POTENTIAL FLOW THEORY

Definition: Potential Flow uesciibes the velocity fielu as the giauient of a scalai
function i.e. the velocity potential. As a iesult, a potential flow is chaiacteiizeu by an
iiiotational velocity fielu. The iiiotationality of a potential flow is uue to the cuil of a
giauient always been zeio.
Important Cases of Potential Flow:
a) 0nifoim flow b) Souice flow
c) Sink flow u) Boublet
e) Supeiimposeu flow f)Flow ovei a cylinuei

a) Uniform Flow:
In a unifoim flow, the velocity iemains constant. All the fluiu
paiticles aie moving with same velocity. The unifoim flow may be:





Let U=velocity which is unifoim oi constant along xaxis
u anu v=Components of unifoim velocity U along x anu y axis.
Foi the unifoim flow, paiallel to xaxis, the velocity components u anu v aie given as
u=Uanuv=0 (i)
But the velocity u in teims of stieam function is given by,
u=
o
oy

Anu in teims of velocity potential the velocity u is given by,
u=
o
ox

u=
o
oy
=
o
ox
(ii)
Similaily it can be shown that v=
o
ox
=
o
oy
(iii)
But u=U fiom eqn (i). Substituting u=U in eqn (ii), we have
U=
o
oy
=
o
ox
(IV)
U=
o
oy
anu also U=
o
ox

Fiist pait gives J = u Jy wheieas seconu pait gives d=Udx

Integiation of these paits gives as
=Uy+C1 anu =Ux+C2
Wheie C1 anu C2 aie constants of integiation.
Now let us plot the stieam lines anu potential lines foi unifoim flow paiallel to xaxis
Plotting of Stream lines: Foi stieam lines, the equation is
=U+C1
Let =u, wheie y=u. Substituting these values in the above equations, we get
0=U0+C1 oi C1=0
Bence the equation of stieam lines becomes as
=U.y (v)
The stieam lines aie stiaight lines paiallel to xaxis anu at a uistance y fiom the xaxis
as shown.

In equation (v),U.yiepiesents the volume flow iate (i.e. m
S
s) between xaxis anu the
stieam line at a uistance y.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
0 2 4 6 8
5
1
2
3
4
Plotting Of Potential Lines: Foi potential lines, the equation is
=U.x+C2 (VI)
Let =u, wheie x=u. Substituting these values in the above equations, we get C2=u.
Bence equation of potential lines becomes as
=U.x
The above equation shows that potential lines aie stiaight lines paiallel to yaxis anu at
a uistance x fiom yaxis as shown in fig

The fig 2

Shows the plot of stieam lines anu potential lines foi unifoim flow paiallel to xaxis. The
stieam lines anu potential lines inteisect each othei at iight angles.
A matlab image foi unifoim flow
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 2 4 6
3
4
5
1
2
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
0 2 4 6 8
Series1
1
2
3
4
1
2

Source
moving o
in which
stiength
stiength
Let ur=i


The iaui


ueciease
appioxim
u=u.
Let us kn
souice fl
function
and Sink F
out iauially
h the point 0
h of a souice
h of souice is
iauial veloci
q=volum
r=iauius
ius velocity
ui=
q
2n
The a
es. Anu at a
mately equa
now finu the
low. As in th
will be obt
Flow: The s
y in all uiiect
0 is the soui
e is uefineu
s m
S
s.It is
ity of flow a
me flow iate
s
ui at any ia


above equat
laige uistan
al to zeio. Th
e equation o
his case, u=
aineu fiom
ouice flow i
tions of a pl
ice fiom wh
as the volum
iepiesenteu
at a iauius i
pei unit ue
auius i is giv
(i)
ion shows t
nce away fio
he flow is in
of stieam fu
=u, the equa
ur.
is the flow c
lane at unifo
hich the flui
me flow iate
u by q.
fiom the so
pth
ven by,
that with th
om the soui
n iauial uiie
unction anu
ation of stie
coming fiom
oim iate. Fi
u moves iau
e pei unit u
ouice 0
e inciease o
ice, the velo
ection, henc
velocity po
am function
m a point (so
ig shows a s
uially outwa
uepth. The u
of i, the iaui
ocity will be
ce the tange
otential func
n anu veloci

ouice) anu
souice flow
aiu. The
unit of
ial velocity
e
ntial velocit
ction foi the
ity potentia
ty
e
l


Equation of Stream Function:
By uefinition, the iauial velocity anu tangential velocity components in teims of
stieam function aie given by
ui=
1
r
o
o0
anu u=
o
or

But, ui=
q
2nr


1

o
o0
=
q
2nr

0i d=r.
q
2nr
.d=
q
2n
d
Integiating the equation wit 0, we get
=
q
2n
0 +C1 , wheie C1 is a constant of integiation.
Let =u, when 0 = u, then C1=u.
Bence the equation of stieam function becomes as
=
q
2n
. 0
In the above equation, q is constant.
The above equation shows that stieam function is a function of .

Equation of Velocity Potential:
Now consiuei a length in the iauial uiiection
ds=dr
At iauius i the velocity potential is uefineu as

d=Vrdr
This becomes u=

2r
dr foi souice
u=

2r
dr foi sink
To finu the expiession foi a length of one iauius, we integiate with iespect to i
=

2
lni foi souice

2
lni foi sink

Doublet:
A uoublet is foimeu when an equal souice anu a sink aie biought close
togethei. Consiuei a souice anu sink of equal stiength placeu at A anu B iespectively.
The stieam function foi point P ielative to A anu B aie iespectively.

B=

2
foi the souice
A=

2
foi the sink
P= A+B =

2
(21)
Refeiiing to the uiagiam,
tan1=
y
x +b
, , tan2=

x-b

Tan (2 1) =
ton
2
tan
1
1 +tan
1
+ton
2
,
Tan (2 1) =
y(x-b)-y(x+b)
1+
y
x
2
b
2

Tan (2 1) =
2by
x
2
+y
2


As b tenus to zeio, b
2
tenus to zeio anu the tan of the angle becomes the same as the
angle itself in iauians
(2 1)=
2by
x
2
+y
2

P=

2n

2by
x
2
+
2

When the souice anu sink aie biought close togethei we have B00BLET but b iemains
finite.
Let B=
b
n
,
=
By
x
2
+y
2

Since y=rsin anu x
2
+ y
2
=r
2
Then =
Bsn

2
=
Bsin
r
1
,
=u is a stieamline acioss which theie is no flux ciicle so it can be useu to
iepiesent a cylinuei.
Combination of Uniform flow and source or sink:
Foi this uevelopment, consiuei the case foi the souice at the oiigin of the xy
cooiuinates with a unifoim flow of velocity u fiom left to iight. The uevelopment foi a
sink in unifoim flow follows the same piinciple. The unifoim flow encounteis the flux
fiom the souice piouucing a pattein as shown. At laige values of x the flow has become
unifoim again with velocity u .The flux fiom the souice is Q this uiviues equally to the
top anu bottom. At point s theie is a stagnation point wheie the iauial velocity fiom the
souice is equal anu opposite of the unifoim velocity u.
The iauial velocity is
= Q/2nr.
Equating to u we have
i=Q/2.u
anu this is the uistance fiom the oiigin to the stagnation point.
Foi unifoim flow
1=uy.
Foi the souice
2=Q2n.
The combineu value is
=u.y+Q2.
The flux between the oiigin anu the stagnation point S is half the flow fiom the souice
.Bence the flux anu angle is n iauian. The uiviuing stieamline emanating fiom S is the
zeio stieamline =u.Since no flux ciosses this stieamline, the uiviuing stieamline coulu
be a soliu bounuaiy.
Rankine 0val


Flow around a long cylinder
When an iueal fluiu flows aiounu a long cylinuei ,the stieam lines anu velocity
potentials fiom the same pattein as a uoublet placeu in a constant unifiom flow.It
follows that we may use a uoublet to stuuy the flow aiounu a cylinuei. The iesult of
combining a uoublet with a unifoim flow at velocity is as shown.

Consiuei a uoublet at the oiigin with a unifoim flow fiom left to iight.The stieam
function foi point p is obtaineu by functions foi a uoublet anu a unifoim flow.
Foi a uoublet is =Bsin
0
r

Foi a unifoim flow =u.y
Foi the combineu flow = Bsin
0
r
u.y
Wheie B= (Qbn) fiom the uiagiam we have y=isin anu substituting this into the
stieam function gives
=
Bsin
i
ursin =|
B
i
urjsin

J
Jr
=|
B
i
2
ujsin
=|
B
r
urj cos
The equation is usually given in the foim =|
B
i
urj cos 0 wheie A=u
The stieam functions may be conveiteu into velocity potentials by use of the above
equations as follows
vi=
J
Jr
=
u
ui
vR=
J
Jr
=
u
ui


J
Jr
=
u
ui

J
Jr
=i
u
ui

The equations can fuithei be solveu
At any given point in the flow with cooiuinates i, the velocity has a iauial anu
tangential component. The tiue velocity v is the vectoi sum of both which, being at
iight angle to each othei, is founu by Pythagoias as
V=_I
R
2
+ I
I
2

Fiom eqn we can show that

I
R
=u {
R
2
r
2
1} cos
I
I
=u{
R
2
r
2
+ 1} sin
R is the iauius of the cylinuei.
Pressure Distribution around A cylinder:
The velocity of the main stieam flow is u anu the piessuie is p.When it flows
ovei the suiface of the cylinuei the piessuie is p because of the change in velocity .The
piessuie change is pp

.

The uynamic piessuie foi a stieam is uefineu as
pu
2
2

The piessuie uistiibution is usually shown in the uimensionless foims
=2(pp

)/(pu
2
)
Foi an infinitely long cylinuei placeu in a stieam of mean velocity u we apply.
Beinoullis equation between a point well away fiom the stieam anu a point on the
suiface. At the suiface the velocity is entiiely tangential so:
P

+pu
2
/2=p+pI
1
2
/2
Fiom the pievious woik it becomes n
P+ pu
2
2=p+ p(2usin)
2
2
pp= pu
2
2 [
p
2
(4u
2
sin
2
) = ( pu
2
2) (14sin
2
)
pp pu
2
2=14sin
2
0
If this function is plotteu against angle we finu that the uistiibution has a
maximum value of 1.u at the fiont anu back anu a min value of S at the siues.
voitices
Ciiculation
Consiuei a stieam line that foims a closeu loop. The velocity of the stieamline at
any point is tangential to the iauius of cuivatuie R, the iauius is iotating at angulai
velocity .Now consiuei a small length of that stieamline us.
The ciiculation is uefineu as K= v
T
us anu the integiation is aiounu the entiie loop.
Substituting v
T
=R us=R u
K= R
2
J0 the limits aie u anu 2n
K=2n R
2

In teims of vT K=2nI
1
R
voiticity:
voiticity is uefineu as u= I
I
usA wheie A is the aiea of the iotating element.
The aiea of the element shown in the uiagiam is small sectoi of aic us anu angle
u.

uA=
u
2
R
2
= R
2

u
2

A= R
2

u
2

G=
R
2
J
R
2
J
2
= 2 at any point.
It shoulu be iemembeieu in this simplistic appioach that to may vaiy with angle.
voitices
Consiuei a cylinuiical mass iotating uisk about a veitical axis. The stieamlines
foim concentiic ciicles. The stieamlines aie so close that the ciicumfeience of each is
the same anu length 2ni.Let the uepth is uh, a small pait of actual uepth.

The velocity of the outei stieamline is u+du
anu the innei stieamline is u.
The piessuie at innei stieamline is panu the outei uiametei is p+dp.
The mass of the element is p2nrdhdr
The centiifugal foice acting on the mass is p2nrdhdru
2
/r
It must be the centiifugal foice acting on the element that gives iise to the
change in piessuie dp.
It follows that
dp2nrdh=p2nrdhdru
2
/r
anu dp/p=u
2
/r
The kinetic heau at the innei stieamline is = u
2
/2g
Biffeientiating w.i.t iauius we get udu/(gdr)
The total eneigy may be iepiesenteu as a heau B wheie B=TotalEnergy/mg.
The iate of change of eneigy heau with iauius is dH/dr.It follows that this must
be the sum of the iate of change of piessuie anu kinetic heaus so
dH/dr=u
2
/gr+udu/(gdr)

Fiee voitex
A fiee voitex is one with no eneigy auueu noi iemoveu so dH/dr=0. It is also
iiiotational which means that although the stieamlines aie ciicle anu the inuiviuual
molecules oibit the axis of the voitex.Thy uo not spin. This may be uemonstiateu
piactically with a voiticity metei that is a float with a cioss on it. The cioss can be seen
to oibit the axis but not spin as shown.
Since the total heau B is the same at all iauii it follows the dH/dr=0.The equation
ieuuces to
u/r+du/dr=0
dr/r+du/v=0
Integiating lnu+lnr=constant
ln(ur)=constant
ur=C
Note that a voitex is positive foi anticlockwise iotations is the stiength of the
fiee voitex with units of m
2
s
Stieam function foi a fiee voitex
The tangential velocity was shown to be linkeu to the stieam function by
d=Vtdr
Substituting vt = Ci
d=Cdr/r
Suppose the voitex has an innei iauius of a anu outei iauius of R
=C
Jr
r
=Cln(R/a)
velocity potential foi a fiee voitex
The velocity potential was uefineu in the equation
d=Vtrd
Substituting, vt=C/r anu integiating
=
(
C
r
) rJ0
0vei the limits u to we have
=C
Suiface Piofile of a fiee voitex
It was shown that dh/dr=u
2
/grwheie h is uepth .Substituting u=C/r we
get
dh/dr=C
2
/gr
3

dh=C
2
gr
3
dr/g
Integiating between a small iauius i anu a laige iauius R we get
H2h1=(C
2
/2g)(1/R
2
1/r
2
)
Plotting h against i piouuces a shape as shown

Foiceu voitex
A foiceu voitex is one in which the whole cylinuiical mass iotates at one
angulai velocity . It was shown eailiei that dH/dr=u
2
/gr+udu/(gdr)wheie h is uepth
Substituting u=r anu noting du/dr= we have
dH/dr=(r
2)
/gr+
2
r/g
dH/dr=2
2
r/g
Integiating without limits yielus
B=
2
r
2
/g+A
B was also given by
H=h+u
2
/2g=h+
2
r
2
/2g
Equating we have
h=
2
r
2
/2g+A
At iauius i h1=
2
r
2
/2g+A
At iauius R h2=
2
R
2
/2g+A
H2h1=(2/2g)(R
2
r
2
)
This piouuces a paiabolic suiface