Stream Function & Velocity Potential

Stream lines/ Stream Function (Y)

Concept
Relevant Formulas
Examples
Rotation, vorticity

Velocity Potential(f)
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 Vy Vz 0
t x y z

Vx
Vx Vy 0 Vy dy
x y 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
Vx
y
Then
V x

2
Vy dy dy
x xy
2
dy
y x x
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 y Dy

y Dy Time=t

Vx y Dx
Vy Vy
x x Dx
x
d
ROTATION z
Assume Vy|x < Vy|x+Dx

and Vx|y > Vx|y+Dy dt 2
IIT-Madras, Momentum Transfer: July 2005-Dec 2005
 Rotation
To Calculate Rotation

Dy1
tan
Dx

Dy1 Vy x Dx

Dt Vy
x
Dt
Dy1

Dx

arctan
V y x Dx Vy
x
Dt
Dx
Similarly
arctan

Vx y Dy Vx y Dt
Dy
IIT-Madras, Momentum Transfer: July 2005-Dec 2005
 Rotation
To Calculate Rotation

d 1
ROTATION z
t Dt t
lim
2 Dt 0 Dt
dt 2

V
y x Dx Vy
arctan x
Dt

V
x y Dy Vx
arctan
y Dt
Dx 1 Dy

1
lim lim
2 DDxt 0 0 Dt 2 Dt 0 Dt
Dx 0
Dy 0 Dy 0
For very small time and very small element, Dx, Dy
and Dt are close to zero

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

 Rotation
To Calculate Rotation
For very small , i.e. ~ 0
sin cos 1 tan

arctan

V
y
arctan
x Dx
Vy
x
Dt V y x Dx Vy
x
Dt

Dx Dx

V
y
arctan
x Dx
Vy
x
Dt V
y

x Dx
Vy
x
Dt
Dx Dx
lim lim


Dt 0
Dx 0
Dt Dt 0
Dx 0
Dt
Dy 0 Dy 0
IIT-Madras, Momentum Transfer: July 2005-Dec 2005
 Rotation
To Calculate Rotation

lim
V y x Dx Vy
x
V y
Dx 0 Dx x

V
y x Dx Vy
arctan x
Dt V
x y Dy Vx
arctan
y Dt
Dx 1 Dy

1
z lim lim
2 DxDt00 Dt 2 DDxt
0
0 Dt
Dy 0 Dy 0

Simplifies to
1 Vy Vx
z

2 x y
1
z V
2
IIT-Madras, Momentum Transfer: July 2005-Dec 2005
 Rotation in terms of Stream Function
To write rotation in terms of stream functions

Vx Vy
y x

1 Vy Vx 1
2 2
z 2 2
2 x y 2 x y
1
2
2
That is
2 2z 0

For irrotational flow (z=0)

2 0

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

 Rotation and Potential

For irrotational flow (z=0)

1

z V 0
2

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
Velocity Potential x y

Assume
f Then Vy Vx 2f 2f
Vx

x x y yx xy

f
Vy
y

In 3D, similarly it can be shown that

f
Vz
z
f is the velocity potential

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

 Velocity Potential vs Stream
Function

Stream Function () Velocity Potential (f)

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
2D (viscous or inviscid) flow
(incompressible flow OR steady state compressible
flow), = constant represents the streamline.
Proof

If = constant, then d0

d dx dy
x y
Vy dx Vx dy
0 Vy
If = constant, then
dy Vy Vx

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