Science & Engineering

Fluid Dynamics Reference

Bernoulli, continuity, Reynolds number, and key fluid dimensionless groups.

Conservation laws

Continuityρ₁A₁v₁ = ρ₂A₂v₂ (incompressible: A₁v₁ = A₂v₂)
BernoulliP + ½ρv² + ρgh = constant (inviscid, incompressible)
MomentumF = ρQΔv for control volume

Dimensionless numbers

NameFormulaPhysical meaning
Reynolds ReρvL / μInertial / viscous — turbulence indicator
Mach Mv / cFlow speed / sound speed — compressibility
Froude Frv / √(gL)Inertia / gravity — open-channel flow
Weber Weρv²L / σInertia / surface tension — droplets
Prandtl Prμc_p / kMomentum / thermal diffusion
Nusselt NuhL / kConvective / conductive heat transfer
Péclet PeRe · PrAdvection / diffusion
Drag coefficient C_DF_D / (½ρv²A)Dimensionless drag

Pipe flow regime

Re < 2 300Laminar
2 300 < Re < 4 000Transition
Re > 4 000Turbulent

Darcy-Weisbach friction loss

Head lossh_f = f · (L/D) · v² / (2g)
Pressure dropΔP = f · (L/D) · ρv² / 2
f (laminar)= 64 / Re
f (turbulent)Moody chart or Colebrook eqn
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