(v) For a two-dimensional irrotational flow, the velocity potential is defined as

φ= x 2 − y 2 . What will be the stream function (ψ ) with the condition ψ = 0 at

x= y= 0 ?
(a) x 2 + y 2
(b) x 2 − y 2
(c) 2xy
(d) 2x 2 y 2
[Ans.(b)]
Q2.
The velocity components in a flow-field are given as follows: = u x (1 + 2t ) , v = y ,
w = 0 . A coloured dye is injected at the point A (1,1) in the flow-field at t = 0 .
(a) Find the equation of a coloured line visible in the flow-field at t = 1 , as a
consequence of the dye injection, given that the dye injection starts at t = 0 .
(b) Find the locus of a fluid particle that passes through the point A at t = 1 .
Solution
(a) Here, essentially, we need to obtain the equation of streakline at t = 1 . In order to
obtain the same, we consider that fluid particles are injected through the point at instants
of time symbolically denoted by ti , where ti ≤ 1 . Importantly ti is a variable and not a
fixed instant of time. Now, based on the given velocity field, we have
dx
=u = x (1 + 2t )
dt
x dx
∫1 x ∫ti (1 + 2t ) dt
1
=
x 1
ln = t + t 2 
1 ti

ln x = 2 − ti − ti2 (1)
dy
Similarly, =v = y
dt
y dy 1
∫1 y ∫ti dt
=

y
ln = [t ]t
1

1 i

ln y = 1 − ti (2)
Eliminating ti from Eqs (1) and (2), we have
ln x = 2 − (1 − ln y ) − (1 − ln y )
2

= 2 − 1 + ln y − 1 + 2 ln y − ( ln y ) = 3ln y − ( ln y )
2 2

( ln y ) − 3ln y + ln x =
2
or 0 (3)
Equation (3) is the equation of streakline passing through the point A at t = 1 .

2
(b)Here, essentially, we need to obtain the equation of the pathline, corresponding to a
fluid particle that at t = 1 passed through (1,1)
Based on the given velocity field, we have
dx
=u = x (1 + 2t )
dt
x dx
(1 + 2t ) dt
t
∫1 = x ∫0

x t
ln = t + t 2 
1 0

ln x = t + t 2 (4)
Similarly, for the y-component of velocity, we have
dy
=v = y
dt
y dy t
∫1 y ∫0 dt
=

y
ln = [t ]0
t

1
ln y = t (5)
Eliminating t from Eqs (4) and (5), we have
ln= x ln y + ( ln y )
2
(6)
Equation (6) is the equation of a pathline in the flow-field at t = 1 .
Q3.
For a steady two-dimensional incompressible flow through a nozzle, the velocity field is
  2x 
given by= V u0 1 +  iˆ , where x is the distance along the axis of the nozzle from the
 L 
inlet plane and L is the length of the nozzle. Find
(i) an expression of the acceleration of a particle flowing through the nozzle and
(ii) the time required for a fluid particle to travel from the inlet to the exit of the nozzle.
Solution
(i)The velocity component is given as
= u u0 (1 + 2 x L )
∂u 2u0
Hence, =
∂x L
For the given velocity field, acceleration can be written as
∂u
a=u
∂x
2u 2u02
a= u0 (1 + 2 x L ) 0 = (1 + 2 x L )
L L
(ii)
Let t be the time required for a fluid particle to travel from the inlet to the exit of the
nozzle.
From the given velocity field, we have

3
 dx
=
V = u0 (1 + 2 x L )
dt
dx
or = u dt
(1 + 2 x L ) 0
Integrating the above equation, we obtain
L t
dx
∫0 (1 + 2 x L ) ∫0 u0 dt
=

L
which gives t= ln 3
2u0
Q4.
Consider the flow field given in Eulerian description by the expression

V = ( x + y + z ) iˆ − ( xy + yz + zx ) ˆj + ( w ) kˆ . The z - component of velocity ( w ) for which
the above flow field represents an incompressible flow is
Solution
For an incompressible flow the continuity equation can be written in differential form as
∂u ∂v ∂w
+ + = 0
∂x ∂y ∂z
Given u = x + y + z , and v = − xy − yz − zx
∂u
Hence, = 1 , and
∂x
∂v
=− x − z
∂y
∂u ∂v
Substituting , and in the continuity equation, we get
∂x ∂y
∂w
1− x − z + = 0
∂z
∂w
or, = x + z −1
∂z
Integrating with respect to z, we have
z2
w = xz + − z + f ( x, y )
2
Q5.
The density field of a steady flow is given by ρ ( x, y ) = Kxy , where K is a constant.
Determine the equation of streamline for which the flow is incompressible
Solution
Given that ρ ( x, y ) = Kxy
∂ρ ∂ρ ∂ρ
Hence, =0, = Ky , = Kx
∂t ∂x ∂y
For a two-dimensional, steady, incompressible flow the continuity equation can be
written in differential form as

4
 ∂ρ ∂ρ
u +v = 0
∂x ∂y
∂ρ ∂ρ
Substituting the values of and in the continuity equation, we have
∂x ∂y
uKy + vKx = 0
or uy = −vx
v y
or = −
u x
The equation of a streamline in two-dimensional flow is
dx dy
=
u v
dy v
or =
dx u
dy y v y
or = − ( = − )
dx x u x
dy dx
or = −
y x
Integrating the above equation, we get
ln y = − ln x + ln C
where C is integration constant
ln xy = ln C
or, xy = constant
Required streamline equation is xy = constant

Q6.
A two-dimensional velocity field is given by

V= − Ayiˆ + Axjˆ
whre A is a dimensional constant. Find the components of
(a) the strain rates for the above velocity field.
(b) rotational velocity
(c) What will be the physical nature of deformation of a small rectangular fluid element
located within this flow-field?
Solution
Given u = − Ay and v = Ax
∂u ∂u ∂v ∂v
Hence, =0, = −A , = A and = 0
∂x ∂y ∂x ∂y
(a) Rate of linear strain along x direction is
∂u
ε=
x = 0
∂x
Rate of linear strain along y direction is
∂v
ε=
y = 0
∂y

5
Rate of volumetric strain is
∂u ∂v
εvol = + =0+0 =0
∂x ∂y
Rate of shear strain is
∂v ∂u
εxy = + = A− A = 0
∂x ∂y
(b) Rotation is given by
1  ∂v ∂u  1
ω=  − =   A − ( − A=
) A
2  ∂x ∂y  2 
xy

(c) The physical nature of deformation of a small rectangular fluid element, ABCD
located in the above flow-field is schematically shown in the figure below. The given
velocity field represents rotation without angular deformation. However, no linear
deformation takes place in both x and y directions. This situation is known as pure
rotation without linear and shear deformations.

C′
D′
D C
∆θ
D C
B′
∆θ
∆y A′ A B
y
A B
x ∆x

Fig. pure rotation of a fluid element without linear and shear deformations

Q7.
A three-dimensional velocity filed is given by
u ( x, y , z ) =
cx + 2 w0 y + u0
v ( x, y, z=
) cy + v0
w ( x, y , z ) =
−2cz + w0
where c, w0 , u0 and v0 are constants. Find the components of (i) rotational velocity, (ii)
vorticity and (iii) the strain rates for the above field.
Solution
(a) The components of the rotational velocity are as follows

6
 1  ∂v ∂u  1
ω z = − = ( 0 − 2w0 ) =
− w0
2  ∂x ∂y  2
1  ∂w ∂v  1
ω x =  − = ( 0 − 0 )= 0
2  ∂y ∂z  2
1  ∂u ∂w  1
ω y =  − = ( 0 − 0 )= 0
2  ∂z ∂x  2
(b) The components of the vorticity are as follows
∂v ∂u
Ωz = − =0 − 2 w0 =−2 w0
∂x ∂y
∂w ∂v
Ωx = − = 0−0 = 0
∂y ∂z
∂u ∂w
Ωy = − = 0−0 = 0
∂z ∂x
(c) Rate of linear strain along x direction is
∂u
ε= = c
∂x
xx

Rate of linear strain along y direction is

∂v
ε= = c
∂y
yy

Rate of linear strain along x direction is

∂w
εzz = = −2c
∂z
The shear strain rates are found to be
∂v ∂u
γxy = + =0 + 2w0 =2w0
∂x ∂y
∂v ∂w
γ yz = + =0+0 =0
∂z ∂y
∂w ∂u
γxz = + =0+0 =0
∂x ∂z

Q8.
In a two dimensional flow, the fluid velocity components are given by u= x − 4 y and
v =− y − 4 x . Check whether the flow is (a) compressible or incompressible, and (b)
rotational or irrotational. If the flow is incompressible find the stream function. Find the
velocity potential, if the flow is irrotational and vorticity, if it is rotational.
Solution
(a) It is given that
u= x − 4 y , v =− y − 4 x
∂u ∂v
Thus, = 1 and = −1
∂x ∂y

7
 ∂u ∂v
Therefore, + = 0
∂x ∂y
The above velocity field satisfies the continuity equation for incompressible flow. Thus
the flow is incompressible.
∂v
(b)Hence, = −4
∂x
∂u
= −4
∂y
The rotation is given by
1  ∂v ∂u  1
ωz =  − = ( −4 + 4 )= 0
2  ∂x ∂y  2
Since the rotation is zero, the flow is irrotational and hence the velocity potential exists.
From the definition of stream functionψ , we get
∂ψ
u=
∂y
or ψ
= = ∫ ( x − 4 y ) dy
∫ udy
or ψ =xy − 2 y 2 + f ( x ) + C1
∂ψ
v= −
∂x
ψ =− ∫ vdx =− ∫ ( − y − 4 x ) dx =∫ ( y + 4 x ) dx
or ψ =xy + 2 x 2 + g ( y ) + C2
Comparing the above two equations, we have
f ( x) = 2 x 2 , g ( y ) = −2 y 2
Hence, the stream function for the flow is
ψ =xy + 2 x 2 − 2 y 2 + C
where, C is a constant.
For irrotational flow, the velocity potential ( φ ) is defined as
∂φ
u=
∂x
∂φ
v=
∂y
∂φ
Thus, u= = x − 4y
∂x
x2
or φ = − 4 xy + f1 ( y ) + C1
2
∂φ
And v = =− y − 4 x
∂y
y2
or − − 4 xy + f 2 ( x ) + C2
φ=
2

8
Comparing the above two equations, we have
y2 x2
f1 ( y ) = − , f 2 ( x) =
2 2
Hence, the velocity potential for the flow is
x2 − y 2
= φ − 4 xy + C
2
where, C is a constant.

Q9.
If stream function for steady flow is given by ψ= y 2 − x 2 , determine whether the flow is
rotational or irrotational. Find the potential function, if the flow is irrotational and
vorticity, if it is rotational.
Solution
From the definition of stream functionψ , we get
∂ψ
u=
∂y
∂ψ
v= −
∂x
Thus, the velocity components become
∂ψ ∂ 2
u= =
∂y ∂y
( y − x2 ) = 2 y

∂ψ ∂
v= − =− ( y 2 − x2 ) = 2x
∂x ∂x

The velocity is then V = uiˆ + vjˆ = 2 yiˆ + 2 xjˆ
∂v ∂u
Hence, = 2 and =2
∂x ∂y
The rotation is given by
1  ∂v ∂u  1
ω=  − =  ( 2 − 2=) 0
2  ∂x ∂y  2
z

Since the rotation is zero, the flow is irrotational and hence the velocity potential exists.
For irrotational flow, the velocity potential ( φ ) is defined as
∂φ
u=
∂x
∂φ
v=
∂y
∂φ
Thus, =u = 2y
∂x
or φ =2xy + f1 ( y ) + C1 (1)
∂φ
And =
v = 2x
∂y

9
or, φ= 2xy + f 2 ( x ) + C2 (2)
Comparing Eqs (1) and (2), we have
f1 ( y ) = 0 , f 2 ( x) = 0
Hence, the velocity potential for the flow is
= φ 2xy + C
where, C is a constant.

10