MEC3451

Review Sheet - Week 2

Monash University
Mech. & Aerosp. Eng.

Problem 1
The velocity field of a flow is given by v = 2x2 t ex + [4y(t 1) + 2x2 t] ey m/s, where
x and y are in metres and t is in seconds.
For fluid particles on the x axis, determine the speed and direction of flow.

Solution: The given velocity field is:

u = 2x2 t ;

v = 4y(t 1) + 2x2 t .

The speed at any point is:

V = u2 + v 2 ,
1/2

.
= 8x4 t2 + 16x2 yt (t 1) + 16y 2 (t 1)2
On the x-axis where y = 0 at any t 0 therefore,

V = 8x2 t .
The direction of flow at any point is the unit vector along the velocity direction:
v=

2x2 tex + 4y(t 1) + 2x2 tey

1
v=
.
V
[8x4 t2 + 16x2 yt (t 1) + 16y 2 (t 1)2 ]1/2

On the x-axis at any t 0,

1
2x2 tex + 2x2 tey

v=
,
V
8x2 t
1
= (ex + ey ) .
2

v=

Problem 2
Compute and sketch the streamline and pathline that pass through (x, y) = (1, 1) at
t = 1 for the velocity field v = x ex yt ey .
Solution:
The equation for a streamline in 2D at a fixed time t is:
dx
dy
=
.
u
v
At time t = 1, the given velocity field is u = x, v = y. Substituting these in the

MEC3451
Review Sheet - Week 2

Monash University
Mech. & Aerosp. Eng.

above equation,
dy
dx
=
;
x
y

dy
dx
=
;
x
y
ln x = ln y + c ;
ln xy = c ;
xy = exp c ;
xy = c1 .

We are interested in the streamline passing through (1, 1). Substituting the coordinates in the above equation results in c1 = 1. Therefore, the streamline is
given by,
xy = 1 .
The equation for a pathline in 2D is,
dx
= u;
dt

dy
= v.
dt

For a pathline t is not fixed, but varies. Integrating in time,

dx
= x;
dt
dx
= dt ;
x x
t
dx
=
dt ;
x0 x
t0
ln x/x0 = t t0 ;

t = ln x/x0 + t0 .

(1)

(Definite integrals can be used instead of working with integration constants.)

Similarly,
dy
= yt ;
dt
dy
= tdt ;
y
y
t
dy
=
tdt ;
t0
y0 y
(t2 t0 2 )
ln y/y0 =
;
2

MEC3451
Review Sheet - Week 2

Monash University
Mech. & Aerosp. Eng.

t2 = 2 ln y/y0 + t0 2 .

(2)

Substitute from equation 1 into 2 to get the pathline equation:

(ln x/x0 + t0 )2 = t0 2 2 ln y/y0 .

Problem 3
The x and y components of a velocity field are given by u = x2 y and v = xy 2 .
Determine the equation for the streamlines of this flow and compare it with those for
another velocity field where the components are u = x and v = y. Is the flow in
the first velocity field different from the second? Explain

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MEC3451
Review Sheet - Week 2

Monash University
Mech. & Aerosp. Eng.

Problem 4
A flying airplane produces a swirling flow near the end of its wings. In certain
circumstances this flow can be approximated by the velocity field u = Ky/(x2 + y 2 )
and v = Kx/(x2 + y 2 ), where K is a constant depending on the shape of the airplane,
and x and y are measured from the centre of the swirl.
(a) Show for this flow that the velocity magnitude is inversely proportional to the
distance from the origin.
(b) Show that the streamlines are circles.

MEC3451

Monash University
Mech. & Aerosp. Eng.

Review Sheet - Week 2

Problem 5
Consider the flow field where u = ` /t2 and v = xy/(` ), where ` and are constant
parameters with the units of length and time, respectively.
(a) Find the equation of the streamline for this flow passing through a point (x0 , y0 )
at t0 .
Solution: Equation for a streamline in 2D at fixed time is:
dy
dx
=
.
u
v
At time t = t0 : u = ` /t20 , v = xy/` . Substituting these in the above
equation,
dx
`
t20

dy
xy
`

xdx
dy
.
=
2
(` /t0 )
y
For clarity, let K = (` /t0 )2 . Then, we have

x0

xdx
=
K
y
xdx
=
K
y0

dy
;
y
dy
;
y

x2 x0 2
= ln y/y0 .
2K

(3)

(b) Rearrange the equation to express it in dimensionless form, by defining dimensionless position (x , y ) = (x/`, y, `) and the dimensionless time t = t/ .
Solution: Define:
x =

x
;
`

y =

y
;
`

t0 =

t0
.

Hence, we can substitute for x = x `; y = y ` in the equation obtained in

the previous part:
(x 2 x0 2 )`2 = 2K ln y /y0 ;
`
= 2( )2 ln y /y0 ;
t0
`
= 2( )2 ln y /y0 ;
t0
2
2 2
(x x0 )t0 = 2 ln y /y0 ;

10

MEC3451

Monash University
Mech. & Aerosp. Eng.

Review Sheet - Week 2

or,
y = y0 e(x

2 x 2 )t 2 /2
0
0

(c) Sketch the streamlines to obtain an image of the flow field at t0 . Show that the
x-axis is a streamline.
Solution: To show that the x-axis is a streamline, choose a point on the
x-axis as (x0 , y0 ) and then find the equation of the streamline through that
point, and show that it is the equation for the x-axis i.e. y = 0. For example,
if we choose (x0 , y0 ) = (1, 0) and substitute in the dimensionless equation
above, we see that the streamline equation through this point is y = 0.

(d) Find the equation of the pathline for a fluid particle that passes through the
point (x0 , y0 ) at t0 . Rearrange to express the equation in dimensionless form.
Solution: u =

`
;
t2

v=

xy
l`

dx
=u
dt
`
= 2 ;
t
`
dx = 2 dt ;
x
t t
`
dx =
dt ;
2
x0
t0 t


1
1
x x0 = `

.
t t0

11

(4)

MEC3451
Review Sheet - Week 2

y0

Monash University
Mech. & Aerosp. Eng.

dy
=v
dt
xy
=
;
`
dy
xdt
=
;
y
`



1
1
x0
+

dt ;
=
`
t t0


t
dy
x0
1
1
=
+

dt ;
y
t t0
t0 `


ln y/y0 =

x0
1
+
`
t0


(t t0 ) ln t/t0 .

Equations 4 and 5 together gives the path line.

12

(5)