Reynolds Number
The assumption of inviscid flow is generally valid where viscous forces are small in comparison to inertial forces. Such flow situations can be identified as flows with a Reynolds number much greater than one. The assumption that viscous forces are negligible can be used to simplify the Navier-Stokes solution to the Euler equations.
The Euler equation governing inviscid flow is:
which is admittedly the Newton's second law applied on a flowing infinitesimal volume element. In the steady-state case, combined with the continuity equation of mass, can be solved using potential flow theory.
Read more about this topic: Inviscid Flow
Famous quotes containing the words reynolds and/or number:
“My dear dear Mother,
If you dont let me come home I dieI am all over ink,
and my fine clothes have been spoiltI have been tost in a blanket, and seen a ghost.
I remain, my dear dear Mother,
Your dutiful and most unhappy son,
Freddy.
P.S. Remember me to my Father.”
—Frederick Reynolds (18th century)
“Not too many years ago, a childs experience was limited by how far he or she could ride a bicycle or by the physical boundaries that parents set. Today ... the real boundaries of a childs life are set more by the number of available cable channels and videotapes, by the simulated reality of videogames, by the number of megabytes of memory in the home computer. Now kids can go anywhere, as long as they stay inside the electronic bubble.”
—Richard Louv (20th century)
