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Cauchy momentum equation

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Through Momentum, Time and Density

Main equation

In convective (or Lagrangian) form the Cauchy momentum equation is written as: DuDt=1ρ∇⋅σ+f

where

  • u is the flow velocity vector field, which depends on time and space, (unit: m/s)
  • t is time, (unit: s)
  • DuDt is the material derivative of u, equal to ∂tu+u⋅∇u, (unit: m/s2)
  • ρ is the density at a given point of the continuum (for which the continuity equation holds), (unit: kg/m3)
  • σ is the stress tensor, (unit: Pa=N/m2=kg⋅m−1⋅s−2)
  • f=[fxfyfz] is a vector containing all of the accelerations caused by body forces (sometimes simply gravitational acceleration), (unit: m/s2)
  • ∇⋅σ=[∂σxx∂x+∂σyx∂y+∂σzx∂z∂σxy∂x+∂σyy∂y+∂σzy∂z∂σxz∂x+∂σyz∂y+∂σzz∂z] is the divergence of stress tensor. (unit: Pa/m=kg⋅m−2⋅s−2)

Commonly used SI units are given in parentheses although the equations are general in nature and other units can be entered into them or units can be removed at all by nondimensionalization.

Note that only we use column vectors (in the Cartesian coordinate system) above for clarity, but the equation is written using physical components (which are neither covariants ("column") nor contravariants ("row") ). However, if we chose a non-orthogonal curvilinear coordinate system, then we should calculate and write equations in covariant ("row vectors") or contravariant ("column vectors") form.

After an appropriate change of variables, it can also be written in conservation form:

∂j∂t+∇⋅F=s

where j is the momentum density at a given space-time point, F is the flux associated to the momentum density, and s contains all of the body forces per unit volume.

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