5.

The Bernoulli Equation

5.1. Newton’s Second Law along a Streamline of
a Steady Flow
5.2. Alternative Forms of the Bernoulli Equation

5.3. Applications

5.4. Pressure Variation Perpendicular to Streamlines

Experimental Thermo and Fluid Mechanics Lab.

5.5. The Bernoulli Equation in Rotating Reference
system

5.6. The Bernoulli Equation for Unsteady Flow

5.7. The Bernoulli Equation from Energy

conservation Principle
 5.1. Newton’s Second Law along
a streamline of a Steady Flow

5.1.1. The acceleration of a steady flow at a given location r
on a streamline

▲ Fig. 5.1

Experimental Thermo and Fluid Mechanics Lab.

   
 dv ( r ) v dri
a    (5.1)
dt ri dt

 v v2
a  as  sˆ  a n  nˆ  v  sˆ   nˆ (5.2)
s R

v
where, as  v : acceleration tangent to the streamline.
s
v2
an  : acceleration normal to the streamline.
R
5.1.2. Applying Newton’s second law to a small
fluid particle of s ny along a streamline

▲ Fig. 5.2
 v
 Fs  m  as   V s (5.3)

 F s  Fps  Ws
p
   s n y   g sin   s n y
s
 p 
    g sin   V
 s  (5.4)

From Eq. (5.3) and Eq. (5.4) we obtain the equation of

motion along the streamline, s, where p s  dp ds and
v s  dv ds and using sin   dz ds

dp dz dv
  g  v (5.5)
ds ds ds
 5.1.3. By integrating the Eq.(5.5) along a streamline

dp 1 2
 

2
v  gz  C. (5.6)

where C is an integration constant to be determined by

conditions at some point on the streamline.

For incompressible flow, ρ = constant, the Eq. (5.6) becomes

the Bernoulli equation for steady, inviscid, incompressible Flo
w:
p 1 2
 v  gz  const [ N  m / kg ] (5.7) along a streamline.
 2

Attention for the limitation of applicability of the

Bernoulli equation!
 5.2. Alternative Forms of the
Bernoulli Equation

5.2.1. The pressure Form ;

Static, Dynamic, Stagnation, and Total Pressure

5.2.2. The Head Form ;

Pressure, Velocity, and Elevation Head

Experimental Thermo and Fluid Mechanics Lab.

5.2.1. The Pressure Form

The Bernoulli equation (5.7) can be written with terms in

pressure dimension [N/m2]
1 2
p   v   g z  const. [ N / m 2 ] (5.8)
2

▲ Fig. 5.3
Where, p : Static pressure,
measured by a piezometer tube.

1 2
v : Dynamic pressure,
2
measured by a pitot-static tube.

1 2
p v : Stagnation pressure on stagnation
2
streamline measured by a Pitot-tube.

1 2
p v  gz  C
2
: Total pressure is constant along a streamline.
5.2.2. The Head Form

Equation (5.7) can be written in the head form :

p v2
  z  const. [ m ] (5.9)
 g 2g

p v2
g : Pressure head, 2g : Velocity head

z : Elevation head

p v2
  z C
g 2g

: The head is constant along a streamline

 ▲ Fig. 5.4

The total head can be represented by the Energy Line (EL),

measured by Pitot-tube. The sum of the pressure and elevati
2

on head, ispgrepresented

v
2g by the Hydraulic Grade Line
(HGL), measured by piezometer tube.
 5.3. Applications
5.3.1. Torricelli’s Discharge (Free jet)

5.3.2. Flow around a Body

5.3.3. Flow along a Solid Wall

5.3.4. Pitot and Pitot-Static Tube

Experimental Thermo and Fluid Mechanics Lab.

5.3.1. Torricelli’s Discharge (Free je
t)

▲ Fig. 5.5

 2  2
p0  0   g h  p0  U   g 0 (5.10)
2 2

(5.10)
U2  2gh ; U  2gh
 2 A1
t   ha  he 
(5.12)
g A2
t 1 A1 he dh
dt  
0
t   ha
2 g A2 h
1 A1 dh
dt    A1 dh  U A2 dt
2 g A2 h
t ? Emptying Time :
5.3.2. Flow around a Body
Bernoulli constant for different streamlines?

p1   g z1  p2   g z2  ... (5.13) ▲ Fig. 5.6

 2  2
p1  U    g z1  p2  U    g z2  ...  C (5.14)
2 2
 2  2
p  U    g z  p2   U    g z2 (5.15)
2 2
 
U    g z   p4   U    g z 4 
2 2
p  (5.16)
2 2
 2  2
p  U    g z  p  U    g z  (5.17)
2 2
5.3.3. Flow along a Solid Wall

p1i  p1   g  h  z1  (5.18)

pre  p2   g  h  z2  (5.19)

pM   p1   g z1    p2   g z2  (5.20) ▲ Fig. 5.7


pM 
2
U 2
2  U 12  (5.21)
5.3.4. Pitot and Pitot-Static Tube
1) Pitot-Tube

▲ Fig. 5.8

 2
ps  p  U   pt (5.22)
2
2) Pitot-Static Tube

▲ Fig. 5.9

▲ Fig. 5.10

2  pM
U  (5.23)

 5.4. Pressure Variation Perpendicular
to Streamlines

Using the acceleration normal to a streamline from Eq.

(5.2) 2
v
an 
R

Newton’s second law in this normal direction :

v2 v2
 F n  m
R
  V
R
(5.24)

 p 
 n
 F   Wn   F pn  

  g cos    V
n 
(5.25)

Experimental Thermo and Fluid Mechanics Lab.

Putting Eq. (5.25) into Eq. (5.24) and using cos  dz dn w
e obtain
dz p v2
g    (5.26)
dn n R

If gravity is neglected, e.g. for gas or if the flow is in a horizo

ntal plane Eq. (5.26 ) becomes

p v2
  (5.27)
n R

For R → ∞ (parallel streamlines) p = const. across the

streamline.
Equation (5.26) can be integrated across the streamline :

dp v2
    R dn  gz  const. (5.28) across the streamline

For incompressible Flow

v2
p    dn   g z  const. (5.29)
R

valid again for steady, inviscid, incompressible flow

across the streamline.

For a complete integration v s, n  and R s, n  must be known.

 5.4.1. Application to the Free Vortex (Potential Vortex)

For a flow of concentric streamlines with a velocity distribution :

c
U 
R

where c = constant and R is the radial coordinate, the pressure

gradient normal to the streamlines is :
p p
 
n R

Putting this into Eq. (5.27)

p U2 c2
    3 (5.30)
R R R ▲ Fig. 5.10
Integrating it with an initial condition p( R0 )  p0 , we
obtain :

 c2  1 1 
p ( R )  p0   2  2  or
2  R0 R 

 2  2
p( R )  U ( R)  p0  U 0  const. (5.31)
2 2

This shows that the Bernoulli constant for all streamlines a

re the same. It means the flow is irrotational.*

* more in the lecture Thermo-Fluid Ⅱ

 5.5. Bernoulli Equation
in Rotating Reference System
• Considering a reference system rotating with a con
stant angular velocity ω around an axis and observ
ing a steady flow from this rotating reference syste
m, additional body forces due to the rotation besid
es the gravity force are acting :


- Centrifugal force :   r er
2

- Coriolis force : no component tangential to the

streamline

Experimental Thermo and Fluid Mechanics Lab.

 ▲ Fig. 5.11
The equation of motion for the rotating reference system along a
streamline :
dv dp dz
v  g    2 r cos  (5.32)
ds ds ds

Integrating along the streamline, using dr = ds · cosθ :

 2   2 r2
p  v  gz   const. (5.33) along a streamline
2 2
 5.6. The Bernoulli Equation
for unsteady flow

The acceleration along a streamline of an unsteady flow, v r , t  :
v v
as  v
t s
The equation of motion for unsteady flow :
v v p z
  v    g (5.33)
t s s s

Integrating along an unsteady streamline of incompressible

flow between point (1) and (2) :

Experimental Thermo and Fluid Mechanics Lab.

  2 s2 v ( s , t ) 
p1  v1   g z1    ds  p2  v22   g z2 (5.33)
2 s1 t 2
Simplification for an unsteady pipe flow, where v t  :
s2 v( s, t ) v(t )
with   ds   ( s2  s1 )
s1 t t

and v2  v1 , the Eq. (5.33) becomes

v(t )
p1   g z1   ( s2  s1 )  p2   g z 2 (5.34) or
t
v(t )
( p1  p2 )   g ( z1  z2 )   ( s2  s1 ) (5.35)
t

• Unsteady Bernoulli Equation in Rotating Reference System :

2 2
 2   2 r1 s2 v  2   2 r2
p1  v1   g z1    ds  p2  v2   g z2  (5.36)
2 2 s1 t 2 2
 5.7. The Bernoulli Equation
from Energy Conservation Principle
The first law of thermodynamics in words
time rate of net time rate of net time rate of
increase of the energy addition energy addition by
total stored  by heat transfer  works transfer into
energy of the into the system : the system :
system : dQ dW  W normal stress  W shaft
 v 2

dE ~ d  uˆ   g z  / dt
 2 

Experimental Thermo and Fluid Mechanics Lab.

The following assumptions simplify the energy equation d
erived from the first law of thermodynamics :
1. Inviscid flow : no dissipation of mechanical energy int
o the internal energy
2. Adiabatic system : Heat transfer is zero
3. One-dimensional steady flow and incompressible flow
The time rate of increase of the total stored energy or the system, dE
in Fig. (5-12) is composed of the time rate of the difference of
kinetic energy and the elevation(potential) energy between the
cross section 2 and1 respectively :

 u
2
u
2

 
dE    2 1  
   V  ( g z 2   g z1 ) V (5.37)
 2 2 

 u A u A
with V 1 1 2 2

▲ Fig. 5.12
The net time rate of energy addition by work transfer is
composed of the time rate of work difference done by the
normal stress (pressure) and the time rate of mechanical shaft
works done to the flow system, e.g. by a pump :
dW  W shaft  ( p2 A2  u2  p1 A1  u1 )

According to the first law of thermodynamics

0
dE  dW  dQ

 u 2
u 2

V  
 2
    V (  g z2   g z1 )  W shaft  ( p2  p1 ) V
1

 2 2

 u 2
  u 2

W shaft  V  p2  
 2
  g z2    p1   1
  g z1  (5.38)
 2   2 
W shaft is the needed powers of a pump to deliver the flow rate of V
from cross section 1 to 2.
If no shaft work has been done W shaft  0 , we obtain the Berno
ulli Equation for incompressible steady flow along a streamline
from Eq. (5.38) :

u1 2 u 22
p1     g z1  p 2     g z2 (5.39)
2 2