Navier Stokes EQs: Some Insight Please

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the confusion surrounding the sign convention in the momentum equation of the Navier-Stokes equations, specifically in the Conservative Integral form. The participant is analyzing the equation $$\sum \vec{F} = \left(\frac{d\vec{M}}{dt}\right)_{system}$$ and its implications when transitioning from a system approach to a control volume approach using Reynolds Transport Theorem (RTT). The key point of contention is the treatment of outflow as positive, regardless of the coordinate axes, which leads to a misunderstanding of how forces and momentum outflow relate to each other.

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  • Understanding of Navier-Stokes equations
  • Familiarity with Reynolds Transport Theorem (RTT)
  • Knowledge of fluid dynamics and control volume analysis
  • Basic vector calculus and notation
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Saladsamurai
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I have been doing some serious review of fluids in order to prep for some CFD. I have been re-deriving the NS Equations in all of their various forms. Something seems to have cropped up that I have worked myself in circles about. Let's take the momentum equation in Conservative Integral form:

$$\sum \vec{F} =\left(\frac{d\vec{M}}{dt}\right)_{system} \qquad (1)$$
$$\sum \vec{F} =
\frac{\partial{}}{\partial{t}}\iiint_{\mathcal{V}}(\rho\vec{V})d\mathcal{V} +
\iint_S(\rho\vec{V})\vec{V}\cdot d\vec{s} \qquad (2)$$

The 3rd term in the equation (2) for a control volume is the net outflow of momentum from the control volume. What I am a little confused about is the sign convention here. The left-hand side of the equation takes forces acting along the positive coordinate axes as being positive. But the right-hand side takes outflow to be positive regardless of the coordinate axes.

So it seems that an increase in force acting in the positive coordinate direction is equated to an increase of outflow of momentum from the CV regardless of what direction it flows out from.

I hope that maybe someone can see what I am getting at. I think that my confusion might be stemming from what happens when we go from a system approach to a control volume approach (i.e. application of the Reynold's Transport Theorem (RTT)).

Any thoughts are appreciated.
 
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Your notation of ##(\rho \vec V)\vec V.ds## is probably confusing you. The "##ds##" must be a vector quantity for ##\vec V.ds## to make any sense.

If you write it as ##(\rho \vec V)(\vec V.\vec n)dA##, where ##\vec n## is the outwards normal of ##S## and ##dA## is the scalar area, it should be clear that the sign changes if ##\vec V## is flowing into or out of the volume.
 
AlephZero said:
Your notation of ##(\rho \vec V)\vec V.ds## is probably confusing you. The "##ds##" must be a vector quantity for ##\vec V.ds## to make any sense.

If you write it as ##(\rho \vec V)(\vec V.\vec n)dA##, where ##\vec n## is the outwards normal of ##S## and ##dA## is the scalar area, it should be clear that the sign changes if ##\vec V## is flowing into or out of the volume.

Hi AlephZero :smile: I fixed the typo, but this is not my source of confusion. I understand that inflow is negative and outflow is positive. What I don't understand is why...
 

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