Stream Function

Velocity Potential Function

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 The Stream Function
The steam function basically describes the velocity field in
2D plane (x,y) in the absence of Vorticity (Irrotaional Flow).

The stream function is

defined as:

∂ψ ∂ψ
u= ;v = −
∂y ∂x

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The concept of stream function is based on the principle of
continuity and the properties of a stream line.

The simplest type of flow in fluid mechanics application is a

"steady, incompressible, plane, two-dimensional flow". The
continuity equation for such type of flow can be written as,

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By definition,
Streamlines are the lines in the flow field such that the
tangent at any point gives the direction of velocities. Since
streamlines are tangent to the velocity vector of the flow.

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One way is to define the stream function (ψ) for a two
dimensional flow such that the flow velocity can be expressed
as:

Now, "stream function" which relates the velocity

components in X and Y coordinate system such that,

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Fig: Velocity components along a streamline

,
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Using the components from above equation it can be
shown that the continuity equation gets satisfied.

Hence, we have only one function that describes a steady,

incompressible, plane, two-dimensional flow instead of
two functions.

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To understand concept of stream function , Consider the
two
From points P1 and P2,ofP1
the definition lying on theitstreamline
a streamline, is known D while
that P2
no flow
lies on another
crosses it and,streamline
therefore,Cthe
in Figure:
quantity of flow between any
two streamlines must remain the same in accordance with the
If
In the points
continuity
triangle P1 and
P2 P2
equation.
AP1 the have
flowstream
leavingfunction values(across
the triangle of
and
P1P2) is+ respectively,
whereas the then
flow the flow across
entering it is P1P2 isin which
dx and dy are the lengths of AP1 and AP2 respectively.

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Now;
As we know that,

By eliminating the time variable we obtain:

Along the streamline the value of stream function is

constant so

Which is the definition of streamline.

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So it can be written as:

Thus, if "stream function" is known, infinite number of

streamlines can be drawn to define a particular flow field
pattern.

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i.e

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 ψ ( x, y ) = 0.5 y ⇒ u = 0.5ms −1
ψ=2
3

ψ=1 2
V=u0=0.5ms-1
1
ψ=0 0 y

-1

ψ = −1 -2

-3

ψ = −2 -4
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 13
x
 0.5m grid v0 =0.5ms-1 . ψ ( x, y ) = −0.5 x ⇒ v = 0.5ms −1

ψ = −5
ψ = −1

ψ = −2

ψ = −3

ψ = −4
ψ=0
3

V=v0=0.5ms-1
1
0 y

-1

-2

-3

-4
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 14
x
 Adding two stream functions ψ ( x, y ) = u0 y − v0 x
ψ=2

ψ = −1

ψ = −2

ψ = −3

ψ = −4

ψ = −5
ψ=0
1
= 3
ψ

s -1
m
ψ=1 0 2

1
=

.4
−1 V

=1
ψ =

) 1/2
ψ 1
2
v0
0 2+
ψ=0 0 y
−2 −3
u

−4
(

=
V=

= ψ = -1
ψ ψ
ψ = −1 -2

-3

ψ = −2 -4
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 15
x
Generalised linear flow
y V
ψ = u0 y − v0 x v0
α
u0 = V ⋅ cos α u0
v0 = V ⋅ sin α
x

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Now;
In cylindrical coordinate systems the stream function for a
plane incompressible, two-dimensional flow can be written as,

Here and are the velocity components in radial and

tangential directions. And is the stream function. It
may be noted that this also satisfy the continuity equation in
cylindrical coordinate system i.e.

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Visualization

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 2
ψ=3
1

ψ=
ψ = 3

1
ψ=0
0 y

-1

-2

-3

-4
-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 19
x
 Source and horizontal flow
ψ=

2
ψ=3
5 = 1

ψ=
ψ=3 = 3
ψ= ψ ψ
7 4 =
ψ=2 ψ= ψ 2
6 3
ψ=1 1
ψ= ψ=0
ψ=06 0 y

ψ = −1 -1

ψ = −2 ψ= -2
ψ= 6
ψ = −3 5 -3

ψ = −4 -4
-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 20
x
 Velocity Potential
In Case of irrotational flows or three dimensional flow there
is another function that is use to describe the flow field,
which is called velocity potential function.

The velocity potential function is also a scalar function

which is denoted by Greek symbol.

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So for the irrotational flow velocity potential function can be
defined as,

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So another way to express the velocity potential function is
given by,

For incompressible flows, the conservation of mass equation

is,

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 Hence, for incompressible and irrotational flow, the above
equation becomes,

This equation is known as “Laplace equation". Thus, in viscid,

incompressible, irrotationalflow fields are governed by Laplace
equation and these flows are characterized by "potential flow".
Lines of constant are called "equipotential lines" of the flow.

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