Why Does Fluid Accelerate and Decelerate Over a Convex Surface?

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SUMMARY

Fluid accelerates and decelerates over a convex surface due to changes in cross-sectional area, which affects flow velocity. When fluid encounters a convex surface, it accelerates to maintain flow rate as the area decreases, then decelerates as it passes the obstruction and the area increases. This behavior is closely related to the concept of flow attachment, where fluid adheres to surfaces to equilibrate pressure differences. Understanding these principles is crucial for analyzing fluid dynamics in various applications.

PREREQUISITES
  • Basic understanding of fluid dynamics principles
  • Familiarity with Bernoulli's equation
  • Knowledge of flow attachment and detachment concepts
  • Experience with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations
NEXT STEPS
  • Study Bernoulli's equation and its applications in fluid flow
  • Explore flow attachment and detachment in detail
  • Learn about computational fluid dynamics (CFD) tools like ANSYS Fluent
  • Investigate the effects of surface geometry on fluid behavior
USEFUL FOR

Engineers, fluid dynamics researchers, and students studying fluid mechanics will benefit from this discussion, particularly those interested in the behavior of fluids over varying surfaces.

KishoreAM
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Guys...Can anyone explain me why fluid accelerates and then decelerates when flowing over a convex surface
and also concept of flow attachment in simple terms
 
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KishoreAM said:
why fluid accelerates and then decelerates when flowing over a convex surface
It causes a reduction in cross-sectional area, so the velocity must be accelerated to keep up with the flow rate. It goes back to its original velocity once the obstruction is passed.
KishoreAM said:
also concept of flow attachment in simple terms
As the cross-sectional area increases aft of the "bump", the fluid wants to fill the new enlarged area, so it tends to follow the shape of the part it gets around. Of course, the faster the fluid goes, the harder it will be for it to follow the shape.

If you imagine a solid part moving in a non-moving fluid, you can imagine that, as it moves, it leaves an empty space while displacing the fluid in front of it. The fluid just want to fill the void to equilibrate everything once more, thus it looks like the fluid "sticks" to the part. If the fluid moves and the part is fixed, the same thing happens.
 

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