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Stream Function
Now we discuss an application of the incompressible continuity equation to
introduce an important function in fluid mechanics, widely used for flow
visualization and analytical techniques.

The concept of the stream function was introduced as an attempt to solve the
incompressible fluid flow problems. In old times when computers were not available,
computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solvers were non-existent. Thus the attempt was to
define the transformations, which satisfy certain flow equations. One such way was
to define a function (x,y) which satisfied the two dimensional mass-conversion law:
u v
0
x y


Suppose, u y and v
x

u 2 v 2
we then get and
x xy y yx

2 2
Since (x,y) is a continuous function of x and y,
xy yx
u dv
Therefore, we see that the above definition of function satisfies x dy 0

Physical Interpretation

Now we have discovered the existence of a function (x,y), called the stream function,
which satisfies the continuity equation for incompressible fluid flows. If exists, we
know that the flow must be incompressible. But what can we do with such a function? It
turns out that this function has some handy properties which we may be able to use for
learning more about fluid flows. First of all, the name stream function is chosen
because this function stays constant along a particular streamline in a flow. Recall
the definition

of streamlines, which satisfied:

V dr 0


This expression means dr , which is a vector parallel to the tangent vector
of a
streamline, is in the same direction (or, parallel) as the velocity vector, V .


dr
(x,y) V
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[Note: V dr V dr sin( ) , = angle in between the vectors.

V dr 0 = 0, i.e., V dr ]

In Cartesian coordinates, V u i v j

and dr dx i dy j

V dr (u dy x dx)k 0

Therefore, on a streamline in 2-dimensional plane (x,y)


u dy v dx 0

With the definition of (x,y) defined above,

d d
u dy v dx dy dx
dy dx
d d
dx dy d (by chain rule)
dx dy
d 0 constant
This nice property gives us an opportunity to visualize the streamlines readily. If we can
determine a (x,y) in the flow, we can sketch the streamlines by setting a different
constant each time for and plotting the as shown below.

Here 1, 2, 3 and 4 are different numerical constants (e.g. 1, 2, 3, 4 etc)


(Remember = constant plot only yields the sketch of a streamline. One still needs to

1 D
C
A B
2
3 D
C
A B
4
evaluate the velocity vector to determine the flow direction)

As shown in the sketch, = 2 at points, A, B, C, D, etc on one streamline. Similarly,


= 4 at all points A, B, C, D, etc on the other streamline and so on.
Does the difference of values between two streamlines have any significance? For
example what does (= 2 - 4 ) mean? It is the volumetric flow rate per unit
depth between the two streamlines shown on the sketch.
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This means that if we can somehow determine (x,y) in a 2-D, incompressible flow, we
can:

(i) Visualize the flow (by sketching streamlines)



(ii) Determine the volumetric flow rate (without computing Q V dA )
A

Examples Continue

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