Fundamentals of Inviscid, Incompressible Flow

–2
Overview
 Stationary, inviscid, incompressible flow in the
direction of a streamline
The x-component of the momentum equation for a stationary, invisvid, incompressible
flow reads
u u u 1 p
u v w 
x y z  x
Multiplying this equation by dx gives
u u u 1 p
u dx  v dx  w dx   dx
x y z  x
Now bear in mind that along a streamline we have Eq. 2.117b, Eq. 2117c
u dz  w dx  0
v dx  u dy  0
Using this in the momentum equation gives

 u u u  1 p
u  dx  dy  dz   u du   dx
 x y z   x
 Stationary, inviscid, incompressible flow in the
direction of a streamline
1 2 1 p
u du  du   dx
2  x
Similar manipulations can also be performed in the y- and z-component of the
momentum equation:
1 2 1 p
dv   dy
2  y
1 2 1 p
dw   dz
2  z
Adding these three relations together gives
1 1 1  p p p  1
dV  d  u  v  w     dx  dy  dz    dp
2 2 2 2

2 2   x y z  
1 1
dV 2   dp
2 
 WHAT DOES EULER’S EQUATION TELL US?
dp   VdV
• Euler’s Equation (Differential Equation)
– Relates changes in momentum to changes in force (momentum equation)
– Relates a change in pressure (dp) to a chance in velocity (dV)
• Assumptions we made:
– Steady flow
– Neglected friction (inviscid flow), body forces, and external forces

• dp and dV are of opposite sign

– IF dp increases dV goes down → flow slows down
– IF dp decreases dV goes up → flow speeds up

• Valid for Incompressible and Compressible flows

• Valid for Irrotational and Rotational flows
 INVISCID FLOW ALONG STREAMLINES

• Relate p1 and V1 at point 1 to p2 and V2 at point 2

• Integrate Euler’s equation from point 1 to point 2 taking =constant

dp  VdV  0
p2 V2

 dp    VdV  0
p1 V1

 V22 V12 
p2  p1       0
 2 2 
 Bernoulli Equation
For an incompressible flow the density is constant so if we integrate these infinitisimal
change between two points on the same streamline we get

p2 V2

 dp     V dV
p1 V1


 V22 V12 
p2  p1      
 2 2 

1 1
p1  V12  p2  V22
2 2
 Bernouilli’s Equation
1
p  V 2  const.
2
So, although the momentum equation consists of 3 partial differential equations, the
equation along a streamline reduces to a single algebraic relation.

The use of ‘Bernoulli’ is limited. Necessary requirements are

• Steady flows
• inviscid, no body forces
• incompressible
• only valid along a streamline

‘Bernoulli’ is valid for rotational flows also. However, when the flow is irrotational
‘Bernoulli’ is valid everywhere in the flow field and there is no restriction that it is
only satisfied along streamlines
 Application of Bernoulli
1. Airfoil at se level conditions: Consider an airfoil in a flow at sea level conditions
with a freestream velocity of 50 m/s. At a given point on the airfoil, the pressure is
equal to 0.9 10 N/m . Calculate the velocity at this point.
5 2

Solution:
At Standard see level conditions    1.23 kg/m3 and p  1.0110 5 N/m 2. Hence
1 1
p  V2  p  V 2
2 2
2  p  p  2 1.01  0.9   10 5

  50 
2
V  V2 
 1.23


V  142.8 m/s
Flow through a converging-diverging nozzle

Assumption: We assume that the flow is quasi 1 dimensional,

therefore: p  p  x  , V  V  x  , etc.

Continuity 1V1 A1   2V2 A2  1   2   V1 A1  V2 A2

1 1
Bernoulli p1  x   V12  x   p2  x   V22  x 
2 2
2  p2  p1 
Eliminate V2  V  1
2

  A 2 
 1   1  
  A2  
 
 WIND TUNNELS
• A wind tunnel is a ground-based experimental facility used to produce
air flow to study flight of airplanes, missiles, space vehicles, etc.
• Many different types of wind tunnels
– Subsonic, transonic, supersonic, hypersonic
–Open-Circuit Tunnel

–Closed-Circuit Tunnel
 Aerodynamic Testing – Why?
• Fundamental component of developing new
• aerodynamic vehicle and hardware designs
– Prediction
• To develop design
• To initially evaluate design
– Wind Tunnel Testing
• To evaluate design
• To confirm (or not) predictions
• Testing of sub-component, component, whole vehicle models to determine
performance
• Obtaining performance data for control systems
– Flight Testing
 LOW-SPEED, SUB-SONIC WIND TUNNEL

• At speeds M < 0.3 ( or ~ 100 m/s) flow regarded as incompressible

• Analyze using conservation of mass (continuity) and Bernoulii’s Equation
1V1 A1   2V2 A2 2
V 2
 p1  p2   V12

2
A1
V2  V1
A2 2 p1  p2 
V2 
  A 2 
1 1  1   2  
p1  V1  p2  V22
2

2 2   A1  
 MEASUREMENT OF AIRSPEED
• How do we measure an airplanes speed in flight?
• Pitot tubes are used on aircraft as speedometers (point measurement)
 STATIC VS. TOTAL PRESSURE
• In aerodynamics, 2 types of pressure: Static and Total (Stagnation)
• Static Pressure, p
– Due to random motion of gas molecules
– Pressure we would feel if moving along with the flow
– Pressure in Bernoulli’s equation is static pressure
• Total (Stagnation) Pressure, p0 or pt
– Property associated with flow motion
– Total pressure at a given point in flow is the pressure that would
exist if flow were slowed down isentropically to zero velocity
• p0 > p
• Measures total pressure

• Open at A, closed at B

• Gas stagnated (not moving) anywhere in tube

• Gas particle moving along streamline C will be

isentropically brought to rest at point A, giving
total pressure
• Point A: Static Pressure, p
– Surface is parallel to flow, so
only random motion of gas is
measured

• Point B: Total Pressure, p0

– Aligned parallel to flow, so
particles are isentropically
decelerated to zero velocity

p
• A combination of p0 and p allows
us to measure V1 at a given point
p0
• Instrument is called a Pitot-static
probe
 MEASUREMENT OF AIRSPEED:
INCOMPRESSIBLE FLOW
1
p  V1  p0
2

2
Static Dynamic Total
pressure pressure pressure

2 p0  p 
V1 

Incompressible Flow
 TRUE VS. EQUIVALENT AIRSPEED
• What is value of ?
2 p0  p 
• If  is measured in actual air Vtrue 
around the airplane 
• Measurement is difficult to do

• Practically easier to use value at 2 p0  p 

standard seal-level conditions, s Ve 
s
• This gives an expression called
the equivalent airspeed
 MEASUREMENT OF AIRSPEED:
SUBSONIC COMRESSIBLE FLOW
• If M > 0.3, flow is compressible (density changes are important)
• Need to introduce energy equation and isentropic relations


1 2 p0    1 2   1
c pT1  V1  c pT0  1  M1 
2 p1  2 
2
T0 V1 0    1 2 
1
 1
 1  1  M1 
T1 2c pT1 1  2 
T0  1 2 cp: specific heat at constant pressure
 1 M1 M1=V1/a1
T1 2
air=1.4
 MEASUREMENT OF AIRSPEED:
SUBSONIC COMRESSIBLE FLOW

  1 
 –p0 and p1 give
2  p 
M 12   0   1 –Flight Mach number
  1  p1  
 –Mach meter
2   1 
2 a  p   –M1=V1/a1
V12  1  0   1 –Actual Flight Speed
  1  p1  

 1 
2 a 2  p  p   –Actual Flight Speed
V12  1
 0 1
 1  1
  1  p1   –using pressure difference

2 
 1  –What is T1 and a1?
2 a  p  p  
Vcal2  s  0 1
 1  1 –Again use sea-level
  1  ps   conditions Ts, as, ps

(a1=340.3 m/s)
The pressure coefficient for incompressible flow

p  p p  p
C p : 
q 1
 V2
2

2
1 1 p  p V 
Bernoulli: p V 2  p   V2  Cp   1  
2 2 1  V 
 V2
2

2
V 
Cp  1  
 V 
 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN f and y
1. Flow field variables are found by:
– Differentiating f in the same direction as velocities
– Differentiating y in direction normal to velocities

2. Potential function f applies for irrotational flow only

3. Stream function y applies for rotational or irrotational flows

4. Potential function f applies for 2D flows [f(x,y) or f(r,q)] and 3D flows

[f(x,y,z) or f(r,q, f)]
5. Stream function y applies for 2D y(x,y) or y(r, q) flows only

6. Stream lines (y =constant) and equipotential lines (f =constant) are mutually

perpendicular
– Slope of a line with y =constant is the negative reciprocal of the slope of
a line with f =constant
 Inviscid, incompressible, irrotational flows
u v w
• Continuity  V  0    0
x y z

 w v 
 y  z 
 
• Irrotational  u w 
 V  0     
z x 
 

 v  u 
 x y 
 
f f f
V  f  u ,v ,w .
x y z

• Laplace equation (insert potential equation in continuity equation)

 2f  2f  2f
 2  2  0  f   f  0
x 2
y z
 Potential Equation
 2f  2f  2f
 2  2 0
x 2
y z
• This equation is also applicable to unsteady flows in which f  f  x, y, z , t 
• By introducing the potential, the irrotationality requirement is identically satisfied
• Every inviscid, incompressible, irrotational flow is described by a potential which
satisfies the above potential equation.
• Conversely, every solution of the Laplace equation generates a valid inviscid,
incompressible, irrotational flow.
• The Laplace equation is linear, therefore we can use the principle of superposition. So
if f1 and f2 are solutions of the Laplace equation, so is f  1f1   2f 2 . So
complicated flow paterns can be obtained by a suitable combination of elementary
flows. (Although it is not known in advance how and which elementary flow patterns to
combine)
• Once the equation for f has been solved the velocity components are obtained from
f f f
u , v , w .
x y z
 Potential Equation
• If the potential flow is stationary (why?) the pressure coefficient is given by
2 2 2
 f   f   f 
V 2       
 x   y   z 
Cp  1  2   1
 V  V2

• The Laplace equation in Cylindrical coordinates

1   f  1  2f  2f
f  r  2  2
r r  r  r q 2
z

• The Laplace equation in Spherical coordinates

1   2 f    f    1 f  
f  2   r sin q   sin q   
r sin q r
  r  q  q    sin q   
 Stream function for incompressible flow, 2D
y y
• Stream function y  x, y , t   u  , v
y x

• The velocity components obtained from a stream function automatically satisfy the
incompressibility constraint:
  y    y 
   0
x  y  y  x 
•For 2D irrotational flow we have
v u
 0
x y

• Inserting the velocity components obtained from the stream function gives the 2D
Laplace equation
  y    y 
     y  0
x  x  y  y 
 Boundary conditions
• Note: flows in all kinds of different geometries (a sphere, airfoil, cone) are governed
by the same equation f  0

• Question: How can one equation generate solutions for so many different flow
problems?

• Answer: The difference between the various geometries and flows is the domain in
which the Laplace equation has to be solved and the the boundary conditions that are
imposed at the boundary of the domain.

• Boundary conditions at infinity: We assume that any disturbances caused by a object

placed in the flow have vanished at “infinity”, so we set:

x   u  V , v  0,
y   u  V , v  0.
 Boundary conditions at a solid wall
• At a solid wall we assume that the flow cannot enter the object, nor will fluid emerge
from the object. Since we assume that the flow is inviscid, the fluid is allowed to slide
along the solid. If viscous effects are taken into account the friction will prevent the
fluid from sliding along the surface of the object (the so-called no-slip condition). In
the latter case a so-called boundary layer will develop. However, these viscous
phenomena cannot be described by potential equations .

• So at a solid interface the velocity component perpendicular to the surface must be

set to zero, i.e.
V  n   0
•In terms of the potential function this condition can be written as
f
 
f  n 
n
0

•In terms of the stream function this can be written as (the wall is a streamline!)
y
 0  y  const. along streamline
s
 Inviscid, incompressible, irrotational flow
F visc  0,   const.,   V  0,

 2f  2f  2f
 2  2 0
x 2
y z
Solution Strategy:
• Solve the Laplace equation for f or y which satisfy the appropriate boundary
conditions.

• Determine the velocity components using

y y
V  f or u  ,v
y x
• Determine the pressure distribution using Bernoulli
1 1
p V 2  p   V2
2 2
 Uniform parallel flow
f  const.
y V Consider a uniform parallel flow given by

u  V , v  0
V  const.
x y  const.

• Satisfies the continuity condition

• Irrotational, therefore a potential flow
f 
u  V 
x 
f   f  x, y   V x  const.
v 0 
y 
• Stream function y y
u  V  , v0  y  x, y   V y
y x
 a
Uniform parallel flow
D C
Circulation:
 V ds

V B C D A
    
A B C D

A B V a  0  V a  0  0
 0

Uniform parallel flow, under an angle 

f y
y u  V cos   
V x y
f y
v  V sin   
y x

x
f  V  x cos   y sin   , y  V  y cos   x sin  
 uq
ur Source flow
f  const. r I am looking for a potential flow solution which
y only depends on r (in polar coordinates), so
q
f  f r 
x y  const.
inserting this in the two dimensional Laplace
equation gives

1   f  1  2f
f  r  2 0  f  r   c1 ln r  c2
r r  r  r q 2

• The volume flow through a circle with

So the velocity components are
radius R is equal to
given by:
f c Q  2 R  ur  R   2 c
ur   ,
r r Q
Q is called the source strength and c 
1 f 2
uq   0.
r q
 Source flow (cont.)
Q Q
c  f r  ln r If Q>0 the flow is called a source flow (fluid is
2 2 emanating from the origin) and when Q<0 the flow is
Q called a sink flow (fluid disappears at the origin)
ur  , uq  0
2 r
uq
ur
The stream function belonging to this f  const. r
flow can be found by solving y q
1 y Q Q
ur    y  r ,q   q  f r
r q 2 r 2 x y  const.
y Q
uq    0  y  r ,q   y q   q
r 2

Note that: y  const.  rays q  const.

f  const.  circles  r  const.
 Uniform flow + source flow
Since the Laplace equation is linear, we are able to add elemenatary flows together. So
one may ask what the resulting flow would be if we define a source at the origin in a
uniform parallel flow along the x-axis.
Q
 y  r ,q   q  V y
2
Converting y to polar coordinates gives
Q
 y  r ,q   q  V r sin q
2

Source Uniform
flow
What does this flow look like??
– Calculate the flow field 1 y Q
ur    V cos q
– Determine stagnation points r q 2 r
– Special streamlines y
uq    V sin q
r
 Uniform flow + source flow
* Stagnation points: ur  uq  0

Q  q  0, r  Q  Q  0 
ur   V cos q  0 
2 r 2 V


uq  V sin q  0  Q
 q  , r 
 2 V

* Streamlines A
Q
2V
q  B q 0

Q C
y
2
 Uniform flow + source flow
The streamline ABC gives the contour of a semi-infinite body. The streamline passes
through the stagnation point B, so
Q Q
B :q   , r   y
2 V 2
So the streamline passing through ABC is given by

 q
 1 
Q Q Q  
q  V r sin q   r .
2 2 2V sin q

The half-width of the semi-infinite body tends to Q (prove this).

for x   2V
 Uniform parallel flow + source (+Q) + sink (-Q)
• Consider a uniform parallel flow in the x-direction
• and a source and a sink placed at a distance 2b from eachother in the x-direction.
Q Q
y  V r sin q  q1  q 2
2 2 P  r ,q 

Rankine oval

q1 q q2
b b

r sin q r sin q
tan q1  tan q 2 
b  r cos q r cos q  b
 Uniform parallel flow + source (+Q) + sink (-Q)
Q Q
y  V r sin q  q1  q 2
2 2

1 y Q  q1 q 2 
* Velocity components: ur   V cos q    
r q 2  q q 
y Q  q1 q 2 
uq    V sin q    
r 2  r r 

Qb
* Stagnation points: A : q   , r  b2 
 V
Qb
B : q  0, r  b  2

 V
 Uniform parallel flow + source (+Q) + sink (-Q)
Remarks: Because the total strength of the source and the sink (+Q-Q) is equal to zero, a
closed streamline through the stagnation points A and B will appear.

All the mass created by the source is consumed by the sink

Since the flow is assumed to be inviscid, the closed streamline can be cosidered as the
shape of the Rankine oval placed in a uniform flow. Materializing the inner domain does
not effect the outer flow.

Note that the Rankine oval is not an ellips!

 Doublet flow
Consider the flow of a source and a sink placed at a distance l at either side of the
origin.
P
Q Q
y  r ,q   q1  q 2    q
r q 2 2

q1 q2
Q 

 Q
Now let the distance l shrink to zero and
l let the source strength Q grow to infinity,
such that the productQl    const. This
will result in a doublet.
q sin q
Since lim  it follows that
l 0 l r
 Q    q 
y doublet  lim
l  0  2
 q  lim
 l 0  
   2 l 
 fixed  fixed  sin q
y doublet  
2 r
 Doublet flow
f 1 y  cos q
Using: ur   we find that fdoublet 
r r q 2 r
1 f y
uq  
r q r
sin q
• Streamlines: y  const  c  y  c  x2  y 2 
r
2 2
 1   1 
 x  y    
2

 2c   2c 

So the streamlines consist of circles with midpoint (0,1/2c) and radius 2c

• The doublet is oriented in the direction of the x-axis. The tilted doublet may be
obtained by rotating the frame of reference. This yields:

 sin q     cos q   
y doublet  fdoublet 
2 r 2 r
 Uniform flow over a circular cylinder
Now we add together a uniform parallel flow in the x-direction and a doublet at the
origin oriented in the x-direction.

 cos q   
f  V r cosq   V r cos q 1  2 
2 r  2 V r 
 sin q   
y  V r sin q   V r sin q 1  2 
2 r  2 V r 

Set R 
2
gives
2 V
 R2 
f  V r cos q 1  2 
 r 
 R2 
y  V r sin q 1  2 
 r 
 Uniform flow over a circular cylinder
 R2 
y  V r sin q 1  2 
 r 
Note that for r=R the stream function vanishes identically, therefore the circle with
radius R is a streamline. If we ‘materialize’ the region inside the cylinder, we obtain
the potential flow solution over a circular cylinder.

1 y  R2 
• The velocity field ur   V cos q 1  2 
r q  r 
y  R2 
uq    V sin q 1  2 
r  r 
• Stagnation points ur  uq  0 
A : q  0, r  R
B: q  , r  R
y A y B  0
 Flow over a circular cylinder
Streamline y  0, then either q 0 : the positive x-axis
rR : the circular cylinder
q = : the negative x-axis

The velocity at the cylinder (r=R) are given by

1 y  R2 
ur   V cos q 1  2   0
r q  r 
y  R2 
uq    V sin q 1  2   2V sin q
r  r 

The pressure coefficient now provides the pressure over the cylinder
2
V 
C p  1     1  4sin 2 q
 V 
 Source in 3D
In order to find the source in 3D we insert a potential function, which only depends on
the radius into the Laplace equation in sperical coordinates
1   2 f    f    1 f  
f  2   r sin q   sin q     0
r sin q  r  r  q  q    sin q   

f f c1 q 
 r sin q
2
 c1 q    2
r r r sin q
c1 q 
 f  r ,q     c2 q 
r sin q
f c
 0  f r   Compare in 2D: f  r   c ln r
q r

f c 1 f 1 f
Velocity components: ur   2 , uq   0 , u   0.
r r r q r sin q 
 Source in 3D


The volume flow:   4 R 2  ur  R   4 c  c 
4

 
ur  and f  
4 r 2 4 r
 Doublet (dipole) in 3D
z z
P
r1
r

r q y
l q x 
x

   1 1  r  r1
3D-source: f    f    
4 r 4  r1 r  4 rr1
 f  cos q
Now let l  0 with  l    const.  ur  r  2 r 3

 1 f  sin q
r  r1  l cos q   cos q u
 q  
f   q  3
 r 4 r
r  r1  4 r 2
 1 f
  r sin q   0
u 

 Flow over a Sphere
Uniform parallel flow V  V e z  ur  V cos q
uq  V sin q
u  0
Addition of the doublet
 cos q   
ur  V cos q    V
   3 
cos q Stagnation points:
2 r 3
 2 r 
 
 sin q    uq  0  q  0, q  
uq  V sin q    V  3 
sin q
4 r 3
  4r  
 0  ur  0  r 3   R3
2 V
u  0


R3
2 V
 Flow over a Sphere
Stagnation points: (R,0) and (R,)

Note: For r=R : ur  0

Materialize region r  R (sphere)

Parallel flow + doublet = incompressible, inviscid, irrotational, steady flow over a
sphere

   3
For r=R : uq   V  3 
sin q  V sin q
 4 R   2
1 2 V

R3 
2 2
V  3 
 C p  1     1   sin q 
 V  2 
9
C p  1  sin 2 q
4
Comparison between the flow over a cylinder and a
sphere
Cylinder Sphere

 
R R 3

2 V 2 V

 R2   R3 
ur  V 1  2  cos q ur  V 1  3  cosq
r   r 

 R 2
  R3 
uq  V 1  3  sin q
uq  V 1  2  sin q  r 
 r 
9
C p  1  4sin 2 q C p  1  sin 2 q
4

Note the different

definitions of q
 Vortex flow
Consider a 2 dimensional potential function f  f q 
in order to satisfy the Laplace equation

1   f  1  2f
f  r  2 0  f  c1q  c2  cq
r r  r  r q 2

Velocity components:
uq
ur
f Circulation
ur  0
r
1 f c  V ds 
  
uq   2
r q r 
c
 rdq  2 c
0
r
 Vortex flow
  2 c

Note that unless c=0 the circulation will be non-zero, that means
the flow field cannot be irrotational according to Stokes.
However, if c=0 then there will be no flow at all!
How do we resolve this problem??

If we calculate the vorticity, we will find that the vorticity is zero

everywhere in the flow field, except at the origin where the
vorticity is infinitely large.

So all contours which enclose will the origin will have a non-zero
circulation. In complex function theory where similar phenomena
occur the plane is usually cut to prevent contours around the origin.
 Vortex flow
  2 c

f  cq

Instead of the integration constant c we usually express the strength

of the vortex in terms of its circulation.


f  q
2

Note that the velocity is constant along the streamlines and

therefore the pressure is constant along the streamlines.
 Vortex flow

1 y 
Calculation of the stream function ur  0 
r q  
 y  ln r
y   2
uq   
r 2 r 

f  const.  rays q  const.

uq
y  const.  circles  r  const.
ur
 Elementary Potential Flows

Potential Stream function

Uniform flow in
f  V x y  V y
the x-direction
Q Q
Source flow f ln r y q
2 2
 cos q  sin q
Doublet flow f y
2 r 2 r
 
Vortex flow f q y ln r
2 2
 Flow over a cylinder with circulation
Consider again the flow over a cylinder, but now we add a vortex at the origin. The
stream function for this flow is given by
 sin q  
y  V r sin q   ln r  ln R
2 r 2 2
Just a
Uniform flow Doublet Vortex
constant

This can be succinctly written as

 R2   r
y  V r sin q 1  2   ln
 r  2 R
 Flow over a cylinder with circulation
 R2   r
y  V r sin q 1  2   ln
 r  2 R
1 y  R2 
* Velocity field: ur   V cos q 1  2 
r q  r 
y  R2  
uq    V sin q 1  2  
r  r  2 r

1 y
* Velocity at the cylinder: ur  0
r q
y 
uq    2V sin q 
r 2 R


* Stagnation points: r  R , sin q  
4 RV
 Flow over a cylinder with circulation
  
* Stagnation points (cont.) r  R , q  arcsin  
 4 RV 

• 0 : Two stagnation points, q  0 , q  

• 0    4 RV Two stagnation points underneath the cylinder

•   4 RV One stagnation point at

3
r  R, q  
2
•   4 RV Two stagnation points, one outside the cylinder, one inside the cylinder,


2
3    
q  , r    R
2

2 4 V  4 V 

Note that for every value of , the resulting flow will be the flow around a cylinder, so

the potential solution allows for infinitely many cylinder flows.

 STAGNATION POINTS

  4V R   4V R

  4V R   4V R   4V R

rR rR    
2

r     R 2
   4V  4V 
q  sin  
1
 
 4V R 
q  
2 q 
2
 Flow over a cylinder with circulation
The velocity field at the cylinder was found to be ur 
1 y
0
r q
y 
uq    2V sin q 
r 2 R
So the pressure distribution over the cylinder is given by

 ur2  uq2   2 sin q   

2

Cp  1    1  4 sin q  
2
 
 V 2
   RV  2 RV  
  

1  2 sin q    
2

p  p  V 1  4sin q 
2
  
2   RV  2 RV  
 Calculation of the Drag
Drag: Only the pressure contributes to the total drag, since body and viscous forces
have been neglected.

2
D   pRdq cosq
0
2 2
D 1 p 1
CD 
q  2 R 1

2 
0
q
cos q dq  
2 C
0
p cos q dq

 CD  0
Independent of .

2 2 2
Use:
 cosq dq  0,  sin q cosq dq  0 ,  q cosq dq  0
2
sin
0 0 0
 Calculation of the Lift over the Cylinder p
y
L
CL  Rdq
q 2 R 1 q
2 2 R
x
1
L   pRdq sin q
0
 CL  
2 C
0
p sin q dq

2
1 2 
CL   q dq 
2
sin
2 R V 0
RV

Using the definition of the lift coefficient, we get

L  V 
The Kutta-Joukowski Theorem

2 2 2

 sin q dq  0,  sin q dq  0,  sin q dq  

3 2
Use:
0 0 0
 The Kutta-Joukowski Theorem
V ,   L

Contour B

Contour A

 V ds
L   V 
A

This expression is generally valid for 2D shapes in an icompressible,

inviscid and irrotational flow. (Proof by means of complex potentials)

In order to describe the flow around an airfoil, one usually employes

not one vortex, but a vortex distribution. The sum of the circulation
induced by all these individual vortices appears in the KJ-Theorem.
 Potential Flow around Bodies (overview)

• Combination of elementary flows

• Basic idea: Replace streamlines by solid wall
• Example 1.: Uniform flow + source
• Example 2.: Uniform flow + source + sink (Rankine oval)
• Example 3.: Uniform flow + doublet (flow around cylinder)
• Example 4.: Uniform flow + doublet + vortex (flow over cylinder with lift)

Extension: The approximation of arbitrary shapes by distributed sources on the

body of the contour. The panel method.
 SUMMARY OF ROTATING CYLINDER IN CROSS-FLOW

• Rotating Cylinder Generates Lift

– Velocity is faster over the top of the cylinder than bottom
– Pressure is higher on the bottom than over the top
– lifting force is directed perpendicular to the cylinder velocity (or the free
stream velocity if the cylinder is stationary)
• Predicts Zero Drag
– Notice vertical plane symmetry
– Inviscid flow approximation does not model drag physics
 IMPLICATIONS
• Lift theorem applies in general to cylindrical bodies of any cross-section
• Lift per unit span of airfoil is directly proportional to circulation around body
• Circulation also defined from pressure distribution
• Circulation is an alternate way of thinking about generation of lift on body
– Physical source of lift is pressure distribution

L   V 
 Source panel method
• Numerical method for an approximate determination of the flow around bodies of
arbitrary shape
• Idea: Distribute sources (and sinks) with a yet undetermined strength along the
boundary of the object.
•Use the boundary condition at the wall of the object to determine the strength of the
sources and sinks.
•Finally, determine the flow of the source distribution in a uniform parallel flow.

•In order to do this we have to introduce the concept of a source sheet, which is a
continuous distribution of sources along a contour.
ds b

 s s is a parameter along the contour and  is the

a source strength per unit length which can be
s positive (source) or negative (sink)
 Source panel method (cont.)
P  x, y 
r
ds
b
 s
a
s
An infinitisimal elemenent ds has a source strength of dsand this induces a
potential at the point P equal to
 ds
df  ln r
2
So the total potential induced by the coutour at the point P is given by
b
 ds
f  P   ln r
a
2
Problem: How do we determine the strength (s) such that the desired profile is
approximated?
 Source panel method (cont.)
Approximate the contour by a finite number of straight line segments and assume
that  is constant within each segment, so we have a finite number, N, of source
strengths i to determine.

Calculate the contribution at an arbitrary point P to the total potential due to one
segment.

Add all N contribution to obtain the total potential at a point P.

Place the point P at the midpoint of an arbitrary panel and set the derivative of the
potential in the direction of the normal of the panel equal to zero (boundary
condition), i.e.
f
0
n
This gives one equation for the N unknowns i . Imposing the boundary conditions
at all segments, gives N equations for N unknowns, which in general to a unique
solution.
 Source panel method (cont.)
The equation to be solved have the following form:

j 
i N
V cos  i    
2 j 1 2 j ni
 ln rij  ds j  0
j i 

I ij

Remarks: The influence coefficients Iij do not depend on the flow, but only of the
geometry of the profile.
Of course, increasing the number of panels, will improve the approximation (higher
accuracy).
Modern panel techniques employ curved panels and a non-constant source distribution.
Once the source strengths have been obtained we can calculate the velocity along the
panels, using
f N
 
V 
 panel i 
s
 V sin  i   i
j 1 2
j s  ln rij  ds j
j i
 Source panel method (cont.)
f N
i 
V 
 panel i 
s
 V sin  i  
j 1 2
j s  ln rij  ds j
j i

Once we have the velocity along the panel I, we can use Bernoulli
to obtain the pressure acting on panel I.

 V 
2

 1  
panel i
C p, i
 V 
 
N

For closed contour we should have  s 

i 1
i i 0