Strong Boussinesq approximation 2026-10-14
In the constant-property convection convention, the strong Boussinesq approximation supplements small relative mass density changes with constant dynamic viscosity, thermal diffusivity, specific heat capacity and thermal expansion coefficient throughout the modeled temperature interval. A uniform reference density replaces density in inertia and mass conservation, while a linear density anomaly is retained in gravitational buoyancy. The temperature obeys an advection-diffusion equation with constant coefficients. The term “strong” is not uniform across all fluid-mechanics literature: some stratified-flow treatments instead emphasize the use of a globally constant reference density. The constant-property convection usage is explained in courses.physics.ucsd.edu/2021/Spring/physics218c/Spiegel%20Convection.pdf .
For a clean spherical gas bubble with negligible internal dynamic viscosity and thermal conductivity, a weak temperature gradient produces the displayed migration velocity, where . The exterior Papkovich–Neuber representation can use only the scalar potential . Its surface normal velocity equals , and its tangential traction balances minus the surface surface tension gradient from the temperature dipole around an insulating sphere. For the usual the bubble moves toward warmer liquid. Small Reynolds number, Péclet number, capillary number, and fractional surface-tension variation justify the approximation; surfactants can oppose the temperature-driven Marangoni stress.
Two-layer Couette flow Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-06
In two-layer Couette flow, each Newtonian-fluid layer has a linear velocity profile. Continuity of velocity and shear stress at the interface makes the velocity drop across each layer proportional to its thickness divided by its dynamic viscosity.
Vertically averaged alpha closure for a mixed-pressure layer Created 2026-10-07 Updated 2026-10-14
For the constant gas-radiation ratio vertical disc structure, the integrated alpha prescription gives the displayed mean kinematic viscosity and . Uniform dynamic viscosity and nonuniform pressure are compatible because this prescription is an integrated equality. Imposing the corresponding pointwise equality would not preserve the exact vertical solution.
Viscous force 2026-10-18
The viscous force on a fluid region is the resultant of the traction supplied by the viscous stress tensor . With the outward unit normal of the region, its surface contribution is the displayed surface integral. For an incompressible Newtonian fluid, , where is dynamic viscosity and is velocity. A force scale is for a body of size moving at speed , while the inertial force scale is ; their ratio is the Reynolds number. Total hydrodynamic drag on a body includes both viscous traction and the pressure traction induced by the flow. For example, the full Stokes drag law gives for a no-slip sphere, rather than just the viscous-traction part alone.
For a Newtonian layer with density , dynamic viscosity , thickness and a plate moving at , a stress-free roof and no-slip base give . Zero net mountain-material volume flux produces when the contact height vanishes. Very near its idealized contact line the slope violates the lubrication approximation.
Viscous stress tensor Created 2026-09-28 Updated 2026-10-14
The viscous stress tensor is the part of the Cauchy stress tensor associated with deformation rates. For an isotropic Newtonian fluid in incompressible flow,Here is pressure, is the identity matrix, is dynamic viscosity, and is the strain-rate tensor. The convention is ; denotes transpose and denotes trace. Across a plane with unit normal vector , the viscous traction is . The tensor makes this rule work for any plane orientation. [ref]
https://www.damtp.cam.ac.uk/user/tong/fluids/fluids.pdf. David Tong, Fluid Mechanics, section 3.1.1, equations (3.5)–(3.6)
In the worked Couette flow, , soIn particular, while the shear rate is ; the factor in recovers . On the upper face of a fluid slice, gives viscous traction ; on the lower face it is . Constant stress can therefore transmit a force between the plates even though its divergence, and the net viscous force on each slice, vanish.
Compare planar extension with solid-body rotation :Extension changes lengths and produces viscous normal stresses . Rotation preserves distances and gives zero viscous stress, despite its nonzero velocity gradient and vorticity . For and , extension gives and ; rotation gives zero. A rotating fluid may still have a pressure gradient supplying its centripetal acceleration.
For an isotropic Newtonian fluid in three-dimensional compressible flow, separate shape change from volume change:The first term is deviatoric stress, with zero trace; is volume viscosity, also called bulk viscosity. For uniform expansion , and , so the shear contribution vanishes and the viscous stress is . Thus dynamic viscosity and volume viscosity describe distinct responses, and incompressible flow removes only the volume-change term. [ref]
https://notes.shreyasmandre.com/fluid-dynamics-notes/Ch2.html. Shreyas Mandre, Fluid Dynamics Lecture Notes, section 2.11.3, equation (2.49)
