Chap 5

Quasi-OneDimensional Flow

5.1 Introduction

Good approximation for practicing gas dynamicists

eq. nozzle flow flow through wind tunnel & rocket engines

5.2 Governing Equations

For a steady,quasi-1D flow
The continuity equation :

v ds
t
s

1u1 A1 2u2 A2

The momentum equation :

( v )

d f d p ds
s ( v ds )v
t

A2

pdA) x p2 A2 2u22 A2

X-dir

p1 A1 u A1 ( A

Y-dir

Automatically balainced

2
1 1

The energy equation

q d pv ds ( f v )d

V2
V2
[ (e )]d (e )v ds
2
2
t
s
h e p

2
1

2
2

u
u
h1
h2
h0 const
2
2

total enthalpy is
constant along the flow

Actually, the total enthalpy is constant along a streamline in any

adiabatic steady flow

P
A
u

In differential forms

uA const
d ( uA) 0
pA u 2 A pdA

P +dP
A +dA
u +du
+d

dx

( p dp )( A dA) ( d )(u du ) ( A dA)

2

Dropping 2nd order terms

Adp Au d u dA 2 uAdu 0
2

d ( uA) 0

u dA uAdu Au d 0
2

(1)

(2)

(1) - (2) =

Adp uAdu 0

dp udu
u2
h
const
2

u2
d (h ) 0
2

dh udu 0

Eulers equation
dp() du ()
dp() du ()

5.3 Area-Velocity Relation

d ( uA) 0

udA Adu Aud 0

uA
d du dA

u
A

dA
du
2
( M 1)
A
u

dP dP d

udu
d
adiabatic & inviscid
no dissipation mechanism
isentropic

d
udu
u du
2 du
2 2 M

a
au
u
2

Important information
1.

2.

3.

4.

M0 incompressible flow
Au=const consistent with the familiar continuity eq for
incompressible flow
0M 1 subsonic flow
an increase in velocity (du +) is associated with a
decrease in area (dA ) and vice versa.
M>1 supersonic flow
an increase in velocity is associated with an increase in area ,
and vice versa
M=1 sonic flow dA/A=0
a minimum or maximum in the area

A subsonic flow is to be
accelerated isentropically
from
subsonic
to
supersonic

Supersonic flow is to be
decelercted isentropically
from
supersonic
to
subsonic

Application of area-velocity
relation

1.Rocket engines

2.Ideal supersonic wind tunnel

Diffuser is to slow down the flow in the convergent duct to sonic
flow at the second throat, and then futher slowed to low subsonic
speeds in the divergent duct.
(finally being exhausted to the atmosphere for a blow-down wind
tunnel)
chocking

Handout Film Note by Donald Coles

(When both nozzle

blocking with M=1)

5.4 Isentropic Flow of a Calorically Perfect

Gas through Variable-Area Duct

u A uA u a
* *

A 0 a

*
A
0 u
*

Stagnation density
(constant throughout an isentropic flow)

0
r 1
(1
M )

1
2 r 1

0
r 1
(1
)
*

1
r 1

(1)

r 1
(
)
2

1
r 1

r 1 2
M
u 2
2
( *)
M * (ch.3)
r 1 2
a
1
M
2

(2)

A 2
1
2
r 1 2
( *) 2 [
(1
M )]
A
M r 1
2
Area Mach Number Relation

(3)

r 1
r 1

M f (A

There are two values of M

which correspond to a given
A/A* >1 , a subsonic & a
supersonic value
Boundary conditions will
determine the solution
subsonic or supersonic

is

1.

For a complete shock-free

isentropic supersonic flow, the
exit pressure ratio Pe /P0 must be
precisely equal to Pb /P0

2.

Pe /P0 Te /T0 & Pe /P0 =

f(Ae /A*) and are continuously
decreasing.

3.

To start the nozzle flow, Pb must

be lower than P0

4.

For a supersonic wind tunnel, the

test section conditions are
determined by (Ae
/A*) P0 T0 gas property & Pb

Pb=P0 at the beginning there is no

flow exists in the nozzle
Minutely reduce Pb this small
pressure difference will cause a small
wind to blow through the duct at low
subsonic speeds
Futher reduce Pb sonic
conditions are reached (Pb=Pe3)
Pe /P0 & A/At are the controlling
factors for the local flow properties
at any given section

p*
r 1 rr1
(1
) 0.528
p0
2

for r=1.4
m tAtUt

What happens when Pb is further reduced below Pe3 ?

Should use dash-line

to indicate irreversible
process

Note: quasi-1D consideration does not tell us much about how to

design the contour of a nozzle essentially for ensuring a
shockfree supersonic nozzle
Method of characteristics

Wave reflection from a free boundary

Waves incident on a solid (free) boundary reflect in like

(opposite) manner , i.e, a compression wave as a compression
(expansion wave ) and an expansion wave reflects as an
expansion ( compression ) wave

5.5 diffusers
Assume that we want to
design a supersonic wind
tunnel with a test section
M=3
Ae/A*=4.23
P0/Pe=36.7
3 alternatives

(a) Exhaust the nozzle directly to

the atmosphere

(b) Exhaust the nozzle into a constent area duct which

serves as the test section

P0

P0 Pe
1
P (36.7)(
)P 3.55atm
Pe P02
10.33

the resvervair pressure required to drive the wind tunnel

has markedly dropped from 36.7 to 3.55 atm

(c) Add a divergent duct behind the normal the normal shock
to even slow down the already subsonic flow to a lower
velocity

P0

P0 Pe P2
1 1
P (36.7)(
)
1 3.04atm
Pe P2 P02
10.33 F1.17
M

o
r

Note:

M 3
P01
1

P02 0.328

P02
0.328
P01
3.04

the reservoir pressure required to drive a supersonic wind

tunnel (and hence the power required form the compressors) is
considerably reduced by the creation of a normal shock and
subsequent isentropic diffusion to M 0 at the tunnel exit

Diffuser - the mechanism to slow the flow with as small a

loss total pressure as possible

Consider the ideal supersonic wind funnel again

If shock-free P02/P01=1 no lose in total pressure

a perpetual motion machine!! something is wrong
(1) in real life , it hard to prevent oblique shock wave from occuring inside
the duct
(2) even without shocks , friction will cause a lose of P 0
the design of a perfect isentropic diffuser is physically impossible

Replace the normal shock diffuser with an oblique shock

diffuser provide greater pressure recovery

Diffuser efficiency
(

Pd0

)
P0 actual
D
(mostl common one)
P02
(
)
P01 Normal shock at Me

If D=1normal shock diffuser

for low supersonic test section Me, D>1
for hypersonic conditions D<1

(normal shock recovery is

about the best to be expected)

At2>At1(due to the entropy increase in the diffuser)

proof: assume the sonic flow exists at both throats

1* At1a1* 2* At 2 a2*
P1*

At 2
1* a1*
1*
P1*
P01
RT1*
* ( *) * *
*
At1
2 a2
2 P2
P2
P02
RT2*

At 2 P01

At1 P02

P02 P01 always At 2 At1

D Is very sensitive to At 2

At2D=max is slightly larger than (P01/P02)At1

the fix- geometry diffuser will operate at an efficiency less than D,m to start properly

D is low it is because At2 is too large

the flow pass though a series of
oblique shock waves id still very
supersonic
a strong normal shock form before
exit of the diffuser
defeats the purpose of are oblique
shock diffuser