# Fluid Mechanics for Mechanical Engineers/Transport Equations

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## Diffusion Phenomena

The fluid motion (convection) takes place with two mechanisms:
* The advective flow, which is the bulk motion of the fluid in a certain direction.
* The molecular motion, which persists to exist even if there is no convection.
The molecular motion is responsible for the diffusion phenomena. In fluid mechanics, we consider mostly the diffusion of mass, momentum and energy.
The diffusion of a quantity takes place always from rich to poor regions. For example, when one puts a drop of ink in water, ink molecules moves (diffuses) from ink rich region to ink poor region. Heat diffuses from high temperature regions to colder regions. Similarly, momentum diffuses from momentum rich regions to momentum poor regions. The diffusive flux in one dimension is formulated by Fick's first law as follows for mass, energy and momentum respectively:
$J_{m}=-k_{m}{\frac {dC}{dx}}[{\frac {kg}{m^{2}s}}]\quad {\text{where}}\quad C\quad {\text{is the concentration with the unit}}\quad [mol/m^{3}].$
$J_{E}=-k{\frac {dT}{dx}}[{\frac {J}{m^{2}s}}]$
$J_{mom}=-\mu {\frac {dU}{dx}}[{\frac {kg\,m/s}{m^{2}s}}]$
The negative sign is used since the gradient is negative opposite to the direction of diffusion, i.e. with the negative sign the direction of diffusion is correctly assesed. The constants of diffusion are the diffusion constant of one species into another, thermal conductivity and the dynamic viscosity of the fluid, respectively. The diffusion of energy in the form of heat is also called as conduction.

## General Form of Transport Equations

The RTT theorem is given only with advection and without any sources. In the more general form of transport equation, the diffusion and the sources of the transported quantities have to be considered. For an extensive quantity $B$, the transport equation is:
$\displaystyle {\frac {dB}{dt}}|_{sys}={\frac {\partial }{\partial t}}\int _{cv}{\rho bdV}+\int _{cs}{\rho b{\vec {U}}\cdot {\vec {n}}dA}+\int _{cs}{{\vec {J}}_{B}\cdot {\vec {n}}dA}-\int _{cv}{{\dot {q}}_{B}dV}$
where ${\dot {q}}_{b}$ is the source of $B$ per unit volume within CV and ${\vec {J}}_{b}$ is the diffusive flux of $B$ through the CS of CV.

## Conservation of Mass Equation (Continuity Equation)

The integral equation for the conservation of mass law is $\displaystyle {\frac {dM}{dt}}|_{sys}={\frac {\partial }{\partial t}}\int _{cv}{\rho dV}+\int _{cs}{\rho {\vec {U}}\cdot {\vec {n}}dA}+\int _{cs}{{\vec {J}}_{m}\cdot {\vec {n}}dA}-\int _{cv}{{\dot {q}}_{m}dV}=0$
According to this equation, when advective and diffusive flux are ignored, it can be seen that the rate of change of mass in the CV is due to the mass sources:
${\frac {\partial }{\partial t}}\int _{cv}{\rho dV}=\int _{cv}{{\dot {q}}_{m}dV}$In case of no advective flux and mass sources, ${\frac {\partial }{\partial t}}\int _{cv}{\rho dV}=-\int _{cs}{{\vec {J}}_{m}\cdot {\vec {n}}dA}$the mass in CV, can change only through diffusive flux. Note that, incoming diffusive flux will have a negative sign and together with the extra negative sign its contribution will be positive.
For a differential volume $dV=dx_{1}dx_{2}dx_{3}$, each term in the integral equation can be formulated as follows:
The time rate of change of mass in the CV:${\frac {\partial }{\partial t}}\int _{cv}{\rho dV}\approx {\frac {\partial \rho }{\partial t}}dV$
The advective flow rate of mass through CS:
The advective flow rate can be decomposed into the surfaces having their surface normal vectors along $x_{1}$, $x_{2}$ and $x_{3}$ axis:$\int _{cs}{\rho {\vec {U}}\cdot {\vec {n}}dA}=\int _{cs_{x1}}{\rho {\vec {U}}\cdot {\vec {n}}dA}+\int _{cs_{x2}}{\rho {\vec {U}}\cdot {\vec {n}}dA}+\int _{cs_{x3}}{\rho {\vec {U}}\cdot {\vec {n}}dA}$
$\int _{cs_{x1}}{\rho {\vec {U}}\cdot {\vec {n}}dA}\approx -\rho U_{1}dx_{2}dx_{3}+\rho U_{1}dx_{2}dx_{3}+{\partial \rho U_{1} \over \partial x_{1}}dx_{1}dx_{2}dx_{3}={\partial \rho U_{1} \over \partial x_{1}}dV$Hence the total advective flux is:
$\int _{cs}{\rho {\vec {U}}\cdot {\vec {n}}dA}\approx {\partial \rho U_{1} \over \partial x_{1}}dV+{\partial \rho U_{2} \over \partial x_{2}}dV+{\partial \rho U_{3} \over \partial x_{3}}dV={\partial \rho U_{i} \over \partial x_{i}}dV$ In fact, one can see clearly the Divergence theorem: $\int _{cs}{\rho {\vec {U}}\cdot {\vec {n}}dA}=\int _{cv}{\vec {\nabla }}\cdot \rho {\vec {U}}dV=\int _{cv}{\partial \rho U_{i} \over \partial x_{i}}dV\approx {\partial \rho U_{i} \over \partial x_{i}}dV$ The diffusive flow rate of mass through CS:
By using the divergence theorem, the diffusive flow rate can be written for a differential volume as follows:
$\int _{cs}{{\vec {J}}_{m}\cdot {\vec {n}}dA}=\int _{cv}{\vec {\nabla }}\cdot {\vec {J}}_{m}dV=\int _{cv}{\partial J_{m_{i}} \over \partial x_{i}}dV\approx {\partial J_{m_{i}} \over \partial x_{i}}dV$For isotropic diffusion, the $i^{th}$ component of the diffusion flux is
$J_{m_{i}}=-k_{m}{\frac {\partial C}{\partial x_{i}}}$Hence the diffusive flow rate can be written as
$\int _{cs}{{\vec {J}}_{m}\cdot {\vec {n}}dA}\approx -k_{m}{\partial ^{2}C \over \partial x_{i}^{2}}dV$
The net source of mass in CV:
$\int _{cv}{{\dot {q}}_{m}dV}\approx {\dot {q}}_{m}dV$The final differential form of the conservation of mass equation reads
${\frac {\partial \rho }{\partial t}}dV+{\partial \rho U_{i} \over \partial x_{i}}dV-k_{m}{\partial ^{2}C \over \partial x_{i}^{2}}dV-{\dot {q}}_{m}dV=0$and per unit volume
${\frac {\partial \rho }{\partial t}}+{\partial \rho U_{i} \over \partial x_{i}}-k_{m}{\partial ^{2}C \over \partial x_{i}^{2}}-{\dot {q}}_{m}=0$

## Conservation of Energy Equation

The conservation of energy equation is very interesting since it shows the dissipation of energy and reversible conversion of energy as the fluid flows. The transport equation of energy reads:$\displaystyle {\frac {dE}{dt}}|_{sys}=[{\dot {Q}}+{\dot {W}}]_{on\ sys}={\frac {\partial }{\partial t}}\int _{cv}{\rho edV}+\int _{cs}{\rho e{\vec {U}}\cdot {\vec {n}}dA}+\int _{cs}{{\vec {J}}_{E}\cdot {\vec {n}}dA}-\int _{cv}{{\dot {q}}_{E}dV}$where $e={\hat {u}}+{\frac {U_{i}U_{i}}{2}}+G$ is the sum of internal energy, kinetic energy and potential energy per unit mass.
If only gravitational field is responsible for the potential energy, the gravitation vector is defined as:$g_{i}=-{\frac {\partial G}{\partial x_{i}}}$The potential can be defined as $G=-g_{j}x_{j}$,
$g_{i}=-{\frac {\partial (-g_{j}x_{j})}{\partial x_{i}}}=g_{j}\underbrace {\frac {\partial x_{j}}{\partial x_{i}}} _{\delta _{ij}}+x_{j}\underbrace {\frac {\partial g_{j}}{\partial x_{i}}} _{\approx 0}$
The gradient of the gravitation vector can be neglected for human scale applications. The gradient of the position vector will be unity for equal indices.
For practical purposes, say the gravitational acceleration is in negative $x_{2}$ direction and defined as ${\vec {g}}=[0,-g,0]$ and $g$ is the magnitude of the vector,
$G=-g_{2}x_{2}=gx_{2}$
Rearranging the above equation for an instant at which CV and the system collapse on each other:
${\frac {\partial }{\partial t}}\int _{cv}{\rho edV}+\int _{cs}{\rho e{\vec {U}}\cdot {\vec {n}}dA}=[{\dot {Q}}+{\dot {W}}]_{on\ cv}-\int _{cs}{{\vec {J}}_{E}\cdot {\vec {n}}dA}+\int _{cv}{{\dot {q}}_{E}dV}$Heat ${\dot {Q}}$ can be added to the CV in the form of radiation or a surface heater. The source of energy ${\dot {q}}_{E}$ can be the energy released or absorbed during chemical reaction or the energy of the added mass from the source of mass. Therefore, ${\dot {Q}}$ can be treated as a part of energy source ${\dot {q}}_{E}$ if it is a volumetric addition and/or as a part of conduction ${\vec {J}}_{E}$ term on the surface of the CV if it is a heating surface.
The rate of change of energy in a differential volume is${\frac {\partial }{\partial t}}\int _{cv}{\rho edV}\approx {\frac {\partial \rho e}{\partial t}}dV$The advection term for a differential volume can be formulated by using the divergence theorem$\int _{cs}{\rho e{\vec {U}}\cdot {\vec {n}}dA}=\int _{cv}{\vec {\nabla }}\cdot ({\rho e{\vec {U}})dV}\approx {\frac {\partial \rho eU_{i}}{\partial x_{i}}}dV$The work of surface forces on CV $({\dot {W}})$${\dot {W}}_{s}=\int _{cs}{\vec {U}}\cdot {\vec {\sigma }}dA$where ${\vec {\sigma }}$ is the sum of the stress caused by pressure and viscous stresses
${\vec {\sigma }}=-P{\vec {n}}+{\vec {\tau }}$Hence, ${\dot {W}}=-\int _{cs}P{\vec {U}}\cdot {\vec {n}}dA+\int _{cs}{\vec {U}}\cdot {\vec {\tau }}dA$Since ${\vec {\tau }}={\bar {\bar {\tau }}}\cdot {\vec {n}}$ is the local stress vector and ${\bar {\bar {\tau }}}$ is the stress tensor.
${\dot {W}}=-\int _{cs}P{\vec {U}}\cdot {\vec {n}}dA+\int _{cs}({\vec {U}}\cdot {\bar {\bar {\tau }}})\cdot {\vec {n}}dA$
For a differential volume, ${\vec {\tau }}={\bar {\bar {\tau }}}\cdot {\vec {n}}=\tau _{ij}n_{i}$ is the stress vector on a face having its normal in $i^{th}$-direction.
${\dot {W}}\approx -{\frac {\partial PU_{i}}{\partial x_{i}}}dV+{\frac {\partial U_{j}\tau _{ij}}{\partial x_{i}}}dV$In order to have a better decomposition later, one can switch $i$ and $j$ index since $\tau _{ij}=\tau _{ji}$ and use the equality ${\frac {\partial U_{j}\tau _{ij}}{\partial x_{i}}}={\frac {\partial U_{i}\tau _{ji}}{\partial x_{j}}}$
${\dot {W}}\approx -{\frac {\partial PU_{i}}{\partial x_{i}}}dV+{\frac {\partial U_{i}\tau _{ji}}{\partial x_{j}}}dV$
The heat diffusion (conduction) term for a differential volume can be written by using the divergence term as:
$\int _{cs}{{\vec {J}}_{E}\cdot {\vec {n}}dA}=\int _{cv}{\vec {\nabla }}\cdot {\vec {J}}_{E}dV=-\int _{cv}k{\partial ^{2}T \over \partial x_{i}^{2}}dV\approx -k{\partial ^{2}T \over \partial x_{i}^{2}}dV$Rewriting the energy equation, using the above forms derived for a differential volume:
${\frac {\partial \rho e}{\partial t}}dV+{\frac {\partial \rho eU_{i}}{\partial x_{i}}}dV=-{\frac {\partial PU_{i}}{\partial x_{i}}}dV+{\frac {\partial U_{i}\tau _{ji}}{\partial x_{j}}}dV+k{\partial ^{2}T \over \partial x_{i}^{2}}dV+{\dot {q}}_{E}dV$or per unit volume
${\frac {\partial \rho e}{\partial t}}+{\frac {\partial \rho eU_{i}}{\partial x_{i}}}=-{\frac {\partial PU_{i}}{\partial x_{i}}}+{\frac {\partial U_{i}\tau _{ji}}{\partial x_{j}}}+k{\partial ^{2}T \over \partial x_{i}^{2}}+{\dot {q}}_{E}$
When left side of the equation is expanded,
$e\left({\frac {\partial \rho }{\partial t}}+{\frac {\partial \rho U_{i}}{\partial x_{i}}}\right)+\rho \left({\frac {\partial e}{\partial t}}+U_{i}{\frac {\partial e}{\partial x_{i}}}\right)=-{\frac {\partial PU_{i}}{\partial x_{i}}}+{\frac {\partial U_{i}\tau _{ji}}{\partial x_{j}}}+k{\partial ^{2}T \over \partial x_{i}^{2}}+{\dot {q}}_{E}$it can be seen that the first term involves one part of the conservation of mass equation. Neglecting the diffusion and source of mass, the continuity equation can be set to zero and the energy equation can be reduced to:$\rho \left({\frac {\partial e}{\partial t}}+U_{i}{\frac {\partial e}{\partial x_{i}}}\right)=-{\frac {\partial PU_{i}}{\partial x_{i}}}+{\frac {\partial U_{i}\tau _{ji}}{\partial x_{j}}}+k{\partial ^{2}T \over \partial x_{i}^{2}}+{\dot {q}}_{E}$The left side becomes the substantial derivative of the energy per unit time:${\frac {De}{Dt}}=-{\frac {1}{\rho }}{\frac {\partial PU_{i}}{\partial x_{i}}}+{\frac {1}{\rho }}{\frac {\partial U_{i}\tau _{ji}}{\partial x_{j}}}+{\frac {1}{\rho }}k{\partial ^{2}T \over \partial x_{i}^{2}}+{\frac {1}{\rho }}{\dot {q}}_{E}$

### Decomposition of Energy Equation

Inserting the definition of $e={\hat {u}}+U_{i}U_{i}/2+gx_{2}$ and expanding the work done by pressure and viscous stresses, ${\frac {D{\hat {u}}}{Dt}}+{\frac {DU_{i}U_{i}/2}{Dt}}+{\frac {Dgx_{2}}{Dt}}=-{\frac {P}{\rho }}{\frac {\partial U_{i}}{\partial x_{i}}}-{\frac {U_{i}}{\rho }}{\frac {\partial P}{\partial x_{i}}}+{\frac {U_{i}}{\rho }}{\frac {\partial \tau _{ji}}{\partial x_{j}}}+{\frac {\tau _{ji}}{\rho }}{\frac {\partial U_{i}}{\partial x_{j}}}+{\frac {1}{\rho }}k{\partial ^{2}T \over \partial x_{i}^{2}}+{\frac {1}{\rho }}{\dot {q}}_{E}$Since ${\frac {DU_{i}U_{i}/2}{Dt}}=U_{i}{\frac {DU_{i}}{Dt}}$, and ${\frac {Dgx_{2}}{Dt}}={\frac {\partial gx_{2}}{\partial t}}+U_{i}{\frac {\partial gx_{2}}{\partial x_{i}}}$and assuming the differential volume does not change its potential in time, i.e. ${\frac {\partial gx_{2}}{\partial t}}\approx 0$${\frac {Dgx_{2}}{Dt}}=U_{i}{\frac {\partial gx_{2}}{\partial x_{i}}}=U_{i}\left(g{\frac {\partial x_{2}}{\partial x_{i}}}+x_{2}{\frac {\partial g}{\partial x_{i}}}\right)=U_{2}g=-U_{i}g_{i}$Hence, the energy equation reads${\frac {D{\hat {u}}}{Dt}}+{\underline {U_{i}{\frac {DU_{i}}{Dt}}}}={\underline {U_{i}g_{i}}}-{\frac {P}{\rho }}{\frac {\partial U_{i}}{\partial x_{i}}}{\underline {-{\frac {U_{i}}{\rho }}{\frac {\partial P}{\partial x_{i}}}}}+{\underline {{\frac {U_{i}}{\rho }}{\frac {\partial \tau _{ji}}{\partial x_{j}}}}}+{\frac {\tau _{ji}}{\rho }}{\frac {\partial U_{i}}{\partial x_{j}}}+{\frac {1}{\rho }}k{\partial ^{2}T \over \partial x_{i}^{2}}+{\frac {1}{\rho }}{\dot {q}}_{E}$where $U_{i}g_{i}$ is the work done by the gravitational force per unit mass and time.
Now we can decompose this equation into the mechanical and thermal energy equations. The underlined terms are nothing but the scalar product of the velocity vector and the momentum equation $\left({\vec {U}}\cdot {\frac {D{\vec {U}}}{Dt}}\right)$ and form the mechanical energy equation, the remaining terms form the thermal energy equation.
The mechanical energy equation:$U_{i}{\frac {DU_{i}}{Dt}}=U_{i}g_{i}-{\frac {U_{i}}{\rho }}{\frac {\partial P}{\partial x_{i}}}+{\frac {U_{i}}{\rho }}{\frac {\partial \tau _{ji}}{\partial x_{j}}}$Since ${\frac {U_{i}}{\rho }}{\frac {\partial \tau _{ji}}{\partial x_{j}}}={\frac {1}{\rho }}{\frac {\partial U_{i}\tau _{ji}}{\partial x_{j}}}-{\frac {\tau _{ji}}{\rho }}{\frac {\partial U_{i}}{\partial x_{j}}}$and${\frac {U_{i}}{\rho }}{\frac {\partial P}{\partial x_{i}}}={\frac {1}{\rho }}{\frac {\partial U_{i}P}{\partial x_{i}}}-{\frac {P}{\rho }}{\frac {\partial U_{i}}{\partial x_{i}}}$The mechanical energy equation can be written in a more interpretable manner:
$U_{i}{\frac {DU_{i}}{Dt}}=U_{i}g_{i}-{\frac {1}{\rho }}{\frac {\partial U_{i}P}{\partial x_{i}}}+{\frac {P}{\rho }}{\frac {\partial U_{i}}{\partial x_{i}}}+{\frac {1}{\rho }}{\frac {\partial U_{i}\tau _{ji}}{\partial x_{j}}}-{\frac {\tau _{ji}}{\rho }}{\frac {\partial U_{i}}{\partial x_{j}}}$The thermal energy equation:${\frac {D{\hat {u}}}{Dt}}=-{\frac {P}{\rho }}{\frac {\partial U_{i}}{\partial x_{i}}}+{\frac {\tau _{ji}}{\rho }}{\frac {\partial U_{i}}{\partial x_{j}}}+{\frac {1}{\rho }}k{\partial ^{2}T \over \partial x_{i}^{2}}+{\frac {1}{\rho }}{\dot {q}}_{E}$The meaning of each term is as follows:
| Term | Physical meaning |
| $-{\frac {1}{\rho }}{\frac {\partial U_{i}P}{\partial x_{i}}}$ | Rate of work done by pressure. |
| ${\frac {P}{\rho }}{\frac {\partial U_{i}}{\partial x_{i}}}$ | Rate of reversible conversion of kinetic energy into internal energy. (-) in the case of compression and (+) in the case of expansion, because ${\frac {\partial U_{i}}{\partial x_{i}}}<0$ for compression and larger than 0 for expansion. It appears with a negative sign in the internal energy equation. |
| ${\frac {1}{\rho }}{\frac {\partial U_{i}\tau _{ji}}{\partial x_{j}}}$ | Rate of work done by viscous stresses. |
| $-{\frac {\tau _{ji}}{\rho }}{\frac {\partial U_{i}}{\partial x_{j}}}$ | Rate of dissipation of mechanical energy, in other words irreversible conversion of kinetic energy to internal energy. It is always negative. In other words, mechanical energy drops due to this term. In the internal energy equation it appears with a possitive sign. |
| $-{\frac {P}{\rho }}{\frac {\partial U_{i}}{\partial x_{i}}}$ | Rate of reversible conversion of kinetic energy into internal energy. (+) in the case of compresion and (-) in the case of expansion, because ${\frac {\partial U_{i}}{\partial x_{i}}}<0$ for compression and larger than 0 for expansion. |
| ${\frac {\tau _{ji}}{\rho }}{\frac {\partial U_{i}}{\partial x_{j}}}$ | Rate of increase of internal energy by irreversible viscous dissipation. It is always positive. In other words, internal energy increases due to this term. |
| ${\frac {1}{\rho }}k{\partial ^{2}T \over \partial x_{i}^{2}}$ | Rate of heat added or extracted via conduction (thermal diffusion). It can be (+) or (-). |
| ${\frac {1}{\rho }}{\dot {q}}_{E}$ | Rate of head added via combustion or radiation. |

### Comment on the dissipation term

The dissipation term ${\frac {\tau _{ji}}{\rho }}{\frac {\partial U_{i}}{\partial x_{j}}}$ is always positive and extracts energy from the mechanical energy equation and increases the internal energy. This can be shown for an incompressible Newtonian fluid as follows:
${\frac {\tau _{ji}}{\rho }}{\frac {\partial U_{i}}{\partial x_{j}}}=\nu \left({\frac {\partial U_{i}}{\partial x_{j}}}+{\frac {\partial U_{j}}{\partial x_{i}}}\right){\frac {\partial U_{i}}{\partial x_{j}}}$
The velocity gradient term can be expanded as:
${\frac {\partial U_{i}}{\partial x_{j}}}{\frac {\partial U_{i}}{\partial x_{j}}}+{\frac {\partial U_{j}}{\partial x_{i}}}{\frac {\partial U_{i}}{\partial x_{j}}}=\left({\frac {\partial U_{1}}{\partial x_{1}}}\right)^{2}+\left({\frac {\partial U_{1}}{\partial x_{2}}}\right)^{2}+\left({\frac {\partial U_{1}}{\partial x_{3}}}\right)^{2}+\left({\frac {\partial U_{2}}{\partial x_{1}}}\right)^{2}+\left({\frac {\partial U_{2}}{\partial x_{2}}}\right)^{2}+\left({\frac {\partial U_{2}}{\partial x_{3}}}\right)^{2}+\left({\frac {\partial U_{3}}{\partial x_{1}}}\right)^{2}+\left({\frac {\partial U_{3}}{\partial x_{2}}}\right)^{2}+\left({\frac {\partial U_{3}}{\partial x_{3}}}\right)^{2}+$
${\frac {\partial U_{1}}{\partial x_{1}}}{\frac {\partial U_{1}}{\partial x_{1}}}+{\frac {\partial U_{2}}{\partial x_{1}}}{\frac {\partial U_{1}}{\partial x_{2}}}+{\frac {\partial U_{3}}{\partial x_{1}}}{\frac {\partial U_{1}}{\partial x_{3}}}+{\frac {\partial U_{1}}{\partial x_{2}}}{\frac {\partial U_{2}}{\partial x_{1}}}+{\frac {\partial U_{2}}{\partial x_{2}}}{\frac {\partial U_{2}}{\partial x_{2}}}+{\frac {\partial U_{3}}{\partial x_{2}}}{\frac {\partial U_{2}}{\partial x_{3}}}+$
${\frac {\partial U_{1}}{\partial x_{3}}}{\frac {\partial U_{3}}{\partial x_{1}}}+{\frac {\partial U_{2}}{\partial x_{3}}}{\frac {\partial U_{3}}{\partial x_{2}}}+{\frac {\partial U_{3}}{\partial x_{3}}}{\frac {\partial U_{3}}{\partial x_{3}}}$
$=\left({\frac {\partial U_{1}}{\partial x_{2}}}+{\frac {\partial U_{2}}{\partial x_{1}}}\right)^{2}+\left({\frac {\partial U_{1}}{\partial x_{3}}}+{\frac {\partial U_{3}}{\partial x_{1}}}\right)^{2}+\left({\frac {\partial U_{2}}{\partial x_{3}}}+{\frac {\partial U_{3}}{\partial x_{2}}}\right)^{2}+2\left({\frac {\partial U_{1}}{\partial x_{1}}}\right)^{2}+2\left({\frac {\partial U_{2}}{\partial x_{2}}}\right)^{2}+2\left({\frac {\partial U_{3}}{\partial x_{3}}}\right)^{2}$
Hence the energy dissipation rate per unit mass reads:
${\frac {\tau _{ji}}{\rho }}{\frac {\partial U_{i}}{\partial x_{j}}}=\nu \left[\left({\frac {\partial U_{1}}{\partial x_{2}}}+{\frac {\partial U_{2}}{\partial x_{1}}}\right)^{2}+\left({\frac {\partial U_{1}}{\partial x_{3}}}+{\frac {\partial U_{3}}{\partial x_{1}}}\right)^{2}+\left({\frac {\partial U_{2}}{\partial x_{3}}}+{\frac {\partial U_{3}}{\partial x_{2}}}\right)^{2}+2\left({\frac {\partial U_{1}}{\partial x_{1}}}\right)^{2}+2\left({\frac {\partial U_{2}}{\partial x_{2}}}\right)^{2}+2\left({\frac {\partial U_{3}}{\partial x_{3}}}\right)^{2}\right]$
As can be seen, all the terms are positive. It should be noted that there would be no dissipation without the viscous stresses or velocity gradients. In fact, viscous stresses do occur only when there is a velocity gradient. Hence, in order to avoid dissipation one should avoid or reduce unnecessary velocity gradients.