Euler number (physics)


The Euler number is a dimensionless number used in fluid flow calculations. It expresses the relationship between a local pressure drop caused by a restriction and the kinetic energy per volume of the flow, and is used to characterize energy losses in the flow, where a perfect frictionless flow corresponds to an Euler number of 1. The inverse of the Euler number is referred to as the Ruark Number with the symbol Ru.
The Euler number is defined as
where
The cavitation number has a similar structure, but a different meaning and use:
The Cavitation number is a dimensionless number used in flow calculations. It expresses the relationship between the difference of a local absolute pressure from the vapor pressure and the kinetic energy per volume, and is used to characterize the potential of the flow to cavitate.
It is defined as
where