FLOW IN TWO AND

THREE DIMENSIONS

FLOW IN TWO AND THREE

DIMENSIONS
The analysis previously given for onedimensional flow are exactly correct
only for the flow through an
infinitesimal stream tube. For all real
problems the assumption of onedimensionality for the entire flow is
at best an approximation. In many
instances, especially those relating to
the flow in ducts, the onedimensional treatment is adequate.

FLOW IN TWO AND THREE

DIMENSIONS
are not only inadequate but often can provide no information
whatsoever about important aspects of the flow. This bring to
importance of study of two and three dimensional flow.
To treat general case of three dimensional motion including
friction, heat transfer, shocks, and a fluid with complex equation
of state-involves mathematical difficulties so great that these
can not be handled easily. Hence, it is necessary to conceive
simple models of the flow which lend themselves to analytical
treatment, but which at the same time furnish information of
value concerning the real, and more complex, flow patterns.
One of these approach is of using Prandtls concept of the
boundary layer. This concept is well verified by experiment. In
this concept it is possible to ignore friction and heat transfer for
the region of potential flow outside of the boundary layer.

FLOW IN TWO AND THREE

DIMENSIONS
According to this concept shearing
stresses and heat transfer may be
ignored compared to other effects,
except in a thin film near solid
boundaries. Thus the flow is assumed
to be adiabatic and frictionless
outside a boundary layer. In other
words potential flow exist outside the
boundary layer and it is independent
of boundary layer.

POTENTIAL FLOW
Potential flow is
(1) Irrotational
(2) Adiabatic
(3) Without Friction

THE PHYSICAL SIGNIFICANT OF

IRROTATIONAL MOTION
Irrotational flow makes the flow equations
simple to handle. Fluid rotation is defined
as the average angular velocity of two
mutually perpendicular differential
elements in the fluid. In order to find an
analytical expression for the fluid rotation
at a point in two dimensional flow, let us
consider the infinitesimal and mutually
perpendicular fluid lines OA and OB of the
figure shown on the next slid.

THE PHYSICAL SIGNIFICANT OF

IRROTATIONAL MOTION
The motion of each of these lines may be resolved into a translation
plus a
rotation. Considering the fluid line OA, a rotation will take place only
if the

u + (u/y)dy B

B (u/y)dydt
(u/y)dt

(v/x)dt
u

o
v

A
(v/x)dxdt
A
v + (v/x)dx

THE PHYSICAL SIGNIFICANT OF

IRROTATIONAL MOTION
the y-component of velocity at A is
different from that at O. Since only
the difference in velocity is
important, we imagine that we move
with point O; the upward velocity at
A relative to that at point O is, then
(v/x)dx. During an infinitesimal
time interval dt, OA rotates to the
position OA, and the relative vertical
displacement AA = (v/x)dxdt

THE PHYSICAL SIGNIFICANT OF

IRROTATIONAL MOTION
Hence the angle AOA, taken positive when
measured counter-clockwise, is given by
< AOA, = (v/x)dt
and the time rate of change of this angle is
(v/x). The angular velocity of the fluid line
OB is u/y. From the definition of rotation
therefore z = [(v/x) - (u/y)]
Therefore for irrotational flow v/x = u/y ,
u/z = w/x, w/y =v/z for three
dimensional flow

THE PHYSICAL SIGNIFICANT OF

IRROTATIONAL MOTION
Before we develop equations for
potential flow, we define circulation
its relation to rotation.
The circulation is defined as the line
integral of the velocity around any
closed curve.
y
c
vcos

Referring to

THE PHYSICAL SIGNIFICANT OF

IRROTATIONAL MOTION
the circulation we may write as
=vcosdl
Where dl is small element on curve C. In
vector notation this may be written as
=v.dr
Which could be written as
= (udx +vdy+wdz)
dz =udx+ [v +(v/x)dx]dy [u+ +(u/y)dy]dx vdy
Simplifying gives
dz =[(v/x)-(u/y)]dxdy = =[(v/x)-(u/y)]dA z

THE PHYSICAL SIGNIFICANT OF

IRROTATIONAL MOTION
The circulation per unit area in the
x,y-plane is therefore
dz / dAz = v/x-u/ y
Comparing rotation of the fluid with its
circulation, we see that the
circulation per unit area is twice the
average rotation of a fluid particle
dz / dAz = 2z

THE PHYSICAL SIGNIFICANT OF

IRROTATIONAL MOTION
Form the definition of circulation and
its relation with rotation we can
conclude that for irrotational flow,
the line integral of velocity around a
closed curve is zero. Since A to B and
B to A via path 3 y
makes a closed
curve, then
1AB Vcosdl
+3BA Vcosdl =0

2
A

3
x

THE PHYSICAL SIGNIFICANT OF

IRROTATIONAL MOTION
2AB Vcosdl +3BA Vcosdl =0
For which we see that
1AB Vcosdl = 2AB Vcosdl
Since paths 1 and 2 were chosen arbitrary, it
follows that the line integral of the velocity
is independent of the path. This means that
Vcosdl is an exact differential and is point
function whose value depends only on x,y,z.
This function is called the velocity potential,

THE PHYSICAL SIGNIFICANT OF

IRROTATIONAL MOTION
and is defined through the relation
d = Vcosdl or d/dl = Vcos .
Thus, the derivative of the velocity potential in a
given direction represents the component of
velocity in the same direction. In Cartesian
coordinates we have
u=/x, v= /y, w= /z
Using the Cartesian notation, it is easy to see that
the condition of irrotationality is the necessary
and sufficient condition for the existence of a
scalar potential function whose gradient is the V.

THE PHYSICAL SIGNIFICANT OF

IRROTATIONAL MOTION
For irrotational flow
v/x - u/y=0 or u/y v/x=0
u/y - v/x = (/y) /x (/x)
/y=0
v/z - w/y = (/z) /y (/y)
/z=0
w/x - u/z = (/x) /z (/z)
/x=0
V = u + v + w= /x + /y + /z

THE DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION OF

THE VELOCITY POTENTIAL
We shall now derive a single differential
equation representing the steady, irrotational,
frictionless, isentropic flow of a perfect gas.
Continuity
(u)/x + (v)/y + (w)/z =0
(x)/x + (y)/y + (z)/z =0
Expanding
(xx+yy + zz) + x /x +y/y +
z/z=0 1

THE DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION OF

THE VELOCITY POTENTIAL
Newtons Second Law
P0 = P + 1/2v2
dP0 = dP + d(v2)
For isentropic flow dP0 = 0, therefore
dP=- d(v2) = -d( u2 + v2 + w2 )/2
= -d(x2 + y2 + z2 )/2
(2)
The sound velocity a2=(p/)2

THE DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION OF

THE VELOCITY POTENTIAL
d=dp/ a2 = -(/ a2)d(x2 + y2 + z2 )/2
From which , by differentiating we get
/x= -(/ a2)d(xxx +yxy +zxz)
/y= -(/ a2)d(xyx +yyy +zyz)
/z= -(/ a2)d(xzx +yzy +zzz)
Substituting these expressions in (1)
(1-x2 /a2) xx + (1-y2 /a2) yy + (1-z2 /a2) zz
-2 (xy/ a2) xy - 2 (yz/ a2) yz - 2 (zx/ a2) zx=0
3

THE DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION OF

THE VELOCITY POTENTIAL
We know that
T0 =T + V2/2cp
Multiplying with R we get
R T0 = RT + R V2/2cp
ao2= a2 + (-1/2)V2 or
a2= a02 - (-1/2)(u2 + v2 + w2 )
a2= a02 - (-1/2)(

2
x

2
y

2
z

) (4)

THE DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION OF

THE VELOCITY POTENTIAL
Substituting 4 in 3 gives
{1-[x2 /(a02- (-1/2)( x2 + y2 + z2 )]} xx +
{1-[y2 / (a02- (-1/2)( x2 + y2 + z2 )]} yy +
(1-z2 / (a02- (-1/2)( x2 + y2 + z2 )]} zz
-2 (xy/ (a02- (-1/2)( x2 + y2 + z2 )]} xy - 2
(yz/(a02- (-1/2)( x2 + y2 + z2 )]}yz - 2
(zx/(a02- (-1/2)( x2 + y2 + z2 )]}zx=0 (5)
This is non-linear equation of 2 nd order. It is
difficult to handle therefore it is to be
linearized.

LINEARIZATION OF THE
POTENTIAL EQUATION
For steady, two dimensional, irrotational
isentropic flow, the differential equation for
the velocity potential is
(1-x2 /a2)xx+ (1-y2 /a2)yy- 2(xy/ a2)xy=0
1
a2= a02 - (-1/2)( x2 + y2 ) (2)
Let us assume the velocity at any point to be
given by sum of a constant velocity V
along x-axis , together with perturbation
velocities u and v in x and y directions.

LINEARIZATION OF THE
POTENTIAL EQUATION
Velocity potential may be written as
= V x +
The equation has two components the
1st Vx is due to the main velocity
and is due to perturbation
component .
Taking derivatives and noting that V is
constant
x = V+ x = V+ u

LINEARIZATION OF THE
POTENTIAL EQUATION
y = y = v
yy = yy = vy
xy = yx = uy =vx
We wish to simplify (1) by dropping those terms
which according to the assumption of small
perturbation may be negligible.
Also
a2 + (-1/2)[ (V + u)2 + v2]= a2 + (-1/2)V2
Where a is the sound velocity at points where
the stream velocity is V

LINEARIZATION OF THE
POTENTIAL EQUATION
a

/a2=1/[1- (-1/2)M2 (2u/V+ (u2 +

v2 )/V2]
Where M = V / a
Expanding
a 2/a2= 1+ (-1/2)M2 (2u/V+ (u2 + v2 )/V2]
+ [0][M2 (u2/ V2)]
Since x = V+ u
Then

1- x2/a2= 1- (V+ u)2/a2 = 1- (V+ u)2/ V2][ V2/ a

][a2 /a2]

LINEARIZATION OF THE
POTENTIAL EQUATION
1- x2/a2= 1- M2 -2 M2 u/ V - (-1) M4 u/ V +[0][M2 (u

/ V2)]

we may write that

M2 (u2/ V2 1
M2 (v2/ V2 1
M2 (vu/ V2 1
Consequently
1- x2/a2 1- M2 [2 M2 +(-1) M2 ]u/ V+
1- y2/a2=1- v2/a2=1- [v2/ V2][ V2/ a2 ][a2 /a2]
1- y2/a2= 1- M2 [v2/ V2] + [0][M4 v2/ V2]
May be 1- y2/a2 1

LINEARIZATION OF THE
POTENTIAL EQUATION
For term
2 xy/a2 = 2(V+ u)v/a2 = 2[(Vv + uv)/ V2][V2/ a2 ][a2 /a2]
2 xy/a2= 2 M2 [v/ V ]+ [0][M2 uv/ V2 ]
2 xy/a2 2 M2 [v/ V ]

Substituting various term in (1) we get

(1- M2 )[1-(2 M2 /1- M2 ])(u/ V )[1+ (-1/2) M2 ] u/x + v/y - 2 M2
[v/ V ] v/x =0

Further assumption that

M2 /1- M2V 1 & M2 [v/ V ]1
Then the final equation is
(1- M2 ) u/x + v/y=0
2 2/x2 + 2/y2 =0 where = 1- M2