IRROTATIONAL FLOW

If the fluid elements moving in a flow field do not undergo any rotation, then the
flow is known to be irrotational flow.

Only shear stress can generate rotation. Hence, inviscid flows (flow with zero shear
stress) will be irrotational. This type of flow is commonly called potential flow.

U U
du
 0   yx  0 Flow is frictionless (inviscid )
dy Irrotational flow
y du
 0   yx  0 Flow is visvous
dy
Rotational flow

For an irrotational flow,   0 or   V  0 (Irrotationality condition.)

w v u w v u
That is      0
y z z x x y

1 Vz V Vr Vz 1 rV 1 Vr

In cylindrical coordinates,      0
r  z z r r r r 

BERNOULLI EQUATION APPLIED TO IRROTATIONAL FLOW

Bernoulli equation for irrotational flow can be derived again using Euler equation.
Here for this derivation the irrotationality condition will also be introduced.
 
Euler equation for steady flow 
1


 p  g z  V   V 
Using vector identity V   V  12  V  V   V    V 

We know that for irrotational flow   V  0
  1  
 
Therefore, it reduces to V   V   V  V
2
 
And hence, Euler’s equation for irrotational flow can be written as



1 1   1

p  gz   V  V   V 2
2 2
  
ME304 6 3 Irrotational Flow 1
 
During an interval dt, a fluid particle moves from the position r
 to the
   
position r  dr . Taking the dot product of dr  dxı  dyj  dzk
with each of the terms in above equation, we obtain
1   1
 
  p  dr  g z  dr   V 2  dr
 2


and hence



dp 1
 gdz 
2
d V2  
integrating this equation, we get,

dp V2
 

2
 gz  constant

For incompressible flow,  = constant, and

p V2
  gz  constant
 2
Since dr is an arbitrary displacement, this equation is valid between any two
points in the flow field. The restrictions are

1. Steady flow
2. Incompressible flow
3. Inviscid (frictionless) flow
4. Irrotational flow

Notes:
1. For irrotational flows, Bernoulli equation can be written between any
two points.
2. For rotational flows, Bernoulli equation can be written between two
points on the same streamline.

ME304 6 3 Irrotational Flow 2

 VELOCITY POTENTIAL
For irrotational flows, we can introduce a function called velocity potential,  . It is
defined as V     grad
This definition guarantees that any continuous scalar function (x,y,z,t)
automatically satisfies the irrotationality condition, as in the fundamental vector
identity curl grad         0
which is valid if (x,y,z,t) is a scalar function, having continuous first and second
derivatives.

Then, for an irrotational flow in which   V  0 , a scalar function, , must exist
such that the gradient of  is equal to the velocity vector. Thus, if we obtain velocity
potential , then we can obtain velocity components as
  
u v w
x y z
In cylindrical coordinates  1  
Vr   V   Vz  
r r  z

NOTES:
1. Both plus and minus signs are true, if the same sign is used consistently for
derivation of velocity potential  and for calculation of velocity components. In
this course, we will use minus sign.)
2. The velocity potential, , exists only for irrotational flows. Irrotationality may
be a valid assumption for those regions of a flow in which viscous forces are
negligible. For example, such a region exists outside the boundary layer in the
fluid over a solid surface.
3. All real fluids possess viscosity, but there are many situations in which the
assumption of inviscid flow considerably simplifies the analysis and gives
meaningful results.
4. To obtain velocity components from the above equations we need to find
velocity potential . Now, we will formulate a method for analysis of
irrotational (potential) flows. Using this method, we obtain velocity potential
and stream function and from these, velocity components are solved.
5. Using Bernoulli equation, pressure distribution is obtained.

ME304 6 3 Irrotational Flow 3

 STREAM FUNCTION AND VELOCITY POTENTIAL
FOR TWO-DIMENSIONAL, IRROTATIONAL INCOMPRESSIBLE FLOW:
LAPLACE’S EQUATION

For two-dimensional, incompressible, inviscid flows, velocity components

u and v can be expressed in terms of stream function, , and the velocity
potential, ,  
u v
y x
 
u v
x y
Substituting for u and v in terms of  into the irrotationality condition, we
obtain, v u
 0
x y
 2  2
 0 (A)
x 2 y 2
Substituting for u and v in terms of  into the continuity equation

u v
 0
x y
 2  2
 0 (B)
x 2 y 2
Equations (A) and (B) are forms of Laplace’s equation. Any function  or
 that satisfies Laplace’s equation represents a possible two dimensional,
incompressible, irrotational flow field.

Laplace’s equation is linear and homogeneous. Hence, superposition of

solutions yields a new solution. This implies that, stream function and
velocity potential of a potential flow can be obtained by superposing
stream function and velocity potential of elementary flows.

Elementary flows are the flows for which stream function and velocity
potentials are known or can be obtained easily.

ME304 6 3 Irrotational Flow 4

Along a streamline, stream function  is constant, therefore
 
d  dx  dy  0
x y
The slope of a streamline becomes

dy   / x v v
   
dx   / y u u

Along a line of constant  , d = 0 and

 
d  dx  dy  0
x y

Consequently, the slope of a potential line becomes

dy  / x u
)   
dx  / y v

As seen, potential lines and streamlines have slopes that are negative
reciprocals; hence, they are perpendicular.

ME304 6 3 Irrotational Flow 5

Example: Consider the flow field given by  = 4x2 – 4y2. Show that the flow is
irrotational. Determine the stream function for this flow.

FIND: u=?, v=? Is flow irrotaional, i.e.   V  0 ,  =?

Solution:

u  8 x
For irrotational flow, x

v  8y
y

If flow is irrotatinal, then zz=0 or z=0

v u
zz    00
x y
zz 0 Therefore, the flow is irrotational.

Since flow is 2-dimensional, we can use the relations between stream function and
velocity components to find an expression for stream function.

 
u and v  
y x
 
u   8 x
y y
Integrating this equation with respect to y, we get,
  8xy  f  x 

To find integral constant f(x), we use velocity component v as below,


v
x
8 y  8y  f ( x)
f ( x)  0  f ( x)  C

Thus,   8xy  C

ME304 6 3 Irrotational Flow 6

 ELEMENTARY PLANE FLOWS
A variety of potential flows can be constructed by superposing elementary flow
patterns. The  and  functions for five elementary two-dimensional flows – a uniform
flow, a source, a sink, a vortex and a doublet are summarized in the Table below.

ME304 6 3 Irrotational Flow 7

 SUPERPOSITION OF ELEMENTARY PLANE FLOWS
We showed that both  and  satisfy Laplace’s equation for flow that is both
incompressible and irrotational. Since Laplace’s equation is a linear homogeneous
partial differential equation, solutions may be superposed (added together) to develop
more complex and interesting patterns of flows.

Thus, if 1 and 2 satisfies Laplace’s equation, then so does 3= 1 + 2 (Similarly,

 3=  1 +  2.)

For a new complex flow, stream function, velocity potential and velocity components
can be obtained as
   flow 1  flow 2  u  u flow 1  u flow 2 
   flow 1   flow 2  v  v flow 1  v flow 2 

Caution: P  Pflow 1  Pflow 2 

Table: Superposition of Elementary Plane Flows

ME304 6 3 Irrotational Flow 8

ME304 6 3 Irrotational Flow 9
ME304 6 3 Irrotational Flow 10
Example: A source with strength 0.2 m3/s m and a counterclockwise vortex with
strength 1 m3/s are placed on origin. Obtain stream function, velocity potential, and
velocity field for the combined flow. Find the velocity at point (1, 0.5).
y
FIND:
r

= ?, = ?, Vr=?, V=?
source x
Vr=?, V=? At point x=1, and y=0.5
vortex

From elementary plane flow table given above, stream function and velocity
potential for source and counterclockwise vortex are taken as,
For source, For vortex,
q K
s   ln r v   
2 2
q K
s   v   ln r
2 2
For the combined flow, stream function and velocity potential can be obtained using
superposition technique,
q K 0.2 1
Velocity potential        ln r     ln r  
2 2 2 2
s v

1 
   0.1ln r  
 2
q K 0.2 1
Stream function    s  v   ln r    ln r
2 2 2 2
1 ln r 
   0.1 
 2 

Velocity components in cylindrical coordinates

 0.1 1  1
Vr    and V   
r r r  2 r
Since velocity components are expressed in terms of r, we need r at point (1,0.5)
r  x 2  y 2  12  0.52  1.117 m

0.1 1
Thus, Vr    0.0295 m / s and V   0.143 m / s
 1.117 2 1.117

ME304 6 3 Irrotational Flow 11

Example: The following stream function represents the flow past a cylinder of radius a
with circulation. Ua 2 r
  UrSin  Sin  aU ln 
r a
Determine the pressure distribution on the cylinder surface.
y
FIND:
Pressure distribution on cylinder, Ps
U r
P∞ 
a
x

Solution:
Pressure distribution in potential flows can be found by applying Bernoulli equation
between a point in free stream region and the point of interest.

First from the given stream function, we determine velocity components (Vr and V) and
then apply Bernoulli equation.
1  1  Ua 2   a2 
Vr   Ur Cos   Cos    U 1  2  Cos 
r  r  r   r 
  Ua 2 Ua   a  a2  
V     U Sin   2 Sin     U   1  2  Sin  
r  r r  r  r  
Now, we apply Bernoulli equation between a point on the cylinder surface and a point
in free stream. Note:
- Ps and Vs are pressure and velocity at
cylinder surface
p V 2 ps Vs 2
  gz    gzs - zs=z∞, V∞=U
 2  2
Vs2  V2  Vr2  V2
At cylinder surface, r=a, hence from the above expression, Vr=0
2
 a  a2  
Vs2  V2  U 2   1  2  Sin    U 2 1  2sin  
2

a  a  

ME304 6 3 Irrotational Flow 12

Substituting these into Bernoulli equation and solving for pressure, we get,
p U 2 ps U 2
   1  2sin  
2

 2  2

ps  p U2 U2
  1  2S in  
2

 2 2
or
ps  p U2
 1  1  4sin   4Sin 2   
 2  
or
ps  p
  4sin   4Sin 2  
1
U 2
2

ME304 6 3 Irrotational Flow 13