Potential Flows (for ideal flows only)
Learning Objectives:
1. Combination of two or more flow as long as they are govern by linear equations.
2. Set the bases for solving more complex flows
3. Pave the road to the Stream function Concept
4. Laplacian’s Equation can be introduced.
If we have 2-D plane flows as shown in the Figure on the right:
We have stream function, which is a scalar function, is presented as a line
in these figures.
Assumptions:
1. Incompressible:
2. Irrotational:
3. Flown with a stream line
or
or
or
=0
or
A streamline is
a line in the
flow field that is
everywhere
tangent to the
velocity vector.
Stream Function
= constant = 0
Sub into:
If we need a volumetric flow rate such as so that
or
Circulation
Circulation is defined
as the line integral
around the curve of
the arc
length ds times the
tangential component
of velocity.
From Stokes' Theorem, which is
Where is a scalar function called potential function, and
v is the potential velocity
Velocity Potential
or
,
Sub into
A flow governed by this equation is called a Potential Flow, and the equation is Laplace equation which
is linear and is easily solved
Examples of Potential Flow solutions
Uniform Flow Source and Sink
Volumetric flow rate
(mass flow rate when
multiplied by density)
is constant in a radial
direction and is equal
to m, which is called
the Strength of the
source.
A Source-Sink Pair Doublet
Potential Flow for Bernoulli’s Equation
yields
For a potential flow, which is inviscid and irrotational, the Bernoulli equation is extended to include an unsteady term. For a
flow that is inviscid, incompressible, and irrotational, the general form of the unsteady Bernoulli's equation is expressed as:
Conclusions:
1. Stream Function:
2. Potential Function:
Stream function and streamlines Stream function and velocity potential

Lecture Four on Stream function and Potential Functions

  • 1.
    Potential Flows (forideal flows only) Learning Objectives: 1. Combination of two or more flow as long as they are govern by linear equations. 2. Set the bases for solving more complex flows 3. Pave the road to the Stream function Concept 4. Laplacian’s Equation can be introduced. If we have 2-D plane flows as shown in the Figure on the right: We have stream function, which is a scalar function, is presented as a line in these figures. Assumptions: 1. Incompressible: 2. Irrotational: 3. Flown with a stream line or or or =0 or A streamline is a line in the flow field that is everywhere tangent to the velocity vector. Stream Function
  • 2.
    = constant =0 Sub into: If we need a volumetric flow rate such as so that or
  • 3.
    Circulation Circulation is defined asthe line integral around the curve of the arc length ds times the tangential component of velocity. From Stokes' Theorem, which is Where is a scalar function called potential function, and v is the potential velocity
  • 4.
    Velocity Potential or , Sub into Aflow governed by this equation is called a Potential Flow, and the equation is Laplace equation which is linear and is easily solved
  • 6.
    Examples of PotentialFlow solutions Uniform Flow Source and Sink Volumetric flow rate (mass flow rate when multiplied by density) is constant in a radial direction and is equal to m, which is called the Strength of the source.
  • 7.
  • 8.
    Potential Flow forBernoulli’s Equation yields For a potential flow, which is inviscid and irrotational, the Bernoulli equation is extended to include an unsteady term. For a flow that is inviscid, incompressible, and irrotational, the general form of the unsteady Bernoulli's equation is expressed as:
  • 9.
  • 10.
    Stream function andstreamlines Stream function and velocity potential