MIDDLE EAST TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

CHAPTER 3
INTRODUCTION TO
COMPRESSIBLE FLOW

ME 411 GAS DYNAMICS 3. INTRODUCTION TO COMPRESSIBLE FLOW LECTURE 01 - 1/4

 MIDDLE EAST TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

3.1 INTRODUCTION

In incompressible flows, the density is constant.

Hence, the main variables are

(i) velocity
(ii) pressure

These variables may then be solved with the aid of

(i) continuity equation
(ii) momentum equation

ME 411 GAS DYNAMICS 3. INTRODUCTION TO COMPRESSIBLE FLOW LECTURE 01 - 2/4

 MIDDLE EAST TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

In compressible flows, there are appreciable variations in density

Compressibility is especially important in high speed flows

Large changes in velocity results in large changes in pressure.

These pressure changes are accompanied with significant varietions in

(i) density
(ii) temperature

Then two more relations are required for the complete solution of the problem. These are

(i) energy equation

(ii) equation of state

ME 411 GAS DYNAMICS 3. INTRODUCTION TO COMPRESSIBLE FLOW LECTURE 01 - 3/4

 MIDDLE EAST TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

3.2 WAVE PROPAGATION IN COMPRESSIBLE MEDIA

Stationary dV

gas

When a sudden push is given to the piston, a layer of gas piles up next to the piston and is compressed
at the first instant, but the remainder of the gas is unaffected

The compression wave created by the piston, moves through the gas and eventually all the gas is able to
feel this movement .

If the created pressure pulse is infinitesimally small, then this wave is called a sound wave and it moves
at the speed of sound.

When the medium is incompressible, there will be no piling up of the fluid and all the fluid feels the
motion instantaneously.

The speed of wave propagation is infinite

(speed of sound)water > (speed of sound)air

ME 411 GAS DYNAMICS 3. INTRODUCTION TO COMPRESSIBLE FLOW LECTURE 01 - 4/4