Advanced Fluid Mechanics

INVISCID FLUID
FLOW
Presented by:
Prof. D.Rashtchian

Sharif University of Technology

Chemical & Petroleum Engineering Department

Advanced Fluid Mechanics

Fluid rotation at a point

z =

d +

dt 2

Where the counterclockwise sense is positive

From Figure (1) we see that:

z =

1 arctan
x ,y , z , t 0 2

lim

{ [(v

y x + x

v y

z =

) t ] / x } +

{ [ (v

arctan

1 v y v x

y
2 x

x y + y

vx

) t ] / y }

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Chemical & Petroleum Engineering Department

Advanced Fluid Mechanics

The subscript z indicates that the rotation is about the z axis.

In the xz and yz planes the rotation at a point is given by

y =

1 v x v z

x
2 z

x =

1 v z v y

z
2 y

and

The rotation at a point is related to the vector cross product of the velocity. As the
student may verify,

v y
v
v
v
v
v
e x + x z e y + y x e z
v = z
x
z
y
z
x
y
And thus

v = 2
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u 3 u 2

x2 x3
u
u
2 = 1 3
x 3 x1
u
u
3 = 2 1
x1 x 2

Advanced Fluid Mechanics

1 =

i.e.

= i .e i

Components i can be conveniently remembered using:

x1

x 2

x3

u1

u2

u3

These quantities are the components of the vorticity vector. It is a measure of

the rotational character of the flow about the i-axis.
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Chemical & Petroleum Engineering Department

Advanced Fluid Mechanics

i 0
i =0 all i,

Paddle wheel at P will rotate. i.e. rotation flow.

irrotational flow.

Using our suffix notation:

i = ijk
Where

ijk = +1
ijk = -1
ijk = 0

uk uk u j
=

x j x j xk

( j k)

if i,j,k different and cyclic 1,2,3 / 2,3,1 / 3,1,2

if i,j,k different but not cyclic 1,3,2 / 2,1,3 / 3,2,1
if any of i,j,k same

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Chemical & Petroleum Engineering Department

The stream function

Advanced Fluid Mechanics

For a two-dimensional, incompressible flow, the continuity equation is

v x v y
+
=0
.v =
x
y

v y
y

F
x

or

vx =

vy =

F
dy
x

v y
vx
, we may write
As
=
x
y

v y
y

x y

or

vy +
=0
y
x
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Chemical & Petroleum Engineering Department

For this to be true in general

Advanced Fluid Mechanics

vy =

= ( x, y )
d =

dx +
dy
y
x

Also,

= v y
x
And thus

= vx
y

and

d = v y dx + v x dy

(5)

Consider a path in the xy plane such that = constant. Along this path, d = 0, and
thus equation (5) becomes

dy
dx

=
= const .

vy
vx
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Chemical & Petroleum Engineering Department

Advanced Fluid Mechanics

The slope of the path = constant is seen to be the same as the slope of a
streamline as discussed previously. The function (x, y) thus represents the
streamlines. The following figure illustrates the streamlines and velocity
components for flow about an airfoil.

Sharif University of Technology

Chemical & Petroleum Engineering Department

Advanced Fluid Mechanics

The differential equation which governs is obtained by consideration of the fluid

rotation, , at a point. In a two-dimensional flow, z = 1 [(v y x ) (v x y )] , and
2
thus if the velocity components v y and v x are expressed in terms of the stream

function , we obtain, for an incompressible, steady flow,

2 2
2 z = 2 + 2
x
y
When the flow is irrotational equation becomes Laplace's Equation:

2 2
= 2 + 2 =0
x
y
2

Sharif University of Technology

Chemical & Petroleum Engineering Department

Advanced Fluid Mechanics

Irrotational flow, the velocity potential

In a two-dimensional irrotational flow v=0, and thus vx/y=vy/x. the similarity
of this equation to the continuity equation suggests that the type of relation used to
obtain the stream function may be used again. Note, however, that the order of
differentiation is reversed from the continuity equation. If we let vx=(x,y)/x, we
observe that

v y
v x
2
=
=
y
xy
x
or

v x = 0
x y

and for the general case

vy =
The velocity vector is given by
V = vx ex + vy ey + vz ez =
and thus, in vector notation,

ex + ey + ez
y
z
x

v =
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Closure

Advanced Fluid Mechanics

In this chapter we have examined potential flow. A short summary of the properties
of the stream function and the velocity potential is given below.

Stream function
1. A stream function (x,y) exists for each and every two-dimensional steady,
incompressible flow, whether viscous or inviscid.
2. Lines for which (x,y)=constant are streamlines.
3. in cartesian coordinates,

vx =

and in general

vs =

vy =

Where n is 90 counterclockwise from s.

4. The stream function identically satisfies the continuity equation.
5. for an irrotational, steady, incompressible flow,

2 = 0
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Advanced Fluid Mechanics

Velocity potential
1. The velocity potential exists if and only if the flow is irrotational.
No other restrictions are required.
2. = v.
3. For steady, incompressible flow, 2 = 0.
4. For steady, incompressible two dimensional flows, lines of constant
velocity potential are perpendicular to the streamlines.

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The differential equation defining is obtained from the continuity equation. Considering a
steady, incompressible flow, we have v = 0 , thus, using equation for v, we obtain:

Advanced Fluid Mechanics

= 2 = 0
Which is again Laplace's equation; this time dependent variable is . Clearly, and must
be relatd. This relation may be illustrated by a consideration of isolines of and . An
isoline of is of course a streamline. Along the isolines:

d =

And

d =

dx +
dy
x
y

dx +
dy
x
y

Or

dy
dx

=
= cos t .

dy
dx

=
d =0

vy
vx

vx
vy

Accordingly
dy
1
=
dx =const
dy dx =const .

And thus and are orthogonal. The orthogonality of stream function and the velocity
potential is a useful property, particularly when graphical solutions to equations are
employed.

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Chemical & Petroleum Engineering Department

Advanced Fluid Mechanics

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( Bernoulli's Equation )
ui
2u i
1 p
uj

+ gi
=
x j
x j x j xi

Advanced Fluid Mechanics

Navier-Stokes equation for steady flow:

u i u j

uj
x
j xi

u
+ uj j
x

u i u j
=

xi
x
j
j

i)

constant ==> By continuity

ii)

Rewrite g i =

iii)

(g j x
xi

2u

xi x j

2u j
1 p
+

+ gi

x
x
x

i
j
i

xi

u j

= 0
x
j

u i u j

Irrotation al flow
x
j xi

=0

for i j

u u j
Continuity i
x
j xi

=0

for i = j

Hence for irrotational flow of a fluid of constant viscosity (or negligible viscosity)
and constant density:
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Advanced Fluid Mechanics

uj

u j
xi

1 p
g x
+
xi xi j j

xi

u ju j p

g
x
j j = 0

Put

gi = (0, 0, -g) and

u ju j

Hence
For

2
i)
ii)

P = p + g x3

= const. ( Bernoulli's Equation )

= constant and
irrotational flow

consider the quantity , ijk

ijk

x j

x j

xk

xk

x j xk

xk x j

=0

where is a scalar function of position.

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Chemical & Petroleum Engineering Department

Advanced Fluid Mechanics

Inviscid Irrotational Flow about an Infinite Cylinder

In order to illustrate the use of the stream function, the inviscid, irrotational flow
pattern about a cylinder of infinite length will be obtained by solving previous
equations. The physical situation is illustrated in the figure below. A stationary
circular cylinder of radius a is situated in uniform, parallel flow in the x direction.
Making use of the cylindrical symmetry, we shall employ polar coordinates. In polar
coordinates we have:

2 1 1 2
+
+ 2
=0
2
2
r r r
r
Where the velocity components (vr and v) are given by

vr =

1
r

and

v =

(1)

Sharif University of Technology

Chemical & Petroleum Engineering Department

Advanced Fluid Mechanics

1. The circle r=a must be a streamline. Science the velocity normal to a streamline is
zero, vr r =a = 0 or r =a = 0
2. from symmetry, the line =0 must also be a streamline. Hence v

=0

= 0 or

r =0 = 0 .

3. as r the velocity must be finite.

4. the magnitude of the velocity as r is v, a constant.

(r , ) = F (r )G ( )
F (r )
F (r )
G ( )
+r
=
F (r )
F (r )
G ( )
G ( ) + 2 G ( ) = 0
r 2 F (r ) + rF (r ) 2 F (r ) = 0

(2)

(3)

G ( ) = A sin( ) + B cos( )
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Advanced Fluid Mechanics

Equation (2) is known as an Euler equation and has the solution F (r ) = Cr + Dr

The boundary conditions listed above will determine the constants. From boundary
condition (1) we have

G ( ) = A sin( ) + B cos( )

= Ca + Da ( A cos ( ) B sin ( ) ) = 0
r=a

And thus D = Ca 2
Hence

a 2
( r , ) = r
r

Where A = AC , B = BC

( A sin( ) + B cos( ) )

Boundary condition (2) states that at (=0) we have r = 0 . As sin=0, the only
way this requirement can be met is to have B = 0 , yielding

a 2
( r , ) = A sin( ) r
r

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Finally, conditions 3 and 4 require that the limit v r2 + v2 = v2 . As

2
a
2
2
2 cos

r
vr + v = A
2

r
r

Advanced Fluid Mechanics

2
2
2 2
v r + v = A cos 2

1
a
2
2
2
+ A sin r
+ +1

1 a 2
r +1 + sin 2
r

1 a 2
r + +1
r

The only value of for which the velocity will be finite as r is unity. Using =1
requires A = v , and the stream function becomes
2

a
( r , ) = v r sin 1 2
r

The velocity components vr and v are:

2

1
a
= v cos 1 2
vr =
r
r

v =
= v sin 1 + 2
r
r

vr = 0
v = 2v sin

Sharif University of Technology

Chemical & Petroleum Engineering Department

Advanced Fluid Mechanics

Utilization of potential flow

Potential flow has great utility in engineering for the prediction of pressure fields,
forces, and flow rates in the field of aerodynamics, for example , potential flow
solutions are used to predict force and momentum distributions on wings and other
bodies.
An illustration of the determination of the pressure distribution from a potential flow
solution may be obtained from the solution for the flow about a circular cylinder
presented in the previous section. From the Bernoulli equation:
P v2
+
= const .

2
We have deleted the potential energy term in accordance with the original
assumption of uniform velocity in the x direction. At a great distance from the
cylinder the pressure is P, and the velocity is v, so the above equation becomes:
v 2
v 2
P+
= P +
= P0
2
2
Where P0 is designated the stagnation pressure (i.e., the pressure at which the velocity
is zero). In accordance with this equation the stagnation pressure is constant
throughout the field in an irrotational flow. The velocity at the surface of the body is
v0 = -2vsin, thus the surface pressure is
P = P0 2 v 2 sin 2
Sharif University of Technology
Chemical & Petroleum Engineering Department

Advanced Fluid Mechanics

Sharif University of Technology

Chemical & Petroleum Engineering Department