The fluid flow with zero material derivative of its density:
| (1) | \frac{D \rho}{ Dt} = \frac{\partial \rho}{\partial t} + \rho \cdot \nabla {\bf u} = 0 |
With account of Continuity equation:
| (2) | \frac{\partial \rho}{\partial t} + \nabla (\rho \, {\bf u}) = 0 |
the Incompressible flow criteria simplifies to:
| (3) | \nabla {\bf u} = 0 |
which means that flow velocity is solenoidal.
The term Incompressible flow is a misnomer as it does not necessarily means that the fluid itself is incompressible.
In many practical applications condition
(3) is met for compressible fluids (usually when fluid compressibility is relatively small) and the fluid flow satisfies
(3) and is called incompressible flow.
See also
Physics / Mechanics / Continuum mechanics / Fluid Mechanics / Fluid Dynamics / Fluid flow