5.

2 Two Dimensional Potential Flow:

The two dimensional potential Flow through porous media is governed by Laplace Equation which are presented in Cartesian Coordinates for x and y by equations (4.12) and (4.17) respectively. This type of flow is analogous to steady state heat flow as well as electric conductivity problems. There are several analytical methods to solve this type of equations for a large classes of problems of practical interest.

Introducing three types of flow: a) Uniform Flow Let the flow be parallel to the x-axis: j = Cx & y = Cy

y 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

2
3 4 5

B- SOURCE WITH STRENGTH q

= {q/(2 )}ln(r) & = {q/(2 )} , 0 < < 2 where, r= {(x-x0)2+(y-y0)2}& = tan-1 [(y-y0)/(x-x0)]

p(r, ) r source

C- SINK WITH STRENGTH q

= -{q/(2 )}ln(r) & =-{q/(2 )} , 0 < < 2 where, r= {(x-x0)2+(y-y0)2}& = tan-1 [(y-y0)/(x-x0)]

p(r, ) r source

It is possible to use a combination of the uniform flow function together with those of sources and sinks to solve problems of practical interests. Among those type of problems is the laminar flow around impermeable
objects. An example to the case of flow around closed objects is shown in Fig. 5.8. In this example, a source at point (0,-a) with strength q and a sink at point (0,a) with the same strength are combined with a uniform flow parallel to the y axis.

The stream function y is given by the following relation: = {q/(2 )}[tan-1{(y+a)/x}-tan-1{y-a)/x}] +Cx The combination given by equation (5.36) and Fig. 5.8, leads to flow around an almost elliptical cylinder similar to that illustrated in Fig. 5.9. Actually, the body shape has the following equation: {q/(2 )}[tan-1{(y+a)/x}-tan-1{y-a)/x}] +Cx =0 The values of C and a are the parameters, which determine the exact shape of the closed body. In the extreme case in which a=0, the source and the sink approach the origin from the two direction of the yaxis. They form an element called duplex which simultaneously recharges and

discharges water with the rate q. The closed body in this case reduces to a circular cylinder as shown in Fig. 5.10

In case of flow around circular cylinder the streamline and velocity potential functions are given by the equations (5.38). y = y[1-a2/(x2+y2)] (5.38-a) and = x[1+a2/(x2+y2)] y (5.38-b) 5.2.2 Method of Images: The existence of water bodies and impermeable boundaries in the neighborhood of sources and sinks influences the flow pattern and pressure distribution. The method of images is found useful in the treatment of this kind of problems. For example, if a sink exists at a perpendicular distance a from a water body, the water body can be replaced in the analysis by a hypothetical source which lies at a perpendicular distance a on the other side of the boundary as illustrated in Fig 5.11

Assuming that the y-axis coincides with the water body and the x-axis passes through the point source, the stream function is hence given by the relation :

={q/(2 )}[tan-1{y/(x+a)}-tan-1{y/(x-a)}]

In Fig. 5.12, the flow lines of the considered case are illustrated.

(5.39)

On the other hand, if a source or a sink lies at a perpendicular distance a from an impermeable boundary, then the flow pattern is the same as that corresponding to two sources or two sinks- similar to that of the original problem -. The hypothetical source or sink has the same strength as the real one and is located at a distance 2a away from it. It is also possible to treat problems containing more than one boundary using the method of images. An example of that is a point source with strength q which is bounded from the bottom and left hand side by impermeable boundaries as illustrated in Fig. 5.13. The two impermeable boundaries are chosen to be the Cartesian x and y axis. The point source is

assumed to located a distance a to the right of the y-axis and at a distance b above the x-axis According to these assumptions, there are three point source images to the real one. Two of them each has a strength q and are located at (-a, b) and (a,-b) while the third one has a strength 2q and is located at (-a,-b)

Using the same definition for the sources given by equation (5.34-b), the following relation of the stream function results: y ={q/(2p )}[tan-1{(y-b)/(x-a)} + tan-1{(y-b) / (x+a)} + tan-1{(y+b)/(x-a)} +2tan1{(y+b)/(x+a)}] The flow pattern of this example is illustrated in Fig. 5.14

If the two impermeable boundaries are parallel instead of being perpendicular, the number of images will be infinite as illustrated in Fig. 5.15

Taking the line parallel to the impermeable boundaries and passing through the real source as the y-axis and the perpendicular to it at the source location as the x-axis implies that the stream function is represented by the infinite series

 ={q/(2)}[tan-1(y/x)+tan-1{y/(x+2a)}+tan1

{y/(x-2b)} +tan-1{y/(x+2a+2b)} +tan1{y/(x-2a2b)}+............] In some cases, the source or sink may be a line of finite or infinite length instead of being a single point. The strength intensity along this line may be constant or variable. To deduce a relation for the stream function and a velocity potential of a line source along the x axis, Fig 5.16 is considered.