POTENTIAL FLOW

POTENTIAL FLOW
(Sec. 8.5.1 & 8.5.2)
In this unit you will learn
Theoretical foundation of fluid dynamics
Allows complex fluid dynamic phenomenon to be
studied by simplified ideal fluid analysis
Hurricane or
Cyclone
Tornado
NASA picture of Hurricane Wilma
Cyclone
R
V

(r)
Hurricanes
A type of low pressure system, generally formed
in the tropics, is accompanied by thunderstorms
and a circulation of wind near the ground.
Can be modeled using potential flow theory
Types of Tropical cyclone depends on the
maximum sustained wind speed, u
1. Tropical depression: u < 62 km/h
2. Tropical storm: 62 < u < 117 km/s
3. Hurricane: u > 119 km/h
Whirlpool
TYPES OF FLUID FLOW
TYPES OF FLUID FLOW
Compressible
Viscous
Rotational
Unsteady Steady
Irrotational
Inviscid
Incompressible
Fluid Flow
Property of fluid
Property of Flow
We will study this flow
Potential Flow
Potential or Inviscid flow is a flow where viscosity
can be neglected like in high Reynolds number flows
Flow outside the boundary layer may be treated as
Potential flow
Compressible fluid flow cannot be modeled as
potential flow
Bernoulli Eqn. can be used in Potential flow to
predict pressure distribution on a surface.
It is generally described by two scalar quantities
Stream function ()
Potential function ()
Why Use Potential Flow?
Potential flows helps to simplify complex flow situations so
that a good approximate solution can be found
As potential flow represents an idealized flow solution it
does not exist in real flows
Most CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) solvers use
potential flow theory to approximate the flow solution
outside the boundary layers in incompressible flows
STREAM FUNCTION
A Stream Line is a line tangential to
instantaneous velocity vector
There is no flow across streamlines
The difference of stream functions
between two stream lines gives the
volume of fluid per unit depth
flowing between them from the left
to right
CARTESIAN COORDINATES:
POLAR COORDINATES:
y
u

x
v

=
r
v
r
1
r
v

Some streamlines
A Potential Function, is defined
such that its derivative in any
direction gives the velocity in that
direction
X-Y coordinate:
Polar coordinate:
y
v
x
u

=

;
r
v
r

=
r
v
1

= =
A
B
p
A
B
m
ds v ds v
POTENTIAL FUNCTION
Stream & potential lines always intersect at right angles
Function Origins
Both Stream and Potential functions were
developed to satisfy the continuity equations in
2 and 3 planes
Continuity Equations:
Stream and potential functions:
0 =

z
w
y
v
x
u
0 =

y
v
x
u
x
v

x
u

z
w

y
v

y
u

Laplace Equations
In inviscid, incompressible, irrotational the continuity
equation in 3 planes breaks down to:
Likewise the vorticity function in 2 planes (=-k
2
=0)
breaks down to:
Bottom Line: These are second and third order Laplace
equations for which there are many solutions and
analytical techniques known to solve them
0
2
2
2
2
=

y x

0
2
2
2
2
2
2
=

z y x

Rotational & Irrotational flow
A fluid particle may rotate while moving from point to
point. For example, If side Aa of a fluid block rotates by
and side Ab rotates by , the average rate of rotation of
the block () is the average rotation of the two sides
dt
) (
2
1

+
=
Rotational vs. Irrotational
If both sides rotate symmetrically = , rotation is
zero:
Such a flow is called Irrotational.
If the sides rotate at different rate ( ), the fluid
is deformed and the flow is called Rotational.
0
) (
2
1
=

=
dt

0
) (
2
1

=
dt

Properties of Irrotational flow

Ideal fluid (Potential flow) is Irrotational
A fluid particle moving, without rotation cannot
develop a rotation under the action of a force. It
requires a shear stress (~ rate of angular deformation)
to develop rotation.
Flow outside the boundary layer, where viscosity
effect is negligible is irrotational
Vorticity is zero in an irrotational flow
Real fluid or Viscous flow is rotational
VORTICITY
Rotation of a fluid particle is defined as the average
angular velocity of any two mutually perpendicular
lines of the fluid particle. [Anticlockwise is
positive]. Hence the angular velocity about z axis:
Vorticity () is twice the angular velocity of a fluid
particle.
For irrotational flow vorticity is zero

2 2
1

=
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
dy
du
dx
dv
z
The element ABCD could
rotate around its z axis
while moving from
instant t and at t+dt .
Angular velocity w
z
of
two edges (AB, BC)
Elemental change in angles
is found by taking limits
dt = 0
|
.
|

\
|
=
dt
d
dt
d
w
z

2
1
dt
x
v
dt dx
x
u
dx
dt dx
x
v
d
dt

=
(
(
(
(

+
|
.
|

\
|

.
.
tan lim
1
0

dt
y
u
dt dy
y
v
dy
dt dy
y
u
d
dt

=
(
(
(
(

+
|
|
.
|

\
|

.
.
tan lim
1
0

Rotation
Rotation about z axis, x axis and y axis are
|
.
|

\
|

=
|
|
.
|

\
|

=
|
|
.
|

\
|

=
x
w
z
u
w
z
v
y
w
w
y
u
x
v
w
y x z
2
1
;
2
1
;
2
1
Twice the value of the rate of rotation is defined as vorticity, . Its value about x,
y & z axis are as follows
z z y y x x
w w w 2 ; 2 ; 2 = = =
For irrotational flow vorticity is zero. So
x
=
y
=
z
= 0,
For irrotational flow, vorticity, = 0
In polar coordinate, vorticity is written as
DEFORMATION
Angular deformation is total changes in the angle between two mutually perpendicular
lines in the fluid. From above figure the rate of angular, deformation is
(

= =

r
z z
v
r
rv
r
w
) ( 1
2
|
|
.
|

\
|
+ =
dy
du
dx
dv

CIRCULATION
Circulation is defined as the line integral of the tangential
velocity component about a closed curve C, of arc length
ds. Using the definition of we get:
It can be proved that: Circulation = Vorticity x Area
K denotes the strength of the vortex
( )
2 1
2
1
. cos

= =
+ + = = =

c c c
xdz vdy udx ds V ds V
v
K 2 =
Forced Vortex (Man made)
A vortex represents a flow in which the streamlines
are concentric circles. There is no radial flow.
So, Vr = 0
In a Forced Vortex
velocity is proportional
to radius
v

= K .r
Tangential velocity v

, at any radius
is inversely proportion to r
So,
From definitions of and
Solving we get: = ;
& = K ln r
Circulation =
1

2
= 2 .
r
K
r r
v =

2
; ln
2

= r
Free Vortex (occurs in nature)
Whirlpool (Free or Forced ?)
Problem- vortex (Munson p-343)
A liquid drains from a large tank through a
small opening. A vortex forms whose
velocity distribution away from the tank
opening can be approximated as that of a
free vortex having a velocity potential
=(/2). Determine an expression
relating the surface shape to the strength of
the vortex as specified by the circulation
Problem: Tornado
A tornado may be modeled as the circulating flow
with v
r
= v
z
= 0 and v

= r for r < R ; = R
2
/r
for r>R.
Determine whether this flow pattern is irrotational
in either the inner or outer region. Using the
pressure distribution p(r) in the tornado, assuming
p = p

. Find the location and magnitude of the

lowest pressure
(White 8.14)