Southern Methodist University

Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering

CEE 2342/ME 2342 Fluid Mechanics
Roger O. Dickey, Ph.D., P.E.

III. BASIC EQS. OF HYDRODYNAMICS
A. Fluid Flow Concepts Application of
the Bernoulli and Continuity Equations
Reading Assignment:
Chapter 3 Elementary Fluid Dynamics ,
Sections 3.4 and 3.8
Rate of Flow
Consider steady flow of an incompressible fluid
into a closed tank, filled with the fluid:
d
1
= V
1
t
d
2
= V
2
t
Conduit (1) Area, A
1

Conduit (2) Area, A
2

d
1

d
2

Consider the volume element in the inlet conduit
having cross-sectional area A
1
perpendicular to
the velocity vector, and having length d
1
giving
it a total volume, , and a mass, .
If a time interval, t, is required for the fluid
element to move a distance equal to its length,
i.e., for the entire volume of the element to move
into the tank, then its average velocity is,
t
d
V
o
1
1
=
1 1 1
d A V =
1 1
V m =
Substituting for d
1
in the expression for
velocity,

Rearranging,

The new variable is given the symbol Q, and
is called the volumetric flow rate or discharge
[L
3
/T], i.e.,
t A
V
V
o
1
1
1
=
1
1
A
V
1 1
1
A V
t
V
=
o
t
V
o
1
1 1 1
A V Q =
Pipe Diameter, D
Pipe Area, A
1
= tD
2
/4
Velocity, V
1
Volumetric Flow Rate in Pipe #1, Q
1
= V
1
A
1
For example:
Multiplying both sides of the expression for
by the density of the fluid, , yields,

The new variable is given the symbol ,
and is called the mass flow rate or mass
transport rate [M/T], i.e.,
t
V
o
1
t
V
o

1
1 1 1 1
A V Q m = =

1 1
1
A V
t
V

=
m

Over the same time interval t, consider the

volume element in the outlet conduit having
cross-sectional area A
2
perpendicular to the
velocity vector, and having length d
2
giving it a
total volume, . Using reasoning similar
to that used for the inlet conduit,
2 2 2
A V Q =
2 2 2
d A V =
2 2 2 2
A V Q m = =

Since the fluid in the tank is incompressible,

every particle of fluid entering the tank through
the inlet conduit displaces an equal volume of
fluid and forces it into the outlet conduit. Thus,

This is called the continuity equation for
incompressible flow, and it derives directly from
the principle of mass conservation.
2 2 1 1 2 1 2 1
2 2 1 1 2 1
or or (ii)
or (i)
A V A V Q Q m m
A V A V Q Q
= = =
= =

Many interesting and important fluid dynamics
problems can be solved with Bernoullis Equation,
the Continuity Equation and, especially, with the
two equations combined when written between
any two points on a streamline:
2 2 1 1 2 1 2 1
2 2 1 1 2 1
2
2 2
2
2
1 1
1
or or (iii)
or (ii)
2 2
(i)
A V A V Q Q m m
A V A V Q Q
g
V p
z
g
V p
z


= = =
= =
+ + = + +

*Important Point
Using deductive reasoning for now (a formal
derivation will be presented soon), the Continuity
Equation can be expanded to include multiple
inflow and outflow fluid streams. If they all have
the same, constant fluid density, , a more general
differential form of the Continuity Equation may be
written:
( )

=
All
out out
All
in in
A V A V
dt
V d
Then for steady flow, yielding:



Noting that Q = VA, this expression may be
concisely written:


=
=
All
out out
All
in in
All
out out
All
in in
A V A V
A V A V

0
( )
0 =
dt
V d

=
All
out
All
in
Q Q
Refer to Handouts III.A.1. Bernoulli and
Continuity Equation Examples, and III.A.2.
Additional Continuity and Bernoulli
Equation Examples.