Dr. Nikos J.

Mourtos AE 162 Potential Flow Theory 1

Example: Analyze the flow field around a Rankine semi infinite body

A source of strength m =
!
2!
=1.5 m
2
/ s is placed at the origin and combined with a
uniform flow u
!
= 9 m/ s in the positive x direction. Calculate the following:

(a) Location of the stagnation point
(b) The body height along the y axis
(c) The body height at large values of x
(d) The location of the maximum surface velocity
(e) 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 @

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

! =
"
2
or
! = u
#
rsin! + m! =
"
2
$
r =
"
2"
" %!
u
#
sin!
= m
" %!
u
#
sin!
@! =
"
2
: r = H = 0.262 m
or 2H = 0.524 m


(c)

x !"#! !0
$ = rsin! = m
" %!
u
"
sin!
sin! = m
" %!
u
"
h
max
= lim
r!"
$ = lim
!!0
$ = m
"
u
"
#h
max
=1.5
"
9
#h
max
= 0.524 m
or 2h
max
=1.048 m


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

u = u
r
2
+ u
!
2
= u
!
cos! +
"
2"r
#
$
%
&
'
(
2
+ u
!
sin! ( )
2
)
*
+
,
+
-
.
+
/
+
1/2
=
u
!
2
cos
2
! +
"
2
4"
2
r
2
+
"
"r
u
!
cos! + u
!
2
sin
2
!
#
$
%
&
'
(
1/2
= u
!
2
+
"
2
4"
2
r
2
+
"
"r
u
!
cos!
#
$
%
&
'
(
1/2
=
= u
!
1+
"
2
4"
2
r
2
u
!
2
+
"
"ru
!
cos!
#
$
%
&
'
(
1/2
= u
!
1+
2a
r
cos! +
a
2
r
2
#
$
%
&
'
(
1/2

To get the velocity @ the surface substitute
r =
!
2!
! ""
u
#
sin"
= m
! ""
u
#
sin"
to get u
s
= u
!
1+
a
2
u
!
2
m
2
sin
2
!
" "! ( )
2
+
2au
!
m
sin! cos!
" "!
#
$
%
%
&
'
(
(
1/2


To find the location of the maximum surface velocity set

!u
s
!!
= 0 "!
u
s,max
# 63
0
=1.1rad
Dr. Nikos J. Mourtos AE 162 Potential Flow Theory 3
We can also calculate the Cartesian coordinates for this location:

y = m
! !"
u
"
sin!
sin! = m
! !"
u
"
=1.5
! !1.1
9
= 0.34m
x = ycot!
u
s,max
= 0.34cot 63
0
= 0.173m
x, y ( )
u
s,max
= 0.173, 0.34 ( )


(e) The maximum surface velocity is u
s,max
=1.26 u
!
=11.3 m/ s