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
B. Control Volume Theory Reynolds
Transport Theorem
Reading Assignment:
Chapter 4 Fluid Kinematics, Sections 4.3 to 4.5
B. Control Volume Theory Reynolds
Transport Theorem
Definitions
(i) System a fixed set of fluid particles that
may move, flow, and interact with its
environment:

Gas
Compressed
System of gas molecules
(ii) Control Volume (CV) a three
dimensional region of space chosen for
studying a fluid flow field.
(iii) Control Surface (CS) a mathematical
surface in space enclosing and defining the
physical boundaries of the control volume.
(iv) Flux of a vector field the amount of
some vector quantity passing through a
hypothetical mathematical surface per unit
area. The surface may be either open or
closed (e.g., a control surface enclosing a
control volume immersed in a fluid
velocity field).
Notice that a system is a Lagrangian concept,
while the control volume employs a Eulerian
reference frame.
Judicious selection of control volume
boundaries, i.e., the control surface, relative to a
system of interest often makes analysis of fluid
flow phenomena simpler, and the results more
useful. Analysts have complete freedom in
selection of these boundaries.
Vector Flux Analogy
Imagine a crowd of people standing shoulder-to-
shoulder in straight columns marching at speed v
toward an arena gateway having width w, but at an
arbitrary angle, u, to the opening:
v
u
w
Also let,
= number of people per unit area [#/L
2
]
Q = rate at which people pass through the
doorway [#/T]
Case 1
People marching straight toward the opening,
i.e., u = 0. Then, notice that:
w v Q =
1
L
L
people #
T
L
T
people #
2
=
Case 2 (a) Effective Width
People march toward the doorway at angle u > 0,
then the opening appears to the people as having
an effective width, e = w cosu :
w
e
u
( )
( ) u
u
cos
g rearrangin , cos
2
2
w v Q
w v Q
=
=
L
L
people #
T
L
T
people #
2
=
Case 2 (b) Normal Component of V
Only the component of the marching velocity, V,
perpendicular or normal to the doorway yields
people flux through the opening, v
n
= v cosu :
w
v
n
( )
( ) u
u
cos
g rearrangin , cos
2
2
w v Q
w v Q
=
=
L
L
people #
T
L
T
people #
2
=
u
v = V
Notice that when u =0, cosu =1:
required as ,
1 2
w v Q Q = =
To put Case 2 (b) into vector notation, define
as the unit normal vector to the hypothetical
plane surface across the doorway opening. Then,
by definition of the dot product:



Thus, the previous result for Q
2
can be written:
1
u cos

n V n V =
u
n

v
u cos

v = n V
( )
( ) w Q
w v Q

u
n V

cos
2
2
=
=
n

V
Mass Flux in a Fluid Velocity Field
Extend the vector flux analogy to a fixed, closed
control surface enclosing an arbitrary 3-
dimensional control volume in space immersed in
fluid velocity field . Define an outward pointing
unit normal vector (i.e., positive algebraic sign
when directed outward), then for any differential
area element, dA, on the control surface the
outflowing mass flow rate is given by:
n

V
m d

( )dA dA V m d dQ m d
n
n V

= = =

Integrating over the entire CS, encompassing
various regions where the velocity vector is
directed inward, outward, and tangent to the CS
yields the net mass flow rate, :



is called net mass flow rate because:
( )
}
=
CS
dA m n V

Mass flux, i.e., mass flow rate

per unit control surface area
m

( ) outward directed is when 0

(i) V n V >
y
x
cosu > 0 cosu < 0
cosu < 0 cosu > 0
u
0 cos 90 90 > < < u u
( ) 0 cos

> = u n V n V
Outflow across CS
is positive outflow
y
x
cosu > 0 cosu < 0
cosu < 0 cosu > 0
u
0 cos 270 90 < < < u u
( ) 0 cos

< = u n V n V
Inflow across CS
is negative outflow
( ) inward directed is when 0

(ii) V n V <
( ) CS the o tangent t is when 0

(iii) V n V =
n

V
CS

dA
0 cos 90 or 90 = = = u u u
( ) 0 0

= = n V n V
y
x
cosu > 0 cosu < 0
cosu < 0 cosu > 0
u
No mass transport
across the CS
Reynolds Transport Theorem
Consider the system for analysis as an arbitrarily
selected fluid element of mass, m, immersed in a
fluid velocity field, V. Choose the volume
occupied by the fluid element at some arbitrary
instant in time, t, as the control volume. Then, of
course, the surface of the fluid element at time t
becomes the control surface.
Let B represent the total amount of any extensive
physical property of the fluid elementvelocity,
acceleration, mass, kinetic energy, momentum,
etc.and let b represent the amount of the
physical property per unit mass of fluid. Then, of
course:
bm B =
Now consider the material derivative of B at
time t, providing narrative definitions for various
combinations of terms using system-CV-CS
terminology:
z
B
w
y
B
v
x
B
u
t
B
Dt
DB
c
c
+
c
c
+
c
c
+
c
c
=
Time rate of
change in B
within the CV
Instantaneous net
transport rate of
B across the CS
Total rate of change in B at time t
within the system of mass m
Transforming the material derivative into an
equivalent narrative equation:

CS the across B
of rate transport
net ous Instantane

CV the within
in change
of rate Time
at time mass of
element fluid the within
in change of rate Total
|
|
|
.
|

\
|
+
|
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
|
|
|
.
|

\
|
B
t m
B
Material
Derivative
Surface Integral
over the CS
Volume Integral
over the CV
Reconverting to mathematical symbolism
involving volume and surface integrals yields
Reynolds Transport Theorem (RTT):
( )
} }
+
c
c
=
CS CV
dA b V d b
t Dt
DB
n V

Flux of B, i.e.,
transport rate of
B per unit area
Amount of B
per unit volume
[Equation 4.19, p. 183]