In fluid mechanics and lots of fluid mechanics systems, the Mach number is a very important factor that defines the roadmap of the calculations. In nearly in every fluid mechanic’s calculations and systems that include fluid as a primary constituent, Mach number is calculated to see the general situation of the flow. Here we prepared a Mach number calculator to be used in the Mach number calculations of the fluids.
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Mach Number Calculator
The use of the Mach number calculator is very simple. First of all, you need to enter the velocity of the fluid in your fluid flow application. Then you need to enter the velocity of sound in the environment in which that fluid flow takes place. And then click on the 'Calculate!' button to see the Mach number and classification of the flow according to this value.
What is the Mach Number?
In fluid flow mechanisms, Mach number is a very important parameter. Simply, the Mach number is the ratio of the velocity of the fluid flow to the speed of sound. According to this ratio, fluid flow is classified as;
- Subsonic: This is the type of flow if the Mach number is smaller than 1. So, if the flow velocity is smaller than the speed of sound in that environment, the flow is classified as subsonic flow.
- Sonic: Sonic flow is the type of flow there speed of flow is equal to the speed of sound. In this case, the Mach number is equal to 1.
- Supersonic: This is the flow classification where the velocity of the fluid flow is bigger than the speed of sound. Mach number takes the value between 1 and 5.
- Hypersonic: This is the case of flow velocity is very high compared with the speed of sound. In hypersonic flow, the Mach number takes a value bigger than 5.
Compressible and Incompressible Flow
Flow mechanisms are also classified as compressible and incompressible flows. For compressible flows in which the density of the fluid changes along with the flow mechanism. Fluid mechanics calculations for compressible flows are very hard and incompressible mechanisms are preferred in fluid flow design for more accuracy.
Incompressible flows are the flow types that which the density of the fluid does not change along with the flow mechanism. For incompressible flows, the fluid mechanic's calculations are much more easy and direct calculations such as Bernoulli equations can be used for incompressible flows.
For incompressible flows, the Mach number must be smaller than 0.3. So if the Mach number is smaller than 0.3, the general fluid mechanics formulations and calculations can be used. The Mach number calculator above, the calculator will give you the information about if the fluid flow is incompressible.
Conclusion
The calculation of the Mach number according to the fluid flow velocity is very simple like above. Also, the use of the Mach number calculator is very simple.
Mechanicalland does not accept any responsibility for calculations made by users in calculators. A good engineer must check calculations again and again.
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