A steady, isentropic, quasi-one-dimensional flow of a compressible fluid through a…

PHYSICS · Multi-part · Fermi University Physics · Fluids & Continuum Physics · Kinematics, conservation laws and ideal flow · Waves, acoustics and compressible flow

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Problem

A steady, isentropic, quasi-one-dimensional flow of a compressible fluid through a channel of slowly varying area A(x)A(x) obeys mass conservation ρuA=m˙\rho u A = \dot m (constant), the frictionless momentum equation ρu du=−dp\rho u\,\mathrm{d}u = -\mathrm{d}p, and, because the walls are smooth and there is no heat exchange, dp=c2 dρ\mathrm{d}p = c^2\,\mathrm{d}\rho, with cc the local sound speed and M=u/cM = u/c. ((a)) Starting from these three relations, derive dAA=(M2−1)duu\dfrac{\mathrm{d}A}{A} = (M^2-1)\dfrac{\mathrm{d}u}{u}. ((b)) State in one sentence why M=1M=1 can occur only where dA=0\mathrm{d}A = 0.

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