This book illustrates how potential flows enter into the general theory of motions of viscous and viscoelastic fluids. Traditionally, the theory of potential flow is presented as a subject called 'potential flow of an inviscid fluid'; when the fluid is incompressible these fluids are, curiously, said to be 'perfect' or 'ideal'. This type of presentation is widespread; it can be found in every book on fluid mechanics, but it is flawed. It is never necessary and typically not useful to put the viscosity of fluids in potential (irrotational) flow to zero. The dimensionless description of potential flows of fluids with a nonzero viscosity depends on the Reynolds number, and the theory of potential flow of an inviscid fluid can be said to rise as the Reynolds number tends to infinity. The theory given here can be described as the theory of potential flows at finite and even small Reynolds numbers.

This book illustrates how potential flows enter into all problems of fluid mechanics.

About the Author
Daniel Joseph is a professor of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics at the University of Minnesota. He is the holder of patents on the wave-speed meter, the spinning rod interfacial tensiometer, and the spinning drop tensiometer, among others. Dr Joseph is the editor of the International Journal of Multiphase Flow and has authored five books and more than 300 articles. Toshio Funada is a professor of Digital Engineering at the Numazu College of Technology in Japan. He has studied at Shinshu University and Osaka University in Japan. Jing Wang earned his B.S. from Tsinghua University in China in 2000 and his Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Minnesota in 2005. He received the 'Best Dissertation Award' in Physical Sciences and Engineering for 2006 at the University of Minnesota.

Reviews
'I think that [it] is well worth the price ... This is an invaluable book, because it is virtually impossible to find another one similar ... I highly recommend [it] for anyone ...' Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers
'The book contains some interesting nuggets that I had not been previously aware of. ... The authors have developed a nice method for computing viscous boundary layers near a free surface (nicely outlined in chapter 12), which they appear to demonstrate is quite accurate. ... These different ideas are critically applied to many of the rich list of problems discussed in the book.' Journal of Fluid Mechanics



Book Information
ISBN 9780521873376
Author Daniel Joseph
Format Hardback
Page Count 516
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publisher Cambridge University Press
Weight(grams) 1340g
Dimensions(mm) 262mm * 180mm * 29mm