Unit 5.

06 Hrs

Flow Over Circular Cylinders

Non-lifting flow over a two-dimensional circular cylinder, Lifting flow over a two-dimensional
circular cylinder, Kutta-Joukowski theorem and generation of lift, D’Alembert’s paradox

We have seen that by superimposing a uniform flow over a doublet, a non-lifting flow over a
circular cylinder can be synthesized.

Now, consider a flow synthesized by the addition of the non-lifting flow over a cylinder and a
vortex of strength Γ, as shown below. What we get is a lifting flow over a cylinder.

The stream function for a non-lifting flow over a circular cylinder of radius R is given by the
equation:

The stream function of a vortex of strength Γ is given by:

Note that the constant of integration mentioned above is an arbitrary constant. Let,

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Therefore the stream function of the vortex can be written as:

The resulting stream function of a flow synthesized by the addition of the non-lifting flow over a
cylinder and a vortex of strength Γ can be written as:

……………………(Eqn-1)

When r = R, ψ = 0

Since ψ = constant is the equation of a stream line, r = R is a streamline of the flow Further, r = R
is the equation of a circle of radius R. Equation (1) is a valid stream function for the inviscid,
incompressible flow over a circular cylinder of radius R. The resulting streamline pattern is
sketched at the right of the figure shown in the previous page.

(Note: The previous result of non-lifting flow over a cylinder is a special case of equation (1)
with Γ = 0.)

Note that the streamlines are no longer symmetric about the horizontal axis passing through
the point O and that the cylinder will experience a resulting normal force. However, the
streamlines are symmetrical about the vertical axis passing through the point O. As a result the
drag will be zero for an incompressible inviscid flow. Moreover, since a vortex of strength Γ has
been added to the flow, the circulation about the cylinder is now finite and is equal to Γ.

The velocity of the field can either be obtained by differentiating the stream function equation
(Eqn-1) or by adding the velocity field of the non lifting cylinder and the velocity field of the
vortex.

………………………………………………(Eqn-2)

………………………………………………(Eqn-3)

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To get the stagnation points in the flow, set V r = Vθ = 0 in equations (2) and (3) and solve for the
resulting coordinates (r,θ):

………………………………………………(Eqn-4)

………………………(Eqn-5)

From Eqn-4,
r = R

Substituting this value of r in Eqn-5:

Or,
………………………………………………(Eqn-6)

Or,

………………………………………………(Eqn-7)

Since Γ is a positive number, sinθ being negative can happen only in the third and fourth
quadrants. That is, there can be two stagnation points on the bottom half of the circular
cylinder, as shown as points 1 and 2 on the left part, (a), of the figure below. These points are
located at (R,θ), where θ is given by Eqn-7. But, this result is valid only when Γ/(4¶V ∞R) < 1.

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If Γ/(4¶V∞R) = 1, there will be only one stagnation point on the bottom of the circular cylinder,
namely, point (R, -¶/2). This can be seen as point 3 on the center picture, (b), in the figure
above.

For the case of Γ/(4¶V∞R) > 1, equations (6) and (7) do not have any meaning. In this case we
return to equations (4) and (5). Eqn-4 is satisfied for r = R and θ = ¶/2 or -¶/2. Substituting the
value of θ = -¶/2 in Eqn-5,

………………………(Eqn-8)

Recall that when Γ/(4¶V∞R) = 1, the single stagnation point is on the bottom of the circular
cylinder at point (R, -¶/2). From Eqn-8 above:
one of the solutions for r will have a value more than Γ/(4¶V∞R) (i.e., r > R)
and
the other solution will have a value less than Γ/(4¶V ∞R) (i.e., r < R)

This means that one of the stagnation points will be outside the cylinder (i.e., for r > R) and the
other stagnation point (theoretical) will be inside the cylinder (i.e., for r < R). These are
represented by points 4 and 5 respectively in the last picture, (c), in the figure above.

Recall that r = R or ψ = 0 is just one of the allowed streamlines of the flow. There is a theoretical
flow inside the cylinder. This flow represents the flow that is issuing from the doublet at the
origin superimposed with the vortex flow for r < R. The circular streamline r = R is the dividing
streamline between this flow and the freestream. Therefore, we can replace the dividing

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streamline by a solid body. Hence, although one stagnation point falls within body, we are not
realistically concerned about that. Instead, from the point of view of flow over a solid cylinder of
radius R, point 4 is the only meaningful stagnation point for the case Γ/(4¶V ∞R) > 1.

We can summarise the above discussions as follows:

1. When Γ = 0: Non-lifting flow over the circular cylinder happens
2. Γ/(4¶V∞R) < 1 or Γ < (4¶V∞R): Lifting flow over the circular cylinder with two stagnation
points on the bottom half of the cylinder happens.
3. Γ/(4¶V∞R) = 1 or Γ = (4¶V∞R): Lifting flow over the circular cylinder with one stagnation
point on the bottom of the cylinder happens, namely, point (R, -¶/2).
4. Γ/(4¶V∞R) > 1 or Γ > (4¶V∞R): Lifting flow over the circular cylinder with two stagnation
points at -¶/2 happens. One stagnation point (theoretical) is at r < R and the other
stagnation point is at r > R.

Expressions for Lift and Drag

The velocity at the surface of the cylinder can be obtained from the equation for V θ (obtained
from Eqn-5) by setting r = R.

………………………(Eqn-9)

……………(Eqn-10)

Aerodynamic force coefficients can be obtained by integrating the pressure coefficient and skin
friction coefficient over the surface. For inviscid flow, the skin friction coefficient, c f = 0. Hence
the drag coefficient cd is given by the equation:

………………………(Eqn-11)

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We have,

………………………(Eqn-12)

Substituting the value of Cp from Eqn-10,

cd

………………………(Eqn-13)

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Evaluation of Lift

………………(Eqn-14)

………………(Eqn-15)

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 ………………(Eqn-16)

………………(Eqn-17)

Eqn-17 is called Kutta-Joukowski theorem. It states that the lift per unit span is proportional to
circulation.
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As stated earlier, the prediction of zero drag is erroneous. This has resulted in D’Alembert’s
paradox. It is now known that viscous effects create skin friction and flow separation which
always produce a finite drag.

On the other hand, the prediction of lift via Eqn-17 is quite realistic.

Circulation and Lift

Although Eqn-17 was derived for a circular cylinder, it applies in general to other bodies of
arbitrary cross section. Consider an inviscid, incompressible flow over an airfoil as shown below.
Let A be any curve in the flow enclosing the airfoil. If the airfoil is producing lift, the velocity
field around the airfoil will be such that the line integral of velocity around A will be finite.

i.e.,

is finite. In turn, the lift per unit span L’ on the airfoil will be given by Kutta-Joukowski theorem:

L’ = ρ∞V∞Γ
This result underscores the importance of the concept of circulation. Kutta-Joukowski theorem
states that the lift per unit span on a two-dimensional body is directly proportional to the
circulation around the body.

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Recall that the lifting flow over a circular cylinder was synthesized by superimposing a uniform
flow, a doublet and a vortex. Same analogy applies on the lifting flow over any other bodies of
arbitrary cross section. All the elementary flows synthesized are irrotational at all points, except
for the vortex, which has infinite vorticity at the origin. Therefore, the lifting flow over the body
is irrotational at every point except the origin.

Any curve enclosing the origin will have a finite circulation, Γ, as V x V is infinite at the origin.
The value of Γ will be equal to the strength of the vortex.

If we take the circulation around any curve, say curve B, which is not enclosing the origin, the
resultant Γ = 0. This is because the flow will be irrotational in this region as the curve does not
encompass the origin.

The important point here is that, in Kutta-Joukowski theorem, the value of Γ used in Equation-17
must be evaluated around a closed curve that encloses the body.

The definition of Circulation and the use of Kutta-Joukowski equation to obtain lift is the
essence of circulation theory of lift.

Numerical Example-1

Consider a lifting flow over a circular cylinder. The lift coefficient is 5. Calculate the peak
pressure coefficient.

Answer-1

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Numerical Example-2

For the flow field given in the previous example, calculate the location of the stagnation points
and the points on the cylinder where the pressure equals freestream static pressure.

Answer-2

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Numerical Example-3

Consider a lifting flow over a circular cylinder with a diameter 0.8 m. The free stream velocity is
30 /sec and maximum velocity on the surface of the cylinder is 80 m/sec. The free stream
conditions are those for the standard altitude of 3.5 km. Calculate the lift per unit span of the
body. (Assume density at 3.5 km = 0.8634 kg/m3.

Answer-3

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