FLUID MECHANCIS II

BDA 30203
CHAPTER 2
POTENTIAL FLOW

DR. AZMAHANI SADIKIN

C16-101-09
azmah@uthm.edu.my

Ideal flow

Fluid element kinematics

Linear motion and deformation
Angular motion and deformation
Vorticity
Rotational and Irrotational
Stream function
Velocity potential
Basic simple plane potential flow
Uniform flow
Source and sink
Vortex

Types of Motion or Deformation of

Fluid Elements
In fluid mechanics, an element may undergo four
fundamental types of motion or deformation:
(a) translation, (b) rotation,
(c) linear strain (also called extensional strain), and
(d) shear strain.
All four types of motion or deformation usually occur
simultaneously.

It is preferable in fluid dynamics to describe the motion

and deformation of fluid elements in terms of rates
such as
velocity (rate of translation),
angular velocity (rate of rotation),
linear strain rate (rate of linear strain), and
Fundamental types of fluid
shear strain rate (rate of shear strain).
element motion or
In order for these deformation rates to be useful in the deformation: (a) translation,
calculation of fluid flows, we must express them in
(b) rotation, (c) linear strain,
terms of velocity and derivatives of velocity.
and (d) shear strain.

Types of Motion or Deformation of

Fluid Elements

Types of Motion or Deformation of

Fluid Elements

Linear Motion and

deformation

A vector is required in order to fully describe the rate of translation in three

dimensions. The rate of translation vector is described mathematically as
the velocity vector.

Linear Motion and

deformation

Fluid Deformation:

Linear Deformation

Angular Motion and

deformation
Rate of rotation (angular velocity) at a point: The average rotation rate of two
initially perpendicular lines that intersect at that point.
For a fluid element that
translates and deforms as
sketched, the rate of
rotation at point O is
defined as the average
rotation rate of two
initially perpendicular
lines (lines a and b).

Rate of rotation of fluid

element about point O

Angular Motion and

deformation

So, for x and y axes

Angular Motion and

deformation

The rate of rotation vector is equal to the angular velocity vector.

Vorticity and Rotationality

Another kinematic property of great importance to the analysis of fluid flows is
the vorticity vector, defined mathematically as the curl of the velocity vector

Vorticity is equal to twice the

angular velocity (rotation vector)
of a fluid particle

Vorticity and Rotationality

The direction
of a vector
cross product
is determined
by the righthand rule.

The vorticity vector is equal to

twice the angular velocity vector
of a rotating fluid particle.

Vorticity and Rotationality

If the vorticity at a point in a flow field is nonzero, the fluid particle

that happens to occupy that point in space is rotating; the flow in
that region is called rotational.

Likewise, if the vorticity in a region of the flow is zero (or

negligibly small), fluid particles there are not rotating; the flow in
that region is called irrotational.

Physically, fluid particles in a rotational region of flow rotate end

over end as they move along in the flow.

Vorticity and Rotationality

The difference between rotational and

irrotational flow: fluid elements in a
rotational region of the flow rotate, but
those in an irrotational region of the
flow do not.

Vorticity and Rotationality

For a two-dimensional flow in the

xy-plane, the vorticity vector
always points in the z- or zdirection. In this illustration, the
flag-shaped fluid particle rotates
in the counterclockwise direction
as it moves in the xy-plane;
its vorticity points in the positive
z-direction as shown.

A simple analogy can be made

between flow A and a merry-goround or roundabout, and flow B
and a Ferris wheel.
As children revolve around a
roundabout, they also rotate at
the same angular velocity as that
of the ride itself. This is analogous
to a rotational flow.
In contrast, children on a Ferris
wheel always remain oriented in
an upright position as they trace
out their circular path. This is
analogous to an irrotational flow.

A simple analogy: (a) rotational

circular flow is analogous to a
roundabout, while (b) irrotational
circular flow is analogous to a
Ferris wheel. (engel et al. 2011)

Stream Function
The Stream Function in Cartesian Coordinates

Incompressible, two-dimensional stream

function in Cartesian coordinates:
stream
function

There are several definitions of

the stream function, depending
on the type of flow under
consideration as well as the
coordinate system being used.

Stream Function and Streamlines

Stream function automatically satisfies

the continuity equation, and only in 2
dimensional flow

Streamlines are lines of

constant stream function
If streamlines get closer,

their gradient becomes larger,

and the velocity increases in turn

Irrotational Flow

If we make one additional assumptionthat the flow is

irrotationalthe analysis of inviscid flow problems is
further simplified.
The vorticity, is zero for the irrotational flow field.
For the irrotational flow field, x V = 0 ; therefore the
rotation about the z axis becomes zero;
1 v u
z 0
2 x y

Therefore, v u
x y

Irrotational Flow
And at y and z axis,

w v

y z

Uniform flow in a x direction (Munson

and Young, 2010)

u w

z x

A general flow field would not

satisfy these three equations.
However, a uniform flow does.
Since u = U (a constant), v = 0
and w = 0; so all equations in
light green boxes are satisfed.
Therefore, a uniform flow field
(in which there are no velocity
gradients) is certainly an
example of an irrotational flow.

Irrotational Flow

Various regions of flow: (a) around bodies, (b) through channel

(Munson and Young, 2010)

The Velocity Potential

For an irrotational flow the velocity gradients are

related through Eqs. in the light green boxes for
irrotational flows.
The velocity components can be expressed in
terms of a scalar function as (x,y,z,t). So that the
velocity components can be expressed as

u
x

v
y

w
z

is called the velocity potential

The Velocity Potential

In vector form V so for irrotational flow the velocity
is expressible as the gradient of a scalar function .
The velocity potential satisfies the irrotationality of the flow
field, whereas the stream function satisfy the conservation of
mass.
The velocity potential can be defined for a general threedimensional flow, but the stream function is restricted to twodimensional flows.
For an incompressible fluid, we know from conservation of
mass that V . 0

Therefore for incompressible, irrotational flow

2
(with V ), it follows that 0

The Velocity Potential

where 2 ( ) . ( ) is the Laplacian
operator. In Cartesian coordinates

2 2 0
2
y
x
z
2

This is called Laplaces Equation and

inviscid, incompressible, irrotational flow
are governed by this equation. This type
of flow is called potential flow.

Basic/Simple Plane Potential Flow

Laplaces equation is linear partial

differential equation.
For potential flow, basic solutions can be
simply added to obtain more complicated
solutions.
Consider a two-dimensional (plane)
flows using cartesian coordinates as
below, for potential flow;

u
x

v
y

Basic/Simple Plane Potential Flow

We can define a stream function for plane flow too, so,
u

where we know that stream function satisfy the continuity

equation. Now, for irrotational flow,

u v

y x
and in terms of the stream function

y y

2 0
2
y
x
2

or

Thus, for a plane irrotational flow, we can use either the velocity
potential or the stream function both must satisfy the
Laplaces equation in two dimensions.

Uniform Flow
The simplest plane flow is one for which the streamlines are
all straight and parallel, and the magnitude of velocity is
constant. We call this flow Uniform flow
Consider a uniform flow in the positive x direction as shown
in Figure a below. So, u = U and v = 0, and in terms of
velocity potential,

U
x

0
y

These two equations can be integrated to yield

Ux C

Uniform Flow

Uniform flow: a) In the x direction b) in an arbitary direction,

C can be set to zero, so for a uniform flow in the x positive

direction,

Ux

Source and Sink

A source or sink represents a purely radial flow.

m
For velocity potential,
ln r
2
If m is positive,
the flow is radially outward
source flow
If m is negative,
the flow is toward the origin
The streamline pattern for a source
sink flow
The m, the flowrate, is the strength of the source or sink

Source and Sink

But, when r = 0, the velocity becomes infinite, and

impossible. So, does not exist in real fluid.
In real flows, we can approximate away from the
origin as source and sink.
m
For stream function

2
So, the streamlines (lines of = constant) are
radial lines, the equipotential lines (lines of =
constant) are concentric circles at the origin.

Vortex

Consider a flow field in which the streamlines are

concentric circles. Interchange the velocity potential
and stream function for the source.
Then, let = K and = -K ln r , where K is
constant. In this case, the streamlines are concentric
circles, with vr = 0

1
K

v
r
r
r

Tangenial velocity varies inversley with the distance

from the origin, occur at r = 0

Vortex

Vortex motion is irrotational because the flow field is

described by the a velocity potential.
Rotation refers to orientation of fluid element, and not path
followed by the element.
Irrotational vortex is called free vortex
Rotational vortex cannot be described as a velocity potential
forced vortex
A combined vortex is one with a forces vortex as a central
core and a velocity distribution corresponding to that of a
free vortex outside the core. ( drain in a bathtub)

Vortex

Streamline pattern for a vortex

Vortex

Motion of fluid element from A to B: (a) for irrotational (free vortex) b)

for rotational (forced) vortex

Vortex

Satellite image of a hurricane near the Florida coast; water droplets

move with the air, enabling us to visualize the counterclockwise
swirling motion. However, the major portion of the hurricane is actually
irrotational, while only the core (the eye of the storm) is rotational.

Circulation

Circulation, is defined as the line integral of the

tangential component of the velocity taken around
a closed curve in the flow field.

V. ds
c

2
Circulation around various paths in a free vortex

ln r
2