Fluid Mechanics

Chapter 6.
Incompressible Inviscid Flow

Yong Su Jung

Department of Aerospace Engineering

Pusan National University

2025

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 Chapter 6 Incompressible Inviscid
Flow

✓ Momentum Equation for Frictionless Flow:

Euler’s Equation

✓ Bernoulli Equation: Integration of Euler’s

Equation Along a Stremline for Steady Flow

✓ The Bernoulli Equation Interpreted as an

Energy Equation

2
 Chapter 6 Incompressible Inviscid
Flow

✓ Momentum Equation for Frictionless Flow:

Euler’s Equation
✓ Bernoulli Equation: Integration of Euler’s
Equation Along a Stremline for Steady Flow
✓ The Bernoulli Equation Interpreted as an
Energy Equation

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 Momentum Equation for Frictionless Flow:
Euler’s Equation

The inviscid flow approximation allows us to consider a simpler

approximation of the Navier-Stokes equations. Inviscid flow is also a very
good approximation for large regions of many relavant flows in
aerodynamics.

In real fluid, 𝜇 ≠ 0 but viscous effects are often small. For Newtonian
fluids, it can be shown that viscous dissipation ~𝜇𝛻 2 𝑉. 𝜇 is typically
small, so we neglect dissipation. In aerodynamics, this is a very
reasonable thing to do unless flow separation and/or wake effects are of
primary concern.

thin

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 Momentum Equation for Frictionless Flow:
Euler’s Equation

Euler’s equation is obtained after neglecting the viscous terms

𝐷𝑉
𝜌 = 𝜌𝑔Ԧ − 𝛻𝑝
𝐷𝑡
𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑝
𝜌 +𝑢 +𝑣 +𝑤 = 𝜌𝑔𝑥 −
𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑥
𝜕𝑣 𝜕𝑣 𝜕𝑣 𝜕𝑣 𝜕𝑝
𝜌 +𝑢 +𝑣 +𝑤 = 𝜌𝑔𝑦 −
𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑦
𝜕𝑤 𝜕𝑤 𝜕𝑤 𝜕𝑤 𝜕𝑝
𝜌 +𝑢 +𝑣 +𝑤 = 𝜌𝑔𝑧 −
𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑧

Recall the particle acceleration is

𝐷𝑉 𝜕𝑉
≡ 𝑉∙∇ 𝑉+
𝐷𝑡 𝜕𝑡

For the incompressible flow, the mass conservation equation is

𝛻∙𝑉 =0

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 Euler’s Equation in streamline coordinate

In steady flow a fluid particle will move along a streamline because, for steady
flow, pathline and streamline coincide.

A streamline is an instantaneous line that is everywhere tangent to the velocity

vector.
𝜕𝑝 𝑑𝑠 𝜕𝑝 𝑑𝑠
𝑝− 𝑑𝑛𝑑𝑥 − 𝑝 + 𝑑𝑛𝑑𝑥 − 𝜌𝑔𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝛽 𝑑𝑠𝑑𝑛𝑑𝑥 = 𝜌𝑎𝑠 𝑑𝑠𝑑𝑛𝑑𝑥
𝜕𝑠 2 𝜕𝑠 2

𝛽: angle between the tangent to the streamline and the horizontal

𝑎𝑠 : acceleration of the fluid particle along the stremaline

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 Euler’s Equation in streamline coordinate

Simplifying the equation,

𝜕𝑝
− − 𝜌𝑔 sin 𝛽 = 𝜌𝑎𝑠
𝜕𝑠
Since sin 𝛽 = 𝜕𝑧Τ𝜕𝑠,
1 𝜕𝑝 𝜕𝑧
− −𝑔 = 𝑎𝑠
𝜌 𝜕𝑠 𝜕𝑠

Along any streamline 𝑉 = 𝑉(𝑠, 𝑡), a total acceleration of a fluid particle in the
streamwise direction is
𝐷𝑉 𝜕𝑉 𝜕𝑉
𝑎𝑠 = = +𝑉
𝐷𝑡 𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑠
Euler’s equation in the streamwise direction
1 𝜕𝑝 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑉 𝜕𝑉
− −𝑔 = +𝑉
𝜌 𝜕𝑠 𝜕𝑠 𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑠

For steady flow, and neglecting body forces,

1 𝜕𝑝 𝜕𝑉
= −𝑉
𝜌 𝜕𝑠 𝜕𝑠
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 Euler’s Equation in streamline coordinate

1 𝜕𝑝 𝜕𝑉
= −𝑉
𝜌 𝜕𝑠 𝜕𝑠
which indicates that 𝑉 ↓ results in 𝑝 ↑, and conversely as in Bernoulli’s
equation (for an incompressible, inviscid flow along a streamline).

In a direction normal to the streamlines,

𝜕𝑝 𝑑𝑛 𝜕𝑝 𝑑𝑛
𝑝− 𝑑𝑠𝑑𝑥 − 𝑝 + 𝑑𝑠𝑑𝑥 − 𝜌𝑔𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝛽 𝑑𝑛𝑑𝑥𝑑𝑠 = 𝜌𝑎𝑛 𝑑𝑛𝑑𝑥𝑑𝑠
𝜕𝑛 2 𝜕𝑛 2

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 Euler’s Equation in streamline coordinate

Simplifying the equation,

𝜕𝑝
− − 𝜌𝑔 cos 𝛽 = 𝜌𝑎𝑛
𝜕𝑛
Since cos 𝛽 = 𝜕𝑧Τ𝜕𝑛,
1 𝜕𝑝 𝜕𝑧
− −𝑔 = 𝑎𝑛
𝜌 𝜕𝑛 𝜕𝑛
The normal acceleration of the fluid elemelnt is toward the center of the
streamline, in the minus 𝑛 direction. (centripetal acceleration)
𝑉2
𝑎𝑛 = −
𝑅

For steady flow in a horizontal plane,

1 𝜕𝑝 𝑉 2
=
𝜌 𝜕𝑛 𝑅

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 Euler’s Equation in streamline coordinate

1 𝜕𝑝 𝑉 2
=
𝜌 𝜕𝑛 𝑅

which indicates that

1) Pressure increases in the direction outward from the center of
curvature of the streamline

2) Pressure gradient increases in the outward direction as the radius of

curvature becomes smaller

This relationship is particularly important for understanding how flow

curvature affects pressure forces, of particular importance for our
understanding of how lift is produced on wings.

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 Euler’s Equation in streamline coordinate

For incompressible steady flow,

Streamwise direction:
1 𝜕𝑝 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑉
− −𝑔 =𝑉
𝜌 𝜕𝑠 𝜕𝑠 𝜕𝑠

𝜕 1 2
𝑝 + 𝜌𝑉 + 𝜌𝑔𝑧 = 0
𝜕𝑠 2

→ Bernoulli’s equation: the sum of the static, dynamic, and

gravitational pressure is constant along a streamline.

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 Euler’s Equation in streamline coordinate

Normal to the streamline direction,

1 𝜕𝑝 𝜕𝑧 𝑉 2
+𝑔 =
𝜌 𝜕𝑛 𝜕𝑛 𝑅
𝜕 𝜌𝑉 2
𝑝 + 𝜌𝑔𝑧 =
𝜕𝑛 𝑅

In a flow with curved streamlines, 𝑝 + 𝜌𝑔𝑧 (which is constant in a static

flow) increases in the 𝑛-direction, i.e. away from the local center of
curvature. Therefore, for constant 𝑧, pressure increases away from the
center of curvature.

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 Example 6.1: Flow in a bend

• The flow rate of air at standard conditions

in a flat duct is to be measured by
installing pressure taps across a bend.

Find: Volume flow rate, 𝑄

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 Chapter 6 Incompressible Inviscid
Flow

✓ Momentum Equation for Frictionless Flow:

Euler’s Equation
✓ Bernoulli Equation: Integration of Euler’s
Equation Along a Streamline for Steady Flow
✓ The Bernoulli Equation Interpreted as an
Energy Equation

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 Static, Stagnation, and Dynamic Pressure

Static pressure (thermodynamic) is the pressure experienced by the fluid particle

as it moves.

Stagnation pressure is obtained when a flow fluid is decelerated to zero speed by

a frictionless process
𝑝0 𝑝 𝑉2 1
= + or 𝑝0 = 𝑝 + 2 𝜌𝑉 2
𝜌 𝜌 2
stagnation dynamic pressure
pressure
static pressure

2(𝑝0 −𝑝)
Soling for the speed, 𝑉= 𝜌

where 𝑝0 − 𝑝∞ = 𝜌𝑙𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑑 𝑔ℎ for pitot tube applications

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Example 6.6

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 Chapter 6 Incompressible Inviscid
Flow

✓ Momentum Equation for Frictionless Flow:

Euler’s Equation
✓ Bernoulli Equation: Integration of Euler’s
Equation Along a Stremline for Steady Flow
✓ The Bernoulli Equation Interpreted as an
Energy Equation

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 The Bernoulli Equation Interpreted as an
Energy Equation

Objective: To reduce the energy equation to the form of the Bernoulli

equation.
𝜕
𝑄 − 𝑊𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑓𝑡 − 𝑊𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟 − 𝑊𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 = න 𝑒𝜌𝑑𝑉 + න (𝑒 + 𝑝𝜈)𝜌𝑉 ∙ 𝑑 𝐴Ԧ
ሶ ሶ ሶ ሶ
𝜕𝑡 𝐶𝑉 𝐶𝑆
2
𝑉
𝑒=𝑢+ + 𝑔𝑧
2

Assume a steady flow and uniform flow and properties at each section.
𝑉12 𝑉22
𝑢1 + 𝑝1 𝜈1 + + 𝑔𝑧1 −𝜌1 𝑉1 𝐴1 + 𝑢2 + 𝑝2 𝜈2 + + 𝑔𝑧2 𝜌2 𝑉2 𝐴2 − 𝑄ሶ = 0
2 2

where 𝑢 is internal energy, 𝜈 is specific volume

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 The Bernoulli Equation Interpreted as an
Energy Equation

From continuity,
𝑚ሶ = 𝜌1 𝑉1 𝐴1 = 𝜌2 𝑉2 𝐴2
Also
𝛿𝑄 𝛿𝑄 𝑑𝑚 𝛿𝑄
𝑄ሶ = = = 𝑚ሶ
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑚 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑚
Thus, the energy equation
𝑉22 𝑉12 𝛿𝑄
𝑝2 𝜈2 + + 𝑔𝑧2 − 𝑝1 𝜈1 + + 𝑔𝑧1 𝑚ሶ + 𝑢2 − 𝑢1 − 𝑚ሶ = 0
2 2 𝑑𝑚

Or
𝑉12 𝑉22 𝛿𝑄
𝑝1 𝜈1 + + 𝑔𝑧1 = 𝑝2 𝜈2 + + 𝑔𝑧2 + 𝑢2 − 𝑢1 −
2 2 𝑑𝑚
For incompressible
2
𝑝 𝑉
+ + 𝑔𝑧 = 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡
𝜌 2

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 The Bernoulli Equation Interpreted as an
Energy Equation

• We can think of the Bernoulli equation as a mechanical energy

balance
“Pressure” + “potentail” + “kinetic” = constant

• If a fluid is compressible, pressure changes will compress or expand

the fluid→ work done and thermal energy changed

• Friction converts mechanical to thermal energy.

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