Generalized Flow Across an Abrupt Enlargement

Abstract

Generalized solutions are developed for the flow across an abrupt enlargement. Three cases are considered, namely; an incompressible fluid, a subsonic compressible fluid, and a compressible fluid in supercritical flow. All characteristic quantities are given in the form of dimensionless numbers which are readily useful such as: the loss in terms of the total pressure ratio across the step, the pressure recovery in terms of the static pressure ratio across the step, and the pressure variation across the face of the step in terms of the throat-to-wall pressure ratio. All theoretical equations are verified by new experimental data, and design curves and tables are given for various area ratios operating at various pressure ratios.