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    The Substantial Derivative

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    Niel
    The substantial derivative, D/Dt, represents the instantaneous time rate of change of a property as a fluid element moves through space. It describes the change in a property while following a moving fluid particle, as opposed to the local derivative ∂/∂t which describes the change at a fixed point. D/Dt accounts for both transient changes at a point (local derivative) and spatial changes as the fluid element moves to a new location. An example is given of feeling a temperature change both from entering a cooler cave (spatial change) and being hit by a snowball (transient change) - together these represent the substantial derivative.

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    The Substantial Derivative

    Uploaded by

    Niel
    512 views1 page
    The substantial derivative, D/Dt, represents the instantaneous time rate of change of a property as a fluid element moves through space. It describes the change in a property while following a moving fluid particle, as opposed to the local derivative ∂/∂t which describes the change at a fixed point. D/Dt accounts for both transient changes at a point (local derivative) and spatial changes as the fluid element moves to a new location. An example is given of feeling a temperature change both from entering a cooler cave (spatial change) and being hit by a snowball (transient change) - together these represent the substantial derivative.

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    What is Substantial Derivative

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    The substantial derivative, D/Dt, represents the instantaneous time rate of change of a property as a fluid element moves through space. It describes the change in a property while following a moving fluid particle, as opposed to the local derivative ∂/∂t which describes the change at a fixed point. D/Dt accounts for both transient changes at a point (local derivative) and spatial changes as the fluid element moves to a new location. An example is given of feeling a temperature change both from entering a cooler cave (spatial change) and being hit by a snowball (transient change) - together these represent the substantial derivative.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    512 views1 page

    The Substantial Derivative

    Uploaded by

    Niel
    The substantial derivative, D/Dt, represents the instantaneous time rate of change of a property as a fluid element moves through space. It describes the change in a property while following a moving fluid particle, as opposed to the local derivative ∂/∂t which describes the change at a fixed point. D/Dt accounts for both transient changes at a point (local derivative) and spatial changes as the fluid element moves to a new location. An example is given of feeling a temperature change both from entering a cooler cave (spatial change) and being hit by a snowball (transient change) - together these represent the substantial derivative.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    The Substantial Derivative

    D/Dt is a symbol for the instantaneous time rate of change of density of


    the fluid element as it moves through point 1. By definition, this symbol is called the
    substantial derivative, D/Dt. Note that D/Dt is the time rate of change of density
    of the given fluid element as it moves through space. Here, our eyes are locked on the
    fluid element as it is moving, and we are watching the density of the element change
    as it moves through point 1. This is diferent from (/t)1, which is physically the
    time rate of change of density at the fixed point 1. For (/t)1, we fix our eyes
    on the stationary point 1, and watch the density change due to transient fluctuations
    in the flow field. Thus, D/Dt and /t are physically and numerically diferent
    quantities.
    we once again emphasize that D/Dt is the substantial
    derivative, which is physically the time rate of change following a moving fluid
    element; /t is called the local derivative, which is physically the time rate of
    change at a fixed point; _V is called the convective derivative, which is physically
    the time rate of change due to the movement of the fluid element from one
    location to another in the flow field where the flow properties are spatially diferent.
    The substantial derivative applies to any flow-field variable, for example,
    Dp/Dt, DT/Dt, Du/Dt, etc., where p and T are the static pressure and temperature
    respectively. For example:
    the temperature of the fluid element is changing as the element sweeps past a point in the
    flow because at that point the flow field temperature itself may be fluctuating with time (the
    local derivative) and
    because the fluid element is simply on its way to another point in the flow field
    where the temperature is diferent (the convective derivative).
    Consider an example which will help to reinforce the physical meaning of the
    substantial derivative. Imagine that you are hiking in the mountains, and you are
    about to enter a cave. The temperature inside the cave is cooler than outside. Thus,
    as you walk through the mouth of the cave, you feel a temperature decreasethis
    is analagous to the convective derivative. However, imagine that, at
    the same time, a friend throws a snowball at you such that the snowball hits you
    just at the same instant you pass through the mouth of the cave. You will feel an
    additional, but momentary, temperature drop when the snowball hits youthis is
    analagous to the local derivative. The net temperature drop you feel as
    you walk through the mouth of the cave is therefore a combination of both the act
    of moving into the cave, where it is cooler, and being struck by the snowball at the
    same instantthis net temperature drop is analagous to the substantial derivative.
    The above derivation of the substantial derivative is essentially taken from this
    authors basic aerodynamics text book. It is used there to introduce
    new aerodynamics students to the full physical meaning of the substantial derivative.
    The description is repeated here for the same reasonto give you a physical feel for
    the substantial derivative.We could have circumvented most of the above discussion
    by recognizing that the substantial derivative is essentially the same as the total
    diferential from calculus.

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