereq. matl., conservation
eqns., RTT up to thermo review
Jan 19 1-D flow, wave propagation, sound speed, Mach no. through sound barrier,
begin isentropic flow (short week due to holiday)
Jan 26 [HMWK SET 1 DUE 31st] isentropic flow through energy balance, J. Verne,
upo to supersonic wind tunnel example
Feb 2 isentropic flow, to more worked examples, finish isentropic flow, begin normal
shock waves
Feb 9 [HMWK SET 2 DUE 14th] normal shocks through s/R = -ln(Pt
2
/Pt
1
), up to
Coles NCFMF video
Feb 16 watch video on compressible channel flow, cover through moving shock wave
worked example
Feb 23 [HMWK SET 3 DUE 28th] finish normal shocks, whats on exam, EXAM 1 in
class Friday Feb. 28, coverage through normal shocks
Mar 2 return & discuss exam, cover applications
Mar 9 (SPRING BREAK)
Mar 16 [HMWK SET 4 DUE 21st] begin oblique shock waves, coverage up to detached
shocks
Mar 23 oblique shock waves, begin P-M flow
Mar 30 P-M flow, Applications
Apr 6 [HMWK SET 5 DUE Apr 11th], whats on the exam, begin applications
Apr 13 EXAM 2 in class Monday April 14, coverage through P-M flow, return & discuss
exams, finish Applications
Apr 20 begin compressible pipe flow
Apr 27 [HMWK SET 6 DUE May 2], compressible pipe flow. Laval nozzle lab demo if
time permits
TBA FI NAL EXAM, comprehensive coverage

vi

(FOR YOUR INFORMATION)


vii

ME 420 Formula Sheet for use during exams
(2013 version; do not write on this sheet)

Definitions and thermodynamics


2
2
287 = 0.287 for air
kg m kJ
R
kg K s kg K

=


p
RT

= a RT =

p
V
c
c
=
1
p
R
c

V
M
a
=
1
1
sin
M

| |
=
|
\ .

p
h c T A = A

Isenthalpic flow

2
1
1
2
t
T T M
| |
= +
|
\ .

2
2
p t p
V
c T c T = +
max
2
p t
V c T =
Isentropic flow

1
2 2 2
1 1 1
p T
p T

| | | |
= =
| |
\ . \ .
0 (momentum conservation) dp VdV + =
Thus dp means dV and vice versa

2 2
(1 ) (combined continuity and momentum conservation)
dA
dp M V
A
=


1
2
1
1
2
t
p p M

| |
= +
|
\ .

1
2 2
2
1
1
2
t
t
p
m AV A M M
RT

| |
= = +
|
\ .

0.685 * for airflow, =1.4, at a choked throat
t
t
p
m A
RT
=

Non-isentropic flow, including normal shock waves

2
1
t
t
p
s
n
R p
(
A
=
(
(


2
1
*
1
*
2
t
t
p
A
p A
=

Moving normal shock waves

2 1
1 2
s
s g
V V
V V V

= =

g
b
b
V
M
RT
=
Prandtl-Meyer fans
2 1
v v o =
1 2
P-M fan angle o = +

Fanno and Rayleigh flows

max max
2 1
fL fL fL
D D D
| | | |
=
| |
\ . \ .

p t
q c T = A
viii

Table of Contents for ME 420 Course Notes
INTRODUCTION 1
Conservation laws and equations of motion 4
Reynolds Transport Theorem 6
1-D flow approximation 16
Wave propagation 18
Sound speed 19
sound barrier 23
ISENTROPIC FLOW OF A PERFECT GAS 27
Combined continuity and momentum equations 29
Lavals nozzle 33
Static and stagnation properties 34
Steady isoenergetic 1-D energy equation 36
1-D isentropic Mach number relations 40
Jules Verne example 43
Mass flow rate and area ratio 47
Supersonic wind tunnel example 52
Converging-nozzle flow 54
Choking 55
Converging-diverging (Laval) nozzle flow 56
More worked examples 58
Ducts with more than one constriction 60
Summary 62
NORMAL SHOCK WAVES 64
Normal shock equations of motion 68
Standing vs. moving shocks 71
Overall pressure ratio 81
Converging-diverging (Laval) nozzle flow with a standing shock 82
Normal shock stability in ducts 83
Compressible Channel Flow video notes 85
T-s diagram 86
Rayleigh Pitot formula 87
Worked examples 89
Moving normal shock waves 91
Worked example 93
Reflected normal shocks 95
Blast wave similarity 97
Summary 103
APPLICATIONS 104
Laval nozzle performance 104
Supersonic wind tunnels 106
Second-throat diffusers 111
Inlets for supersonic engines 113
other gas-dynamic test facilities 115
OBLIQUE SHOCK WAVES 119
Equations of motion 121
Worked examples using charts and compr. aero. calculator 126
Detached shocks 130
Shock polar diagram 132
Shock coalescence 137
Oblique shock wave reflections 140
Oblique shock wave intersections 142
Mach reflection 144
Conical oblique shocks 146
Worked example problem on oblique shocks 150
ix

Summary 151
PRANDTL-MEYER FLOW 153
Prandtl-Meyer expansions 154
Prandtl-Meyer Theory 156
Prandtl-Meyer angle 157
How to solve Prandtl-Meyer problems 160
Maximum turning angle 163
Prandtl-Meyer compressions 164
Reflection of expansion fans 166
Summary 169
APPLICATIONS II 170
Supersonic jet engine inlets 170
Off-design Laval nozzle exit flow and supersonic free jets 179
1-D COMPRESSIBLE PIPE FLOW 186
Fanno-Line (frictional) pipe flow 187
Derivation of L
max
191
Worked example 195
Supplementary material 200
Rayleigh-line (heat transfer) pipe flow 202
Theory 203
How to work Rayleigh-line problems 207
Worked example 208
Reynolds Analogy 210
Other Flows with friction and heat transfer 211
COMPRESSIBLE-FLOW TABLES AND CHARTS TC-1
Isentropic and normal-shock tables for = 1.4 TC-2
Oblique-Shock charts for = 1.4 TC-6
Subsonic Fanno-Line table for = 1.4 TC-14
Subsonic Rayleigh-Line table for = 1.4 TC-16
Supersonic Rayleigh-Line table for = 1.4 TC-18
x

ME 420 Historical Gallery


Newton Mach Doppler de Laval


Reynolds Prandtl Von Krmn Stodola Meyer


Riemann Busemann Ackeret Rankine


Rayleigh Fanno G. I. Taylor Hugoniot