Gaskinetic Theory

A self-contained introduction to the molecular theory of gases and modern transport theory.

Tamas I. Gombosi (Author)

9780521439664, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 30 June 1994

312 pages, 70 b/w illus. 2 tables 46 exercises
24.6 x 18.9 x 1.7 cm, 0.56 kg

"This is a well-organized, clearly-written, upper-division undergraduate or beginning graduate level textbook. The material content, its organization, its concise but instructive mathematical developments, the care and attention given to physical principles, and its explicit guidance to other well-selected sources for supplemental information indicate that the book will also serve as a convenient research reference work....[T]he subject material content is remarkably comprehensive....I recommend Gaskinetic Theory both for individual acquisition and for academic and institutional library purchase." A.C. Buckingham, Applied Mechanics Review

Gaskinetic Theory is an introductory text on the molecular theory of gases and on modern transport theory. It is suitable for upper division undergraduates in physics and first year graduate students in aerospace engineering, upper atmospheric science and space research. The first part introduces basic concepts, including the distribution function, classical theory of specific heats, binary collisions, mean free path, and reaction rates. Transport theory is used to express coefficients such as viscosity and heat conductivity in terms of molecular properties. The second part of the book covers advanced transport theory. Generalised transport equations are derived from the Boltzmann equation. The Chapman–Enskog and the Grad methods are discussed to obtain higher order transport equations for low density gases. The aerodynamics of solid bodies is explored and the book concludes with the kinetic description of shock waves.

Dedication
Preface
1. Introduction
2. Brief history of gaskinetic theory
3. The road to gaskinetic theory in science and engineering
4. Basic assumptions of gaskinetic theory
5. Notations
6. Solid angles and curvilinear coordinates
7. Problems
8. References
9. Equilibrium kinetic theory
10. Distribution functions
11. Phase-space distributions and macroscopic averages
12. The Maxwell–Boltzmann distribution
13. Determination of the Lagrange Multiplier
14. Elementary properties of the Maxwell–Boltzmann distribution
15. Specific heats of gases
16. Problems
17. References
18. Binary collisions
19. Kinematics of two particle collisions
20. Statistical description of collisional effects
21. Relations between statistical and molecular quantities
22. Problems
23. References
24. Elementary transport theory
25. Molecular effusion
26. Hydrodynamic transport coefficients
27. Mean free path method
28. Flow in a tube
29. Problems
30. References
31. The Boltzmann equation
32. Derivation of the Boltzmann equation
33. The H-theorem and equilibrium distributions
34. Approximate collision terms
35. Non-equilibrium solutions of the Boltzmann equation
36. Problems
37. References
38. Generalized transport equations
39. Moments of the Boltzmann equation
40. The Euler equations
41. The 20 moment equations
42. The 13 moment approximation and the Navier–Stokes equations
43. Collision terms for multispecies gases
44. Simplified sets of transport equations
45. Problems
46. References
47. Free molecular aerodynamics
48. Transfer of mass, momentum, and translational energy
49. Free molecular heat transfer
50. Free molecular aerodynamic forces
51. Problems
52. References
53. Shock waves
54. Hydrodynamic description
55. Kinetic description of shocks: the Mott–Smith model
56. Problems
57. References
58. Appendices
59. Physical constants
60. Vector and tensor identities
61. Differential operators in spherical and cylindrical coordinates
62. Some fundamental integrals
63. Some special functions
64. References
Index.

Subject Areas: Earth sciences [RB]