13.2 Derivations of the Basic Equations 365
U
2
= constant U
2
=0
U
2
= 0 holds for fluid flows with
impermeable walls
,
(13.18)
i.e. stationary, incompressible and internal flows are unidirectional. They flow
only in the x
1
direction, i.e. only one U
1
component of the flow field exists.
This is a statement for the flow field that was obtained from the continuity
equation for fluid flows which are fully developed in the flow direction x
1
.The
momentum equations are simplified for this class of fluid flows as follows:
x
1
direction:
0=−
∂P
∂x
1
+ µ
∂
2
U
1
∂x
2
2
+ ρg
1
. (13.19)
x
2
direction:
0=−
∂P
∂x
2
+ ρg
2
. (13.20)
From (13.20), one obtains a general solution for the pressure field:
P = ρg
2
x
2
+ Π(x
1
). (13.21)
The pressure field P (x
1
,x
2
) comprises an externally imposed pressure, Π(x
1
),
which can be applied along the x
1
axis. The implementation of Π(x
1
) usually
takes place in practice with pumps and blowers. On introducing this general
pressure relationship into the momentum equation x
1
,takingU
1
(x
2
)into
consideration, one obtains:
0=−
dΠ
dx
1
+ µ
d
2
U
1
dx
2
2
+ ρg
1
, (13.22)
i.e. a differential equation for the unknown flow field U
1
(x
2
). This is the basic
equation which holds for incompressible, stationary and one-dimensional, i.e.
fully developed, fluid flows, if the flow medium has Newtonian properties and
the fluid can be regarded as incompressible and the viscosity as constant.
Physically, the equation can be interpreted in such a way that the pressure
gradient imposed externally in the x
1
direction counteracts the viscosity and
mass forces of the flow field
dΠ
dx
1
= µ
d
2
U
1
dx
2
2
+ ρg
1
. (13.23)
Here it is important that the pressure gradient, in accordance with (13.21),
can assume any externally imposed value, which for the flow problems treated
here must depend only on x
1
. Considering however, (13.18), and admitting
only constant mass forces, i.e. g
1
= constant, the right-hand side of (13.22) is
a function only of x
2
. Thus the pressure gradient in the x
1
direction assumes
a constant value in the case of stationary, incompressible and one-dimensional
fluid flows.