ME 362 Stream Function Page 1 of 3

Stream Function ( ):

 
 Definition: u and v  
y x

u v
 Characteristic: It always satisfies the continuity equation (i.e., x  y  0 )

 Physical meaning:  = constant is a streamline

Change in  can be used to determine the flow direction

Stream Function ( ) vs. Volume Flow (Q):

Consider two streamlines as shown below:

2 = 1 + d

dQ
u dy
1

dx

Volume flow in = Volume flow out

dQ  udy    v  dx  
u , v
  y x
 dy  dx
y x
 d

2

dQ  d  Q   d   2   1
1

 Q is related to the change in 

 The flow direction can be determined by checking whether 

increases or decreases
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Flow Direction:

There are two ways to determine the direction of flow:

1) By looking at the change in :

     
 

Q  Q 

 Q   2  1

 If  2 1  Q is positive (indicates flow is to the right)

 If  2 1  Q is negative (indicates flow is to the left)

2) By looking at direction of u and v:

streamlines

v V ~ Q

 By the definition of streamline, the velocity field is always tangent to streamline

u
 Velocity (V) is related to volume flow rate (Q) (because Q = V*A)

 We can find out the flow direction by looking at the velocity direction of u and v

Direction of u and v  Direction of V  Direction of Q

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Solution Procedure:

Step 1: Ensure that continuity equation is satisfied

u v
  0
x y

Step 2: Solve for stream function 


 u
y
    udy
or

 v      vdx
x

Step 3: Find the flow direction

 look at the change in 

or

 look at velocity direction of u and v

Example:

Given a 2-D velocity field:

y x
u ; v ; r x2  y2
r2 r2

1) Show that the flow field satisfies mass conservation

2) Find the corresponding stream function
3) Find the flow direction

To aid your analysis, here are some derivatives and integrals already performed for you:
u 2 xy u 2 x 2 1
 4  4  2
x r y r r
v 2y2 1 v 2 xy
 4  2  4
x r r y r

x 2
y
 y2
dy  ln  
x 2  y 2  f  x