[Shabi]

A flow is incompressible if the density of the flow is constant within a fluid parcel and also the whole flow.

How do these fluid parcels are distributed in the domain? In other words, do we have the same number of the parcels in the area with different velocities? E.g., if there is an object and flow pasts it, do we have the same number of parcels in an specific area(volume) everywhere in the domain?

[sbaffini]

Reasoning in 3D requires using streamsurfaces, not streamlines, so let's focus on 2D.

Streamlines are defined as lines parallel to the local velocity field, so there can be no mass flow trough them. If two streamlines get closer (thus there are more in a cell), then the velocity in between them is higher to keep the same mass flow rate with a smaller passage area.

I have no idea of what you mean by parcels. Could you define them? What does it mean that the flow is made plenty of fluid parcels? How? How do you end up with a different number of fluid parcels in each cell?

[ViniSpark]

Hi, I am new to CFD, but what I know is that streamlines doesn't show about the density of the fluid, Its more like about the velocity, the direction of the flow.

*I ask someone with more experience to help too, so we can both learn

1)No, not that, it means that the flow is redirecting to that direction

2) The cell is what we call finite volume, what the solvers do its the calculation of the characteristics of that fluid in that volume, based on the boundaries of that volume. So, to have an equal volume on the cells, your flow must be
incompressible.

3) If you have density variation you have a compressible flow.

[Shabi]

Originally Posted by sbaffini

Reasoning in 3D requires using streamsurfaces, not streamlines, so let's focus on 2D.

Streamlines are defined as lines parallel to the local velocity field, so there can be no mass flow trough them. If two streamlines get closer (thus there are more in a cell), then the velocity in between them is higher to keep the same mass flow rate with a smaller passage area.

I have no idea of what you mean by parcels. Could you define them? What does it mean that the flow is made plenty of fluid parcels? How? How do you end up with a different number of fluid parcels in each cell?

Thank you. Actually my questions was based on this assumption about the fluid parcels : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluid_parcel
If the flow is made up plenty of small tiny fluid particles, do we have the same number of them in the whole domain? we have the definition of the fluid parcels also here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incomp...ow%20velocity.
I edited my question, as i used some terms in my questions which could make confusion

[andy_]

Originally Posted by Shabi

A flow is incompressible if the density of the flow is constant within a fluid parcel and also the whole flow.

Since you are learning I shall point out there is an issue with this terminology. For example, many combustion codes will assume the flow is incompressible and yet predict strong density variations. So what is the assumption made by incompressible CFD codes if not constant density?

[FMDenaro]

Originally Posted by Shabi

Thank you. Actually my questions was based on this assumption about the fluid parcels : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluid_parcel
If the flow is made up plenty of small tiny fluid particles, do we have the same number of them in the whole domain? we have the definition of the fluid parcels also here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incomp...ow%20velocity.
I edited my question, as i used some terms in my questions which could make confusion

Fluid parcels is strictly related the the assumption of the continuum:


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continuum_mechanics


You assume the density of the fluid rho(x,t) to be the result of the averaging over a very small but finite volume, centered in x. Assuming that the density is constant means you assume that wherever you put this small volume, the average will provide the same value for the density.

[digger]

Originally Posted by Shabi

A flow is incompressible if the density of the flow is constant within a fluid parcel and also the whole flow.

The flow is incompressible when the density does not depend on the velocity/pressure field. There can be incompressible flow with changing density, e.g., non-isothermal flow.

[FMDenaro]

Maybe there is an issue to be clarified.

Any real material is somehow compressible (that is changes its own volume under normal stress) even if apparently rigid. The real nature of a fluid such a gas is to be compressible, this is our normal experience. Liquids are much less compressible but at some level they are, too.


Speaking about "incompressibility" of a flow refers to a model, that is an approximation of the reality. Thus, the same fluid can be studied with a compressible or incompressible flow model.


Have a look here
https://www.researchgate.net/post/Wh...ressible-fluid

[Shabi]

Originally Posted by FMDenaro

Fluid parcels is strictly related the the assumption of the continuum:


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continuum_mechanics


You assume the density of the fluid rho(x,t) to be the result of the averaging over a very small but finite volume, centered in x. Assuming that the density is constant means you assume that wherever you put this small volume, the average will provide the same value for the density.

Thanks. But with the incompressibility of the flow we assume that rho is constant everywhere in the domain, and not only at position x. So if we put more of 'that small volume' in a unit volume, we get a bigger density. I think i should read carefully the assumption of the continuum. It seems that i confused different things

[FMDenaro]

Originally Posted by Shabi

Thanks. But with the incompressibility of the flow we assume that rho is constant everywhere in the domain, and not only at position x. So if we put more of 'that small volume' in a unit volume, we get a bigger density. I think i should read carefully the assumption of the continuum. It seems that i confused different things

A position x means everywhere in the flow

[LuckyTran]

Density need not be constant everywhere for a flow to be incompressible. You can show that if density is a function of temperature (but not pressure), the flow is always still incompressible. And since temperature can be a spatial function of x,y,z; it is sufficient to show that density need not be a constant function of x,y,z for a flow to remain incompressible.

And this is partially also why combustion codes can have strong density variations and still use incompressible flow assumptions. The pressure does not change much across a flame surface (and if it did, we call those detonations).

[FMDenaro]

Originally Posted by Shabi

Thanks. But with the incompressibility of the flow we assume that rho is constant everywhere in the domain, and not only at position x. So if we put more of 'that small volume' in a unit volume, we get a bigger density. I think i should read carefully the assumption of the continuum. It seems that i confused different things

Consider a pipe filled with water (single phase) being at the rest. This case is still compatible to produce a non-vanishing gradient of the density rho since


drho/dt +v .Grad rho = - rho div v



is satisfied for a zero velocity field.