LECTURE 2

5.3 STREAM FUNCTION FOR TWO-DIMWNSIONAL INCOMPRESSIBLE

FLOW
It is convenient to have a means of concisely (ringkas) describing the form of any
particular pattern of flow. An adequate (memadai) description should portray the motion
of the shape of 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, . he stream function is formulated as relation between the streamlines
and the statement of the conservation of mass.
!or a two"dimensional incompressible flow in the #y plane, the conservation of
mass, $q. 5.%a, can be written
&

y
v
x
u
(5.3)
If a continuous function, (#, y, t), called the stream function, is defined such that
y
u

and
x
v

(5.')
hen the continuity equation, $q. 5.3, is satisfied e#actly, since
&
( (

x y y x y
v
x
u
)ecall that streamlines are lines draw in the flow field, such that, at a given instant of
time, they are tangent to the direction of flow at every point in the flow field. hus if

r d

is an element of length along a streamline, the equation of the streamline is given by
( ) ( ) jdy idx jv iu r d V + +

&
( ) vdx udy k

hat is, the equation of a streamline in a two"dimensional flow is

& vdx udy
*ubstituting for the velocity components u and v in terms of the stream function, , from
$q.5.', then along a streamline
&

dy
y
dx
x

(5.5)
*ince + (#, y, t), then at an instant, t
o
, + (#, y, t
o
), at this instant, a change in may
be evaluated as though + (#, y). thus at any instant
dy
y
dx
x
d

(5.-)
.omparing $qs. 5.5 and 5.-, we see that along an instantaneous streamline, d = 0, that
is, is a constant along a streamline. *ince the differential of , is e#act, the integral of
d between any two points in flow field, that is
(

%
, is dependent only on the end
points of integration.
!rom the definition of streamline, we recogni/e that there can be no flow across a
streamline. hus, if the streamlines in a two"dimensional, incompressible flow field, at a
given instant of time, are shown in !ig.5.3, the rate flow between streamlines
%
and

(
across the lines A0, 0., 1$, and 1! must be equal.
Fig. 5.3 Instantaneos st!ea"#ines in a t$o-%i"ensiona# &#o$
he volumetric flowrate, 2, between the streamlines
%
and

(
can be evaluated by
considering the flow across A0 or across 0.. !or a unit depth, the flow rate across A0 is
dy
y
udy Q
y
y
y
y

(
%
(
%

Along A0, # + constant, and d +

343y dy. herefore,
% (
(
%
(
%

d dy
y
Q
y
y
!or a unit depth, the flowrate across 0. is
dx
x
vdx Q
x
x
x
x

(
%
(
%

Along 0., y + constant, and d +

343y dx. herefore,
% (
%
(
(
%

d dx
x
Q
x
x
y
#
v
u

V
A(#
%
, y
%
)
0(#
%
, y
(
)
.(#
(
, y
(
)
1
$ !

3
hus the volumetric rate of flow (per unit depth) between any two streamlines can be
written as the different between the constant values of d defining the two streamlines.
!or a two"dimentional, incompressible flow in the r plane, the conservation of
mass, $q. 5.(, can be written as
&

V
r
rV
r
(5.5)
he stream function (r, 6, t) is then defined such that

r
V
r
%
and
r
V

(5.7)
8ith defined according to $q. 5.7, the continuity equation, $q. 5.5, is satisfied e#actly.
E'a"(#e 5.3
9iven the velocity field,
axj ayi V +

, determine the family of function that will

yield this velocity field.
So#tion:
!rom $qs.5.', u +

343y and v +

;343y. !or the given velocity field,
y
ay u

Integrating with respect to y,
( ) x f y
a
aydy dy
y
+

(
(

8here f(#) is arbitrary. <owever, f(#) may be evaluated using the equation for v.
hus, since v + a#,
( ) ( )
ax
dx
x df
x
x f
x
v

hen
( )

+ c x
a
axdx dx
dx
df
x f
(
(
*ubstituting gives
c y
a
x
a
+
( (
( (

.hec=:
ay c y
a
x
a
y y
u
,
_

( (
( (

ax c y
a
x
a
x x
v
,
_

( (
( (

5.) MOTION OF A FLUID ELEMENT *+INEMATICS,

0efore formulating the effects of forces on fluid motion (dynamics), let us consider, first,
only the motion (=inematics) of a fluid element in a flow field. !or convenience, we
follow an infinitesimal element of fi#ed identity (mass), as shown in !ig. 5.'.
As the infinitesimal element of moss dm moves in a flow field, several things may
happen to it. >erhaps the most obvious of these is that the element translates, that is, it
undergoes a linear displacement from a location #, y, /, to a different location #
%
, y
%
, /
%
.
the element may also rotate, that is, the orientation of the element as shown in !ig. .',
wherein the sides of the element are parallel to coordinate a#es #, y, /, may change as a
result of pure rotation about any one (or all three) of the coordinate a#es.
Fig.5.) In&initesi"a# e#e"ent o& &#i%
In addition the element may deform. he deformation may be subdivided into two parts;
linear and angular deformation. ?inear deformation involves element: a deformation in
which planes of the element that were originally perpendicular (for e#ample, the top and
side of the element) remain perpendicular. Angular deformation involves a distortion of
the element in which planes that were originally perpendicular are no longer
perpendicular. In general a fluid element may undergo a combination of translation,
rotation, and linear and angular deformation during the course of its motion.
hese four components of fluid motion are illustrated pictorially in !ig. 5.5 for
motion or rotation.
#
y
/
d#
d/
dy
y
#
ranslation
y
#
)otation
y
#
?inear deformation
y
#
Angular deformation
5.5 FLUID ROTATION
he rotation,

, of fluid particle is defined as the average angular velocity of any two

mutually perpendicular line elements of particle. )otation is a vector quantity. A particle
moving in a general three"dimensional flow field may rotate about all three coordinate
a#es. hus, in general,
x y x
k j i

+ +
where @
#
is the rotation about the # a#is, @
y
is the rotation about the y a#is, and @
/
is the
rotation about the / a#is. he positive sense of rotation is given by the right"hand rule.
o obtain a mathematical e#pression for fluid rotation, consider the motion of a
fluid element in the #y plane. he components of velocity at every point in the flow field
are given by u(x, y) and v(x,y). he rotation of fluid element in such a flow is illustrated in
!ig 5.-. he two mutually perpendicular lines oa and ob will rotate to the position shown
in the time interval t only if the velocities at points a and b are different from the
velocity at o.
y
#
At
Ay
A#
AB
AC
AD
o
bE
b
a
aE
Fig. 5.- Rotation o& a &#i% e#e"ent in a t$o-%i"ensiona# &#o$ &ie#%.
.onsider first the rotation of the line oa of length x. )otation of this line due to
variations of the component of velocity, that is, variations in v. if the y component of
velocity at the point o is ta=en as v
o
, then the y component of velocity at point a can be
written, using a aylor series e#pansion, as
x
x
v
v v
o

+
he angular velocity of the line oa is given by
t
x
t
t t
oa

4
lim lim
& &

*ince
t x
x
v

( )
x
v
t
x t x x v
t
oa

4 4
lim
&

)otation of the line ob, of length Ay, result from variations of the x component of
velocity, that is, variations in u. If the # component of velocity at the point o is ta=en as
u
o
, then the # component of velocity at point b can be written, using a aylor series
e#pansion, as
y
y
u
u u
o

+
he angular velocity of the line ob is given by
t
y
t
t t
ob

4
lim lim
& &

since
t y
y
u

( )
y
u
t
y t y y u
t
ob

4 4
lim
&

(he negative sign is introduced to give a positive value of

ob

. According to our sign

convention, countercloc=wise rotation is positive.)
he rotation of the fluid element about the / a#is is the average angular velocity of
the two mutually perpendicular line elements, oa and ob, in the #y plane.

,
_

y
u
x
v

(
%

0y considering the rotation of two mutually perpendicular lines in the y and x planes,
one can show that

,
_

v
y
!
x
(
%

and

,
_

x
!

u
y
(
%

hen
1
]
1

,
_

,
_

,
_

+ +

y
u
x
v
k
x
!

u
j

v
y
!
i k j i
y x
(
%

(5.F)
8e recogni/e the term in the square brac=ets as

V V curl
hen, in vector notation, we can write
(5.%&)
he factor of
(
%
can be eliminated in $q. 5.%& by defining a quantity called the vorticity,

, to be twice the rotation.

V (
In cylindrical coordinates,

r
r V i V i V i V

+ +

and

i
r
i
r
i r

%
he vorticity, in cylindrical coordinates, is then

,
_

,
_

+
,
_

r
r
V
r r
rV
r
i
r
V

V
i

V V
r
i V
% % %
(5.%()
5-- IRROTATIONAL FLOW

V
(
%

An irrotationa" f"o! is one in which there is no rotation, that is, fluid elements moving in
the flow field do not undergo any rotation. !or
&

,
&

V
and from $q. 5.F,
&

y
u
x
v
x
!

v
y
!
(5.%3)
In cylindrical coordinates, the irrotationality condition requires that
&
% % %

r r
V
r r
rV
r r
V

V V
r
(5.%')
5--.. /ELOCIT0 POTENTIAL
8e formulated the stream function, , as a relation between the streamlines and the
statement of the conservation of mass for two"dimensional, incompressible flow.
8e can also formulate a relation called the potential function,

, for a velocity
field subGect to the irrotationality condition. o do so, we must ma=e use of the
fundamental vector identity
& ) (grad curl
(5.%5)
8hich holds if

is any scalar function (of the space coordinates and time) having
continuous first and second derivatives.
hen, for an irrotational flow in which
&

V
, a scalar function,

, must
e#ist such that the gradient of

is equal to the velocity vector,

V
. In order that the
positive direction of flow be in the direction of decreasing

(analogous to the positive

direction of heat transfer being defined in the direction of decreasing temperature), we
define

such that

V
(5.%-)
thus
x
u

y
v

(5.%5)
8ith the potential function defined in this way, the irrotationality condition, $q. 5.%3, is
satisfied identically.
In cylindrical coordinates,
r
V
r

r
V
%

(5.%7)
5.-.( *)$AH !IJ.IKJ AJ1 L$?K.IM >K$JIA? !K) I))KAIKJA?,
8K"1IH$J*IKJA?, IJ.KH>)$*I0?$ !?K8
!or a two"dimensional, incompressible, irrotational flow we have e#pressions for the
velocity components u and v in terms of both the stream function, N, and the velocity
potential,

.
y
u

x
v

(5.')
x
u

y
v

(5.%5)
*ubstituting for u and v from $q. 5.' into the irrotationality condition,
&

y
u
x
v
(5.%3)
8e obtain
&
(
(
(
(

y x

(5.%Fa)
*ubstituting for u and v from $q. 5.%5 into the continuity equation,
&

y
u
x
v
(5.3)
we obtain
&
(
(
(
(

y x

(5.%Fb)
$quation 5.%Fa and b are forms of ?aplaceOs equation;an equation that arise in many
areas of the physical sciences and engineering. Any function or

that satisfies
?aplaceOs equation represents a possible incompressible, irrotational flow field.
In section 5"3 we showed that the stream function, , is constant along a
streamline. !or + constant,
( ) ( ) & 4 4 + dy y dx x d
he slope of a
streamline, that is, the slope of a line of constant , is given by
u
v
u
v
y
x
dx
dy

,
_
4
4

(5.(&)
Along a line of constant

,
& d
, and hence
&

dy
y
dx
x
d

.onsequently,
v
u
y
x
dx
dy




,
_
4
4

(5.(%)
5--.3 IRROTATIONAL FLOW AND /ISCOSIT0
he velocity potential,

, only e#ists for an irrotational flow. he stream function, N, is

defined to satisfy the continuity equation, the stream function is not subGect to the
restriction of irrotational flow.
dt
d
dt
d
dt
dy

now
( )
x
v
t
x t x x v
t
x
t dt
d
t t t

4 4
lim
4
lim lim
& & &

and
( )
y
u
t
y t y y u
t
y
t dt
d
t t t

4 4
lim
4
lim lim
& & &

.onsequently, the rate of angular deformation is
y
u
x
v
dt
d

(5.(()
E'a"(#e 5.)
An incompressible flow field is characteri/ed by the stream function
3 (
3 ay y ax
where a + %4m.sec
(a) show that this flow is irrotational.
(b) *how that the magnitude of the velocity at any point at in the flow field depends
only on the distance of the point from the origin of coordinates.
(c) *=etch a few streamlines for the flow in the quadrant # P &, y P &.
y
#
AQ
Ay
A#
AB
AC
AD
o
bE
b
a
aE
*olution:
*ince N + N(#,y), the flow field is two"dimensional. If the flow is to be irrotational, then
@
#
must be /ero.
*ince
1
]
1

y
u
x
v

(
%

and
y
u

,
x
v

,
then for irrotational flow
&
(
(
(
(
(

y x y
u
x
v
$valuating

, we obtain
( ) ( ) & - - 3 3
3 (
(
(
3 (
(
(

ay ay ay y ax
y
ay y ax
x

*ince &
(
, the flow is irrotational.
he magnitude of the velocity at a point is given by
( (
v u V +

( )
( ( 3 (
3 3 3 ay ax ay y ax
y y
u

( ) axy ay y ax
y x
v - 3
3 (

( ) ( )
( ( ( ( (
- 3 3 axy ay ax v u V + +

( )
( ( ( ' ( ( ' (
3- ( F y x a y y x x a + +
( ) ( )
(
( ( ' ( ( ' (
3 ( F y x a y y x x a + +
( )
( ( (
3 3 ar y x a V

where yj xi r r +

A few streamlines, corresponding to lines along which is constant, are shown in

the following figure.
&
&
%
(
%
(
y
#
&
&
y
#
&
&
y
#
*ince there is no flow across streamlines, and the flow is irrotational (i.e., without viscous
effects), any streamline may be imagined to represent a solid surface. If we let the lines
&
represent solid surfaces, we obtain a picture of flow in a corner with either an
obtuse or acute angle.
E'a"(#e 5.5
.onsider the flow field given by
( (
ay ax
, where
%
sec %

a .
(a) *how that the flow field is irrotational.
(b) 1etermine the velocity potential for this flow.
So#tion:
If the flow is irrotational, the @
#
+ &. *ince
y
v
x
u

and
y
u

,
x
v

,
then
( ) ay ay ax
y
u (
( (

and
( ) ax ay ax
x
v (
( (

hus
( ) ( ) & ( ( ( ( +

a a ay
y
ax
x y
v
x
u

herefore, the flow is irrotational.

he velocity components can be written in terms of the velocity potential as
x
u

and
y
v

,
acute angle obtuse angle
his problem illustrates the relation among the stream function, the velocity field,
and the irrotationally condition.
.onsequently,
ay
x
u (

and
ay
x
(

Integrating with respect to # gives

( ) y f axy + (
, where
( ) y f
is an arbitrary function
of y. hen
( ) [ ] y f axy
y y
ax v +

( (

herefore,
( )
y
f
ax
y
y f
ax ax

( ( (
and f + constant
herefore,
t cons axy tan ( +
8e can also show that lines of constant and

are orthogonal.
!or

+ constant,
aydy axdx d ( ( &
, hence
y
x
dx
dy
c

,
_

!or

+ constant,
axdy aydx d ( ( &
, hence
x
y
dx
dy
c

,
_

An1 2estion3
his problem illustrates the relation among the stream function, the velocity
field, and the velocity potential.