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Governing Equations

Potential Flow
AE3120 Aircraft Aerodynamics and Flight
Performance
Dr. ir. Djoko Sardjadi
Ema Amalia, ST., MT.

Fakultas Teknik Mesin dan Dirgantara

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• For a steady, incompressible, inviscid flow, Conservation

of Mass and Euler equation gives:
𝑑𝑖𝑣 𝑉 = ∇ ∙ 𝑉 = 0
𝜔 =∇×𝑉 =0

• On the surface, there is no flow normal across the

surface.
𝑉∙𝑛 =0

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Velocity Potential
• Definition of velocity potential:
𝜕𝜙 𝜕𝜙 𝜕𝜙
𝑢= ;𝑣 = ;𝑤 =
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧

• Or: 𝑉 = ∇𝜙 A flow which having  satisfying this equation called

“Potential Flow” which is irrotational.

• This equation satisfy: 𝜔 = ∇ × 𝑉 = 0

• To satisfy 𝑑𝑖𝑣 𝑉 = ∇ ∙ 𝑉 = 0
• We should have ∇2 𝜙 = 0 or  should be a harmonic function
∇2 Is called “Laplacian” and defined as:

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Velocity Potential
• Now we will derive the change of velocity potential 
between two points.

𝜕𝜙 𝜕𝜙 𝜕𝜙 𝜕𝜙
𝑑𝜙 = 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑑𝑦 while 𝑢= 𝑣=
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

Then 𝑑𝜙 = 𝑢𝑑𝑥 + 𝑣𝑑𝑦

Or in vector notation:

dR is then the differential vector along the

[1] curve, directed positively, with a magnitude of ds
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Stream Function

• The stream function  related to velocity by:

𝜕𝜓 𝜕𝜓
𝑢= 𝑣=−
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥

Stream function can only defined easily in 2-

Dimensional Flow

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Stream Function
• A line of element ds is part of line AB.
• The differential flux through this element is:

while

• Then: 𝑑𝑄 =
𝑢𝑑𝑦 − 𝑣𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑠 𝜕𝜓
= 𝑑𝑦 +
𝜕𝜓
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑠 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥

or

[1] • Consequently: The change of stream

function between two points
is equal with the flux
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Stream Function

• Previously, we have know that for a streamline:

𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑧
= = or
𝑢 𝑣 𝑤

• And, also we have:

• Therefore:

• Or

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Stream Function

• The stream function should satisfy both equations

below: 𝑑𝑖𝑣 𝑉 = ∇ ∙ 𝑉 = 0
𝜔 =∇×𝑉 =0
𝜕𝜓 𝜕𝜓
𝑢= 𝑣=− 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕𝜓 𝜕𝜓 𝜕2𝜓 𝜕2𝜓
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 ∇∙𝑉 = 𝑖+ 𝑗 𝑖− 𝑗 = − =0 Satisfied
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦

𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
𝑖 𝑗 𝑘 𝜕 𝜕
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 0 = 0𝑖 + 0𝑗 − 𝜕2 𝜓 𝜕2 𝜓
∇×𝑉 = = 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 + k=0
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝜓 𝜕𝜓
𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2 Satisfied if ∇2 𝜓 = 0
𝑢 𝑣 𝑤 − 0
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥

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Example:

• Consider the uniform flow:

Will be zero for y constant

 will be changed in y direction

[1]

= 0 is taken along x-axis

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Example:

• If the uniform flow contains velocity in y direction, then,

𝑥 𝑦
𝜓 𝑥, 𝑦 − 𝜓 0,0 = න 𝑈𝑖 𝑖 𝑑𝑥 + න 𝑉𝑗 −𝑗 𝑑𝑦 = 𝑈𝑥 − 𝑉𝑦
0 0

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Example:

• To get the expression of  for uniform flow with

components of velocities of U and V,

• Taking =0 at x,y=0

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References
[1] Barnes W. McCormick, Aerodynamics, Aeronautics, and Flight
Mechanics, 2nd Edition, John Wiley & Sons, 1994.

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Thank You

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