Internal vs External flows from "summary" of Fundamentals of Fluid Mechanics by Bruce R. Munson,Donald F. Young,Theodore H. Okiishi
Internal and external flows refer to the dynamics of fluids moving in different environments. It can be studied to gain insights into how different factors can influence the motion of fluids and its characteristics.- Internal flows involve movement of fluids in an enclosed region such as a pipe or surface boundary, while external flows include those in open areas like mountains and valleys.
- Internal flows are more conducive for research as they require less complex equations and can be studied with greater accuracy using numerical methods.
- An important factor in studying internal flows is that the pressure exerted by the fluid on the surface boundary must remain constant at all points within the system.
- The effects of viscosity are essential to evaluate performance of both internal and external flows. Viscosity helps determine how flow behavior changes as a result of changes in the magnitude of parameters like velocity and turbulence.
