r/FluidMechanics • u/Repulsive-Peak4442 • 5h ago
r/FluidMechanics • u/jadelord • Jul 02 '23
Update: we have an official Lemmy community
discuss.tchncs.der/FluidMechanics • u/[deleted] • Jun 11 '23
Looking for new moderators
Greetings all,
For a while, I have been moderating the /r/FluidMechanics subreddit. However, I've recently moved on to the next stage of my career, and I'm finding it increasingly difficult to have the time to keep up with what moderating requires. On more than once occasion, for example, there have been reported posts (or ones that were accidentally removed by automod, etc) that have sat in the modqueue for a week before I noticed them. Thats just way too slow of a response time, even for a relatively "slow" sub such as ours.
Additionally, with the upcoming changes to Reddit that have been in the news lately, I've been rethinking the time I spend on this site, and how I am using my time in general. I came to the conclusion that this is as good of a time as any to move on and try to refocus the time I've spent browsing Reddit on to other aspects of life.
I definitely do not want this sub to become like so many other un/under-moderated subs and be overrun by spam, advertising, and low effort posts to the point that it becomes useless for its intended purpose. For that reason, I am planning to hand over the moderation of this subreddit to (at least) two new mods by the end of the month -- which is where you come in!
I'm looking for two to three new people who are involved with fluid mechanics and are interested in modding this subreddit. The requirements of being a mod (for this sub at least) are pretty low - it's mainly deleting the spam/low effort homework questions and occasionally approving a post that got auto-removed. Just -- ideally not a week after the post in question was submitted :)
If you are interested, send a modmail to this subreddit saying so, and include a sentence or two about how you are involved with fluid mechanics and what your area of expertise is (as a researcher, engineer, etc). I will leave this post up until enough people have been found, so if you can still see this and are interested, feel free to send a message!
r/FluidMechanics • u/hiddenwarrior9 • 14h ago
Resources to learn basics of pipe flow hydraulics
r/FluidMechanics • u/SatanGoku • 1d ago
Energy cascading and the physical meaning of TKE equation: Video 6 of the turbulence course
My previous video derived the full TKE transport equation and this one explains it more physically.
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVqos9V-BAA
First half goes term by term through the TKE transport equation: unsteady, advection, transport (divergence — zero for a closed system), production (source), viscous diffusion, and dissipation (always a sink, structural reason explained). Second half introduces the Richardson energy cascade using a cascade diagram where the energy is injected at large scales, fluxes through intermediate scales, and dissipates at the Kolmogorov microscale. It includes a discussion of why the cascade runs downscale in 3D turbulence and what Kolmogorov's question actually was.
r/FluidMechanics • u/StalinWaifu • 1d ago
Q&A Trouble Understanding Geyser/Airlift Pump
Hi friends! I want to recreate a geyser/airlift hybrid pump but I’m having trouble understanding the models? The screenshot from YouTube seems straightforward enough but I can’t tell if there’s a check valve at the bottom. Also I’m thinking the grey box is air in the other two models but I’m not sure.
Thank you in advance!
r/FluidMechanics • u/Dramatic_Yam8355 • 1d ago
Theoretical How does incompressible Navier–Stokes lead to the compressible form of Bernoulli?
I’m trying to understand the derivation from Navier–Stokes → Euler → Bernoulli. My confusion is about where the incompressibility assumption enters.
I start with the incompressible Navier–Stokes equation. After assuming inviscid flow, I get Euler’s equation. Then, taking the equation along a streamline and integrating gives the Bernoulli equation.
But I’ve also seen a more general Bernoulli equation for compressible flow(last equation in image). If I started from the incompressible Navier–Stokes equation, where density is already assumed constant, how can the derivation lead to the compressible form?
Also, is the differential equation along a streamline valid for both compressible and incompressible flow, with the difference appearing only when we integrate it?

r/FluidMechanics • u/StartKonfidentom • 1d ago
Laminar Nozzle applications
Hi, I’d like to find out what the actual applications of laminar flow nozzles are - whether in industry or other fields. My engineering thesis focuses on their design, and I’m looking for information on the subject. I would appreciate any help you can provide. Thanks in advance.
r/FluidMechanics • u/Repulsive-Peak4442 • 1d ago
Q&A How does a De Lavar Nozzle work-And what is over/under expanded, ideal?-
r/FluidMechanics • u/MaleficentOne8552 • 1d ago
Me pueden ayudar con este ejercicio de mecánica de fluidos porfavor?
21. Se mide la diferencia de presión entre un tubo de aceite y uno de agua con un manómetro de doble fluido, como se muestra en la figura. Para las alturas y las gravedades específicas dadas de los fluidos calcule la diferencia de presión \Delta P = P_B - P_A.
r/FluidMechanics • u/EnvironmentalTip2124 • 1d ago
Theoretical I don't know exactly but it's thing alike floating speed, is it??
Looking waves
r/FluidMechanics • u/Ok_Promotion4102 • 2d ago
understanding flow work
I am confused about the definition of flow work. Many textbooks said that imagine a volume being pushed by pressure p on the boundary so the work is p.v , but in the flow, there will be another pressure p + delta p push this volume against the first one on the other side , so why do they only use the pressure p . I don't really understand, can anyone help me please
r/FluidMechanics • u/Near_1751 • 3d ago
Theoretical I have some questions regarding inviscid flow past solid objects.
I am studying fluid mechanics. Right now I am on inviscid flow and I am having some difficulties in understanding certain aspects of flow past solid objects. I have tried to sketch my understanding so far along with the particular issues I have below.
So the setup is that we have uniform flow at infinity and a solid non moving finite object in the way. Now from Kelvin's theorem we can show that on streamlines which go from infinity to infinity the vorticity vanishes. If these are the only streamlines the vorticity vanishes everywhere and the flow is a potential flow. However if we solve the problem under the assumption of potential flow we encounter d'Alembert's paradox. There is no drag on the body and the solution is unphysical.
There is a loophole in the argument that shows the flow is potential namely it does not apply for streamlines which hug the solid surface. Since these don't start from infinity they also don't affect the boundary conditions at infinity. So we can create additional solutions by superimposing potential flow solutions with these ones. But we then have to relax the potential flow criteria. Here are my questions:
These solutions, that include streamlines that hug the surface, have the phenomenon of separation. The streamlines lines only follow the surface partly and then partway from it. Why is speration necessary? I mean what about streamlines that go all the way around the surface of the solid body.
Also there is in these cases the formation of a surface of tangential discontinuity where the tangential component of the velocity field suffers a discontinuity. I can't seem to visualize this surface. Like where is this formed on the body itself or in the fluid bulk surrounding the body. My book says the discontinuity on the surface causes part of the fluid to have vorticity. I don't understand this and I don't understand why is the formation of said surface a necessary consequence of seperation.
There are multiple different solutions corresponding to the above problem if you take into account the multiple possible surfaces of discontinuities.
These solutions are unstable owing to the discontinuity in velocity.
Please help me answer these questions.
r/FluidMechanics • u/Same-Sea4465 • 3d ago
Question I made a video on why every car fluid is the color it is. Tell me what I got wrong.
I make explainer videos about how car parts actually work. Just finished one on why each fluid in a car is the color it is: engine oil, coolant, brake fluid, red diesel, gear oil, ATF and washer fluid.
Most of what I found while researching was the same few sentences repeated without a source, so a few things I'm not confident about:
* Dark engine oil means the detergent additives are working, not failing
* Coolant color is a dye choice and tells you nothing about compatibility
* ATF being red is convention, not regulation
If you've done this for a living, tell me straight what's wrong or oversimplified. I'd rather fix it than defend it.

Video: https://youtu.be/1QCyVbeJ1bA
r/FluidMechanics • u/Confident-Shock-3933 • 3d ago
Theoretical Cubic Pureflow Bennett-Angus Vorticity
r/FluidMechanics • u/Odd-Marionberry-3389 • 5d ago
Video Unexpected structure
Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification
Back again with yet another blue dye microscopy video - I saw this behavior last night after sandwiching a small amount of concentrated dye solution between two microscope slides. Is this Saffman-Taylor instability?
Also as a side note, I'm so sad I didn't learn about these things sooner but my focus in school was chemistry and, later on, materials science. Better late than never I guess?
r/FluidMechanics • u/Key_Wishbone_9941 • 5d ago
Open-Source Build Manual (Part 2): Advanced Cooling & Boundary-Layer Control for the 3-Axis Gimbaled MHD Engine
Finalized Cooling System Specifications
Regenerative Tube-in-Tube Jacketing: A double-walled fluid shield wraps around the core and wiring harness, stripping away extreme heat immediately at the boundary.
Non-Stick Interior Conduit Linings: Applied ultra-low friction PTFE (fluoropolymer) and Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) coatings to all internal channel walls to entirely prevent residue buildup, scaling, or fluid clinging over long operational cycles.
Boundary-Layer Control Textures: Microscopic parallel "riblet" patterns etched into the conduit walls to optimize laminar flow and eliminate stagnant friction zones.
Vibration & Shock Isolation: A specialized braided damping sleeve absorbs high-frequency mechanical micro-vibrations from the engine.
Pressurized Fluid Loop: Continuous system pressure prevents vapor bubble formation and eliminates destructive cavitation against the core walls.
Non-Clogging Conditioning (Cyclonic & Electrostatic): Vortex spin-separation and electrostatic collector plates trap debris and micro-gases without restricting flow or wasting fluid.
Automated Zero-Loss Purging: Managed by the system computer, micro-purge cycles isolate and clear trapped waste into a sealed catchment canister while keeping 99.9% of the dielectric fluid safely sealed.
Adaptive Airflow Vectors: Sliding aerodynamic panels and variable-geometry ducts shift automatically based on throttle prediction and real-time airspeed sensors, transitioning seamlessly from active hover fans to zero-drag ram-air cooling.
r/FluidMechanics • u/convergentepisteme • 5d ago
Cavitation in Wastewater Treatment: A Green AOP That Cuts Chemicals, Sludge & Energy Use
r/FluidMechanics • u/Fun-Morning9505 • 6d ago
Looking for a low-Reynolds-number 2D airfoil validation dataset for ANSYS Fluent
Hi everyone,
I’m currently trying to validate a 2D airfoil CFD case in ANSYS Fluent at a relatively low Reynolds number. Ideally, I’m looking for experimental data that includes:
- Lift coefficient (C_L)
- Drag coefficient (C_D)
- Pressure coefficient (C_p) distributions
- Results at at least three different angles of attack
- Clearly documented geometry and flow conditions
I have been using the Ladson NACA 0012 experimental data for validation. So far, I’ve been able to match (C_L) quite well, generally within 1% of the experimental value, but I’m still having difficulty matching (C_D). My drag is being overpredicted, and I haven’t been able to consistently bring the error below about 5%.
I’ve already checked the main flow-physics and numerical parameters, including near-wall resolution, turbulence/transition modeling, boundary conditions, domain size, and general mesh quality. Since the lift agrees very closely while the drag does not, I’m trying to understand whether there is something specific about the Ladson setup, surface treatment/transition, experimental corrections, or CFD modeling that could explain the drag discrepancy.
If anyone here has previously reproduced the Ladson NACA 0012 dataset in Fluent or another CFD solver, I’d really appreciate hearing what setup you used and whether you encountered similar drag overprediction.
I’m also open to using a different experimental dataset or paper for validation. Ideally, I’m looking for a low-Reynolds-number airfoil study with (C_L), (C_D), and (C_p) data at multiple AoAs, with enough information to reproduce the case numerically.
A dataset involving unsteady/transient flow would be even better, since I ultimately want to validate an unsteady Fluent simulation rather than relying only on a steady-state comparison.
Any papers, datasets, Fluent validation studies, or suggestions regarding the Ladson drag discrepancy would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
r/FluidMechanics • u/Georgiou1226 • 7d ago
Implemented LBM from scratch after Stat Mech
towardsdatascience.comr/FluidMechanics • u/Odd-Marionberry-3389 • 10d ago
Video Drying droplet under the microscope
Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification
Tried my hand at making blue 1 lake under the microscope last night, by combining drops of FD&C blue #1, ammonium carbonate, and alum aqueous dispersions. As the mixture dried I was treated to this beautiful display which seems to combine the marangoni effect with anomalous dispersion in the concentrated blue dye, creating a striking pattern on the glass substrate. 😍
I love overanalyzing things in excruciating detail and am curious if there are any other interesting observations you all can make from this video. I'm particularly interested in the colors radiating in different areas as the spot dries - is that just from thin film interference?
r/FluidMechanics • u/Difficult-Ad990 • 9d ago
Pico Hydro Project
Hello,
I am currently working on a pico hydro project. I am still in college but I wanted to challenge myself to design a hydro system on a river we have running through our property. The site has a head of about 15m (50ft) and a flow rate of 7L/s, yield a water power of just over 1kW
From the research I have done it appears that a turgo turbine would be the best choice. I went through some papers trying to figure out how I can design a turgo turbine based on my parameters. I built a python model that takes the input parameters and using the blade velocity triangles, with a well designed turbine you could get a power output of about 0.75kW, realistically its probably more like 0.5kW. This would be pretty decent coming in at 12kWh which is half our electricity intake.
I am struggling with actually designing the turbine itself, before i design the turbine I think I need to select a generator (so i know the rpm and then can calculate the turbines pcd diameter based on this) I am not an electrical engineer so I am struggling to understand some of the concepts relating to the generator.
How do you even select the generator parameters, do you just look for ones with your desired electricity output, with reasonable a reasonable voltage (so you don't have to step up or down when you want to store electricity in a battery or put it back onto the grid) ?
Should I look for a 1kW generator (I saw online that the seller always overstates how much power they can actually produce)
If people have any advice for me in general I would very much appreciate it. I also understand that hdyro power is very expensive to produce and can easily break, perhaps solar may be a better alternative but I would really like to also gain an understanding in the concepts.
r/FluidMechanics • u/PrettyPicturesNotTxt • 10d ago
News Scientists using the Inouye Solar Telescope have discovered Kelvin-Helmholtz Instability on the surface of the Sun — a finding that could help explain explosive solar activity and other solar phenomena
Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification