1.4 - Velocity Defect Law
Enroll to start learning
You’ve not yet enrolled in this course. Please enroll for free to listen to audio lessons, classroom podcasts and take practice test.
Interactive Audio Lesson
Listen to a student-teacher conversation explaining the topic in a relatable way.
Overview of Velocity Defect Law
🔒 Unlock Audio Lesson
Sign up and enroll to listen to this audio lesson
Today we're going to discuss the velocity defect law. To start, can anyone tell me why understanding velocity profiles in turbulent flow is important?
I think it's important for designing efficient piping systems.
Exactly! This law helps us predict how velocity changes within a pipe. When we talk about turbulent flow, we see a different velocity profile compared to laminar flow, right?
Yes, laminar flow has a parabolic velocity profile, while turbulent flow looks logarithmic!
Great observation! This logarithmic profile is derived from the velocity defect law. Can anyone explain what shear stress is and how it relates to this law?
Shear stress at the wall is constant and represented by tau_0, which influences the velocity gradient.
Perfect! Remember, tau_0 is fundamental in calculating the velocity gradient. Let's delve into how we arrive at the logarithmic profile from these principles.
Mathematical Derivation of the Law
🔒 Unlock Audio Lesson
Sign up and enroll to listen to this audio lesson
Let's derive the velocity defect law mathematically. Starting with our established shear stress, how can we express the velocity gradient?
From tau, we can set du/dy equal to a function of tau_0 and rho.
Exactly! And when we express tau as rho u_star, what happens next?
We simplify to get du/dy equals 1/(kappa y) under the square root of tau_0 upon rho.
Good job! Integrating that allows us to establish our velocity profile. Keep in mind our boundary conditions at y equals R, where velocity is u_max.
So, if we substitute these back in, we end up with the final formulation of the velocity defect law!
Exactly, and this equation, u_max - u over u_* equals to 5.75 log(R/y), captures the essence of how turbulent flow deviates from expected profiles.
Application and Problem-Solving
🔒 Unlock Audio Lesson
Sign up and enroll to listen to this audio lesson
Now, let's apply our knowledge! If water flows through a pipe 10 cm in diameter, and we know velocities are 4 m/s at the center and 3.5 m/s at 2 cm from the center, how would we determine shear stress?
We would use the velocity defect law to calculate the frictional velocity, right?
That's right! Let's set up our equation. How effectively can we rewrite the velocity defect equation using our known values?
We can frame it as (4 - 3.5)/u_* equals to 5.75 log(5/3).
Absolutely correct! After calculating u_*, we can revert to shear stress. What do we conclude?
It'll help us understand the internal forces acting within the fluid flow, fundamental for engineering designs!
Understanding Turbulent Flow
🔒 Unlock Audio Lesson
Sign up and enroll to listen to this audio lesson
Now let’s discuss turbulent flow in more detail. What are the different layers or regions observed in turbulent flow?
There’s the viscous sublayer, buffer layer, overlap layer, and turbulent layer!
Excellent! Each layer has different characteristics affecting flow behavior. What happens in the viscous sublayer?
The velocity profile is almost linear due to dominant viscous effects.
Precisely! This understanding clarifies how turbulent flow behaves near the boundary of pipes. How does knowing about these regions influence engineering practices?
It helps us design more efficient and effective piping systems, optimizing for factors like roughness and flow rate.
Absolutely! Remember, knowledge of flow profiles and behavior leads to better system performances.
Roughness and Its Effects
🔒 Unlock Audio Lesson
Sign up and enroll to listen to this audio lesson
Now let’s touch upon roughness in pipes. How does surface roughness influence turbulent flow?
Roughness can alter the frictional forces within the fluid, affecting the overall flow efficiency.
Exactly! If k, the height of surface irregularities, is greater than the thickness of the viscous sublayer, what kind of boundary do we have?
We classify it as a rough boundary!
Right! And if k is smaller, what does that imply?
That would be classified as a smooth boundary.
Great job distinguishing the two! Understanding this can greatly impact decisions in a variety of engineering applications.
Introduction & Overview
Read summaries of the section's main ideas at different levels of detail.
Quick Overview
Standard
The section explains how the velocity defect law is derived from the Prandtl mixing length theory for turbulent flow in pipes. It discusses the relationship between shear stress, velocity profile, and boundary conditions, presenting equations that illustrate these concepts.
Detailed
Velocity Defect Law
The velocity defect law is a critical concept in fluid mechanics that describes how the velocity of a fluid changes in turbulent flow conditions within a pipe. Starting with Prandtl's mixing length theory, the derivation involves several mathematical transformations.
- Basic Definitions: The shear stress (0tau) at the wall of the pipe is constant and denoted as 0tau_0.
- Velocity Gradient: For small values of 'y', the velocity gradient (0du/dy) can be expressed as a function of shear stress and density.
- Integration & Boundary Conditions: A key part of the derivation includes integrating the velocity gradient while applying boundary conditions, particularly noting that at the pipe's center, the velocity is maximized (0u_max).
- Logarithmic Velocity Profile: Following boundary condition substitution, the resulting velocity profile is logarithmic, indicating how turbulent flow behaves differently from laminar flow, which typically has a parabolic profile.
- Final Formulation: The velocity defect (0u_max - u) is ultimately expressed in terms of the frictional velocity and the logarithm of the radius to wall distance, leading to the final velocity defect law. This highlights the difference between the maximum velocity and the actual velocity in turbulent flow.
The significance of this law is paramount in engineering applications, helping in the design of pipe systems and understanding fluid behavior.
Audio Book
Dive deep into the subject with an immersive audiobook experience.
Introduction to Shear Stress
Chapter 1 of 5
🔒 Unlock Audio Chapter
Sign up and enroll to access the full audio experience
Chapter Content
So, for small values of y it can be assumed. So, if the y is very small we can assume that tau is equal to tau not, where tau not is the shear stress at the pipe wall and can be assumed to be a constant. So, at the wall the shear stress is assumed to be constant and equal to tau not.
Detailed Explanation
This section introduces the concept of shear stress in the context of fluid flow within a pipe. When analyzing fluid behavior at different points in the pipe, we can consider a very small distance from the wall (denoted as 'y'). At this small distance, the shear stress (tau) is effectively the same as the shear stress at the wall (tau_0), which we can consider a constant. It simplifies our calculations as we do not have to account for variations in shear stress near the wall.
Examples & Analogies
Imagine you're swimming in a pool. The water right next to the edge (the wall) feels calm, while the water further away feels more turbulent. If you focus on the calm water very close to the edge, you can say the water's characteristics (like pressure or 'shear') are constant right at the wall.
Substitution and Resulting Equations
Chapter 2 of 5
🔒 Unlock Audio Chapter
Sign up and enroll to access the full audio experience
Chapter Content
And therefore, what we can say, if we substitute tau is equal to tau not in equation 16, we can obtain or du / dy, this quantity actually tau not can be written as rho. So, but the catch here is, what is the catch? We have considered small value of y. So, du / dy can be written as, 1 / kappa y and under root tau / rho is rho u *. So, it becomes and this u * under root tau not / rho is the sheer velocity and this has the dimension of velocity.
Detailed Explanation
This chunk describes how substituting the constant shear stress (tau = tau_0) into our equations yields valuable relationships between the velocity gradient (du/dy) and other parameters. The critical insight is that the shear velocity (u*) can be understood in terms of the stresses and fluid density (rho). Specifically, for small y, we express the velocity gradient proportional to y, demonstrating a crucial yet simplified relationship in turbulent flow dynamics.
Examples & Analogies
Think of this like layering a cake. At the very edge (y being small) where the frosting meets the cake (the wall), the frosting is smooth (constant shear). As you move deeper into the cake, the frosting flow changes, but at that thin edge, you can assume a constant flow (like 1/kappa * y) and apply simple recipes for different cake layers (the equations).
Integration and Boundary Conditions
Chapter 3 of 5
🔒 Unlock Audio Chapter
Sign up and enroll to access the full audio experience
Chapter Content
And if you integrate the equation number 17, so, what we can get is, simple integration, it will get. Then using the boundary conditions, what are the boundary conditions? So, u at y is equal to R, where R is the radius of the pipe. We will get, u is equal to u max.
Detailed Explanation
After establishing the relationships, we proceed to integrate the equation to find a function representing how the velocity changes across the flow in the pipe. We apply boundary conditions based on our understanding that at the pipe's center (y = R), the velocity is at its maximum (u_max). This step is crucial because it allows us to interpolate necessary constants for our derived equation, enabling full characterization of the velocity profile within the pipe.
Examples & Analogies
Consider pouring syrup over a stack of pancakes. The syrup's maximum flow (u_max) is at the center of the stack (y = R) while the sides (less than R) might get lesser amounts. Using boundary conditions is like saying that 'at the center of the pancakes (the pipe's center), the syrup flows the fastest' – a defined point that guides our understanding of how syrup thickens or thins out as it moves.
Velocity Defect Law
Chapter 4 of 5
🔒 Unlock Audio Chapter
Sign up and enroll to access the full audio experience
Chapter Content
So, u max minus u is called the velocity defect or velocity defect law, this is velocity defect law. This is just simple, you know, manipulation of these terms here.
Detailed Explanation
The velocity defect law is a core principle in fluid mechanics, providing a quantitative measure of the difference between maximum velocity (u_max) and the actual velocity (u) at any point within the flow. By understanding this 'velocity defect,' engineers can better predict how fluids will behave in practical applications, such as pipeline design or aerodynamic studies.
Examples & Analogies
Imagine a car on a racetrack. The fastest point (u_max) is at the start. As it gains speed, sometimes it slows down due to friction with the ground (the defect 'u'). The difference between the highest speed (u_max) and the actual speed (u) at any point gives you insights into how well the car is performing on the track – similar to how our law assesses fluid behavior in pipes.
Practical Problem Example
Chapter 5 of 5
🔒 Unlock Audio Chapter
Sign up and enroll to access the full audio experience
Chapter Content
So, now we are going to solve one of the problems, problem number 7. And what it says is, the velocity of water ... So, let us see how are we going to solve this problem.
Detailed Explanation
In the concluding part of the section, we move towards practical applications by solving a specific problem involving the velocity of water in a pipe. Through this example, students will get a practical understanding of how the concepts learned (like shear stress and velocity profiles) can be applied in real-world scenarios, effectively linking theory with practice.
Examples & Analogies
Think of this like a baking challenge where you have to measure ingredients accurately for a cake (the problem). The formulas and principles you learned help you not only understand the cake batter's flow but also ensure that your cake turns out perfectly, just like we apply fluid mechanics principles to ensure smooth operations in piping systems.
Key Concepts
-
Velocity Defect Law: Describes the difference between maximum velocity and actual velocity in turbulent flow.
-
Turbulent Flow: A type of fluid flow characterized by chaotic changes in pressure and flow velocity, contrasting with laminar flow.
-
Shear Stress (0tau): A critical parameter for determining fluid motion near boundary layers.
-
Frictional Velocity: The calculated velocity utilized to relate shear stress to fluid dynamics in turbulence.
Examples & Applications
In a water pipeline with a diameter of 10 cm, if the velocity at the center is 4 m/s and at a point 2 cm from the center is 3.5 m/s, the velocity defect can be calculated using the fittings of the velocity defect law.
When analyzing fluid flowing over a rough surface, understanding the height of surface irregularities allows us to assess whether the flow is classified as smooth or rough and influences the shear stress computations.
Memory Aids
Interactive tools to help you remember key concepts
Rhymes
In a pipe so wide, flow can glide; turbulent and swift, but don't let it drift!
Stories
Imagine a river that swirls with energy, where some areas are calm but right near the banks, the water flows with rush, that's the turbulent flow with different layers, each with its strength!
Memory Tools
Remember the acronym VIRO: Viscous layer, Increasing turbulence, Rough layer, Outcomes in fluid force, to recall the types of flow layers.
Acronyms
Use 'TURB' to remember
for turbulent flow
for u_max
for roughness
and B for boundary layer.
Flash Cards
Glossary
- Shear Stress
A measure of the force per unit area exerted by a fluid against a surface.
- Logarithmic Velocity Profile
A curve that shows how fluid velocity increases logarithmically with distance from the wall in turbulent flow.
- Viscous Sublayer
The layer of fluid in close proximity to a boundary where viscous effects are significant, resulting in a linear velocity profile.
- Frictional Velocity
A velocity scale in turbulent flow, denoted as u_*, used to relate shear stress to fluid velocity.
Reference links
Supplementary resources to enhance your learning experience.