Derivation of non-dimensional Navier Stoke equation

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the derivation of the non-dimensional Navier-Stokes equation, emphasizing the importance of defining the velocity vector field accurately. The participants clarify that the velocity magnitude, denoted as ##v##, should represent a constant reference speed rather than the fluid speed at each point. The correct formulation of the non-dimensional Navier-Stokes equation is presented, highlighting the significance of scaling physical parameters like velocity, density, and length. Participants also discuss the challenge of determining negligible terms in the equation based on physical dimensional parameters.

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  • Understanding of the Navier-Stokes equations
  • Familiarity with dimensional analysis in fluid dynamics
  • Knowledge of vector calculus and unit vectors
  • Basic principles of non-dimensionalization in physics
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ussername
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Take the first three terms of Navier Stoke equation:
$$\rho \cdot \left ( v_{x}\cdot \frac{\partial \vec{v}}{\partial x} + v_{y}\cdot \frac{\partial \vec{v}}{\partial y} + v_{z}\cdot \frac{\partial \vec{v}}{\partial z}\right )$$

Define the length ##v## of the velocity vector field:
$$\vec{v}=v\cdot \vec{v}^{0}$$
where ##\vec{v}^{0}## is the unit vector field with same direction as ##\vec{v}##. Thus it is:$$v_{x}=v\cdot v_{x}^{0}$$$$v_{y}=v\cdot v_{y}^{0}$$$$v_{z}=v\cdot v_{z}^{0}$$

Now both terms ##v\cdot \vec{v}^{0}## can change with ##x## coordinate, so their derivation is:
$$\frac{\partial (v\cdot \vec{v}^{0})}{\partial x}=\vec{v}^{0}\cdot \frac{\partial v}{\partial x}+v\cdot \frac{\partial \vec{v}^{0}}{\partial x}$$

When I substitute these derivations into the NS equation (1. equation), I get something like this:
$$\rho \cdot\vec{v}^{0}\cdot v\cdot \left ( \vec{v}^{0}\cdot \left ( \frac{\partial v}{\partial x} , \frac{\partial v}{\partial y} , \frac{\partial v}{\partial z}\right ) \right )+\rho \cdot v^{2}\left ( \vec{v}^{0}\cdot \left ( \frac{\partial \vec{v}^{0}}{\partial x} , \frac{\partial \vec{v}^{0}}{\partial y} , \frac{\partial \vec{v}^{0}}{\partial z}\right ) \right )$$

But according to the literature it should be just the second term:
$$\rho \cdot v^{2}\left ( \vec{v}^{0}\cdot \left ( \frac{\partial \vec{v}^{0}}{\partial x} , \frac{\partial \vec{v}^{0}}{\partial y} , \frac{\partial \vec{v}^{0}}{\partial z}\right ) \right )=\rho \cdot v^{2}\cdot \left ( \vec{v}^{0}\cdot \left ( \mathrm{div} \vec{v}^{0} \right ) \right )$$

What is wrong about this derivation?
 
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I don't think you are understanding it right. If the point is to get rid of the dimensions then ##v## should be some constant reference speed, not the speed of the fluid at each point.

Edit: I also suggest you stop using ##\cdot## when you don't mean scalar product, it makes your post difficult to read.
 
Orodruin said:
If the point is to get rid of the dimensions then ##v## should be some constant reference speed, not the speed of the fluid at each point.
So what is the definition of the unit velocity vector?

Edit: If ##v## is the average constant speed, than the length of ##\vec{v}^0## is not generally unity.
 
Last edited:
ussername said:
So what is the definition of the unit velocity vector?

Edit: If ##v## is the average constant speed, than the length of ##\vec{v}^0## is not generally unity.
Indeed. It is just a dimensionless velocity. Note that ##v## can be any fixed non-zero speed. You would typically fix it to some speed that appears in your problem, such as the speed of the flow at infinity.
 
The non-dimensional Navier Stokes equation is:
$$\frac{L\cdot f}{v}\frac{\partial \vec{v}^*}{\partial \vec{\tau}^*}+ v_x^*\frac{\partial \vec{v}^*}{\partial x^*}+ v_y^*\frac{\partial \vec{v}^*}{\partial y^*}+v_z^*\frac{\partial \vec{v}^*}{\partial z^*}=\frac{g\cdot L}{v^2}\vec{g}^*+\frac{p^0}{\rho \cdot v^2} \bigtriangledown^*p^*+\frac{\eta }{L\cdot v\cdot \rho } \bigtriangledown^{*2}\vec{v}^*$$
I understand that by setting physical parameters (##v,\rho,L...##) I can achieve in my scaled flow e.g. identical ratio of friction force to net force as in the original flow.

What I don't understand is how can I determine which terms in this equation are negligible. I know the physical dimensional parameters (##v,\rho,L...##) but I generally don't know the non-dimensional vectors (##v_x^*\frac{\partial \vec{v}^*}{\partial x^*}+ v_y^*\frac{\partial \vec{v}^*}{\partial y^*}+v_z^*\frac{\partial \vec{v}^*}{\partial z^*}##, ##\bigtriangledown^{*2}\vec{v}^*##...).
So how can I know which values are standing behind every term in the equation?
 

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