Potential flows

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For irrotational flows (cf. Kelvin's theorem:)

This will be outside the boundary layers and wakes. Function

is called the velocity potential. The flow is called potential flow or irrotational.

Two-dimensional potential flow:

Exercise:

For ideal stagnation point flow (u,v)= a(x,-y),

Does the velocity potential exist?
If so, what is ?

Next: 2D Incompressible Up: Introduction Previous: Introduction