- #1
jason.bourne
- 82
- 1
can anybody give the physical examples of source and sink flows?
Fluid mechanics: source and sink flows
- Thread starter jason.bourne
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Discussion Overview
The discussion revolves around the concept of source and sink flows in fluid mechanics, exploring their physical examples and applications in various contexts such as boundary layer flows and devices like turbines and compressors.
Discussion Character
- Exploratory
- Technical explanation
- Conceptual clarification
Main Points Raised
- Some participants inquire about physical examples of source and sink flows, suggesting inlet pipes and plugholes.
- Others propose additional examples related to boundary layer flows, turbines, compressors, and centrifugal pumps.
- One participant describes source flow as water pouring in a straight stream and sink flow as water being drawn into a sloped drain.
- A later reply indicates that while source and sink flows do not exist independently in the provided examples, they can be applied to describe flow over a wing using the vortex panel method.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants express varying degrees of uncertainty regarding the existence and application of source and sink flows in specific contexts, indicating that multiple views remain without a clear consensus.
Contextual Notes
Some limitations include the dependence on specific definitions of source and sink flows and the practical applications that may not fully encapsulate the theoretical concepts.
- #2
tiny-tim
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jason.bourne said:
Inlet pipes and plugholes?
- #3
jason.bourne
- 82
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well m not sure about that. are there any other examples something like in boundary layer flows or flows in turbines or compressors or centrifugal pumps?
- #4
rbeale98
- 52
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think of source flow pouring water on the floor in a straight uniform stream. When it hits the floor it can only move in two dimensions, so its like the water appears from a single point on the floor. Sink flow is like if there was a drain in the floor and the area around the drain was sloping inward so as to draw water in. is this what you are asking?
- #5
jason.bourne
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thank you so much for replying. i almost lost the hopes.
i guess you are trying to make it conceptually clear. well i got the concept. But my question is, do these flows (source or sink flows) apart from what you explained it above occur when we analyze flow over wings of aircraft or in any boundary layer flows or in any of the power producing or absorbing devices like turbines or compressors...?
i guess you are trying to make it conceptually clear. well i got the concept. But my question is, do these flows (source or sink flows) apart from what you explained it above occur when we analyze flow over wings of aircraft or in any boundary layer flows or in any of the power producing or absorbing devices like turbines or compressors...?
- #6
rbeale98
- 52
- 0
these flows do not exist by themselves in the examples you provided. but they do have a practical application to describing flow over a wing. its called the vortex panel method
i think this is what you are looking for. http://www.engapplets.vt.edu/fluids/vpm/vpminfo.html
i think this is what you are looking for. http://www.engapplets.vt.edu/fluids/vpm/vpminfo.html
- #7
jason.bourne
- 82
- 1
thank you very much
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