INVISID ,IMCOMPRESSIBLE FLOW

IMPORTANCE

From an aerodynamic point of view, at air

velocities between 0 and 300 mi/h the air density
remains essentially constant, varying by only a
few percent.

IMPORTANCE
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most modern general aviation aircraft still fly at

speeds below 300 mi/h
, the principles of incompressible flow apply to
the flow of fluids, e.g., water flow through pipes,
the motion of submarines and ships through the
ocean, the design of wind turbines (the modern
term for windmills), and many other important
applications.

BERNOULLI'S EQUATION

Condition
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Incompressible flow

p +/2*V^2 +*g*z = const

that Bernoulli's equation was derived from the momentum equation;
hence, it is a statement of Newton's second law for an inviscid,
incompressible flow with no body forces.
Bernoulli's equation can be derived from the general energy equation.

Rotational vs Irrotational
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For a general, rotational flow, the value of the

constant in BERNOULLI'S EQUATION will
change from one streamline to the next so it's
applied only from the same streamline.
if the flow is irrotational, then Bernoulli's equation
holds between any two points in the flow, not
necessarily just on the same streamline.

INCOMPRESSIBLE FLOW IN A DUCT:

THE VENTURI AND LOW-SPEED
WIND TUNNEL

Quasi-one-dimensional flow

A = A(x), V = V(x), p = p(x),

quasi-one-dimensional continuity equation:

1*A1*v1=2*A2*v2
In physical terms, it states that the mass flow (Kg
per second) through the duct is constant.

For incompressible flow

A1*v1=A2*v2
In physical terms, it states that the volume flow
(cubic feet per second or cubic meters per
second) through the duct is constant.
We see that if the area decreases along the flow
(convergent duct), the velocity increases then
pressure decreases from Bernoulli's equation;
conversely, if the area increases (divergent duct),
the velocity decreases then pressure increase.

venturi

a venturi can be used to measure airspeeds. Consider a

venturi with a given inlet-to-throat area ratio A1/ A 2 ,
Assume that the venturi is inserted into an air stream that
has an unknown velocity V1 We wish to use the venturi to
measure this velocity. With regard to the venturi itself, the
most direct quantity that can be measured is the pressure
difference PI P2. This can be accomplished by placing a
small hole (a pressure tap) in the wall of the venturi at both
the inlet and the throat and connecting the pressure leads
(tubes) from these holes across a differential pressure gage,
or to both sides of a U-tube manometer. In such a fashion,
the pressure difference PI - P2 can be obtained directly. This
measured

pressure difference can be related to the

unknown velocity V1
V1^2=2/*(p2-p1)+V2^2
V2=A1*V1/A2

a low-speed wind tunnel is a large venturi where

the airflow is driven by a fan connected to some
type of motor drive. The wind-tunnel fan blades
are similar to airplane propellers and are
designed to draw the airflow through the tunnel
circuit.

The wind tunnel may be open circuit, where the

air is drawn in the front directly from the
atmosphere and exhausted out the back, again
directly to the atmosphere.
the wind tunnel may be closed circuit, where the
air from the exhaust is returned directly to the
front of the tunnel via a closed duct forming a
loop.

The basic factor that controls the air velocity in

the test section of a given low-speed wind tunnel
is the pressure difference PI P2 as The area
ratio A2/A1 is a fixed quantity for a wind tunnel of
given design. Moreover, the density is a known
constant for incompressible flow.
V1^2=2/*(p2-p1)+V2^2
V2=A1*V1/A2

Static pressure

Static pressure is the pressure you feel by

moving with the flow at its local velocity VI
Measured by making The plane of the hole of
manometer is parallel to the flow.

Stagnation pressure
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Also total pressure and it's the pressure that the

flow achieves when the velocity is reduced to
zero.
Measured by making The plane of the hole of
manometer is perpendicular to the flow.

Flow speed calculation

l

In the case for incompressible flow, using pitot

tube and applying in this law
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v=(2*(Po-P)/)^.5

dynamic pressure
= .5**v^2
Dynamic pressure is the kinetic energy per unit
volume of a fluid particle.
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for incompressible flow, the dynamic pressure

has special meaning; it's precisely the difference
between total and static pressure.

PRESSURE COEFFICIENT

Cp=(p-pa)/qa

Qa =.5*a*va2

For incompressible flow from bernoulli

l C =1-(v/v )2
p
a
l
the pressure coefficient at a stagnation point in
an incompressible flow is always equal to 1.0.
This is the highest allowable value of Cp
anywhere in the flow field.

PRESSURE COEFFICIENT
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For compressible flows, Cp at a stagnation point

is greater than 1.0
in regions of the flow where V>Va or P< Pa, Cp
will be a negative value.

PRESSURE COEFFICIENT
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Cp should depend only on the Mach number,

Reynolds number, shape and orientation of the
body, and location on the body.
For incompressible flow, Cp is a function only of
location on the surface of the body, and the body
shape and orientation.

Laplace's equation

condition
.v=0
that's incompressible law
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Take care irrotational flow is
l
*v=0
But he continue as Laplace is for irrotational
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GOVERNING EQUATION FOR

IRROTATIONAL,
INCOMPRESSIBLE FLOW:
LAPLACE'S EQUATION

LAPLACE'S EQUATION forms

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For 2 dimension

2=0

From equations:
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1. Any irrotational, incompressible flow has a
velocity potential and stream function (for twodimensional flow) that both satisfy Laplace's
equation.
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2. Conversely, any solution of Laplace's equation
represents the velocity potential or stream
function (two-dimensional) for an irrotational,
incompressible flow.

Note that Laplace's equation is a second-order

linear partial differential equation.
It's Linear because the sum of any particular
solutions of a linear differential equation is also a
solution of the equation.
l
=1+2+3+.......n

Boundary Conditions

1) infinite boundary
conditions

l
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2) Wall Boundary Conditions:

for inviscid flows the velocity at the surface can
be finite, but because the flow cannot penetrate
the surface, the velocity vector must be tangent
to the surface. then the component of velocity
normal to the surface must be zero. Let n be a
unit vector normal to the surface

If we are dealing with stream

function rather than potential
flow the boundary equation
will be

where s is the distance measured

along the body surface.
l
Note that the body contour is a
streamline of the flow. Recall that
= constant is the equation of a
streamline and it is an alternative
expression for the boundary
condition

If we are dealing with the velocity components u

and v themselves

INTERIM SUMMARY

So on we deal with two dimensional steady flows

UNIFORM FLOW

UNIFORM FLOW
The flow is defined as uniform flow when in the
flow field the velocity and other hydrodynamic
parameters do not change from point to point at
any instant of time
l


irrotational
l
in general it's function for steady flow
l =V *x
for com and incom
a
l =V *y= constant(so flow in x direction)
for
a
incom only
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SOURCE FLOW
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Consider a two-dimensional, incompressible flow where

all the streamlines are straight lines emanating from a
central point. Moreover, let the velocity along each of
the streamlines vary inversely with distance from point
0. Such a flow is called a source flow.

SOURCE FLOW
V = 0 , Vr=C/r
where c is a constant
May be com or incom
Irrotational except at origin it's infinity
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l
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In a source flow, the streamlines are directed

away from the origin
In a sink flow, the streamlines are directed
toward the origin

consider a depth of length I perpendicular to the

page, a length I along the z axis. there is an
entire line of sources along the z axis.

mass flow across the surface element dS

l =2**r*l**V
r
l
volume flow=2**r*l*Vr
l
A = volume flow / l = 2**r*Vr
l so V =A/(2**r)
r
l
so c=A/(2*)

the source strength (A) : it is physically the rate

of volume flow from the source, per unit depth
perpendicular to the page (m 2/s)

COMBINATION OF A UNIFORM
FLOW WITH A SOURCE AND SINK

Consider a polar coordinate system with a

source of strength (A) located at the origin.
Superimpose on this flow a uniform stream with
velocity Va moving from left to right.
The stream function for the resulting flow is the
sum which is Laplace's function as it a sum of
two Laplace's equations

Velocity:

The stagnation points

located at (r,)
=(A/2Va, ) from

l
l

Streamline equation
which go through
stagnation point

= A/2

This streamline is shown as curve ABC

All the fluid outside ABC is from the
freestream, and all the fluid inside ABC is
from the source.

Since we are dealing with inviscid flow, We can

replace the solid surface by the source which
surface have the same equation of = A/2 which
can used to describe a semi-infinite body

To close the body but a sink after point D

(source) let it be here have the strength of the
source (equal ,and opposite)

The stream function=

The 2 stagnation
points are located as

the stagnation streamline equation :

l

=0

I suppose if we the change the strength

and position of the sink the body
surface will change and we can reach to
unsymmetric airfoil

How pressure can't affect source, sink ,and

uniform flow

DOUBLET FLOW

This is a special, degenerate case of a sourcesink (equal but opposite) separated by a distance
I (l approach zero as I*A remains constant(???
l =0 ,and A approaches infinty))

Again the stream

function of source is

The strength of the doublet is denoted by K and

is defined as k= I*A.

The stream function for

a doublet

velocity potential for a

doublet

Where r = d sin () ,and d is diameter of a

circle with on the vertical axis between source
and sink and with the center located d / 2
directly above the origin.

So we see we see that the streamlines for a

doublet are a family of circles with diameter
K/2C.
The different circles correspond to different
values of the parameter c.
In the previous figure (slide 59): the direction of
flow is out of the origin to the left and back into
the origin from the right.

we designate the direction of the doublet by an

arrow drawn from the sink to the source as in the
previous figure
If the arrow(direction) reversed, the sign
reversed

NONLIFTING FLOW OVER A

CIRCULAR CYLINDER
( the combination of a uniform flow and a doublet
produces the flow over a circular cylinder)

Consider the addition of a uniform flow with

velocity Va, and a doublet of strength K, The
direction of the doublet is upstream, facing into
the uniform flow.

the stream function for the flow over a circular

cylinder of radius R or combination of free
stream, and droplet.
Velocity will be

For this combination, there are two stagnation

points, located at (r, ) = (R, 0) and (R,).

The same streamline goes through both

stagnation points, Moreover, the equation of this
streamline: =0, and radius of the cylinder: R 2 =
K /2Va

Satisfying stream function in by = and = 0

for all values of r we find that =0; hence, the
entire horizontal axis through points A and B,
extending infinitely far upstream and
downstream, is part of the stagnation streamline.
the entire flow field is symmetrical about both the
horizontal and vertical axes through the center of
the cylinder; Hence, the pressure distribution is
also symmetrical about both axes.

the pressure distribution is symmetrical about

both axes, so there is no net lift nor net drag
(inviscid so no wake).

The velocity
distribution on the
surface of the cylinder
V is negative because of the direction of flow in
the direction of decreasing angle at the top of
l
At the bottom , the angle is negative as sin()
cylinder
is negative

l
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Maximum velocity at the cylinder will be 2Va

=/2 , =3/2

the surface pressure coefficient over a circular

cylinder is

Cp varies from 1.0 at the stagnation points to

-3.0 at the points of maximum velocity.

Pressure distribution

VORTEX FLOW

Consider a flow where all the streamlines are

concentric circles about a given point. Moreover,
let the velocity along any given circular
streamline be constant, but let it vary from one
streamline to another inversely with distance
from the common center.

vortex flow is a physically possible

incompressible flow, and Vortex flow is
irrotational everywhere except at the point r = 0,
where the vorticity is infinite
If we take the circulation around any curve not
enclosing the origin, the result that = o. It is
only when we choose a curve that encloses the
origin, where vorticity is infinite

Vortex velocities
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Vr=0

is called the strength of the vortex flow, and the

circulation taken about all streamlines is the
same value, namely, = -2C
V is negative when is positive; a vortex of
positive strength rotates in the clockwise
direction.

The velocity potential

The stream function

LIFTING FLOW OVER A CYLINDER SPINNING

(Magnus effect)

Consider the flow synthesized by the addition of

the nonlifting flow over a cylinder and a vortex of
strength r,

stream function

if r = R, then = 0 ,and is a valid stream

function for the inviscid, incompressible flow over
a circular cylinder of radius R

no longer symmetrical about the horizontal axis,

so there is finite lifting force

There is symmetrical about the vertical axis, so

there is no drag force (inviscid).

Velocity :

stagnation points

The equation gives two stagnation points on the

bottom half of the circular cylinder in the third
and fourth quadrants.

If /4VaR < 1 so there is 2 stagnation points

If /4VaR = 1 so there is only one stagnation
point (R, -/2)
If so the previous equation has no meaning

For /4VaR = 1 there are two stagnation

points, one inside and the other outside the
cylinder, and both on the vertical axis, as shown
by points 4 and 5 in Fig

Kutta-loukowski theorem ( the lift per unit span)

What creating lift in spinning

cylinder
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the friction between the fluid and the surface of the

cylinder tends to drag the fluid near the surface in the
same direction as the rotational motion. Superimposed
on top of the usual nonspinning flow, this "extra" velocity
contribution creates a higher-than-usual velocity at the
top of the cylinder and a lower-than-usual velocity at the
bottom, These velocities are assumed to be just outside
the viscous boundary layer on the surface. from
Bernoulli's equation that as the velocity increases, the
pressure decreases. the pressure on the top of the
cylinder is lower than on the bottom, This pressure
imbalance creates a net upward force (a finite lift).

nonspinning cylinder

Spinning cylinder:
peripheral(spinning) velocity of the
surface = 3 V( one stagnation point)

Spinning cylinder: peripheral

velocity of the surface = 6 V
(separated stagnation point)

It is interesting to note that a rapidly spinning

cylinder can produce a much higher lift than an
airplane wing of the same planform area;
however, the drag on the cylinder is also much
higher than a well-designed wing.

There are 4 points on the spinning where the

P=Pa 2 on the top ,and 2 on the bottom
For lift coefficient = 5 the pressure distribution is

THE KUTTA-JOUKOWSKI THEOREM

AND THE GENERATION OF LIFT

Kutta-loukowski theorem ( the lift per unit span)

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valid to cylindrical bodies of arbitrary cross
section. for example airfoils.

As in ch.4
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As was said for vortex and spinning cylinder ,

the flow outside the airfoil is irrotational, and the
circulation around any closed curve not
enclosing the airfoil.
the flow over an airfoil is synthesized by
distributing vortices either on the surface or
inside the airfoil.
The Kutta-Joukowski theorem is simply an
alternate way of expressing the consequences of
the surface pressure distribution

NONLIFTING FLOWS OVER

ARBITRARY BODIES: THE NUMERICAL
SOURCE PANEL METHOD

Here we specify the shape of an arbitrary body

and solve for the distribution of singularities
which, in combination with a uniform stream,
produce the flow over the given body.
This section is limited for the present to nonlifting
flows.

The extension the concept of a

source or sink
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imagine that we have an infinite number of such line

sources side by side, where the strength of each line source
is infinitesimally small. These side-by-side line sources form
a source sheet, the "source" sheet is really a combination of
line sources and line sinks.

Let s be the distance measured along the

source sheet in the edge view. Define = (s) to
be the source strength per unit length along s (in
the z direction) and per unit length (in the s
direction).
Typical units for are meters per second

consider point P in the flow, located a distance r

from ds.
velocity potential at point P from source sheet

Let us approximate the source sheet by a series of

straight panels. Moreover, let the source strength A per
unit length be constant over a given panel, but allow it
to vary from one panel to the next. These panel
strengths are unknown; the main thrust of the panel
technique is to solve for j , j = 1 to n,

This boundary condition is imposed numerically

by defining the midpoint of each panel to be a
control point and by determining the j's such
that the normal component of the flow velocity is
zero at each control point.
l
the potential velocity at point P(as in the fig) due
to all the panels.

As rpj be the distance from any point on

the jth panel to P

Since point P is just an arbitrary point in the

flow, let us put P at the control point of the ith
panel. Let the coordinates of this control point be
given by (Xi, yi)

The normal component of velocity induced at (x

, yJ) by the source panels is

the derivative is simply i/2 for j = i . so

the summation is the normal velocity induced at

the ith control point by all the other panels.

The normal component of the flow velocity at the

ith control point is the sum of that due to the
freestream and that due to the source panels.
The boundary condition states that this sum
must be zero.

Equation is the crux of the source panel method.

The values of the integrals in depend simply on
the panel geometry. they are not properties of the
flow. Equation is a linear algebraic equation with n
unknowns I, 2 ,..., n.
l

This approximation can be made more accurate

by increasing the number of panels.
For an airfoil, it is desirable to cover the leadingedge region with a number of small panels to
represent accurately the rapid surface curvature
and to use larger panels over the relatively flat
portions of the body.

Let S be the distance along the body surface,

measured positive from front to rear.

The total surface velocity at the ith control point

is the sum of the contribution from the
freestream, and from the source panels

The tangential velocity on a flat source panel

induced by the panel itself is zero. because
the panel can only emit volume flow from its
surface in a direction perpendicular to the
panel itself.

Answer check
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the strength of the jth panel itself is jSj. For a

closed body, the sum of all the source and sink
strengths must be zero, or else the body itself
would be adding or absorbing mass from the
flow

THE FLOW OVER A CIRCULAR

CYLINDER-THE REAL CASE
( a viscous, incompressible flow)

the drag coefficient is a function of the Reynolds

number.

1/ For very low values of Re, say, 0 < Re < 4,

the streamlines are almost symmetrical, and the
flow is attached. This regime of viscous flow is
called Stokes flow.
2/ For 4 < Re < 40, the
flow becomes
separated on the back
of the cylinder, forming
two distinct, stable
vortices that remain in
the position

3/ As Re is increased above 40, the flow behind

the cylinder becomes unstable the vortices
which were in a fixed position now are
alternately shed from the body in a regular
fashion and flow downstream. The alternately
shed vortex pattern is called a Karman vortex
street, named after Theodore von Karman

4/ As the Reynolds number is increased to large

numbers, the Karman vortex street becomes
turbulent and begins to metamorphose into a
distinct wake. The laminar boundary layer on the
cylinder separates from the surface on the
forward face, at a point about 80 from the
stagnation point. The value of the ,Reynolds
number for this flow is on the order of 10 5 .

5/ For 3x105 < Re <3 x 106 , the separation of the laminar

boundary layer still takes place on the forward face of the
cylinder. However, in the free shear layer over the top of the
separated region, transition to turbulent flow takes place.
The flow then reattaches on the back face of the cylinder,
but separates again at about 120 around the body
measured from the stagnation point.
This transition to turbulent flow, and the correspondingly
thinner wake reduces the pressure drag on the cylinder and
is responsible for the precipitous drop in CD

6/ For Re < 3 *106 , the boundary layer transists

directly to turbulent flow at some point on the
forward face, and the boundary layer remains
totally attached over the surface until it
separates at an angular location slightly less
than 120 on the back surface. For this regime of
flow, CD actually increases slightly with
increasing Re because the separation points on
the back surface begin to move closer to the top
and bottom of the cylinder, producing a fatter
wake, and hence larger pressure drag.

real pressure distributions ,and The theoretical pressure

distribution over the surface of a cylinder in an inviscid,
incompressible