Chapter 2 Potential Flow

MEC442
FLUID MECHANICS II
CHAPTER 02
POTENTIAL FLOW
1
PREPARED BY:
PN. ROSNADIAH BAHSAN
FACULTY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
UiTM SHAH ALAM
POTENTIAL FLOW (IDEAL FLOW)
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After completing this chapter, you should be able to:
➢ Apply the concepts of stream function and velocity

potential
➢ Characterize simple potential flow fields
➢ Understand superposition as a method of solving
potential flow problems
2
POTENTIAL FLOW
2.0 INTRODUCTION
• An ideal fluid is a purely hypothetical fluid which is assumed
to have no viscosity and no compressibility and in the case of
liquids, no surface tension and no vaporization .
• Basically there are two types of motion :
 Translation
 Rotation
• Translation means motion along a path.

• Rotation means motion around a fixed axis. An axis is the centre
around which something rotates.
3
POTENTIAL FLOW
2.0 INTRODUCTION
An ideal fluid is defined by the following set of characteristics.

The flow of the fluid must be
• steady
The velocity at any point in the flow does not change in time.
• incompressible
The density does not change with pressure.
• non-viscous
There are no sources of internal friction that could remove energy
from the flow.
• irrotational
An element (small piece) of the flow traces out a straight path
aligned with the fluid velocity, not a helical pattern around it.
4
2.0 INTRODUCTION
Ideal fluid flow is a simple, but useful approximation to

actual fluid motion.
5
2.0 INTRODUCTION
Lets consider a solid body is represented by a square.
6
2.1 INVISCID FLOW APPROXIMATIONS
 Flow fields in which the shearing stresses are

assumed to be negligible, are said to be inviscid,
nonviscous or frictionless.
 An inviscid flow is the flow of an ideal fluid that is
assumed to have no viscosity.
 When viscous forces are neglected, the Navier-Stokes
equation can be simplified to a form known as the Euler
equation
7
2.1 INVISCID FLOW APPROXIMATIONS

 Euler’s Equation of Motion:
Euler’s equation is simply the Navier-Stokes equation

with the viscous term neglected
8
2.2 THE STREAM FUNCTION & VELOCITY POTENTIAL
Stream Function (ψ)

 Stream Function exists only if a fluid is IRROTATIONAL FLOW or
ROTATIONAL FLOW
 Applied for a fluid having a 2-D Flow.
 Transform to rewrite two independent variables (u & v) to one dependent
variable (ψ)
 What have we gained by this transformation?

1) A single variable (ψ) replaces two variables ( u & v) – once (ψ) is
known, can generate both u & v
2) Stream function has useful physical significance: Curves of
constant (ψ) are streamlines of the flow
Cartesian Coordinates:
Details note
in Class
9
Stream Function (ψ)
10
Velocity Potential (Φ)

 Velocity Potential Function exists only if a fluid is IRROTATIONAL
FLOW
 Applied for a fluid having a 3-D Flow.
11
Relationship between stream function and velocity potential
Laplace’s equation
12
Relationship between stream function and velocity

potential
Stream Function (y) Velocity Potential (f)

only 2D flow 3D flows
Irrotational (i.e. Inviscid or
viscous or non-viscous flows zero viscosity) flow
Exists
Incompressible flow (steady or Incompressible flow (steady
for
unsteady) or unsteady state)
compressible flow (steady compressible flow (steady or
state only) unsteady state)
13
EXAMPLE 2.1
In a two-dimensional incompressible flow the fluid

velocity components are given by, u = x – 4y and
v = -y - 4x. Show that the flow satisfies the
continuity equation and obtain the expression for
the stream function. If the flow is potential,
obtain also the expression for the velocity
potential.
14
15
16
EXAMPLE 2.4
The two-dimensional flow of a nonviscous, incompressible fluid in

the vicinity of the 90o corner of Figure below is described by the
stream function
Ψ = 2r2 sin 2θ
Where ψ has unit of m2/s when r in meters. Assume the fluid

density is 103 kg/m3 and the x-y plane is horizontal- that is, there
is no difference in elevation between points (1) and (2).
a) Determine, if possible, the corresponding velocity potential.

b) If the pressure at point (1) on the wall is 30 kPa, what is the
pressure at point (2)?
17
2.3 VORTICITY (ζ) & IRROTATIONALITY (Γ)
Vorticity is a vector quantity and it tells us the tendency of a fluid particle
to rotate or circulate at a particular point. It is mathematically defined as
the curl of velocity.
Irrotational flow
18
Example 2.5
Consider the flow field given by Ψ = ax2 – ay2, where a =

3 s-1. Show that the flow is irrotational. Determine the
velocity potential for this flow.
19
Circulation defined as the line integral of the velocity field along a closed
contour. It is a scalar quantity.
20
POTENTIAL FLOW
2.5 PLANE POTENTIAL FLOWS
 Streamlines of the flow- curves of constant values of ψ
 Equipotential lines – curves of constant values of φ
 In planar irrotational regions of flow –streamlines intersect
equipotential lines at right angles, known as mutual orthogonality,
meaning that they intersect at 90o angles everywhere.
21
POTENTIAL FLOW
 For any potential flow field a flow net can be drawn

that consists of a family of “streamlines ψ” and
“equipotential lines (Φ)”.
22
POTENTIAL FLOW
Basic Plane Flows

o Uniform flow
o Source
o Sink
o Doublet
o Irrotational Vortex
23
POTENTIAL FLOW
Uniform Flow (equations will explain in the class)
o The simplest plane flow
o The streamlines are all straight and parallel
o The magnitude of the velocity is constant
24
Uniform Flow: (a) in the x-direction; (b) in an
inclined at angle
POTENTIAL FLOW
Uniform Flow (equations will explain in the class)
Uniform Flow: (a) in the x-direction; (b) in an 25

arbitrary direction,
POTENTIAL FLOW
Source and Sink of fluid
➢ Source – flow radially outward from a line through the origin perpendicular
to the x-y plane
➢ Sink – flow radially inward (toward the origin), the volume flow rate, Q is
negative
26
POTENTIAL FLOW
27
POTENTIAL FLOW
Source located at the origin in the xy-plane
28
POTENTIAL FLOW
Source located at some arbitrary point (a,b)

in the xy-plane
29
POTENTIAL FLOW
Doublet
The combination of a source and sink of equal 30

strength located along the x-axis
31
32
POTENTIAL FLOW
Irrotational Vortex
The streamline pattern for a vortex 33

POTENTIAL FLOW
Irrotational Vortex
Line vortex of strength Г located at the

origin in the xy -plane 34
POTENTIAL FLOW
Irrotational Vortex
Line vortex of strength Г located at some

arbitrary point (a,b) in the xy -plane 35
POTENTIAL FLOW
EXAMPLE 2.6
An uniform flow is parallel to the x-axis and have

velocity components of u = 25 m/s. At coordinate (x,y) =
(0.7, 0.5), determine the stream function, ψ and velocity
potential, Ф .
36
POTENTIAL FLOW
EXAMPLE 2.7
A source is at the origin of x-y plane, with radial

velocity component of Vr = q/2πr where the source
strength is 10 m2/s. Angular velocity component of the
source is Vθ = 0. Determine:
i) The stream function, ψ and velocity potential, Ф at

coordinate (x,y) = (0.7, 0.5)
ii) The magnitude and direction of the velocity at
coordinate (x,y) = (0.7, 0.5)
37
POTENTIAL FLOW
SUMMARY OF BASIC PLANE POTENTIAL FLOWS
DISCUSSION in Class
38
2.6. SUPERPOSITION OF PLANE FLOW SOLUTIONS
Superposition
 Superposition is the process of adding two or more
irrotational flow solutions together to generate a third
solution.
39
Superposition of Basic Flows

 Because Potential flows are governed by linear partial
differential equations, the solutions can be combined in
superposition.
 Flow does not cross streamlines. Thus, for inviscid flow,
streamlines solid boundaries.
 Thus, some of the basic velocity potentials or stream
functions can be combined to yield a streamline that
represents a particular body shape.
 The superposition representing a body can lead to
describing the flow around the body in detail.
40
Source and Uniform flow (Flow Past a Half Body/

Rankine Half Body)
41
Source and Uniform flow (Flow Past a Half Body/
Rankine Half Body)
42
Stagnation Point
43
Wing Air Flow Demo
44
How Wing Create Lift
45
Source and Sink at equal strength
(Doublet)
46
Source, Sink and Uniform flow

(flow past a Rankine body)
47
Source, Sink and Uniform flow

(flow past a Rankine body)
48
Doublet and Uniform flow
(flow past a cylinder)
49
Doublet and Uniform flow
(flow past a cylinder)
50
Example 2.7 (Doublet)
Consider an irrotational region of flow composed of a line
source of strength q at location (-a, 0) and a line sink of the
same strength (but opposite sign) at (a,0), as sketched in
figure below. Generate an expression for the stream
function in both Cartesian and cylindrical coordinates.
51
Example 2.8 (Sink, Source & vortex )
An irrotational region of flow is formed by superposing a line source strength

q1=2 m2/s at (x,y) = (0, -1), a line source of strength q2=-1.00 m2/s at (x,y) =
(1, -1), and a line vortex of strength Г= 1.5 m2/s at (x,y) = (1,1), where all
spatial coordinates are in meters. [Source number 2 is actually a sink, since
q2 is negative]. The locations of the three building blocks are shown in Figure
below. Calculate the fluid velocity at the point (x,y) = (1,0).
52
Example 2.9 (Half Body)
In the ideal flow around a half body, the free stream
velocity is 0.5 m/s and the strength of the source is 2 m2/s.
Determine the fluid velocity and its direction at a point,
r=1.0 m, θ=120o.
53
Example 2.10 (Half Body)
A 64 km/h wind blows toward a hill arising from a plain that
can be approximated with the top section of a half-body as
illustrated in Figure (given in the class). The height of the
hill approaches 60 m as shown. Assume an air density of 1.22
kg/m3. Find:
a) What is the magnitude of the air velocity at a point on
the hill directly above the original [point 2]?
b) What is the elevation of point (2) above the plain and
what is the difference in pressure between point (1) on
the plain far from the hill and point (2)?
54
Example 2.11 (Rankine body)
A source of strength 10 m2/s at (1,0) and a sink of the same
strength at (-1,0) are combined with a uniform flow of 25
m/s in the x-direction. Determine the length of Rankine body
formed by the flow and the difference in pressure between
a point for upstream in the uniform flow and the point (1,1).
55

Chapter 2 Potential Flow

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Chapter 2 Potential Flow

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MEC442

After completing this chapter, you should be able to:

➢ Apply the concepts of stream function and velocity

• Translation means motion along a path.

An ideal fluid is defined by the following set of characteristics.

Ideal fluid flow is a simple, but useful approximation to

2.1 INVISCID FLOW APPROXIMATIONS

 Flow fields in which the shearing stresses are

2.1 INVISCID FLOW APPROXIMATIONS

Euler’s equation is simply the Navier-Stokes equation

Stream Function (ψ)

 What have we gained by this transformation?

Stream Function (ψ)

Velocity Potential (Φ)

Relationship between stream function and velocity

Stream Function (y) Velocity Potential (f)

In a two-dimensional incompressible flow the fluid

The two-dimensional flow of a nonviscous, incompressible fluid in

Where ψ has unit of m2/s when r in meters. Assume the fluid

a) Determine, if possible, the corresponding velocity potential.

Consider the flow field given by Ψ = ax2 – ay2, where a =

 For any potential flow field a flow net can be drawn

Basic Plane Flows

Uniform Flow: (a) in the x-direction; (b) in an 25

Source located at the origin in the xy-plane

Source located at some arbitrary point (a,b)

The combination of a source and sink of equal 30

The streamline pattern for a vortex 33

Line vortex of strength Г located at the

Line vortex of strength Г located at some

An uniform flow is parallel to the x-axis and have

A source is at the origin of x-y plane, with radial

i) The stream function, ψ and velocity potential, Ф at

SUMMARY OF BASIC PLANE POTENTIAL FLOWS

Superposition of Basic Flows

Source and Uniform flow (Flow Past a Half Body/

Source, Sink and Uniform flow

Source, Sink and Uniform flow

An irrotational region of flow is formed by superposing a line source strength

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