Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 39 views

    Weber Number

    Uploaded by

    charukantrao
    The Weber number is a dimensionless number used in fluid dynamics to characterize the relative importance of inertial forces to surface tension forces. It is defined as the ratio of inertial forces to surface tension forces. A lower Weber number indicates that surface tension dominates and fluids form rounded shapes, while a higher Weber number means inertial forces dominate and fluids are more likely to break up into smaller droplets or exhibit turbulent behavior. The Weber number helps analyze situations involving fluid interfaces, droplets, thin films, and multiphase flows.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Weber Number

    Uploaded by

    charukantrao
    39 views3 pages
    The Weber number is a dimensionless number used in fluid dynamics to characterize the relative importance of inertial forces to surface tension forces. It is defined as the ratio of inertial forces to surface tension forces. A lower Weber number indicates that surface tension dominates and fluids form rounded shapes, while a higher Weber number means inertial forces dominate and fluids are more likely to break up into smaller droplets or exhibit turbulent behavior. The Weber number helps analyze situations involving fluid interfaces, droplets, thin films, and multiphase flows.

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    The Weber number is a dimensionless number used in fluid dynamics to characterize the relative importance of inertial forces to surface tension forces. It is defined as the ratio of inertial forces to surface tension forces. A lower Weber number indicates that surface tension dominates and fluids form rounded shapes, while a higher Weber number means inertial forces dominate and fluids are more likely to break up into smaller droplets or exhibit turbulent behavior. The Weber number helps analyze situations involving fluid interfaces, droplets, thin films, and multiphase flows.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
    39 views3 pages

    Weber Number

    Uploaded by

    charukantrao
    The Weber number is a dimensionless number used in fluid dynamics to characterize the relative importance of inertial forces to surface tension forces. It is defined as the ratio of inertial forces to surface tension forces. A lower Weber number indicates that surface tension dominates and fluids form rounded shapes, while a higher Weber number means inertial forces dominate and fluids are more likely to break up into smaller droplets or exhibit turbulent behavior. The Weber number helps analyze situations involving fluid interfaces, droplets, thin films, and multiphase flows.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
    of 3

    Weber Number

    The Weber number (We) is a dimensionless number used in fluid dynamics to


    characterize the relative importance of inertial forces to surface tension forces. It is named
    after the German physicist and engineer Wilhelm Weber. The Weber number is particularly
    relevant in the study of fluid flows where surface tension is a significant factor, such as in
    the behavior of droplets, jets, and thin films.

    The Weber number is defined as the ratio of inertial forces to surface tension forces and is
    expressed mathematically as:

    We = (pv^2L/σ)

    L = characteristic length, ρ = density, v = flow rate, σ = surface tension.


    The Weber number helps us understand whether the fluid's behavior is dominated by inertia or surface tension.
    As mentioned below:

    ● If We≪1: Surface tension dominates, and the fluid tends to form rounded droplets or maintain a smooth,
    stable surface.
    ○ Surface tension acts to minimize the surface area of the fluid, resulting in stable and rounded
    shapes. Examples include dew droplets on leaves, where surface tension helps maintain a spherical
    form due to the dominance of cohesive forces over inertial forces.
    ○ In a low Weber number regime, the fluid tends to resist breakup or atomization.
    ○ Turbulent behavior is suppressed, and the overall flow is more smooth and continuous.
    ● If We≫1: Inertial forces dominate, and the fluid tends to break into smaller droplets or exhibit more
    turbulent behavior.
    ○ Inertial forces become more significant compared to surface tension forces.
    ○ The fluid experiences higher momentum, potentially leading to more turbulent and dynamic
    behavior. Fluid structures, such as liquid jets or streams, are more likely to break into smaller
    droplets or experience turbulence.
    Applications

    1. One application of the Weber number is the study of heat pipes. When the momentum
    flux in the vapor core of the heat pipe is high, there is a possibility that the shear
    stress exerted on the liquid in the wick can be large enough to entrain droplets into
    the vapor flow.
    2. Since the Weber Number represents an index of the inertial force to the surface
    tension force acting on a fluid element, it can be useful analyzing thin films flows and
    the formation of droplets and bubbles.
    3. It is often useful in analysing fluid flows where there is an interface between two
    different fluids, especially for multiphase flows with strongly curved surfaces .

    You might also like