30-09-2021

CONTINUITY EQUATION
CE2002D Mechanics of Fluids

Conservation of Mass
 Conservation of mass requires that the mass (M) of a system remain constant as the
system moves through the flow field

=0

 Control volume representation of the conservation of mass written as

∀+ =0

 The first integral represents the rate at which the mass within the control volume is
changing and the second integral represents the net rate at which mass is flowing out
through the control surface.
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Differential Form of Continuity Equation

Consider the small, stationary cubical element as control volume
Volume integral of the small element is

∀≈

 Let ρu represent the x component of the mass

rate of flow per unit area at the center of the
element
 Net rate of mass flowing from the element through the two surfaces
in x direction can be expressed as

( )

 Similarly, the net rate of mass flowing from the element through the two surfaces
in y and z directions can be expressed as
( ) ( )

 Thus, the net rate of mass outflow

( ) ( ) ( )
Net rate of mass outflow = + +

 Substituting in RTT, the differential equation for conservation of mass is

( ) ( ) ( ) This equation is also commonly referred

+ + + =0 to as the continuity equation

 Valid for steady or unsteady flow, and compressible or incompressible fluids

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 In vector notation

+ =0

 For steady flow of compressible fluids

=0 ( ) ( ) ( )
+ + =0

 For incompressible fluids the fluid density (ρ) is a constant throughout the flow field

=0 + + =0

 Applies to both steady and unsteady flow of incompressible fluids

Continuity equation in cylindrical polar coordinates

• The velocity at some arbitrary point P can be expressed as

= + +
• The differential form of the continuity equation in
cylindrical coordinates is

1 ( ) 1 ( ) ( )
+ + + =0

• The use of cylindrical coordinates is particularly convenient when the boundaries

of the flow system are cylindrical.

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Problems on Hydro-kinematics