AE 301 – Aerodynamics I – Spring 2015

Answers to Problem Set 4

1. A static thrust stand is being designed for testing a jet engine in the lab. The following
conditions are expected for a typical test: intake air velocity = 250 m/s, exhaust gas
velocity = 600 m/s, intake cross section area = 1 m2 , intake static pressure = −22.5
kPa (= 78.5 kPa absolute), intake static temperature = 268K, exhaust static pressure
= 0 kPa (101 kPa absolute). Estimate the thrust to design the test stand to withstand
if it must have a factor of safety of 3.

Assume that the inlet is identified as station 1 and outlet station 2. Assume also that
the exit area is the same as the inlet area. The density of the air at the inlet can be
found using
p1
ρ1 =
RT1
so
78.5 × 103
ρ1 = = 1.0206 kg m−3
(287)(268)
From continuity considerations (assume 1-dimensional, steady flow) then

ρ1 A1 V1 = ρ2 A2 V2 = ṁ = 1.0206 × 1.0 × 250 = 255.15 kg s−1

Conservation of momentum (assume 1-dimensional flow) gives the force on the fluid as

F = −p1 A1 + p2 A2 + ṁ(V2 − V1 )

and substituting values gives

F = (−78.5 × 103 )(1.0) + (101.0 × 103 )(1.0) + 255.15(600.0 − 250.0) = 89, 754 N

So, the residual force on the fluid for the conditions stated must be 89.8 kN in the
direction of fluid flow and the reaction force on the test stand will be in the opposite
direction. Because there is a factor of safety requirement of 3, then the force to which
the stand should be designed is about 269 kN.

2. (5 pts) The stream function, ψ, for an incompressible, two-dimensional flow field is

given by
ψ = 6x2 y + y
For this flow field find the corresponding velocity field and graph (plot them properly
and do not sketch) several streamlines to bring out the pattern of the flow. Hint:
Remember that streamlines are obtained by setting the value of the stream function
equal to a constant.

We are given a stream function such that

ψ = 6x2 y + y

so that the velocity field is given by

∂ψ
u= = 6x2
∂y
and
∂ψ
v=− = −12xy
∂x
The streamlines are given by setting ψ equal to a constant so we can write that

ψ = y(6x2 + 1)

and so the curves are lines where

ψ
y=
6x2 + 1
remembering to put the directions on the streamlines using the signs of the individual
velocity components in the four quadrants of the graph. Some streamlines in the first
quadrant are drawn below.
3. (5 pts) Determine the vorticity of the 2-dimensional flow field described by

V = x2 y ~i + xy 2 ~j

Is this flow rotational or rotational? Is this flow physically possible?

We are given that

V = x2 y ~i + xy 2 ~j
i.e.,
u = x2 y
and
v = xy 2
For irrotationality then ∇ × V~ = 0, i.e.,
∂v ∂u
− =0
∂x ∂y
In this case, substituting in the velocity field gives

∂(xy 2 ) ∂(x2 y)
− = y 2 − x2 6= 0
∂x ∂y
Therefore, the vorticity is
~γ = (y 2 − x2 )~k
and so the flow is rotational. To be physically possible then it must satisfy continuity,
i.e., ∇ · V~ = 0. In this case,

∂u ∂v ∂(x2 y) ∂(xy 2 )
+ = + = 2xy + 2xy 6= 0
∂x ∂y ∂x ∂y
so this is actually not a physically possible flow even though a velocity field exists.

4. (5 pts) Consider the incompressible, irrotational, steady, two-dimensional flow, where

the stream function is given by
ψ = 4xy
a) Determine the velocity field. b) Prove that this flow is both physically possible and
irrotational. c) Calculate and graph (do not sketch) the streamline pattern. d) Find
the velocity potential for this flow and graph the lines of constant potential.
 a) The velocity field is given by:

∂φ ∂(4xy)
u= = = 4x
∂y ∂y
and
∂φ ∂(4xy)
v=− =− = −4y
∂x ∂x
b) To be physically possible then ∇ · V~ = 0 and in this case
∂u ∂v
+ =4−4=0
∂x ∂y

so the flow satisfies continuity. To be irrotational ∇ × V~ = 0 and in this case

∂v ∂u
− =0+0=0
∂x ∂y
so the flow is indeed irrotational.
c) The streamlines are found by setting ψ = constant so we can plot the curves
ψ
y=
4x
again remembering to put the directions on the streamlines or otherwise indicate the
direction of the flow by checking the signs of the velocity components in each quadrant
of the graph. Some streamlines are drawn below, which are obtained manually.

Figure 1: Example of the stream function for Q.4 obtained by plotting curves with constant
values of ψ.
d) The velocity potential can be found using

∂φ
u= = 4x
∂x
and
∂φ
v= = −4y
∂y
Integrating the first equation gives

φ = 2x2 + f1 (y)

and integrating the second gives

φ = −2y 2 + f2 (x)

By inspection we see then that

φ = 2x2 − 2y 2
The equipotential lines will be perpendicular to the φ lines. These lines are awkward
to plot manually so we can just use Matlab to do some contour plotting of lines of
constant φ, as shown below, and at the same time we might as well do the φ lines too.

10

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-4

-6

-8

-10
-10 -8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8 10

Figure 2: Potential function for Q.4 as a contour map obtained using Matlab.
 10

-2

-4

-6

-8

-10
-10 -8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8 10

Figure 3: Stream function for Q.4 as a contour map obtained using Matlab.

5. (5 pts) Calculate numerically some pathlines/streamlines for this flow in Q4. Note that
the pathlines/streamlines are defined by ordinary differential equations so we must use
a numerical integration scheme to trace fluid particles through the flow. Either code
your own method (and assess the errors) or use Matlab, which has a variety of solvers
for initial value problems for ordinary differential equations, e.g., ode45 and ode23,
which have automatic error control.

Streamlines and equipotential lines are not so easy to draw unless a contour mapping is
performed. We can use numerical integration to find the streamlines by tracing paths
along lines defined by
~
d(X)
= V~
dt
where V~ in this case is the velocity field. The streamlines are found by solving simul-
taneously the two differential equations
dx
=u
dt
and
dy
=v
dt
for x and y, starting from some initial points at t = 0. While several integration
methods are possible, even an explicit Euler method will do a good job of calculating
the streamlines if the time step is small enough. For example, for the x component, a
one-step explicit method for a given time step ∆t is of the form

x(t+∆t) = xt + u(xt , y t )∆t

and for the y component

y (t+∆t) = y t + v(xt , y t )∆t
The value of ∆t needs to be small enough to prevent errors accumulating in the values
of x and y and some trial and error may be involved. Some trial and error may also
be needed to find suitable initial points from which to integrate. Below is an example
that was obtained using this method where the streamlines were initiated at the top
and bottom of the graphs near the y axis.

Figure 4: Streamlines for Q.4 obtained by numerical integration.