HYDRAULICS II – Week 7: Lecture 1

7.1 STREAM FUNCTION FOR TWO-DIMENSIONAL

INCOMPRESSIBLE FLOW
It is convenient to have a means of describing
mathematically any particular pattern of flow. An
adequate description should portray the notion of
the shape of the streamlines (including the
boundaries) and the scale of the velocity at
representative points in the flow.
A mathematical device that serves this purpose is
the stream function, ψ.
The steam function is formulated as a relation
between the streamlines and the statement of
conservation of mass. The stream function is a
single mathematical function, ψ 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑡 , that
replaces the two velocity components, 𝑢 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑡
and 𝑣(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑡).
For a two-dimensional incompressible flow in
the 𝑥𝑦 plane, conservation of mass, can be as
𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑣
+ = 0………(Eqn 1)
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦
If a continuous function, ψ 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑡 , called the
stream function, is defined such that
𝜕ψ 𝜕ψ
𝑢≡ and 𝑣 ≡ ……………..(Eqn 2)
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥
Then the continuity equation, Eqn (1), is
satisfied exactly, since
𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑣 𝜕2ψ 𝜕2ψ
+ = + =0
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦𝜕𝑥
Recall that streamlines are lines, drawn in the
flow field, such that, at a given instant, they are
Tangent to the direction of flow at every point in
the flow field. Thus if 𝑑𝑟is an element of length
along a streamline, the equation of the
streamline is given by
𝑉 × 𝑑𝑟 = 0 = 𝑖𝑢 + 𝑗𝑣 × 𝑖𝑑𝑥 + 𝑗𝑑𝑦
= 𝑘(𝑢𝑑𝑦 − 𝑣𝑑𝑥)
Thus the equation of a streamline in a two-
dimensional flow is
𝑢𝑑𝑦 − 𝑣𝑑𝑥 = 0
Substituting for the velocity components, 𝑢 and
𝑣, in terms of the stream function, ψ, from (Eqn.
2), we find that along a streamline,
𝜕ψ 𝜕ψ
𝑑𝑥 + 𝑑𝑦 = 0 … … … … 𝐸𝑞𝑛(3)
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

Since ψ= ψ 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑡 , then at an instant,

𝑡𝑜 , ψ = ψ 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑡𝑜 ; at this instant, a change in 𝜑
may be evaluated as though ψ = ψ 𝑥, 𝑦 . Thus
at any instant
𝜕ψ 𝜕ψ
𝑑ψ = 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑑𝑦 … … . . 𝐸𝑞𝑛(4)
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦
Comparing Eqns 3 & 4, we see that along an
instantaneous streamline, dψ = 0; ψ is a
constant along a streamline. Since the
differential of ψ2 − ψ1 , depends only on the
end points of integration.
From the definition of a streamline, we
recognise that there can be no flow across a
streamline. Thus, if the streamlines in a two-
dimensional, incompressible flow field at a given
instant are as shown in Fig. 1, the rates of flow
between streamlines ψ1 and ψ2 across the lines
AB, BC, DE, and DF must be equal.
y

ψ3

F ψ2
E

ψ1
D
𝐵(𝑥1 ,𝑦2 )
𝐶(𝑥2 , 𝑦2 )

u
v
𝑉 𝐴(𝑥1 , 𝑦1 )
x
Instantaneous streamlines in a two-dimensional flow
The volume flow rate, 𝑄, between streamlines
ψ1 and ψ2 can be evaluated by considering the
flow across 𝐴𝐵 or across 𝐵𝐶. For a unit depth
(dimensional perpendicular to the 𝑥𝑦 plane),
the flow rate across 𝐴𝐵 is
𝑦2 𝑦2
𝜕ψ
𝑄= 𝑢𝑑𝑦 = 𝑑𝑦
𝑦1 𝑦1 𝜕𝑦
𝜕ψ
Along 𝐴𝐵, x = constant, and 𝑑ψ = 𝑑𝑦.
𝜕𝑦
Therefore,
𝑦2 ψ2
𝜕ψ
𝑄= 𝑑𝑦 = 𝑑ψ = ψ2 − ψ1
𝑦1 𝜕𝑦 ψ1
For a unit depth, the flow rate across 𝐵𝐶 is
𝑥2 𝑥2
𝜕ψ
𝑄= 𝑣𝑑𝑥 = − 𝑑𝑥
𝑥1 𝑥1 𝜕𝑥
𝜕ψ
Along 𝐵𝐶, 𝑦 = constant, and 𝑑𝑥. Therefore
𝜕𝑥
𝑥2 ψ1
𝜕ψ
𝑄=− 𝑑𝑥 = − 𝑑ψ = ψ2 − ψ1
𝑥1 𝜕𝑥 ψ2
Thus the volume flow rate (per unit depth)
between any two streamlines can be written as
the difference between the constant values of ψ
defining the two streamlines. If the streamline
Through the origin is designated ψ = 0, then the
ψ value for any other streamline represents the
flow between the origin and that streamline.
From the definition of 𝑢 in terms of ψ, it is clear
that 𝑢 is in the positive 𝑥 direction when ψ
increases with 𝑦. This is illustrated in the
example problem that follows.
For a two-dimensional, incompressible flow in
the 𝑟𝜃 plane, conservation of mass Eqn
1 𝜕(𝑟𝜌𝑉𝑟 ) 1 𝜕(𝜌𝑉𝜃 ) 𝜕(𝜌𝑉𝑧 ) 𝜕𝜌
+ + + =0
𝑟 𝜕𝑟 𝑟 𝜕𝜃 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑡
Can be written as
𝜕(𝑟𝑉𝑟 ) 𝜕𝑉𝜃 )
+ =0 𝐸𝑞𝑛(5)
𝜕𝑟 𝜕𝜃
The stream function, ψ(r,𝜃, 𝑡), then is defined
such that
1 𝜕ψ 𝜕ψ
𝑉𝑟 ≡ and 𝑉𝜃 ≡ − Eqn(6)
𝑟 𝜕𝜃 𝜕𝑟

With ψ defined according to Eqn (6), the

continuity equation, Eqn (5), is satisfied exactly.
Example – Stream function for Flow in a Corner
Given the velocity field for the steady,
incompressible flow of Example 2.1, 𝑉 = 𝐴𝑥𝑖 −
𝐴𝑦𝑗, with 𝐴 = 0.3 𝑠 −1 , determine the stream
function that will yield this velocity field. Plot
and interpret the streamline pattern in the first
and second quadrants of the 𝑥𝑦 plane.

For two-dimensional steady compressible flow in the 𝑥𝑦 plane, the stream

𝜕ψ 𝜕ψ
function, ψ, is defined such that 𝜌𝑢 ≡ and 𝜌𝑣 ≡ −
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥
The difference between the constant values of ψ defining two streamlines is
then the mass flow rate (per unit depth) between the two streamlines.
Example Problem and Solution
Given: Velocity field, 𝑉 = 𝐴𝑥𝑖 − 𝐴𝑦𝑗, with
A=0.35 𝑠 −1 .
Find: Stream function, ψ and plot in first and
second quadrants; interpret the results.

Solution:
The flow is incompressible, so the stream
function satisfies Eqn(2).
 𝜕ψ 𝜕ψ
From Eqn(2), 𝑢 = and 𝑣 = − . From the
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥
given velocity field,
𝜕ψ
𝑢 = 𝐴𝑥 =
𝜕𝑦
Integrating with respect to 𝑦 gives
𝜕ψ
ψ= 𝑑𝑦 + 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝐴𝑥𝑦 + 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑖
𝜕𝑦
Where 𝑓(𝑥) is arbitrary. The function 𝑓(𝑥) may
be evaluated using the equation for 𝑣. Thus,
from (i),
 𝜕ψ 𝑑𝑓
𝑣=− = −𝐴𝑦 − (𝑖𝑖)
𝜕𝑥 𝑑𝑥
From the given velocity field, 𝑣 = −𝐴𝑦. Comparing
𝑑𝑓
this with Eqn (ii) shows that = 0, or 𝑓 𝑥 =
𝑑𝑥
constant.
Therefore, Eqn (i) becomes
ψ = 𝐴𝑥𝑦 + 𝑐 ψ

Lines of constant ψ represent streamlines in the

flow field. The constant 𝑐 may be chosen as any
convenient value for plotting purposes. The
constant is chosen as zero in order that the
streamline through the origin be designated as
ψ = 𝜓1 = 0. Then the value for any other
streamline represents the flow between the
origin and that streamline. With 𝑐 = 0 and
𝐴 = 0.3𝑠 −1 , then
ψ = 0.3𝑥𝑦 (𝑚3 /s/m)
{This equation of a streamline is identical to the
result (𝑥𝑦 =constant) obtained in Example
problem 2.1}
Separate plots of the streamlines in the first and
second quadrants are presented below. Note
that in quadrant 1, 𝑢 > 0, so ψ values are
negative.
In the first quadrant, since 𝑢 > 0 and 𝑣 < 0, the
flow is from left to right and down. The volme
flow rate between the streamline ψ = ψ1
through the origin and the streamline ψ = ψ2 is
𝑄12 = ψ2 -ψ1 = 0.3 𝑚3 /s/m

In the second quadrant, since 𝑢 < 0 and 𝑣 < 0,

the flow is from right to left and down. The
volume flow rate
𝑄79 = ψ9 − ψ7 = −1.2 − −0.6 𝑚3 /s/m
The negative sign is consistent with flow having
𝑢 < 0.
Regions of high-speed flow occur where the
streamlines are close together. Lower-speed
flow occurs near the origin, where streamline
spacing is wider. In either quadrant, the flow
looks like flow in a “corner,” formed by a pair of
walls.