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7.5 Finite Nonlinear Waves

Chalmers University of Technology
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Division of Fluid Dynamics

Starting point: the governing flow equations on partial differential form

Continuity equation:

ρt+uρx+ρux=0\frac{\partial \rho}{\partial t}+u\frac{\partial \rho}{\partial x}+\rho\frac{\partial u}{\partial x}=0

Momentum equation:

ut+uux+1ρpx=0\frac{\partial u}{\partial t}+u\frac{\partial u}{\partial x}+\frac{1}{\rho}\frac{\partial p}{\partial x}=0

Any thermodynamic property can be expressed as a function of two other thermodynamic properties. This means that we can get density as a function of pressure and entropy: ρ=ρ(p,s)\rho=\rho(p,s) and therefore

dρ=(ρp)sdp+(ρs)pdsd\rho=\left(\frac{\partial \rho}{\partial p}\right)_s dp+\left(\frac{\partial \rho}{\partial s}\right)_p ds

Assuming isentropic flow ds=0ds=0 gives

dρ=(ρp)sdpd\rho=\left(\frac{\partial \rho}{\partial p}\right)_s dp
ρt=(ρp)spt=1a2ptρx=(ρp)spx=1a2px\begin{aligned} &\frac{\partial \rho}{\partial t}=\left(\frac{\partial \rho}{\partial p}\right)_s\frac{\partial p}{\partial t}=\frac{1}{a^2}\frac{\partial p}{\partial t}\\ & \\ &\frac{\partial \rho}{\partial x}=\left(\frac{\partial \rho}{\partial p}\right)_s\frac{\partial p}{\partial x}=\frac{1}{a^2}\frac{\partial p}{\partial x} \end{aligned}

Now, insert (7.112) in (7.108) gives

pt+upx+ρa2ux=0\frac{\partial p}{\partial t}+u\frac{\partial p}{\partial x}+\rho a^2\frac{\partial u}{\partial x}=0

Dividing (7.113) by ρa\rho a gives

1ρa(pt+upx)+aux=0\frac{1}{\rho a}\left(\frac{\partial p}{\partial t}+u\frac{\partial p}{\partial x}\right)+a\frac{\partial u}{\partial x}=0

A slightly modified form of the momentum equation is obtained by multiplying and dividing the last term by aa

ut+uux+1ρa(apx)=0\frac{\partial u}{\partial t}+u\frac{\partial u}{\partial x}+\frac{1}{\rho a}\left(a\frac{\partial p}{\partial x}\right)=0

If the continuity equation on the form (7.114) is added to the momentum equation on the form (7.115), we get

[ut+(u+a)ux]+1ρa[pt+(u+a)px]=0\left[\frac{\partial u}{\partial t}+(u+a)\frac{\partial u}{\partial x}\right]+\frac{1}{\rho a}\left[\frac{\partial p}{\partial t}+(u+a)\frac{\partial p}{\partial x}\right]=0

If, instead, the continuity equation on the form (7.114) is subtracted from the momentum equation on the form (7.115), we get

[ut+(ua)ux]+1ρa[pt+(ua)px]=0\left[\frac{\partial u}{\partial t}+(u-a)\frac{\partial u}{\partial x}\right]+\frac{1}{\rho a}\left[\frac{\partial p}{\partial t}+(u-a)\frac{\partial p}{\partial x}\right]=0

Since u=u(x,t)u=u(x,t), we have from the definition of a differential

du=utdt+uxdx=utdt+uxdxdtdtdu=\frac{\partial u}{\partial t}dt+\frac{\partial u}{\partial x}dx=\frac{\partial u}{\partial t}dt+\frac{\partial u}{\partial x}\frac{dx}{dt}dt

Now, let dx/dt=u+adx/dt=u+a

du=utdt+(u+a)uxdt=[ut+(u+a)ux]dtdu=\frac{\partial u}{\partial t}dt+(u+a)\frac{\partial u}{\partial x}dt=\left[\frac{\partial u}{\partial t}+(u+a)\frac{\partial u}{\partial x}\right]dt

which is the change of uu in the direction dx/dt=u+adx/dt=u+a

In the same way

dp=ptdt+pxdx=ptdt+pxdxdtdtdp=\frac{\partial p}{\partial t}dt+\frac{\partial p}{\partial x}dx=\frac{\partial p}{\partial t}dt+\frac{\partial p}{\partial x}\frac{dx}{dt}dt

and thus, in the direction dx/dt=u+adx/dt=u+a

dp=ptdt+(u+a)pxdt=[pt+(u+a)px]dtdp=\frac{\partial p}{\partial t}dt+(u+a)\frac{\partial p}{\partial x}dt=\left[\frac{\partial p}{\partial t}+(u+a)\frac{\partial p}{\partial x}\right]dt

If we go back and examine Eqn. (7.116), we see that Eqns. (7.119) and (7.121) appear in the equation and thus it can now be rewritten as follows

dudt+1ρadpdt=0du+dpρa=0\frac{du}{dt}+\frac{1}{\rho a}\frac{dp}{dt}=0\Rightarrow du+\frac{dp}{\rho a}=0

Eqn. (7.122) applies along a C+C^+ characteristic, i.e., a line in the direction dx/dt=u+adx/dt=u+a in xtxt-space and is called the compatibility equation along the C+C^+ characteristic. If we instead chose a CC^- characteristic, i.e., a line in the direction dx/dt=uadx/dt=u-a in xtxt-space, we get

du=[ut+(ua)ux]dtdu=\left[\frac{\partial u}{\partial t}+(u-a)\frac{\partial u}{\partial x}\right]dt
dp=[pt+(ua)px]dtdp=\left[\frac{\partial p}{\partial t}+(u-a)\frac{\partial p}{\partial x}\right]dt

which can be identified as subsets of Eqn. (7.117) and thus

dudt1ρadpdt=0\frac{du}{dt}-\frac{1}{\rho a}\frac{dp}{dt}=0

In order to fulfill the relation above, either du=dp=0du=dp=0 or

dudpρa=0du-\frac{dp}{\rho a}=0

Eqn. (7.126) applies along a CC^- characteristic, i.e., a line in the direction dx/dt=uadx/dt=u-a in xtxt-space and is called the compatibility equation along the CC^- characteristic.

characteristic lines

Figure 7.2:Characteristic lines through a point (x1x_1,t1t_1)

So, what we have done now is that we have have found paths through a point (x1x_1,t1t_1) along which the governing partial differential equations Eqns. (7.116) and (7.117) reduces to the ordinary differential equations (7.122) and (7.126). The C+C^+ and CC^- characteristic lines are physically the paths of right- and left-running sound waves in the xtxt-plane.

Riemann Invariants

If the compatibility equations are integrated along respective characteristic line, i.e., integrate (7.122) along the C+C^+ characteristic and (7.126) along the CC^- characteristic, we get the Riemann invariants J+J^+ and JJ^-.

J+=u+dpρa=constJ^+=u+\int\frac{dp}{\rho a}=const
J=udpρa=constJ^-=u-\int\frac{dp}{\rho a}=const

The Riemann invariants are constants along the associated characteristic line.

We have assumed isentropic flow and thus we may use the isentropic relations

p=C1Tγ/(γ1)=C2a2γ/(γ1)p=C_1T^{\gamma/(\gamma-1)}=C_2a^{2\gamma/(\gamma-1)}

where C1C_1 and C2C_2 are constants. Differentiating Eqn. (7.129) gives

dp=C2(2γγ1)a[2γ/(γ1)1]dadp=C_2\left(\frac{2\gamma}{\gamma-1}\right)a^{[2\gamma/(\gamma-1)-1]}da

Now, if we further assume the gas to be calorically perfect

a2=γRT=γpρρ=γpa2a^2=\gamma RT=\frac{\gamma p}{\rho}\Rightarrow \rho=\frac{\gamma p}{a^2}

Eqn. (7.129) in (7.131) gives

ρ=C2γa[2γ/(γ1)2]\rho=C_2\gamma a^{[2\gamma/(\gamma-1)-2]}

and thus

J+=u+C2(2γγ1)a[2γ/(γ1)1]C2γa[2γ/(γ1)2]ada=u+(2γ1)daJ^+=u+\int\frac{C_2\left(\frac{2\gamma}{\gamma-1}\right)a^{[2\gamma/(\gamma-1)-1]}}{C_2\gamma a^{[2\gamma/(\gamma-1)-2]}a}da=u+\left(\frac{2}{\gamma-1}\right)\int da
J+=u+2aγ1J^+=u+\frac{2a}{\gamma-1}
J=u2aγ1J^-=u-\frac{2a}{\gamma-1}

Eqns. (7.134) and (7.135) are the Riemann invariants for a calorically perfect gas. The Riemann invariants are constants along C+C^+ and CC^- characteristics and if the situation shown in Fig. Figure 7.2 appears, that fact can be used to calculate the flow velocity and speed of sound in the location (x1x_1,t1t_1).

J++J=u+2aγ1+u2aγ1=2uu=12(J++J)J^++J^-=u+\frac{2a}{\gamma-1}+u-\frac{2a}{\gamma-1}=2u\Rightarrow u=\frac{1}{2}(J^++J^-)
J+=u+2aγ1=12(J++J)+2aγ1a=γ14(J+J)J^+=u+\frac{2a}{\gamma-1}=\frac{1}{2}(J^++J^-)+\frac{2a}{\gamma-1}\Rightarrow a=\frac{\gamma-1}{4}(J^+-J^-)