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4.4.4 Kelvin's Minimum Energy Theorem: 4.5 Flow Past An Obstacle

This document summarizes Kelvin's minimum energy theorem, which states that potential flow has the minimum kinetic energy of all possible fluid flows that satisfy the given boundary conditions and are incompressible. It proves this by showing that any non-potential flow will have higher kinetic energy than potential flow due to the presence of non-zero vorticity. It then briefly introduces the concept of solving for potential flows past obstacles by adding together known solutions to Laplace's equation that satisfy the boundary conditions.

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126 views

4.4.4 Kelvin's Minimum Energy Theorem: 4.5 Flow Past An Obstacle

This document summarizes Kelvin's minimum energy theorem, which states that potential flow has the minimum kinetic energy of all possible fluid flows that satisfy the given boundary conditions and are incompressible. It proves this by showing that any non-potential flow will have higher kinetic energy than potential flow due to the presence of non-zero vorticity. It then briefly introduces the concept of solving for potential flows past obstacles by adding together known solutions to Laplace's equation that satisfy the boundary conditions.

Uploaded by

224883061
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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32 4.

5 Flow past an obstacle

4.4.4 Kelvin’s minimum energy theorem


Of all possible fluid motions satisfying the boundary condition for u · n on the surface S and
∇ · u = 0 in domain V , the potential flow is the flow with the smallest kinetic energy,
1
Z
K= ρ |u|2 dV.
2 V

Proof. Let u′ be another incompressible but non vorticity-free flow such that u · n = u′ · n
on S and ∇ · u′ = 0 in V but with ∇ × u′ 6= 0.
The fluid flow u is potential, so let u = ∇φ such that
Z Z Z
2 2
ρ |u| dV = ρ|∇φ| dV = ρ |∇φ|2 dV,
V VZ V

= ρ φ u · n dS (by identity (4.7) with f = φ),


ZS
= ρ φ u′ · n dS (boundary condition),
ZS
=ρ ∇ · (φ u′ ) dV (divergence theorem),
ZV
=ρ u′ · ∇φ dV (∇ · u′ = 0),
ZV
=ρ u′ · u dV. (4.8)
V

So,
Z Z
′ 2
ρ |u|2 − 2ρu · u′ + ρ |u′ |2 dV,

ρ (u − u ) dV =
V ZV
ρ |u′ |2 − ρ |u|2 dV

= (from (4.8)).
V

Therefore, since (u − u′ )2 ≥ 0,
Z Z Z Z
ρ |u′ |2 dV = ρ |u|2 dV + ρ (u − u′ )2 dV ≥ ρ |u|2 dV.
V V V V

4.5 Flow past an obstacle


Since the solution to Laplace’s equation for given boundary conditions is unique, if we find a
solution, we have found the solution. (This is only true if the domain is simply-connected; if
the domain is multiply connected, multiple solutions become possible.)
One technique to calculate non elementary potential flows involves adding together simple
known solutions to Laplace’s equation to get the solution that satisfies the boundary condi-
tions.

4.5.1 Flow around a sphere


We seek an axisymmetric flow of the form u = ur êr + uz êz in cylindrical polar coordi-
nates (r, θ, z).

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