1

Stream function-Vorticity Equation

Incompressible 2-D flow
( )
( )
2
2
2
2
, ;
x y
t x x
t x y y
t x y
u v v u
y x
u uu vu p u
y
v uv vv p v
x
u v






= = = =

+ + = +

+ + = +

+ + =

:
:
Unsteady
Convection Diffusion
2
Stream function-Vorticity Method
Governing Equations
Equation for Stream function
Vorticity Transport Equation
Poisson Equation for Pressure
2
=
( )
2
2
2
;
2
x y
y x
xx yy xy
u v
u v
p S
S



+ =
= =
=
=
Where
Where

2-D Steady Convection-Diffusion Equation
Poisson Equation
( ) ( )
/ X-Mom.Eqn. / Y-Mom.Eqn. x y +
3
Stream function-Vorticity Method:
Lid-Driven Cavity Flow
Physical Description of the Problem and
Boundary Conditions
0, 0
0, ; 0
y x
xx
u v

= = = =
= = =
0, 0
0, ; 0
y x
xx
u v

= = = =
= = =
0, 0
0, ; 0
y x
yy
u v

= = = =
= = =
0
, 0
0, ; 0
y x
yy
u u v

= = = =
= = =
U
0
4
Stream function-Vorticity Method:
Lid-Driven Cavity Flow
Grid Generation
i
P
(i,j)
P
(i,j) (i+1,j) (i-1,j)
(i,j+1) (i-1,j+1)
(i,j-1) (i-1,j-1)
1 imax
1
jmax
j
5
Stream function-Vorticity Method:
Lid-Driven Cavity Flow
Finite Difference Equation
Equation for Stream function and Velocity
( ) ( )
1, , 1, , 1 , , 1
,
2 2
2 2 2
, 1, 1, , 1 , 1 ,
2
, 1, 1, , 1 , 1 ,
2 2
2 1
/
1
1
4
i j i j i j i j i j i j
i j
i j i j i j i j i j i j
i j i j i j i j i j i j
x y
x
x y
x
u

+ +
+ +
+ +
+ +
+ =

+ = + + + +
=
(
= = + + + +

where
If
, 1 , 1 1, 1,
, ,
,
2 2
i j i j i j i j
i j i j
v
y x

+ +

= =


6
Stream function-Vorticity Method:
Lid-Driven Cavity Flow
Finite Difference Equation
Vorticity Transport Equation
( ) ( ) ( )
( )
1, 1, , 1 , 1
, ,
1, , 1, , 1 , , 1
2 2
2
, , 1, , 1,
, , 1
2 2
2 2
2 1 1 / 2 1 / 2
/ 2
i j i j i j i j
i j i j
i j i j i j i j i j i j
i j i j i j i j i j
i j i j
u v
x y
x y
u x u x
v x

+ +
+ +
+
+

+

| |
+ +
= +
|
|

\ .
+ = + +
+ + +


( )
( ) ( )
( ) ( )
, , 1
, , 1, , 1,
, , 1 , , 1
/ 2
1 4 1 / 2 1 / 2
1 / 2 1 / 2
i j i j
i j i j i j i j i j
i j i j i j i j
v x
u x u x
v x v x

+
+

= = + +
+ + +
If

7
Stream function-Vorticity Method:
Lid-Driven Cavity Flow
Finite Difference Equation
Boundary Condition
( )
1, max,
,1 , max
2 , 1, 0 ,
1,
2
2 , 0 ,
0 , 2 ,
,
2 , 1,
2 ,
1,
2 2
max,
0 0 1 max
0 0 1 max
2
0
2
2
2
1 max
2
j i j
i i j
j j j
j
j j
j j
i j
j j
j
j
i j
j j
i i
x
x x
j j
x x

= =
= =
| | +
=
|
|

\ .

|
= = =
|

.

= =

==
& for
& for
where
for
Similarly,
( )
max 1,
2
, 2
,1
2
, max 1 0
, max
2
max
2
1 max
2 2
1 max
i j
i
i
i j
i j
j j
x
i i
y
u y
i i
y

+
=

for 2
for
for
Left Surface
Right Surface
Bottom Surface
Top Surface
8
Stream function-Vorticity Method:
Lid-Driven Cavity Flow
Stability Criteria for using Central
Difference Scheme in Convection Term
Underrelaxation
( )
( )
, ,
1 *
, , , ,
1 *
, , , ,
2 and 2
i j i j
k k k
i j i j i j i j
k k k
i j i j i j i j
u x v y
R
R

+
+


= +
= +
9
Stream function-Vorticity Method:
Lid-Driven Cavity Flow
Solution Algorithm
1. Assume initial value of
2. Apply boundary condition for
3. Compute stream-function value at interior nodes
4. Compute vorticity values at the surfaces and at interior
nodes
5. Compute the velocities at interior nodes
6. For strongly nonlinear problems (high Reynolds number
flows), underrelaxation may be employed for
7. For each node, determine the difference in the values of
between two consecutive iterations.
Determine the maximum value (residue) among them.
If residue> (practically zero, may be 10
-3
), go to step
3 else stop.
and
and
, , and u v

, and u v