1.2.

Types of Fluid Flow

1.2.1. Viscous versus Inviscid Flow

When two fluid layers move relative to each other, a friction force develops between them and the
slower layer tries to slow down the faster layer. This internal resistance to flow is quantified by the
fluid property viscosity,

Viscosity is caused by cohesive forces between the molecules in liquids and by molecular collisions
in gases. There is no fluid with zero viscosity, and thus all fluid flows involve viscous effects to some
degree. Flows in which the frictional effects are significant are called viscous flows.

In many flows of practical interest, there are regions (typically regions not close to solid surfaces)
where viscous forces are negligibly small compared to inertial or pressure forces. In these case we
can neglect the viscous terms in order to simplify the analysis without much loss in accuracy. Such
flow are called inviscid flow.

Consider, the development of viscous and inviscid regions of flow as a result of inserting a flat plate
parallel into a fluid stream of uniform velocity.

 The fluid sticks to the plate on both sides because of the no-slip condition, and
the thin boundary layer in which the viscous effects are significant near the plate
surface is the viscous flow region.
 The region of flow on both sides away from the plate and largely unaffected by
the presence of the plate is the inviscid flow region.

Viscous versus Inviscid Regions of Flow

1.2.2. Internal versus External Flow

A fluid flow is classified as being internal or external, depending on whether the fluid flows in a
confined space or over a surface.

 The flow of an unbounded fluid over a surface such as a plate, a wire, or a pipe is
external flow.
  The flow in a pipe or duct is internal flow if the fluid is bounded by solid surfaces.
For example, Water flow in a pipe.

The flow of liquids in a duct is called open-channel flow if the pipe/duct is only partially filled with
the liquid and there is a free surface. For example, the flows of water in irrigation ditches.

Note that: Internal flows are dominated by the influence of viscosity throughout the flow field. In
external flows the viscous effects are limited to boundary layers near solid surfaces and to wake
regions downstream of bodies.

1.2.3. Compressible versus Incompressible Flow

A flow is classified as being compressible or incompressible, depending on the level of variation of

density of fluid during flow.

Compressible flow is that type of flow in which the density of the fluid changes from point to point.
For example, Flow of gases through orifices, nozzles, gas turbines, etc.

Incompressible flow is that type of flow in which density is constant for the fluid flow. For example,
subsonic aerodynamics.

Liquid flows are incompressible, but the density of gases may varies during flows approximation of
gas flows as incompressible depends on the Mach number. Mach number (Ma) dimensionless
number which can be defined as

Mach number < 0.3 1 >1 >> 1

Flow type Incompressible flow Sonic Supersonic Hypersonic

Where c is the speed of sound whose value is 346 m/s in air at room temperature at sea level or it is
given by

K = Ratio of Specific Heats

R = Gas Constant

T = Absolute Temperature [K]

Ru = Universal Gas Constant (8314 N m / kgmole K)

Mm = Molecular Mass of the gas

TABLE Properties of some common gases.

1.2.4. Laminar versus Turbulent Flow

The highly ordered fluid motion characterized by smooth layers of fluid is called laminar. The flow of
high-viscosity fluids such as oils at low velocities is typically laminar.

The highly disordered fluid motion that typically occurs at high velocities and is characterized by
velocity fluctuations is called turbulent. The flow of low-viscosity fluids such as air at high velocities is
typically turbulent.

Laminar and turbulent flows are characterized on the basis of Reynolds number.

Where Vavg = average flow velocity (m/s), Dh = Hydraulic Diameter (diameter in this case, in m), 𝜇
=dynamic viscosity, 𝜌 = density and 𝜈 =𝜇/𝜌 =kinematic viscosity of the fluid (m 2/s).

The Hydraulic Diameter is a concept that is used for less-than-full pipe flow, noncircular ducts, or
open channel flow. It is defined as

Where
Ac = The cross-sectional area
P = The wetted perimeter of the cross section
In internal flows

 (Re) < 2000 flow in pipes is laminar.

 (Re) > 4000 flow in pipes is turbulent
 2000 < (Re) > 4000 flow in pipes may be laminar or turbulent (transition flow).
 Laminar flow at low flow rate turbulent flow at high flow rate

1.2.5. Natural (or Unforced) versus Forced Flow

A fluid flow is said to be natural or forced, depending on how the fluid motion is initiated.

 In forced flow, a fluid is forced to flow over a surface or in a pipe by external

means such as a pump or a fan.
 In natural flows, fluid motion is due to natural means such as the buoyancy effect,
which manifests itself as the rise of warmer (and thus lighter) fluid and the fall of
cooler (and thus denser) fluid

1.2.6. Steady versus unsteady flows

Steady flow is the type of flow in which the fluid characteristics like velocity, pressure, density, etc. at
a point do not change with time. In other words, it implies no change of properties, velocity,
temperature, etc., at a point with time.

Unsteady flow is that type of flow in which the velocity, pressure or density at a point change w.r.t.
time.

The term periodic refers to the kind of unsteady flow in which the flow oscillates about a steady
mean. Many devices such as turbines, compressors, boilers, condensers, and heat exchangers
operate for long periods of time under the same conditions, and they are classified as steady-flow
devices

1.2.7. Uniform and Non-uniform Flows

Uniform flow is the type of flow, in which the velocity at any given time does not change with
respect to space is called uniform flow. For example, Flow through a straight prismatic conduit (i.e.
flow through a straight pipe of constant diameter).
Non-uniform flow. It is that type of flow in which the velocity at any given time changes with respect
to space. For example, Flow around a uniform diameter pipe-bend or a canal bend