Analysis of fluid velocity vector field divergence $\nabla\cdot\vec{u}$ in function of variable fluid density $ρ(\vec{x},t)\neq const$ and conditions for vanishing viscosity of compressible Navier-Stokes equations

Abstract

In this paper, we perform analysis of the fluid velocity vector field divergence $\nabla \cdot \vec{u}$ derived from the continuity equation, and we explore its application in the Navier-Stokes equations for compressible fluids $ρ(\vec{x},t)\ne const$, occupying all of $\vec{x}\in R^{3} $ space at any $t\geq 0$. The resulting velocity vector field divergence $\nabla \cdot \vec{u}=-\frac{1}{ρ} (\frac{\partial ρ}{\partial t} +\vec{u}\cdot \nabla ρ)$ is a direct consequence of the fluid density rate of change over time $\frac{\partial ρ}{\partial t}$ and over space $\nabla ρ$, in addition to the fluid velocity vector field $\vec{u}(\vec{x},t)$ and the fluid density $ρ(\vec{x},t)$ itself. We derive the conditions for the divergence-free fluid velocity vector field $\nabla \cdot \vec{u}=0$ in scenarios when the fluid density is not constant $ρ(\vec{x},t)\neq const$ over space nor time, and we analyze scenarios of the non-zero divergence $\nabla \cdot \vec{u}\ne 0$. We apply the statement for divergence in the Navier-Stokes equation for compressible fluids, and we deduct the condition for vanishing (zero) viscosity term of the compressible Navier-Stokes equation: $\nabla (\frac{1}{ρ} (\frac{\partial ρ}{\partial t} +\vec{u}\cdot \nabla ρ))=-3Δ\vec{u}$. In addition to that, we derive even more elementary condition for vanishing viscosity, stating that vanishing viscosity is triggered once scalar function $d(\vec{x},t)=-\frac{1}{ρ} (\frac{\partial ρ}{\partial t} +\vec{u}\cdot \nabla ρ)$ is harmonic function. Once that condition is satisfied, the viscosity related term of the Navier-Stokes equations for compressible fluids equals to zero, which is known as related to turbulent fluid flows.