A nonperturbative approximation for the moderate Reynolds number Navier-Stokes equations

Marcus Roper1, Michael P Brenner

  • 1School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA. mroper@seas.harvard.edu

Related Concept Videos

Navier–Stokes Equations01:28

Navier–Stokes Equations

For incompressible Newtonian fluids, where density remains constant, stresses show a linear relationship with the deformation rate, defined by normal and shear stresses. Normal stresses depend on the pressure exerted on the fluid and the rate of deformation in specific directions, which determines how fluid flows under varying pressures. Shear stresses, on the other hand, act tangentially across fluid layers. They explain how adjacent fluid layers slide relative to one another, connecting...
Euler's Equations of Motion01:28

Euler's Equations of Motion

In fluid mechanics, shear stresses arise from viscosity, which represents a fluid's internal resistance to deformation. For low-viscosity fluids, like water, these stresses are minimal, simplifying flow analysis by allowing the fluid to be treated as inviscid, or frictionless. In an inviscid fluid, shear stresses are absent, leaving only normal stresses, which act perpendicularly to fluid elements. Notably, pressure — defined as the negative of the normal stress — remains uniform across...
The Buckingham Pi Theorem01:09

The Buckingham Pi Theorem

The Buckingham Pi theorem provides a structured method to simplify fluid dynamics problems by reducing complex systems of variables to dimensionless terms.
Dimensionless Groups in Fluid Mechanics01:15

Dimensionless Groups in Fluid Mechanics

Dimensionless groups in fluid mechanics provide simplified ratios that help analyze fluid behavior without relying on specific units. The Reynolds number (Re), which represents the ratio of inertial to viscous forces, distinguishes between laminar and turbulent flows, making it essential in the design of pipelines and aerodynamic surfaces. The Froude number (Fr), the ratio of inertial to gravitational forces, is particularly useful in predicting wave formation and hydraulic jumps in...