Fluid Mechanics

CHAPTER 4

EULERS EQUATION

Dr . Ercan Kahya

Engineering Fluid Mechanics 8/E by Crowe, Elger, and Roberson

Copyright 2005 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.

Review of Definitions
Steady flow:

velocity is constant with respect to time

Unsteady flow:

velocity changes with respect to time

Uniform flow:

velocity is constant with respect to position

Non-uniform flow: velocity changes with respect to position

Local acceleration:
change of flow velocity with respect to time
occurs when flow is unsteady
Convective acceleration:
change of flow velocity with respect to position
occurs when flow is nonuniform

EULERS EQUATION
To predict pressure variation in moving fluid
Eulers Equation is an extension of the hydrostatic equation for
accelerations other than gravitational
RESULTED FROM APPLYING NEWTON SECOND LAW TO A FLUID
ELEMENT IN THE FLOW OF INCOMPRESSIBLE, INVISCID FLUID

Assume that the viscous forces are zero

EULERS EQUATION

Fl mal

sin a l
l

Taking the limit of the two terms at left side at a given time as l 0

( p z) a l
l

ACCELERATION IS IN THE DIRECTION OF

DECREASING PIEZOMETRIC PRESSURE!!!

When a = 0 Euler equation reduces to hydrostatic equation!

In the x direction,
for example:

( p z) a x
x

( p z) 2 ( p z)1 xa x
2 and 1 refer to the location with respect to the direction l (When l = x direction, then 2 is the
right-most point. When l = z direction, 2 is the highest point.)

EULERS EQUATION
An example of Euler Equation is to the uniform acceleration of in a tank:

Open tank is accelerated to the right at a rate ax

For this to occur; a net force must act on the liquid in the x-direction
To accomplish this; the liquid redistributes itself in the tank (ABCD)
The rise in fluid causes a greater hydrostatic force on the left than the right side
this is consistent with the requirement of F = ma
Along the bottom of tank, pressure variation is hydrostatic in the vertical direction

EULERS EQUATION

( p z) a l
l
The component of acceleration in the l direction: ax cos
Apply the above equation along AB

d
( z) a x Cos
dl

Apply the above equation along DC

ax
tan g

a x Cos
dz
sin
dl
g

Example 4.3: Eulers equation

The truck carrying gasoline ( = 6.60 kN/m3) and is slowing down at a rate of
3.05 m/s2.
1) What is the pressure at point A?
2) Where is the greatest pressure & at what value in that point?

( p z) a l
l

Solution:
Apply Eulers equation along the top of the tank; so z is constant
Assume that deceleration is constant
Pressure does not change with time

Along the top the tank

dp

a l
dl

Eulers equation in vertical direction:

(Note that az =0)

d
( p z) a l
dl
p a ll C

d
( p z) a z
dz

( pbottom z bottom ) ( ptop z top )

Pressure variation is hydrostatic in the vertical direction

Centripetal (Radial) Acceleration

Vt
2
ar
r
r

For a liquid rotating

as a rigid body:

ar = centripetal (radial) acceleration, m/s2

Vt = tangential velocity, m/s
r = radius of rotation, m
= angular velocity, rad/s

V=r

Pressure Distribution in Rotating Flow

A common type of rotating flow is the flow in which the fluid rotates as a
rigid body.
Applying Euler Equation in the direction normal to streamlines and outward
from the center of rotation (OR INTEGRATING EULER EQUATION IN THE
RADIAL DIRECTION FOR A ROTATING FLOW) results in

p
2r 2
z
C

2g
Pressure variation in
rotating flow
Note that this is not the Bernoulli equation
When flow is rotating, fluid level will rise away from the direction of net acceleration

Example 4.4:

Find the elevation difference

between point 1 and 2

p1
2 r12 p2
2 r22
z1
z2

2g
2g

2 r22
p1 = p2 = 0 and r1 = 0 , r2= 0.25m then z1 z 2
2g
z2 z1= 0.051m & Note that the surface profile is parabolic

Pressure Distribution in Rotating Flow

p1
2 r12 p2
2 r22
z1
z2

2g
2g
Another independent equation;
The sum of water heights in left and
right arms should remain unchanged
p = pressure, Pa
= specific weight, N/m3
z = elevation, m
= rotational rate, radians/second
r = distance from the axis of rotation

Bernoulli Equation
Integrating Eulers equation along a streamline in a steady flow of an
incompressible, inviscid fluid yields the Bernoulli equation:

2g

z C

z: Position
p/: Pressure head
V2/2g: Velocity head
C: Integral constant

Application of Bernoulli Equation

Bernoulli Equation:
Piezometric pressure : p + z
Kinetic pressure : V2/2
For the steady flow of incompressible fluid inviscid fluid
the sum of these is constant along a streamline

Application of Bernoulli Equation: Stagnation Tube

V12 p1 V22 p 2

2g 2g

2
V ( P2 P1 )

2
1

P1 d

P2 (l d )

2
V ( (l d ) d )

2
1

V1

2 gl

Stagnation Tube

V12 p1 V22 p 2

2g 2g

h=V2 /2g
p2/

V2=0 & z1 = z2

p1 /

V1

p 2 p1
2g

2gh

Application of Bernoulli Equation: Pitot Tube

Bernoulli equation btw static
pressure pt 1 and stagnation pt 2;
V12 p1
V22 p 2
z1

z2
2g
2g
H

h1
1
2

V2 = 0 then Pitot tube equation;

V1

2 g

p 2 p1

Stagnation point

p1 h 1 1 h h 1 h p 2

p 2 p1
1

s1

h
1 h
1

VENTURI METER
The Venturi meter device measures the flow rate or velocity of a fluid through a pipe. The
equation is based on the Bernoulli equation, conservation of energy, and the continuity
equation.
Solve for flow rate

Solve for pressure differential

Class Exercises: (Problem 4.42)

Class Exercises: (Problem 4.59)