Boussinesq approximation

(fluid mechanics) The assumption (frequently used in the theory of convection) that the fluid is incompressible except insofar as the thermal expansion produces a buoyancy, represented by a term gαT, where g is the acceleration of gravity, α is the coefficient of thermal expansion, and T is the perturbation temperature.

Boussinesq approximation may refer to:

• Boussinesq approximation (buoyancy) for buoyancy-driven flows for small density differences in the fluid
• Boussinesq approximation (water waves) for long waves propagating on the surface of a fluid layer under the action of gravity
• Turbulence modeling and eddy viscosity for the Boussinesq approximation resulting in the use of an eddy viscosity to model the turbulence Reynolds stresses

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