Variational principles for perfect and dissipative fluid flows

Source abstract

Abstract Many versions of an extension of Hamilton’s principle to perfect fluid flows exist in the literature. In this paper the most general form, due to Serrin, is identified and the limitations of some of the others discussed. An extension of the variational principle to viscous, thermally conducting fluid flows is suggested. This is compared with some other variational principles for viscous flows, and the relative merits of the various approaches are discussed.