Panel Methods

Source and Vortex

Point Source
Point Vortex
+
dz in Polar Form
x
ix
|
z
z+dz
ds
Panels
Consider a point source
) ( 2
) (
1
z z
q
z W

=
t
Imagine spreading the source along a line. We
would then end up with a certain strength per
unit length q(s) that could vary with distance s
along the line.
s
ds
Example: The Source Panel (or Sheet)
z
1
z
+
z
1
Vortex?
Singularity distributed along a line
Constant Strength Source Panel
z
a
b
|
ds
z
1
v
n
v
s
The panel is not a solid boundary to the flow. To make it behave like one you would
set the strength q so that the total v
n
(due to the panel and the flow) is zero
Vortex?
Break up the body surface
into N straight panels.
Write an expression for the
normal component of
velocity at the middle of the
panel from the sum of all
the velocities produced by
the panels and the free
stream. Gives N
expressions.
Given that each expression
must be equal to zero, solve
the N equations for the N
strengths
panel
control
point
A Simple Source Panel Method
For flow past an arbitrary body
Defining the N Panels
We pick a control point very close to the
center of the panel at
m
th
control
point
z
a
(2)
z
a
(3)
z
a
(N-1)
z
b
(2)
z
b
(N-1)
( ) ) (
2
1
a b b a c
z z i z z z + = c
Center point Displacement A
c<<1 (say 0.001)
Number the panels anticlockwise, 1 to N
Define N coordinates z
a
that identify the
start of every panel (going counter
clockwise), and z
b
that identify the end of
every panel.
Each panel has a slope
a b
a b
i
z z
z z
e
ds
dz

= =
|
So, if W(z) is the velocity of the whole flow,
)
`

ds
dz
z W ) ( Im
is the component normal
to the panel
z
c
z
a
z
b
A
1
2
3
N
N-1
n
th
panel
Completing the Method
Velocity produced by whole
flow is

=

|
|
.
|

\
|

+ =
N
n
n
n
b
n
a
e
n
dz
ds
z z
z z
q W z W
1
) (
1
) (
) (
) (
log
2
1
) (
t
Velocity at the control point of
the m
th
panel z
c
(m)
in panel
aligned components is

=
N
n
n m n
m
C q W
ds
dz
1
) , ( ) (
) (
1
} Im{ Im
We want the normal velocity to be zero, so this is what we use to get the qs
We write
So, velocity normal to
the m
th
panel is

N
n
n m n
m
C q W
ds
dz
1
) , ( ) (
) (
1
} Im{ Im
Or
1xN result matrix
(known)
1xN matrix
of strengths
(unknown)
NxN matrix of
ceoffs (known)
= x
Once we have solved
this for the qs we can
use eqn. 2 to get the
velocities along the body
surface, or eqn. 1 to get
them anywhere else
1
2
) (
1
) (
1
1
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
) (
1
log
2
1
m
n
N
n
n
b
m
c
n
a
m
c
e
n
m
ds
dz
dz
ds
z z
z z
q
ds
dz
W

=

|
|
.
|

\
|

+ =
t
) , ( n m
C
Velocity parallel to
the m
th
panel is

=

=
N
n
n m n
m
C q W
ds
dz
1
) , ( ) (
) (
1
} Re{ Re
Computational Steps
Define coordinates of start and end of panels z
a
and z
b
Compute the panel slopes
Put the control points next to the panel centers
Determine the component of W

normal to each panel

Determine the influence coefficients
Solve the matrix problem, i.e. matrix divide by
Compute the flow velocities and pressures
a b
a b
i
z z
z z
e
ds
dz

= =
|
) ( ) (
,
n
b
n
a
z z
( ) ) (
2
1
a b b a c
z z i z z z + = c

W
ds
dz
m) (
1
Im
} Im{
) , ( n m
C

W
ds
dz
m) (
1
Im
) (
1
) (
1
) (
) (
) (
) (
) , (
log
2
1
m
n
n
b
m
c
n
a
m
c
e
n m
ds
dz
dz
ds
z z
z z
C
|
|
.
|

\
|

=
t
Matlab Code
) (
1
) ( ) (
, ,
n
n
b
n
a
ds dz z z
) (n
c
z
) , ( n m
C

W
ds
dz
m) (
1
Im
Matrix div.
ConstantSourcePanel.m

N
n
n m n
m
C q W
ds
dz
1
) , ( ) (
) (
1
} Re{ Re
Result
matrix
Velocities
along body
surface
Matlab Code Ideas:
1. Non-Uniform Free Stream
E.g. Suppose
free stream
includes, say a
doublet outside
the body at a
location x=5, so
2
) 5 (
10
1

+ =

z
W
ConstantSourcePanel.m
Matlab Code Ideas:
2. More than one body
E.g. Suppose
we have two
circles
ConstantSourcePanel.m
Matlab Code Ideas:
3. Use more sophisticated panels
E.g. Panels with
linearly varying
strength
ConstantSourcePanel.m
3. Linear Source Panel Method
E.g. Panels with
linearly varying
strength
LinearSourcePanel.m
3. Linear Source Panels
a
b
q
a
Constant
strength panels
Linear strength
panels
Influence of q
b
depends on panel
ab and panel bc
Influence of q
a
depends only
panel ab
a
b
q
a
q
b
q
c
c
3. Linear Source Panel Method
E.g. Panels with
linearly varying
strength
LinearSourcePanel.m
Matlab Code Ideas:
4.Change to vortex panel method
) ( 2
) (
1
z z
q
z W

=
t
) ( 2
) (
1
z z
i
z W

I
=
t
LinearSourcePanel.m
Matlab Code Ideas:
4. Vortex panel method
LinearVortexPanel.m
(see also
ConstantVortexPanel.m)
Matlab Code Ideas:
5. Set a Kutta Condition
Kutta condition
requires that
surface vorticity
at trailing edge is
zero.
LinearVortexPanel.m
(see also
ConstantVortexPanel.m)
Matlab Code Ideas:
5. Kutta Condition Code
Kutta condition
requires that
surface vorticity
at trailing edge is
zero.
LinearVortexPanelKutta.m
Things to watch out for
Always use an odd number of panels
when you have a symmetric body
The control-point equation
assumes that as you move from ato byou
are progressing counter-clockwise around
the body surface. (For clockwise you need
to reverse the sign before i).
( ) ) (
2
1
a b b a c
z z i z z z + = c
Center point Displacement A