Notes

Assignments for chapter 3

Jian.Luo
jian.luo@nwpu.edu.cn

School of mechanical Engineering,

Northwestern Polytechnical University

April 18, 2018

Problem 1
Notes

The Velocity field of a flow is given by u = −V0 y/(x2 + y 2 )1/2 and v =

V0 x/(x2 + y 2 )1/2 , where V0 is a constant.
(a) Where in the flow field is the speed equal to V0 ?
(b) Determine the equation of the streamlines.
Solution:
The speed is equal to the magnitude of velocity,
p
v = u2 + v 2 = V0

so that, for the entire flow field, the speed equal to V0 .

The equation of the streamlines is given by
u v
= ⇒ −ydy = xdx
dx dy
Thus, after integration,
x2 + y 2 = C
The streamline is circular, and the speed is constant throughout.
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Problem 2
Notes
The fluid velocity along the x axis shown in the figure below, changes
from 6m/s at point A to 18m/s at point B. It is also known that
the velocity is a linear function of distance along the streamline.
Determine the acceleration at points A, B, and C. Assume steady
flow.

Figure 1: The fluid velocity along the x axis.

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Problem 2
Notes
Solution:
The velocity is a linear function of distance along the streamline,

V = kx + C

The velocities at point A and point B are given as 6m/s and 18m/s,
respectively.

VA = kxA + C, VB = kxB + C ⇒ k = 120

Since xC − xA = 0.05, we can get

VC = VA + 120k = 12m/s

The flow is steady, so the local derivative is zero,

DV ∂V ∂V
a= = + V · ∇V = V =Vk
Dt ∂t ∂x

aA = 720m/s2 , aC = 1440m/s2 , aB = 2160m/s2

3/9
Problem 3
Notes

A gas flows along the x axis with a speed of V = 5xm/s and a pressure
of p = 10x2 N/m2 , where x is in meters.
(a) Determine the time rate of change of pressure at the fixed location
x = 1.
(b) Determine the time rate of change of pressure for a fluid particle flowing
past x = 1.
Solution:
Since p = 10x2 N/m2 , it follows that

∂p
=0
∂t
The time rate of change of pressure at any location is zero.
With u = 5x, v = 0, w = 0, p = 10x2 , the material derivative is
 
Dp ∂p ∂p
|x=1 = + V · ∇p = u |x=1 = 5 × 20 = 100N/m2 s
Dt ∂t ∂x

4/9

Problem 4
Notes
The temperature distribution in a fluid is given by T = 10x + 5y.
Determine the time rate of change of temperature of a fluid particle
traveling (a) horizontally with u = 20m/s, v = 0 or (b) vertically with
u = 0, v = 20m/s.
Solution:
The material derivative of temperature is
DT ∂T
= + V · ∇T
Dt ∂t
Since T = 10x + 5x, we get
∂T ∂T ∂T
= 0, = 10, =5
∂t ∂x ∂y
With u = 20m/s, v = 0, it gives,
DT ∂T ∂T
=u +v = 20 × 10 = 200◦ C/s
Dt ∂x ∂y
With u = 0, v = 20m/s, it gives,
DT ∂T ∂T
=u +v = 20 × 5 = 100◦ C/s
Dt ∂x ∂y
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Problem 5
Notes
Potential flow against a flat plate (Fig. a) can be described with the
complex function,
w(z) = Az 2
where A is a constant. This type of flow is commonly called a stagnation
point flow since it can be used to describe the flow in the vicinity of the
stagnation point at O. By adding a source of strength Q at O, stagnation
point flow against a flat plate with a bump is obtained, as illustrated
in Fig.b. Determine the relationship between the bump height, h, the
constant, A, and the source strength, Q.

6/9

Problem 5
Notes
Solution:
The complex function for superposition flow is
Q
w(z) = Az 2 + ln z
2π
Q Q
w(r, θ) = Ar2 cos2θ + ln r + i(Ar2 sin2θ + θ)
2π 2π
For the potential function,
Q
φ = Ar2 cos2θ + ln r
2π
we can get
∂φ Q 1 ∂φ
vr = = 2Arcos2θ + , vθ = = −2Arsin2θ
∂r 2πr r ∂θ
At the stagnation point A, vr = 0, vθ = 0, it yields,
π 2 Q
θ= ,h =
2 4πA
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Problem 6
Notes
The complex function for a spiral vortex flow is given by
Q Γ
w(z) = − ln z − i ln z
2π 2π
where Γ and Q are constants. Show that the angle, α, between the velocity
vector and the radial direction is constant throughout the flow field.

8/9

Problem 6
Notes
Solution:
The complex function for superposition flow is
Q γ
w(z) = − ln z − i ln z
2π 2π
Q γ γ Qθ
w(r, θ) = − ln r + θ − i( θ + )
2π 2π 2π 2π
For the potential function,
Q γ
φ=− ln r + θ
2π 2π
we can get
∂φ Q 1 ∂φ Γ
vr = =− , vθ = =
∂r 2πr r ∂θ 2πr
For the angle α
vr vr 1 1
cosα = =p =q =q
|V| 2 2
vr + v θ v
1 + ( vθr )2 Γ 2
1 + (Q )

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