1. What is the Froude Number?

The Froude Number is a dimensionless number that represents the ratio of inertial forces to gravitational forces. It is used in fluid mechanics to characterize flow regimes, particularly in open channel flow and wave dynamics.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Froude Number formula:

Where:

• \( Fr \) — Froude Number (dimensionless)
• \( V_{FN} \) — Mean Velocity for Froude Number (m/s)
• \( g \) — Gravitational acceleration (9.80665 m/s²)
• \( d_{section} \) — Diameter of Section (m)

Explanation: The Froude Number helps determine whether a flow is subcritical (Fr < 1), critical (Fr = 1), or supercritical (Fr > 1).

3. Importance of Froude Number Calculation

Details: Accurate Froude Number calculation is crucial for analyzing flow characteristics in hydraulic engineering, predicting wave behavior, designing channels and spillways, and studying sediment transport.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter mean velocity in m/s and diameter of section in m. All values must be positive numbers greater than zero.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What does the Froude Number indicate?
A: The Froude Number indicates the relative importance of inertial forces compared to gravitational forces in a flow system.

Q2: What are the different flow regimes based on Froude Number?
A: Subcritical flow (Fr < 1), critical flow (Fr = 1), and supercritical flow (Fr > 1).

Q3: Where is Froude Number commonly used?
A: It's widely used in hydraulic engineering, naval architecture, and environmental fluid mechanics.

Q4: What are the limitations of Froude Number?
A: It assumes homogeneous fluid properties and may not accurately represent flows with significant viscosity effects or complex geometries.

Q5: How does Froude Number relate to wave speed?
A: The Froude Number compares the flow velocity to the speed of gravity waves in the fluid.