Dr. Nikos J.

Mourtos AE 162 Potential Flow Theory

Example: Analyze the flow field around a Rankine semi infinite body
!
= 1.5 m 2 / s is placed at the origin and combined with a
2!
uniform flow u! = 9 m / s in the positive x direction. Calculate the following:

A source of strength

(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)

m=

Location of the stagnation point

The body height along the y axis
The body height at large values of x
The location of the maximum surface velocity
The maximum surface velocity

Explore
The combination of the source and the uniform flow will create the flow around a
Rankine semi infinite body.
Plan / Implement

(a) The stagnation point is located @

" m %
1.5
(r, ! ) = $ + , ! ' = "$# + , ! %'& (
9
# u! &

(r, " ) = ( +0.167m, ! )

or a = 0.167 m

(b) The equation that defines the streamline that goes through the stagnation point is

Dr. Nikos J. Mourtos AE 162 Potential Flow Theory

!=

"
2

or

"
$
2
" " %!
" %!
r=
=m
2" u# sin !
u# sin !
! = u# r sin ! + m! =

"
: r = H = 0.262 m
2
or 2H = 0.524 m

@! =

(c)

x ! " #! ! 0

" %!
" %!
sin ! = m
u" sin !
u"
"
"
hmax = lim $ = lim $ = m # hmax = 1.5 # hmax = 0.524 m
r!"
! !0
u"
9
or 2hmax = 1.048 m
$ = r sin ! = m

(d) The velocity @ any point of the flow field is given by

1/2

2
" &
2+
+)#
u = u + u = *% u! cos! +
+ (u! sin ! ) .
(
2" r '
+,$
+/
2
r

2
!

# 2
"2
"
2
2
2 &
%$ u! cos ! + 4" 2 r 2 + " r u! cos! + u! sin ! ('
#
&
"2
"
= u! % 1 + 2 2 2 +
cos! (
$ 4" r u! " ru!
'

1/2

1/2

# 2
&
"2
"
= % u! + 2 2 + u! cos! (
4" r " r
$
'

# 2a
a2 &
= u! % 1 + cos! + 2 (
r
r '
$

1/2

1/2

To get the velocity @ the surface substitute

! ! ""
! ""
r=
=m
2! u# sin "
u# sin "

1/2

# a 2 u 2 sin 2 !
2au! sin ! cos! &
to get us = u! %1 + 2!
(
2 +
m (" " ! )
m
" " ! ('
%$

To find the location of the maximum surface velocity set

!us
= 0 " ! us,max # 630 = 1.1 rad
!!

Dr. Nikos J. Mourtos AE 162 Potential Flow Theory

We can also calculate the Cartesian coordinates for this location:

! !"
! !"
! !1.1
sin ! = m
= 1.5
= 0.34m
u" sin !
u"
9

y=m

x = y cot ! us,max = 0.34 cot 630 = 0.173m

( x, y)u

s,max

(e)

= ( 0.173, 0.34 )

The maximum surface velocity is

us,max = 1.26 u! = 11.3 m / s