Inviscid Flow 605

It can be shown in this coordinate system that streamlines and potential lines are normal to each
other.

Example 12.1

A flow field is described by the streamline equation

ψ = xy

a. Determine the velocity field.

b. Determine the velocity potential function.
c. Determine whether the flow satisfies the continuity equation.
d. Plot the streamlines and potential lines on the same set of axes.

Solution
a. The potential function is found by applying Equations 12.7 and 12.10. By definition,

∂ψ
Vx = =x
∂y

∂ψ
Vy = − = −y
∂x
Also,

∂φ
= Vx = x
∂x
from which we obtain by integration

x2
φ= + f1(y ) + C1
2
where
f1(y) is an unknown function of y
C1 is a constant

Moreover,

∂φ
= Vy = −y
∂y
which gives

y2
φ=− + f2 ( x ) + C2
2
where
f2(x) is an unknown function of x
C2 is a constant

Equating both expressions for ϕ yields

x2 y2
+ f1(y ) + C1 = − + f2 ( x ) + C2
2 2
606 Introduction to Fluid Mechanics, Sixth Edition

We thus conclude that

y2
f1(y ) = −
2
x2
f2( x ) =
2
C1 = C2

b. Because determining velocity involves only derivatives of ϕ or ψ, constants are generally

not important and arbitrarily can be set equal to zero. The potential function, then, is

1 2
φ= (x − y 2)
2
c. The continuity equation is

∂Vx ∂Vy
+ =0
∂x ∂y
By substitution, we get

+1− 1 = 0

Thus, continuity is satisfied.

For simplicity, we will restrict the plot to the first quadrant, where x ≥ 0 and y ≥ 0.
The stream function is

ψ = xy

Selecting constants for ψ gives various equations, each of which must be graphed:

ψ= 0 xy = 0 x = 0, y = 0

ψ=8 xy = 8

y x
8 1
4 2
2 4
1 8

ψ = 16 xy = 16

y x
10 1.6
8 2
4 4
2 8
1.6 10
Inviscid Flow 607

ψ = 24 xy = 24

y x
10 2.4
8 3
6 4
4 6
3 8
2.4 10

ψ = 32 xy = 32

y x
10 3.2
8 4
4 8
3.2 10

Similarly, for the velocity potential

1 2
φ= (x − y 2)
2

we have

φ=0 y = x y = –x
φ=8 y 2 = x 2 – 16

y x
0 4
4.47 6
6.9 8

φ=8 x 2 = y 2 – 16

y x
4 0
6 4.47
8 6.90
10 9.17
608 Introduction to Fluid Mechanics, Sixth Edition

φ = 16 y 2 = x 2 − 32

y x
0 5.65
2 6
5.65 8

y x
5.65 0
6 2
8 5.65

φ = 24 y 2 = x 2 – 48

y x
0 6.92
4 8
5.74 9

φ = −24 x 2 = y 2 – 48

y x
6.92 0
8 4
9 5.74

A plot of these equations is given in Figure 12.4. This type of graph is called a flow net. The field
represents flow into a corner. If the corresponding plot for the second quadrant were also drawn
(it is symmetric about the y- and x-axis), we would have a model of inviscid flow striking a flat
surface.

12.3 IRROTATIONAL FLOW

Rotation is a characteristic of ow. Rotational ow occurs if a uid element rotates while the uid
is owing. Consider, for example, Figure 12.5a for a viscous uid and Figure 12.5b for an inviscid
uid; in both cases the ow is between parallel boundaries. In Figure 12.5a, a uid element at posi-
tion 1 will deform as it moves to position 2. The lower horizontal line is carried downstream faster
than the upper line. The upper line is nearer the wall, where the velocity is zero. Because the sides
of the element have rotated, we use the name rotational ow. Figure 12.5b shows a uid element
at positions 1 and 2, but the sides of the element have not rotated because the uid is inviscid. The
velocity at the wall in the main ow direction is not zero; the shape of the element has been pre-
served. This is called irrotational ow.
As a second example, consider brie y circular or vortex ow, as illustrated in Figure 12.6. In
Figure 12.6a (for a viscous uid), the ow is rotational as compared to Figure 12.6b for irrotational
ow. A nal example of irrotational ow is illustrated in Figure 12.7 for ow through a converging
Inviscid Flow 609

ψ=0
10

φ = –24
8 φ = –16
φ = –8
φ=0
φ=8
6 φ = 16
φ = 24
y

4
ψ = 32
ψ = 24
2
ψ = 16

ψ=8
0 ψ=0
0 2 4 6 8 10
x

FIGURE 12.4 Graph of stream and potential functions for Example 12.1.

y y

x 1 2 x 1 2

(a) (b)

FIGURE 12.5 (a) Rotational and (b) irrotational ow in a duct.

Fixed Fixed
(a) (b)

FIGURE 12.6 (a) Rotational and (b) irrotational ow.