Transport Phenomena
Vector and Tensor
Analysis
PROF. BASIM ABU-JDAYIL
CHEMICAL & PETROLEUM ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
UAE UNIVERSITY
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Introduction
Three different types of physical quantities are used in transport phenomena: scalars (e.g.
temperature, pressure and concentration), vectors (e.g. velocity, momentum and force)
and second order tensors (e.g. stress or momentum flux and velocity gradient). It is
essential to have a primary knowledge of the mathematical operations of scalar, vector
and tensor quantities for solving the problems of transport phenomena. In fact, the use of
the indicial notation in Cartesian coordinates will enable us to express the long
formulae encountered in transport phenomena in a concise and compact fashion. In
addition, any equation written in vector tensor form is equally valid in any coordinate
system.
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Introduction
In this course, we will using the following notations for scalar, vector and tensor
quantities:
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Cartesian coordinates and unit
vectors
A xyz cartesian coordinate system may also be conventionally written as shown below.
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Tensor quantities
It was pointed out that the vectors also have a direction associated with them along with
a magnitude, whereas scalars only have a magnitude but no direction. Extending this
definition, we can loosely define a 2nd order tensor as a physical quantity which has a
magnitude and two different directions associated with it. To better understand, why we
might need two different directions for specifying a particular physical quantity. Let us
take the example of the stresses which may arise in a solid body, or in a fluid.
Clearly, the stresses are associated with magnitude of forces, as well as with an area,
whose direction is also need to be specified by the outward normal to the face of the area
on which a particular force acting. Hence, we will require 32, i.e., 9 components to
specify a stress completely in a 3 dimensional Cartesian coordinate system. In general, an
nth order tensor will be specified by 3n components (in a 3-dimensional system).
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Tensor quantities
http://www.doitpoms.ac.uk/tlplib/tensors/what_is_tensor.php
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Time derivatives in transport
phenomena
Many times, we are interested to know how fast any physical quantity or property is
Many times, we are interested to know how fast any physical
changingquantity
with time. However,is the
or property property
changing might
with time.beHowever,
also the the
function of space
property might be also the function of space coordinates,
coordinates,
makesmakes
moremore complicated
complicated to measure.
to measure. InIn thissection,
this section,three
three different types
different types of time derivatives are discussed.
of time derivatives are discussed.
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Time derivatives in transport
phenomena
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Time derivatives in transport
phenomena
Partial derivative
If the observer remains fixed at a particular position and determines the change in the
concentration of SO2. It is being the partial derivative that is measured. At time t=t, let
the concentration of SO2 be C1 and at time t+t, let it be C1+C1. Thus, the time
derivative, which is the measure of change in SO2 concentration is given by
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Time derivatives in transport
phenomena
Total derivative
If, however, the observer also changes his position with time. It is the total derivative
which is measured. Suppose at any time t = t, the observer is situated at the point A
and measures concentration of SO2 as C1. At time t= t+t, the observer has moved
and reaches a different location at point B. Let this measured concentration of SO2 be
C2 . In this case, the time derivative is
This may be called a total derivative as the change in concentration with respect to
both time and space is being considered.
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Time derivatives in transport
phenomena
Total derivative
Therefore, it should also include the effects of the velocity of observer.
Mathematically this time derivative may be expressed as,
Here, ux, uy and uz are the components of the velocity of the observer in the x, y and z
directions respectively.
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Time derivatives in transport
phenomena
Substantial derivative
It is a special case of the total derivative where the observer floats in a balloon with
the speed of the air around it. Thus, the velocity of fluid is same as the velocity of the
observer. In this case,
where vx, vy and vz are the components of the velocity of the fluid.
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Time derivatives in transport
phenomena
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Time derivatives in transport
phenomena
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Time derivatives in transport
phenomena
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Time derivatives in transport
phenomena
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Time derivatives in transport
phenomena
Therefore,
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Time derivatives in transport
phenomena
and making it independent of the coordinate system, we may write it in vector and tensor
form as
The above definition of substantial derivative may also apply to a quantity which is
vector or second order tensor, i.e.,
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Coordinate systems
Till now, we have mostly seen and dealt with the Cartesian (or rectangular) coordinate
system. However, depending on the geometry of the problem we intend to solve, we may
find the Cartesian coordinate system too cumbersome to use. For example, consider the
flow of a fluid in a cylindrical pipe. In such a case, it may be difficult to use the Cartesian
coordinates because the boundary conditions may become extremely complicated to
write. Therefore, depending upon the geometry in consideration, we may use three
different types of coordinate systems.
1. Cartesian coordinate system
2. Cylindrical coordinate system
3. Spherical coordinate system
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Coordinate systems
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Coordinate systems
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Coordinate systems
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