Flow separation It originates within the boundary layer and results in bulk separation of

the flow. In simple terms the fluid flow is not able to follow the shape of the body. Boundary
layer separation takes place when the frictional shearing forces between the sheets of the
boundary layer become too great for the layer to remain attached. This occurs when there is
too seep and adverse pressure gradient, too much turbulence within the layer, a rapid change
in body shape or when the boundary layer trips over a skin joint or a protuberance. It is
possible for a boundary layer that has separated to become reattached at some point
downstream of the separation point. Whenever the flow separates, a notable increase eon drag
is instantly realized

Drag It is the retarding force which acts on anybody in motion through a fluid. Its action is
always parallel to and in the opposite direction from the direction of motion. Drag is due to
the transfer of momentum between the body and the fluid and is caused by displacement of
the body and by friction between the fluid and the body. Mathematically momentum
transferred per unit time is called drag
Momentum is transferred from a body to a fluid by :
1) The displacement of a certain volume of fluid in the direction of motion and of
more fluid in a direction perpendicular to the direction of motion
2) The placement of a certain volume of fluid into turbulent or irregular motion
3) The containment of a certain volume of fluid in a system of regular vortices
4) The generation of heat by friction between the fluid and the body and between
fluid sheets moving at differing relative velocities.


Pressure Drag or Profile Drag It is that drag force caused by the displacement of a fluid
by a body in motion through that fluid. Fluid arriving at the leading edge of a body causes a
positive pressure at the leading edge which resists the motion of the body. A the fluid flow
progresses past the leading edge, the pressure rapidly decreases, may become negative for a
time and then slowly increases until the flow separation occurs. The pressure in a region of
flow separated will be negative and will pull against the forward motion of the body just as
the high pressure at the leading edge pushes against it. The sum of these two retarding forces
is pressure induced drag and is the major component of total drag for unstreamlined or semi-
streamlined bodies. For streamlined bodies skin friction drag is normally greater than
pressure drag.