1. What is Compressible Flow?

Compressible flow refers to fluid dynamics where density changes significantly due to pressure variations, typically occurring at high velocities (near or above the speed of sound). This calculator helps analyze properties like Mach number in such flows.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses fundamental compressible flow relationships:

Where:

• \( v \) — Flow velocity (m/s)
• \( a \) — Speed of sound (m/s)
• \( \gamma \) — Heat capacity ratio (1.4 for air)
• \( p \) — Pressure (Pa)
• \( \rho \) — Density (kg/m³)

Explanation: The calculator determines how fast a flow is moving relative to the speed of sound in that medium.

3. Importance of Compressible Flow Calculations

Details: Understanding compressible flow is crucial for designing aircraft, rockets, high-speed pipelines, and other systems where flow velocities approach or exceed the speed of sound.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter pressure in Pascals, density in kg/m³, and velocity in m/s. All values must be positive. The calculator assumes air properties (γ=1.4) by default.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is Mach number?
A: Mach number is the ratio of flow velocity to the local speed of sound. Flows are subsonic (M<1), transonic (M≈1), supersonic (M>1), or hypersonic (M>>1).

Q2: What are typical applications?
A: Aircraft design, rocket nozzles, gas pipelines, wind tunnels, and any high-speed fluid system.

Q3: What assumptions does this make?
A: It assumes ideal gas behavior and adiabatic flow. Real-world applications may need more complex models.

Q4: How accurate is this calculator?
A: It provides basic estimates. For engineering applications, more detailed analysis is recommended.

Q5: What about other compressible flow properties?
A: This focuses on Mach number. Other properties (stagnation pressure, temperature ratios) could be added in future versions.