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RELATIONS FOR STREAMLINES AND EQUIPOTENTIALS

1. VELOCITY POTENTIAL
a. Velocity potential Φ is defined as:
Φ = Kh where K is constant
Φ = f(x,y,z)
The units of Φ are L2/T

∂Φ ∂Φ ∂Φ 
b. Then –∇Φ = −Κ  i+ j+ k =q
 ∂x ∂y ∂z 
where i, j, k are unit vectors in the x, y, and z directions respectively
q is the specific discharge or Darcy velocity vector
∇Φ has units L/T
c. The components in each direction of the specific discharge vector q are:
∂Φ ∂Φ ∂Φ
qx = – qy = – qz = –
∂x ∂y ∂z
d. For two dimensions, equipotentials are lines where Φ(x,y) = constant
e. In two dimensions, the slope of an equipotential is:

 dy = – qx
 dxΦ qy

2. STREAMFUNCTION AND STREAMLINES

a. The streamfunction, ψ, is defined as a function which is everywhere tangent to q. Specifically
ψ = f(x,y,z)
ψ has units L2/T (or L3/LT)
b. In two dimensions, streamlines are lines where ψ(x,y) = constant.
c. In two dimensions, the slope of a streamline is:
 dy = – qy
 dxψ qx
d. In two dimensions, the components in each direction of the specific discharge vector q are:
∂ψ ∂ψ
qx = – qy = –
∂y ∂x
e. Between adjacent streamlines, the discharge (per unit of length normal to the x,-y plane), ∆Q, is
given by:
∆Q = ∆ψ = ψ2 – ψ1
f. The differential expressions for the components of q show that streamlines and equipotentials must
always be orthogonal in homogeneous isotropic media .
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EXAMPLE: DERIVATION OF EQUIPOTENTIALS FROM STREAMFUNCTION

PROBLEM: given ψ = x + 2y , find Φ

∂Φ ∂Φ
1. Remember qx = – qy = –
∂x ∂y
∂ψ ∂ψ
but also qx = – qy = –
∂y ∂x
∂Φ ∂ψ ∂Φ ∂ψ
Thus = and =–
∂x ∂y ∂y ∂x

2. Taking partial differentials of ψ:

∂ψ ∂ (x + 2y) ∂ψ ∂ (x + 2y)
= =1 = =2
∂x ∂x ∂y ∂x

Thus:
∂Φ ∂Φ
=2 = –1
∂x ∂y

3. Integrating each of these expressions with respect to the appropriate variable:

a. Φ = ∫∂Φ = 2 ∫∂x = 2x + f(y)

b. Φ = ∫∂Φ = –1 ∫∂y = –y + g(x)

f(y) is added to 3a because Φ is a function of both x and y, and we integrated only with respect to x;
g(x) is added to 3b because Φ is a function of both x and y, and we integrated only with respect to y

4. We need to evaluate f(y); to do this we differentiate 3b above with respect to y:

∂Φ ∂ (2x + f(y)) df
= = dy
∂y ∂y
∂Φ df
But in step 2 above we found that = –1; hence dy = –1
∂y

Integrating this to find f:

f = ∫ df = – ∫ dy = –y + constant of integration

5. Thus by substitution into 3a

Φ = 2x – y + constant
The constant is arbitrary and can be set to zero.
6. Thus our final expression defining the equipotentials is:
Φ = 2x – y