IIT-Madras, Momentum Transfer: July 2005-Dec 2005

Stream Function & Velocity Potential

Stream lines/ Stream Function (+)
Concept
Relevant Formulas
Examples
Rotation, vorticity
Velocity Potential(|)
Concept
Relevant Formulas
Examples
Relationship between stream function and velocity
potential
Complex velocity potential
IIT-Madras, Momentum Transfer: July 2005-Dec 2005
Stream Lines
Consider 2D incompressible flow
Continuity Eqn
( ) ( ) ( ) 0 =
c
c
+
c
c
+
c
c
+
c
c
z y x
V
z
V
y
V
x t

( )
( )
0
x y
V V
x y
c c
+ =
c c
V
x
and V
y
are related
Can you write a common function for both?
x
y
V
V dy
x
c
| |
=
|
c
\ .
}
IIT-Madras, Momentum Transfer: July 2005-Dec 2005
Stream Function
Assume
x
V
y
c
=
c
Instead of two functions, V
x
and V
y
, we need to solve
for only one function Stream Function
Order of differential eqn increased by one
Then
2
x
y
V
V dy dy
x x y

| |
c c
| |
= =
|
|
c c c
\ .
\ .
} }
2
dy
y x x

| |
c c
| |
= =
|
|
c c c
\ .
\ .
}
IIT-Madras, Momentum Transfer: July 2005-Dec 2005
Stream Function
What does Stream Function mean?
Equation for streamlines in 2D are given by
= constant
Streamlines may exist in 3D also, but stream function
does not
Why? (When we work with velocity potential, we may
get a perspective)
In 3D, streamlines follow the equation
x y z
dx dy dz
V V V
= =
IIT-Madras, Momentum Transfer: July 2005-Dec 2005
Rotation
Definition of rotation
Time=t
x
y
ROTATION
2
z
d
dt
o |
e
+
| |
= =
|
\ .
Ax
Ay
y
x x
V
+A
y
x
V
x
y
V
x
y y
V
+A
Assume V
y
|
x
< V
y
|
x+Ax

and V
x
|
y
> V
x
|
y+Ay

o
|
IIT-Madras, Momentum Transfer: July 2005-Dec 2005
Rotation
To Calculate Rotation
1
tan
y
x
o
A
=
A
o
Ay
1

Ax
( ) ( )
1 y y
x x x
y V t V t
+A
A = A A
( )
arctan
y y
x x x
V V t
x
o
+A
A
=
A
( )
arctan
x x
y y y
V V t
y
|
+A
A
=
A
Similarly
IIT-Madras, Momentum Transfer: July 2005-Dec 2005
Rotation
To Calculate Rotation
ROTATION
2
z
d
dt
o |
e
+
| |
= =
|
\ .
o
|
( ) ( )
0
1
lim
2
t t t
t
t
o | o |
+A
A
| |
+ +
|
=
|
A
\ .
For very small time and very small element, Ax, Ay
and At are close to zero
( ) ( )
0 0
arctan arctan
1 1
lim lim
2 2
y y x x
y y y
x x x
t t
V V t V V t
x y
t t
+A
+A
A A

A A

` `
A A

| | | |
) )
=
| |
A A
\ . \ .
0 x A
0 y A
0 x A
0 y A
IIT-Madras, Momentum Transfer: July 2005-Dec 2005
( ) ( )
0 0
arctan
lim lim
y y y y
x x x x x x
t t
V V t V V t
x x
t t
+A +A
A A

A A

` `
A A

) )
=
A A
0 x A
0 y A
0 x A
0 y A
Rotation
To Calculate Rotation
u ~
For very small u, (i.e.u ~ 0)
cos 1 u ~
tanu u ~
arctanu u ~
( ) ( )
arctan
y y y y
x x x x x x
V V t V V t
x x
+A +A

A A

~
`
A A

)
sinu
IIT-Madras, Momentum Transfer: July 2005-Dec 2005
Rotation
To Calculate Rotation
( )
0
lim
y y
y x x x
x
V V
V
x x
+A
A

c
=
A c
1
2
y
x
z
V
V
x y
e
c
c
| |
=
`
|
c c
\ .
)
Simplifies to
( ) ( )
0 0
arctan arctan
1 1
lim lim
2 2
y y x x
y y y
x x x
z
t t
V V t V V t
x y
t t
e
+A
+A
A A

A A

` `
A A

| | | |
) )
=
| |
A
\ . \

A
.
0 x A
0 y A
0 x A
0 y A
( )
1
2
z
V e
| |
= V
|
\ .
IIT-Madras, Momentum Transfer: July 2005-Dec 2005
To write rotation in terms of stream functions
2 2
2 2
1 1
2 2
y
x
z
V
V
x y x y

e
c
| | c c c
| | | |
= =
`
| | |
c c c c
\ . \ .
\ . )

x
V
y
c
=
c
y
V
x
c
| |
=
|
c
\ .
2
1
2

| |
= V
|
\ .
2
2 0
z
e V + =
That is
For irrotational flow (e
z
=0)
2
0 V =
Rotation in terms of Stream Function
IIT-Madras, Momentum Transfer: July 2005-Dec 2005
This equation is similar to continuity equation
V
x
and V
y
are related
Can we find a common function to relate both V
x

and V
y
?
For irrotational flow (e
z
=0)
( )
1
0
2
z
V e = V =
0 V V =
0
y
x
V
V
x y
c
c
=
c c
Rotation and Potential
IIT-Madras, Momentum Transfer: July 2005-Dec 2005
Velocity Potential
In 3D, similarly it can be shown that
Assume
x
V
x
| c
=
c
y
x
V
V
x y
c
c
=
c c
0
y
x
V
V
x y
c
c
=
c c
2
y x
| c
=
c c
2
x y
| c
=
c c
y
V
y
| c
=
c
z
V
z
| c
=
c
Then
| is the velocity potential
IIT-Madras, Momentum Transfer: July 2005-Dec 2005
Velocity Potential vs Stream
Function
Stream Function () Velocity Potential (|)
only 2D flow all flows
viscous or non-viscous flows
Irrotational (i.e. Inviscid or
zero viscosity) flow
Incompressible flow (steady or
unsteady)
Incompressible flow (steady
or unsteady state)
compressible flow (steady
state only)
compressible flow (steady or
unsteady state)
Exists
for
In 2D inviscid flow (incompressible flow OR steady
state compressible flow), both functions exist
What is the relationship between them?
IIT-Madras, Momentum Transfer: July 2005-Dec 2005
Stream Function- Physical
meaning
Statement: In 2D (viscous or inviscid) flow
(incompressible flow OR steady state compressible
flow), = constant represents the streamline.
Proof
d dx dy
x y

| | c c
| |
= +
| |
c c
\ .
\ .
( )
( )
0
y x
V dx V dy = +
=
If = constant, then d=0
y
x
V
dy
dx V
=
If = constant, then
V
x
V
y