EME3026 Fluid Dynamics

TUTORIAL QUESTIONS ON POTENTIAL FLOW

1. Find the magnitude and direction of the velocity at P(1, 2) in the following fluid flow. In each
case, determine if it is a possible irrotational fluid motion. Assume length unit in m and velocity
unit in m/s.
(a) = 3 , = 2 + 3.
(b) = + , = 2 .
(c) = 2
(d) = 2 + , where a and b are constants.
2. Determine the vorticity vector of the flow field described by the velocity = 3 + 4 .
1

3. Show that the velocity components in polar coordinates are = , = . Find

expressions for the magnitude and direction of the velocity at (1 , 1 ), when =

and

where c is a constant.
4. Distinguish the differences among the terms inviscid flow, ideal flow, and potential flow.
Show that the combined stream function for a simple source and sink each of strength m at a
distance 2a apart on the x-axis, with the origin at the mid-point between them and the source
placed at (-a, 0), is given by

2
=
1 [ 2
]
2
+ 2 2

Hence find the stream function for a doublet. How can a doublet be used to depict the potential
flow over a cylinder?
Note:

tan( ) = 1
(Part of Exam)

5. For a uniform main stream flow over a 2-D cylinder with a surface free vortex, obtain the
velocity over the cylinder surface. Hence, using Bernoullis equation, obtain the surface
pressure distribution over the cylinder surface. By integrating the surface force horizontally and
then vertically, show that the potential flow theory predicts
(a) the drag force = 0, and
(b) the lift force is = , where is the fluid density, U the uniform main stream flow
velocity and the positive circulation over the cylinder surface.