AE 203: Fluid Dynamics

August 2014
Homework #1

Handout #3
Due in Class Sep 05

1. Streamfunction satisfies the Laplace equation. Consider flow past a cylinder

of circular cross section and radius R, with the axis of symmetry normal to the
plane of paper and the flow from left to right. The Laplace equation in polar
(r, ) coordinates is
1
1
2 rr + r + 2 = 0,
r
r

at

R < r < ; 0 < < 2,

where the suffixes denote partial derivatives. Assume periodic boundary conditions

| =0 = | =2

at

R < r < .

(a) Find a general solution for (r, ) using the above information.
(b) In addition, the following conditions are now specified for the streamfunction
n ( R, ) = 0,
= Ur sin

at

r .

Find (r, ) in term of an unknown constant C.

(c) Plot the streamlines for the following values of this constant: C = 0, C =
UR, C = 2UR, C = 2.1UR.
2. Given the following unsteady flow field, with the velocity u = (u, v, w) and the
position x = ( x, y, z):
1
x,
to + t
v = vo ,
w = 0,
u=

where to , vo are constants.

(a) Find the equation of streamline at a given time t which passes through xo =
( x o , y o , z o ).
(b) The streamlines so obtained are curves on z = constant plane. For vo to =
yo , sketch the streamlines for t = 0 and t = to in the first quadrant.
(c) Find the equation for pathline of a fluid element using its location at t = 0
as a label. Denote this material coordinate as = x(t = 0).
(d) To compare streamlines and pathlines lets assume xo . Hence, show
that at t = 0, the pathline is tangent to the corresponding streamline at
x = xo .
1

AE 203

y
V0
Plate

u(t)

Oil at = const

L
Figure 1: Problem 4

(e) Find the equation of streakline at time t which connects all the fluid elements that have passed through a fixed location x at time t .
(f) Again, for the sake of comparison assume x xo . On the same plot, sketch
the streaklines corresponding to the data given in part(b).
3. A particular velocity field u = (u, v, w) as a function of position x = ( x, y, z) is
given by
u = a ( x + y ),
v = a ( x y ),
w = b,
where a, b are constants.
(a) Show that the flow is divergence and rotation free.
(b) Find the equation of the pathlines in the ( x, y) plane. Sketch some representative curves.
(c) Find the projection of the streamlines on the ( x, y) plane by integrating the
differential form of the equations.
(d) Finally, by comparing the pathlines and the streamlines what can you say
about the nature of the flow?
4. A particular narrow gap (see figure) has a length of L and a height h which is a
function of time t and is filled with oil of density . Assume h(t = 0) = h0 . The
top plate moves down with a velocity of V0 . The velocity distribution at the gap
exits is given by
u(t) = 4U0

h(t)

where U0 is a constant.
2

y
h(t)

2 

AE 203

(a) Find a relation between h(t), h0 , V0 and t

(b) Using the integral form of the continuity equation (see Fay section 3.3.1),
calculate the maximum velocity U0 in terms of V0 , h0 , L and t.
5. The density field of a two-dimensional, steady flow is given by
(x) = kxy,

where

k = constant.

(a) Find the velocity field u upto a constant when the flow could be assumed
incompressible.
(b) Find the pathline equation. Does the density of fluid particles change across
pathlines?
6. (Fay 3.13) A cylindrical tank of cross-sectional area A has liquid of constant density 0 to a depth of h(t). A continuous supply of vapour at mass flow rate m in
and density in to the tank condenses into this liquid at a constant rate of m 0 ,
while the liquid escapes the tank at a rate of m out . The inflow and outflow rates
are related to the respective pressure differences as follows
m in = c1 ( pin p0 ),
m out = c2 ( p0 pout ),
where p0 is the pressure inside the tank, while c1 , c2 are constants.
(a) Write separate mass conservation equations for vapour and liquid in the
form of
dh
p, ...).
= f (m,
dt
(b) Derive an expression for dh/dt without the unknown tank pressure p0 .
(c) Find ( pin pout ) so that h remains constant.