STAGNATION POINT FLOW’’

Rupchand Sutradhar
Roll-BURMATH NO.- 2017/069
Department of Mathematics
The University of Burdwan, Burdwan-713104, West Bengal,
India
 1. INTRODUCTION:-

The study of the stagnation point flows is a very important topic in fluid
mechanics and it happens when a flow impinges on a solid surface. It has attracted
the interest of many researchers because of its applications in industry, including
flows over the tips of aircrafts, submarines, etc. Hiemenz was the first to obtain an
exact solution for the steady two-dimensional stagnation point flow, and then
Homann has extended this work to axy-symmetric case. Later, Howarth
investigated the flow near the steady axy-symmetric stagnation point. Since then,
many authors have actively involved in solving this kind of problems.
 2. DEFINITION:-

In fluid dynamics, a point is called stagnation point in a flow field where

the local velocity of the fluid is zero. Stagnation points exist at the surface of objects
in the flow field, where the fluid is brought to rest by the object. At stagnation point

3. CLASSIFICATION:-

Based on nature of flow, there are two types of stagnation points-

1. Orthogonal Stagnation point
2. Oblique Stagnation point
➢Orthogonal Stagnation point:- In a flow, a point is called orthogonal
stagnation point if all the velocity component vanishes and the stream line
intersect orthogonally.
➢Oblique Stagnation point:-This type of point, arises when a set of fluid
impinges obliquely on a rigid wall at an arbitrary angle of incident. From the
mathematical point of view such flow is obtained by combining orthogonal
stagnation point flow with a shear flow parallel to the wall. Stuart(1959), first
consider oblique stagnation point flow.
 Stagnation point flow:

Derivation of the condition for existence of self similar

solution for potential flow

Self similar solution:

In solution of boundary layer equation for flow past a flat plate it is seen that the
non-dimensional velocity component defined only on one parameter known
as similarity variable. Such solution known as similar solution. In general we define
similar solution of those for which the non-dimensional velocity is a function of

one variable which is given by , is being proportional to the boundary layer

thickness and is the potential flow velocity. Hence in a similar solution for any
two section velocity component must satisfy the following condition
given by

(1)

when similar solution exist the boundary layer equation can be reduced is to ordinary
differential equation.
Let us now find out the condition under which the boundary layer equations admit
similar solution. The boundary layer equation for a plane steady incompressible flow
are given by
(2)

And (3)
The boundary condition is given by

(4)
(5)
where be the potential flow.

Let us introduce the stream function

s.t (6)
Equation (3) is automatically satisfied and (2) becomes

(7)

The boundary condition now becomes

 (8)

(9)

Let us introduce the following dimensionless equation

(10)

where R is the Raynolds number s. t , is the characteristic velocity, is the

characteristic length , g(x) is the dimensionless function which is proportional to the
boundary layer thickness and is to be determined.
Now
 And (11)

(12)

(13)

Where ( ) denote differentiation w.r.t .

Substituting this value in equation (2) we get
 ) (14)

Where (15)

(16)

The boundary condition now becomes

(17)
and as (18)
from equation (14) we find that similar solution exist if R.H.S of (14) vanishes and
are constants i.e
This implies that f is function of only and are constants. Hence for existence
of similar solution the function must satisfy the following ordinary differential
equation and the function u, g are such that the value of given by equation (15)
and (16) becomes constant.
Let us determine u(x) and g(x) taking to be constant.
From (15) and (16) we have

(20)

i.e (21)
Where the super ‘U’ and ‘g’ denote differentiation w.r.t x if we can
integrate equation (20) to obtain

i.e. (22)

By absorbing constant also integrating (21) we get

(23)

Thus we have two equations (22) and (23) for the determination of the function.
Eliminating from these two eqation, we obtained
 (24)

When is a function of x is known, can be determined by (24). Thus finally

we get

(25)

(26)

From equation (15) and (16) we see that if is increase by a constant function ,
both are increased by the function .
Hence if , we may take without any loss of generality , for simplicity
we write
 i.e (27)

With these value of we obtained

(28)

(29)

(30)

Thus similar solution exist when the potential flow is of the form
(31)
where are certain constants.
When

This represent a flow near a stagnation point.

FLOW DESCRIPTION AND FORMULATON (Heimenz):-

Let there be a steady two dimensional, incompressible fluid flow in the x-y
plane with the Stagnation point at the origin and a boundary wall along the X-
axis. Such a flow occurs when liquid coming from infinity along the Y-axis
strikes the wall along the X-axis.
From the symmetry we see that if u,v are velocity component at a point (x,y) then

(1)

For the present assume the fluid to be viscous. Since the origin is a stagnation point
in it’s neighborhood we may assume that the velocity component
(2)
where are arbitrary constants.
and i.e. (3)

from (1) we have

&
Thus we have
, [using (3)] (4)

Thus for a fluid the velocity components near the stagnation point are given by (4).

Also from the Bernoulli’s equation for invisit fluid is given by

i.e
(5)

(where is a certain constant, is the value of at the origin.)

For a viscous flow we assume that the velocity component u and v are given by
(6)
And the pressure at any point given by
(7)
where the function are determined from Stokes-Neviar equation. We easily
find that these velocity components given by (6) satisfy equation of continuity g by

Under no external force the Stokes-Nevier equation of motion for a steady two
dimensional flow are g by
(8)
 (9)

From (6) and (8) we have

(10)
Similarly from(6) and (9)

+ (11)

The boundary condition for viscous flow are

 on
at (12)

Also at large distance as (13)

We have to solve equation (10) &(11) subject to the boundary condition

as (14)

Now the equation (10) is an non-linear O.D.E of the third order in , where is
known then is determined by(11) , to remove the constant and , we

substitute and (15)

where are certain constant .

Putting (15) in equation (10) we get

) (16)
the prime in denotes differentiation w.r.t .
If we assume

We get
(17)
i.e , (18)
Now the boundary condition becomes
, (19)
as (20)

Finally solving from (17) subject to boundary condition (19) (20) , we can get
and hence from (6). Then can be determined by solving (11) subject to
boundary condition given by (14).

Note:- Since the equation (17) is a 3rdorder non-linear O.D.E, so it’s solution has
not been obtained in closed form. It was first solve numerically by Hiemenz
in1911 and later Howarth in 1935 improved this result.
FORMULATION OF OBLIQUE STAGNATION-POINT FLOW

The classical Hiemenz solution, which describes two-dimensional

stagnation-point flow towards a wall, is an exact solution of the Navier–Stokes
equations.Stuartgeneralized the solution to the case where the dividing
streamline makes an oblique angle with the wall by adding to the orthogonal
flow a shear flow whose vorticity is specified at infinity. The oblique solution
was later revisited by Tamada and Dorrepaal, who also described the behavior
of the flow near the wall. Recently, Drazin and Rileyre viewed the problem and
included a free parameter associated with the superimposed shear flow
component. In this paper, we aim to unify the previous work by reference to
Drazin and Riley’s free parameter.

We consider the two-dimensional oblique stagnation point

flow of a viscous fluid of kinematic viscosity towards a plane wall. In Cartesian
coordinates, the wall is located at and the fluid occupies the region .
It isconvenient to represent the flow with a stream function, , defined in the
usual way so that
and
where u and v are the velocity components in the x and ydirections,
respectively.

A long way from the wall, the flow isgiven by

 (1)

comprising an irrotational straining flow of strength k, and arotational shear

flow in the x direction with vorticity The dividing streamline meets
the horizontal boundary at the angle .

Close to the wall, we seek a solution in the more general form,

(2)

where Consistency with the outer flow (1) requires both

that and as , where and are constants.
Substituting (2) into the Navier–Stokes equation, demanding no-slip and no-
penetration at the wall, and requiring a match with the outer flow, we find
that satisfies

(3)

with
(4)
and that g satisfies
(5)
with
(6)
The primes denote differentiation with respect to . Thepressure at any point in
the fluid is given by

(7)

where is a constant reference value and is the density ofthe fluid. When
pressure field is independent of theshear flow.

When and the shear flow is removed, we recover the orthogonal

stagnation-point flow studied by Hiemenz and discussed by Batchelor, for
example. Accordingly, the whole flow may be viewed as being composed of
orthogonal stagnation-point flow, represented by the first term in (2) combined
with a horizontal shear flow represented by the second term in (2). The solution
for the shear flow, is contingent on the solution for the orthogonal flow, but
not vice versa.

DISCUSSIONS:

The constant in (5) is determined as part of the solution for the orthogonal
flow . However, is a free parameter. The analyses of Stuart and Tamada
correspond to and the analysis of Dorrepaal corresponds to .
Referring to (7) varying may be interpreted physically as varying the
horizontal pressure gradient linked to the shear flow. We show profiles of the
shear flow component, for a number of different values of .
 When there is a distinct region of reversed flow correspondingto
negative values of . When combined with the orthogonal flow, we would expect
such a feature to have a significant effect on the structure of the complete flow.
In particular, we would expect it to shift the stagnation-point of
attachment along the wall.

The solution of (3) and (4) has been obtained numerically

to find and Introducing , the general solution to
(5) and (6)is

(8)
Where
(9)
and . The value of depends on the choice of
. Taking the limit in (8) and using the fact that

(10)

As , we confirm that (8) fulfills the condition atinfinity in (6) provided that
(11)

regardless of the value of . It follows from (8) and (9)that

(12)
where satisfies the same system as
, namely, (5) band (6) with set to zero.
Substituting (12) into (2) we find
(13)

where .

Since neither nor depend upon , we see thatthe effect of increasing is

to shift the streamlines to the right in the positive x direction without changing
the overall flow structure. From a mathematical standpoint, this simply reflects
the freedom to shift the origin of the axes noted by Stuart. So Dorrepaal’s
solution, with , is identical to Stuart’s and Tamada’s solution, both with
to within asimple horizontal translation. However, from a physical stand
point, this seems to be a remarkable result. Adding shear flows of quite different
character, even with flow reversal, to an orthogonal stagnation-point flow
produces an oblique flow which appears identical to an observer at the

stagnation-point, now shifted a prescribed distance, . Contrary to

intuition which suggests the flow associated with an increasing pressure
gradient would move the point of attachment from right to left, increasing the
adverse pressure gradient, by increasing the value of , shiftsthe stagnation-
point of attachment further to the right in thepositive x direction. To provide an
explanation, we note that when the flow pattern shifts, the dividing streamline
does not change its shape but is displaced from the boundary by an amount
proportional to . When , this shifts thestagnation-point of attachment to
the right.
Applying the analysis of Drazin and Riley we find that the dividing streamline
meets the wall at the point , where

(14)

which in the present case is equal to . The instantaneous slope of the

dividing streamline at the stagnation point is given by

(15)

So the dividing streamline meets the wall at 75°to the horizontal. When ,
corresponding to the critical value for reversal in the shear flow component
discussed above, the dividing streamline meets the wall at the origin.
Applications:

In recent years, the study of stagnation point flow has gained a lot of
importance because stagnation point flow that is found everywhere and
involves interaction of several physical problems. Stagnation point flow is
an important phenomena since all interactions between solid structures
and fluid flow involve stagnation point or lines. Knowing the rate of change
of the physical variables around the surroundings of the flow is very
important in terms of engineering.
• The stagnation point flow plays an important role in electronic,
hydrodynamic and aerodynamic.
• Many flow and heat transfer problems such as microelectronics
cooling design, heat transfer in atmospheric re-entry, heat exchanger,
drag reduction, prediction of skin friction problems that are
encountered in engineering applications are stagnation point flow
nature.
Reference:

1. Hiemenz, “Die Grenschicht an einem in den gleichförmigen Flüssigkeitsstrom

eingetauchten geraden Kreiszylinder,” Dingler’s Polytech. J. 326, 321 (1911).

2. T. Stuart, “The viscous flow near a stagnation-point when the external flow has
uniform vorticity,” J. Aerosp. Sci. 26, 124 (1959).

3. Tamada, “Two-dimensional stagnation-point flow impinging obliquely on a

plane wall,” J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. 46, 310 (1979).

4. J.M. Dorrepaal, “An exact solution of the Navier–Stokes equation which

describes non-orthogonal stagnation-point flow in two dimensions,” J.Fluid
Mech. 163, 141 (1986).
5. G. Drazin and N. Riley, The Navier–Stokes Equations: A Classification of
Flows and Exact Solutions _Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, (2006).
6. G. K. Batchelor, An Introduction to Fluid Dynamics (Cambridge
UniversityPress, Cambridge, 1967).

7. Goldstein, Modern Developments in Fluid Dynamics (Dover, New York, 1965).

8. M. B. Glauert, “The laminar boundary layer on oscillating plates andcylinders,”

J. Fluid Mech. 1, 97 (1956).
THANK YOU