Norwegian University of

Science and Technology - NTNU

Faculty of Engineering and Technology Exercise 02
Dept. of Marine Hydrodynamics

TMR 4215 Sea Loads

Given: 29.08.08 Due: 12.09.08 Guidance: 29.08.08 and 05.09.08 in T1

Hydrodynamic forces in non-viscous fluid

Review

You can find the basic ideas and definitions of the potential theory in the book of Frank M. White:
Fluid Mechanics, Chapter 8.

Introduction

We can define the velocity potential of an infinitely long circular cylinder in a uniform steady stream
by superposition of the uniform stream’s potential and a dipole (doublet). This gives:
m
φ(x, y) = −U x 2
x − (1)
| {z } 2πr
uniform stream | {z }
dipole

where m is the doublet strength and r 2 = x2 + y 2 . The stream function is given as

y 2
Cylinder in uniform stream

2
1.5
n 1.5

1
1
R0

0.5
0.5

θ 0 0
y

x −0.5
−0.5

−1
−1

−1.5

−1.5
−2

−2
−2 −1.5 −1 −0.5 0 0.5 1 1.5 2
x

Figure 1: Coordinate system and streamlines around a cylinder

 
m m
ψ(x, y) = U y − 2
y = Uy 1 − . (2)
2πr 2πr 2 U

1
We get a closed stream line at ψ = 0. We can define the cylinder contour because the volume flow
between any two streamlines in the flow field is equal to the change in stream function between those
streamlines, therefore the volume flow across any streamline is equal to zero. This means that the
velocity normal to a streamline is equal to zero. The solution of the equation
 
m
0 = Uy 1 −
2πr 2 U
for r gives the radius of the cylinder: r
m
r= = R0 (3)
2πU
Rewriting Eq. (1) yields
! !
R2 R2
φ(x, y) = −U x 1 + 20 = −U rcos(θ) 1 + 20
r | {z } r
x

where θ is the angle between the x-axis and the radius −

→
r . Assumption that U is time dependent gives
!
R2
φ(x, y, t) = −U (t)rcos(θ) 1 + 20 (4)
r

1 Problem: Cylinder in unsteady stream

Task

Calculate the hydrodynamical forces acting on a cylinder in unsteady uniform flow. What is the name
of those forces?

Hints

1. Use the linearized Bernoulli equation in infinite water for very low U (no gravity present, U → 0)

∂φ p
+ =0
∂t ̺

and Eq. (4) to define the pressure p.

2. Define the pressure along the cylinder’s contour r = R0 . You get two terms which are identical.
Here you can figure out what is the name of them. Calculate only one term afterwards!

3. Find the elementary force due to this pressure. Use the definition of the elementary pressure
force
−
→
d F = −−→n pdA
where −
→n is the unit vector normal to the surface, pointing into the fluid domain. − →
n =
(cos(θ), sin(θ))T , and dA the elementary area which is now defined as: dA = R0 dθ.

4. Find the elementary force in the x and y-direction using the definition
−
→ →
dFk = d F · −
ek

where −
→
e k is unit vector parallel to the k-axis (i.e. k = 1 is the x-axis and k = 2 is the y-axis).

2
 5. Integrate the elementary forces along the contour of the cylinder:
Z 2π
Fk = −−
→
n ·−
→
e k pR0 dθ
0 | {z }
dFk
.

6. Use ̺V = ̺R02 π to simplify the result.

2 Problem: Accelerated cylinder in calm water

We can define the velocity potential of an accelerated cylinder in calm water from Eq. (4) with a very
simple trick. If we sit on the body and the cylinder moves with U (t) in the fluid we observe the same
hydrodynamical situation as by a cylinder in 2D unsteady uniform stream. Introduction of the body
fixed coordinates gives the potential of the accelerated cylinder in calm water as:

R02 R02
φ = −U (t)rcos(θ) = −U (t)cos(θ) . (5)
r2 r

Task

Calculate the acting hydrodynamical force on a accelerated cylinder in calm flow. What is the name
of this force?

Is this the total force required for accelerating the cylinder (assuming potential flow)?

Compare this force with one of the two forcing terms obtained from problem 1. What do you find?

Hints

1. Do the same as for the first problem.