Fluid Mechanics: Fundamentals and Applications

2nd EDITION IN SI UNITS

Yunus A. Cengel, John M. Cimbala
McGraw-Hill, 2010

CHAPTER 2
POTENTIAL FLOW
LECTURE 3
FAUZIAH JERAI
22nd APRIL 2020

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies.

 Summary of Basic, Plane Potential Flow

Description of flow Velocity Potential Stream Function Velocity Components

field

Uniform stream ∅ = 𝑉𝑟𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 𝜑 = 𝑉𝑟𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 𝑢=𝑉

𝑣=0

Sourse or sink ሶ
𝑉/𝐿 ሶ
𝑉/𝐿
𝑉ሶ ∅ = 𝑙𝑛𝑟 𝜑 = 𝜃 𝑢𝑟 =
𝜕∅
=
1 𝜕𝜑
=
𝑞/𝐿
> 0 source 2𝜋 2𝜋 𝜕𝑟 𝑟 𝜕𝜃 2𝜋𝑟
𝐿
𝑉ሶ 1 𝜕∅ 𝜕𝜑
< 0 sink 𝑢𝜃 = =− =0
𝐿 𝑟 𝜕𝜃 𝜕𝑟

Vortex
Γ 𝜕∅ 1 𝜕𝜑
𝜑=−
2𝜋
ln 𝑟 𝑢𝑟 = = =0
Γ 𝜕𝑟 𝑟 𝜕𝜃
∅= θ
2𝜋 1 𝜕∅ 𝜕𝜑 Γ
𝑢𝜃 = =− =
𝑟 𝜕𝜃 𝜕𝑟 2𝜋𝑟

Doublet 𝐾𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃
𝑢𝑟 = -
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 𝑟2
∅=𝐾 𝜑 = −𝐾
𝑟 𝑟 𝐾𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
𝑢𝜃 = -
𝑟2

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Irrotational Flows Formed by Superposition
Now that we have a set of building block irrotational flows,
we are ready to construct some more interesting irrotational
flow fields by the superposition technique.
We limit our examples to planar flows in the xy-plane.

Superposition of a Uniform Stream and a Doublet—

Flow over a Circular Cylinder

Superposition of a Uniform Stream and a Source—

Half Body

Superposition of a Uniform Stream and a Source—

Rankine Oval

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Superposition of a Uniform Stream and a Doublet—
Flow over a Circular Cylinder
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
Superposition: 𝜑 = 𝑈𝑟𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 − 𝐾
𝑟
𝑈
Alternate form of  K
stream function:  =  U − 2 
r sin 
 r 
Then if 𝜑 = 0 at 𝑟 = 𝑎
𝐾
𝑈− 2 =0 Superposition of a uniform stream
𝑎
and a doublet yields a streamline
Doublet strength: 𝐾 = 𝑈𝑎2 that is a circle.
Velocity potential: 𝑎2
∅ = 𝑈𝑟 1 + 2 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃
𝑟

The velocity  1   a2 
component: υr = = = U 1 − 2  cos 
r r   r 
and
1    a2  4
υ = =− = −U 1 + 2  sin 
r  r  r 
Superposition of a Uniform Stream and a Doublet—
Flow over a Circular Cylinder
On the surface of
cylinder (𝑟 = 𝑎): υr = 0
and υ = −2U sin 

From the velocity component it shows that the

maximum velocity occurs at the top and the
bottom of the cylinder ( = /2) and has a
magnitude of twice the upstream velocity, U. Superposition of a uniform stream
and a doublet yields a streamline
As it move away from the cylinder along the ray  that is a circle.
= /2 the velocity varies as shown in the figure.
The pressure distribution on the cylinder surface is obtained
from Bernoulli equation from the pressure p0 (measure at a p0 + 12 U 2 = ps + 12 υ2s
point far from the cylinder) and the velocity is U so that:
ps is the surface pressure

Since u s = -2Usin, the surface

( )
5

pressure an be expressed as : ps = p0 + 12 U 1− 4 sin 

2 2
6
7
8
 A fish’s body is designed such that its eye
is located near the zero-pressure point so
that its vision is not distorted while it
swims. Data shown are along the side of a
bluefish.

(a) D’Alembert’s paradox is that the aerodynamic drag on any

nonlifting body of any shape is predicted to be zero when the
irrotational flow approximation is invoked; (b) in real flows there is a 9

nonzero drag on bodies immersed in a uniform stream.

The same nondimensionalized
streamlines as in Fig. 10–61, except
streamline * = 0.2 is modeled as
a solid wall. This flow represents
flow of air over a symmetric hill.

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Superposition of a Uniform Stream and a Source—
Half Body
𝑚
Superposition: 𝜑 = 𝑈𝑟𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 + 𝜃
2𝜋

m
Velocity potential:  = Ur cos  + ln r
2
Some point along x axis the velocity due to the
source will cancel due to the uniform flow and
a stagnation point will be created.
Superposition of a uniform stream
For a source alone: υ = m and a source yields a half body.
2r
r

So that stagnation point occurs at 𝑥 = −𝑏: m or m

U= b=
2b 2U
The value of the stream function at the stagnation point can be m
 stagnation =
obtained by evaluating  at r = b and  = : 2
Since m/2 = bU, the equation of streamline b( −  )
r=
passing through the stagnation point is : bU = Ur sin  + bU or sin 
11

**where  can vary between 0 and 2

Superposition of a Uniform Stream and a Source—
Rankine Oval
The width of the half-body
asymptotically approaches y = b( −  )
2b. This can be written as:

So that as  → 0 or  → 2 the half-width

approaches  b. Therefore the velocity
component on the half-body can be obtained.
If replace this streamline with solid
The velocity 1  m boundary, it clearly shows that this
component: υr = = U cos  +
r  2r combination of uniform flow and a
source can be used to describe the flow
and  around a streamlined body placed in a
υ = − = −U sin 
r uniform stream- Rankine Oval.

Thus, the square of the magnitude Um cos   m 

2

V = u r + u = U +
2 2 2 2
+ 
of the velocity, V, at any point is: r  2r 

and since b = m/2U 12

2 b b2 
V = U 1 + 2 cos  + 2 
2

 r r 
Superposition of a Uniform Stream and a Source and
Sink pair — Rankine oval

Superposition of
a uniform stream
and a source
yields a Rankine
oval.

𝑚
Superposition of stream function: 𝜑 = 𝑈𝑟𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 + (𝜃 −𝜃 )
2𝜋 1 2
Alternate form m  2ar sin   m −1  2ay 
of stream  = Ur sin  − tan −1  2  or  = Uy − tan 
 x 2 + y 2 − a 2 
2  r − a 2
 2  
function:
 = uniform flow + source -sink pair
Velocity potential:
= Ur cos  −
m
(ln r1 − ln r2 )
2 13
Example

One end of a pond has a shoreline that resembles a half body

as shown in figure below. A vertical porous pipe is located near
the end of the pond so that water can pumped out. When water
is pumped at the rate of 0.08 m3/s through a 3-m-long pipe,
what will be the velocity at point A?

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