What is adverse pressure gradient?

An adverse pressure gradient occurs when the pressure of a fluid (such as air or water) increases as the flow progresses in the direction of the flow. This can happen in various fluid flow systems, such as aircraft wings, turbo machinery, and boundaries of flow over airfoils.

Adverse pressure gradients can have significant effects on the performance of these systems. They can lead to separation of the boundary layer, which can result in increased drag, reduced lift, and decreased efficiency. In the case of aircraft wings, adverse pressure gradients can cause flow separation and loss of lift, which can lead to stalls.

Engineers work to minimize adverse pressure gradients in design by shaping surfaces to maintain a favorable pressure distribution or by using devices such as vortex generators or boundary layer control systems to delay flow separation. Understanding and managing adverse pressure gradients is crucial for optimizing the performance of fluid flow systems in various engineering applications.