Steam and Streak Line

Fluids – Lecture 8 Notes
1. Streamlines
2. Pathlines
3. Streaklines
Reading: Anderson 2.11
Three types of fluid element trajectories are defined: Streamlines, Pathlines, and Streaklines.
They are all equivalent for steady flows, but differ conceptually for unsteady flows.
Streamlines
Streamline equations
A streamline is defined as a line which is everywhere parallel to the local velocity vector
ˆ Define
~ (x, y, z, t) = u ı̂ + v ̂ + w k.
V
d~s = dx ı̂ + dy ̂ + dz k̂
~ , we
as an infinitesimal arc-length vector along the streamline. Since this is parallel to V
must have
~ = 0
d~s × V
(w dy − v dz) ı̂ + (u dz − w dx) ˆ + (v dx − u dy) ˆk = 0
Separately setting each component to zero gives three differential equations which define the
streamline. The three velocity components u, v, w, must be given as functions of x, y, z
before these equations can be integrated. To set the constants of integration, it is sufficient
to specify some point xo , yo, zo through which the streamline passes,
y y
ds V v
V
ds dy
dx u
xo yo z o
xo yo
x x
z 3−D streamline 2−D streamline
In 2-D we have dz = 0 and w = 0, and only the k̂ component of the equation above is
non-trivial. It can be written as an Ordinary Differential Equation for the streamline shape
y(x).
dy v
=
dx u
Again, u(x, y) and v(x, y) must be given to allow integration, and xo , yo must be given to
set the integration constants. In a numerical integration, xo , yo would serve as the initial
values.
1
Streamtubes
Consider a set of xo , yo , zo points arranged in a closed loop. The streamlines passing
through all these points form the surface of a streamtube. Because there is no flow across the
surface, each cross-section of the streamtube carries the same mass flow. So the streamtube
is equivalent to a channel flow embedded in the rest of the flowfield.
y y
xo yo z o xo yo
x x
z 3−D streamtube 2−D streamtube
In 2-D, a streamtube is defined by two streamlines passing through two specified xo , yo

points. The flow between these two streamlines carries the same mass flow/span at each
cross-section, and can be considered as a 2-D channel flow embedded in the rest of the
flowfield.
Pathlines
The pathline of a fluid element A is simply the path it takes through space as a function
of time. An example of a pathline is the trajectory taken by one puff of smoke which is
carried by the steady or unsteady wind. This path is fully described by the three position
functions xA (t), yA (t), zA (t), which can be computed by integrating the three velocity-field
components u(x, y, z, t), v(x, y, z, t), w(x, y, z, t) along the path. The integration is started
at time to , from the element’s initial position xo , yo , zo (e.g. the smoke release point), and
proceeds to some later time t.
� t � �
xA (t) = xo + u xA (τ ), yA (τ ), zA (τ ), τ dτ
to
� t � �
yA (t) = yo + v xA (τ ), yA (τ ), zA (τ ), τ dτ
to
� t � �
zA (t) = zo + w xA (τ ), yA (τ ), zA (τ ), τ dτ
to
The dummy variable of integration τ runs from to to t.
Streaklines
A streakline is associated with a particular point P in space which has the fluid moving past
it. All points which pass through this point are said to form the streakline of point P . An
example of a streakline is the continuous line of smoke emitted by a chimney at point P ,
which will have some curved shape if the wind has a time-varying direction.
2
Unlike a pathline, which involves the motion of only one fluid element A in time, a streakline
involves the motion of all the fluid elements along its length. Hence, the trajectory equations
for a pathline are applied to all the fluid elements defining the streakline.
The figure below illustrates streamlines, pathlines, and streaklines for the case of a smoke
being continuously emitted by a chimney at point P , in the presence of a shifting wind. One
particular smoke puff A is also identified. The figure corresponds to a snapshot when the
wind everywhere is along one particular direction.
s
streakline from point P a n eous
t e
(smoke line) tan lin
ins tream
s
A
P
instantaneous V streakline at
wind velocity successive times
pathline of fluid element A

(smoke puff)
In a steady flow, streamlines, pathlines, and streaklines all cooincide. In this example they
would all be marked by the smoke line.

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Fluids – Lecture 8 Notes

z 3−D streamline 2−D streamline

z 3−D streamtube 2−D streamtube

In 2-D, a streamtube is deﬁned by two streamlines passing through two speciﬁed xo , yo

The dummy variable of integration τ runs from to to t.

pathline of fluid element A

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