Stream Function & Velocity Potential

Stream lines/ Stream Function ()

Concept
Relevant Formulas
Examples
Rotation, vorticity

Velocity Potential()

Concept
Relevant Formulas
Examples
Relationship between stream function and velocity potential
Complex velocity potential

IIT-Madras, Momentum Transfer: July 2005-Dec 2005

Stream Lines

Consider 2D incompressible flow

Continuity Eqn

Vx V y Vz 0
t x
y
z

Vx Vy 0
x
y

Vx
Vy dy
x

Vx and Vy are related

Can you write a common function for both?

IIT-Madras, Momentum Transfer: July 2005-Dec 2005

Stream Function
Assume

Then

Vx
y
2

x
Vy dy
dy
x

xy
2


dy
x
yx

Instead of two functions, Vx and Vy, we need to solve for only one function
Stream Function
Order of differential eqn increased by one

IIT-Madras, Momentum Transfer: July 2005-Dec 2005

Stream Function

What does Stream Function mean?

Equation for streamlines in 2D are given by

= constant

Streamlines may exist in 3D also, but stream function does not

Why? (When we work with velocity potential, we may get a

perspective)
In 3D, streamlines follow the equation

dx dy dz

Vx Vy Vz
IIT-Madras, Momentum Transfer: July 2005-Dec 2005

Rotation

Definition of rotation

Vx

t
+
t
=
e
m
i
T

y y

Time=t

Vx

Vy

Assume Vy|x < Vy|x+x

and Vx|y > Vx|y+y

Vy

IIT-Madras, Momentum Transfer: July 2005-Dec 2005

x x

d
ROTATION z

dt
2

Rotation

To Calculate Rotation

y1
tan
x

y1 Vy

x x

arctan

Similarly

arctan

t
+
t
=
Time

t Vy

y x x

Vy

x
Vx y y Vx

IIT-Madras, Momentum Transfer: July 2005-Dec 2005

t
y

y1

Rotation

To Calculate Rotation

d
ROTATION z

dt 2

V
y

arctan

1
lim
2 t 0

x 0
y 0

x x

Vy

x
t

1
t t
lim
2 t 0
t

arctan

1
lim
2 t 0
x 0
y 0

For very small time and very small element, x, y

and t are close to zero

IIT-Madras, Momentum Transfer: July 2005-Dec 2005

Vx y t

x y y

Rotation

To Calculate Rotation

For very small i.e.

sin

tan

cos 1

arctan

V
y

arctan

x x

V
y

arctan
lim

Vy

x x

y x x

Vy

t 0
x 0
y 0
IIT-Madras, Momentum Transfer: July 2005-Dec 2005

lim

t 0
x 0
y 0

Vy

x
t

t V

Vy t
x

y x x

Rotation

To Calculate Rotation
V

lim

x 0

Vy

y x x

1
lim
2 x t00

V
y

arctan

x x

Vy

y 0

arctan

1
lim
0
2 x t
0
y 0

Simplifies to
1 Vy Vx
z

y
2 x
r
1
z V
2

IIT-Madras, Momentum Transfer: July 2005-Dec 2005

Vx y t

x y y

Rotation in terms of Stream Function

To write rotation in terms of stream functions

Vx

Vy
x

2
2
1 Vy Vx 1
z
2 2
y 2 x
y
2 x

That is

1
2
2

2 2 z 0

For irrotational flow (z=0)

2 0

IIT-Madras, Momentum Transfer: July 2005-Dec 2005

Rotation and Potential

For irrotational flow (z=0)

r
1
z V 0
2
r
V 0

Vy

Vx

0
x
y

This equation is similar to continuity equation

Vx and Vy are related
Can we find a common function to relate both Vx and Vy ?

IIT-Madras, Momentum Transfer: July 2005-Dec 2005

Vy

Vx

0
x
y

Velocity Potential

Assume

Vx
x

Vy

Then

Vy

Vx

x
y

In 3D, similarly it can be shown that

Vz
z

yx

is the velocity potential

IIT-Madras, Momentum Transfer: July 2005-Dec 2005

xy

Velocity Potential vs Stream

Function
Stream Function ( ) Velocity Potential ()
only 2D flow

all flows
Irrotational (i.e. Inviscid or
viscous or non-viscous flows zero viscosity) flow
Exists
Incompressible flow (steady or Incompressible flow (steady
for
unsteady)
or unsteady state)
compressible flow (steady
compressible flow (steady or
state only)
unsteady state)

In 2D inviscid flow (incompressible flow OR steady state compressible flow), both

functions exist
What is the relationship between them?

IIT-Madras, Momentum Transfer: July 2005-Dec 2005

Stream Function- Physical

meaning

Statement: In

Proof

2D (viscous or inviscid) flow (incompressible flow

OR steady state compressible flow), = constant represents
the streamline.

If = constant, then d


d
dy
dx
x
y
Vy dx Vx dy
0

Vy

If = constant, then
dy Vy

dx Vx

IIT-Madras, Momentum Transfer: July 2005-Dec 2005

Vx