FLUID MECHANICS
DIFFERENTIAL ANALYSIS OF FLUID
MOTION:
‐. Stream Function
‐. Circulation
‐. Velocity Potential
STREAM FUNCTION ()
(**)
Streamlines in the x‐y
plane
STREAM FUNCTION () FOR 2-D INCOMPRESSIBLE FLOW
relates the streamline and conservation of mass
y
u ; v
y x
streamline
V
u v 2 2
0
dr x y xy yx
dy
dx
is exact, and the integral d between to points in the flow
field, 2 -1, depends only on end points of the integral
Streamlines are lines in the flow field that are everywhere tangent
to the velocities,
Velocity and velocity components
along a streamline.
3
y 2
E F
1
B (x1, y2) D
C (x2, y2)
V
v
u A (x1, y1)
Analysis of flow crossing AB and BC
dQ V dA Constant
For flow per unit width at AB
2
dy d 2 1
y2 y2
Q y1
udy y1 y 1
3
y 2
E F
1
B (x1, y2) D
C (x2, y2)
V
v
u A (x1, y1)
The flow crossing BC is
1
x2 x2
Q vdx dx d 2 1
x1 x1 x 2
Flow rate between two streamlines per unit width for an
incompressible flow is the difference between the constant values
of
Example problem 5.4
DATA : Flow field: V Axî Ayˆj
FOUND : a) Stream function, .
b) Plot at first quadrant
SOLUTION : u ;v
y x
From data: u = Ax =
y
Axy dy f x
y
Axdy f x Axy f x
Function f(x) can be evaluated by v-equation.
df
v Axy f x Ay
x x dx
But, from data we have: v = -Ay. Maka:
df
0, Or f (x) = constant. Then:
dx
Axy C
Plot for several stream function () at the 1st and 2nd quadrants
can be seen in following picture:
CIRCULATION ( )
Γ V ds
C
CIRCULATION ( )
V ds
C
CCW path of the integration is defined as the positive sense
v u
d ux v x y u y x vy
x y
v u
d xy
x y
d 2 z xy
Then:
V ds 2z dA V z dA
C A A
This is called as the “Stokes Theorem
in 2-D”.
………………….FLUID DEFORMATION
IRROTATIONAL FLOW – VELOCITY POTENTIAL
1
V 0
2
Then, in cartesian coordinate:
w v u w v u
0
y z z x x y
Then, in cylindrical coordinate:
1 Vz V Vr Vz 1 rV 1 Vr
0
r z z r r r r
IRROTATIONAL FLOW AND VELOCITY POTENTIAL ()
0 V 0
Fundamental vector identity:
Curl (grad ) = 0
For an irrotational flow, one can define a velocity potential, .
Can then be defined:
V
And:
u ; v ; w
x y z
STREAM FUNCTION ( ) AND VELOCITY POTENTIAL ( )
Stream function (): Continuity & Incompressible flow
Velocity potential (): Irrotational flow
Stream function () is not a restriction for irrotational flow
Irrotational flow “Viscous forces can be neglected”
STREAM FUNCTION () AND VELOCITY POTENTIAL ( ):
LAPLACE’S EQUATION
Velocity components in the x-y plane:
u v
y x
v u 2 2
Irrotational 0 2 0
x y x 2
y
flow
Continuity
u v
0
2 2
2 0
]
LAPLACE’S
Eq.
Equation x y x 2
y
STREAM FUNCTION ( ) AND VELOCITY POTENTIAL ( ) :
LAPLACE’S EQUATION
LAPLACE’S EQUATION WORKS FOR: - 2-D flow
- Incompressible flow
- Irrotational flow
For a streamline, = constant, hence:
d dx dy 0 dy dx
x y y x
Therefore the slope of a line with = constant is:
dy x v v
dx constant y u u
STREAM FUNCTION ( ) AND VELOCITY POTENTIAL ( ) :
LAPLACE’S EQUATION
For a line with = constant, then:
d dx dy 0 dy dx
x y y x
Therefore the slope is:
dy x u u
dx constant y v v = constant
Finally:
= constant
dy dy v u
1
dx dx u v
STREAM FUNCTION ( ) AND VELOCITY POTENTIAL ( ) :
LAPLACE’S EQUATION
dy dy v u
1
dx dx u v