Aviation and Aerospace University, Bangladesh
Aerodynamics
Kutta-Joukowski Theorem & Kutta Condition
Department of Aerospace Engineering
Lalmonirhat Campus
Department of Aerospace Engineering
Lifting flow over a body
Superposition of a uniform flow with a doublet and vortex:
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Stagnation Points
Possible stagnation points for the lifting flow over a circular
cylinder
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The velocity field for lifting flow over a cylinder of radius R:
To locate the stagnation points in the flow, set .
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Possible stagnation points for the lifting flow over a circular
cylinder.
A finite normal force (lift) must exist on the body due to a lack of
symmetry.
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The surface of the cylinder tends to drag the fluid near the
surface in the same direction as the rotational motion.
This “extra” velocity contribution creates a higher-than-
usual velocity at the top of the cylinder and a lower-than-
usual
As thevelocity
velocityat the bottom.
increases, the pressure decreases. the
pressure on the top of the cylinder is lower than on the
bottom.
This pressure imbalance creates a net upward force, that is,
a finite lift.
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Kutta-Joukowski Theorem
The velocity on the surface of the cylinder with r = R:
The velocity on the surface of the cylinder with r = R:
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The lift on it is integrated over the upper and lower surfaces:
Converting to polar coordinates, we obtain:
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The equation of lift coefficient:
where:
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The lift per unit span can be obtained from :
Here, the planform area S = 2R(1)
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The lift per unit span is directly proportional to circulation.
It is called the Kutta-Joukowski theorem
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Lift per unit span L on the airfoil will be given by the
Kutta-Joukowski theorem.
The Kutta-Joukowski theorem states that lift per unit span
on a 2D body is directly proportional to the circulation
around the body.
It is simply an alternative way of expressing the
consequences of the surface pressure distribution
For incompressible, potential flow, it is generally much
easier to determine the circulation around the body
rather than calculating the detailed surface pressure
distribution.
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Let curve 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:
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Flow around Airfoil
Circulation around a point vortex is equal to the
strength of the vortex, which, when superimposed with
a freestream velocity, determines the amount of lift it
can [Link] it possible to model an airfoil using vortex
Therefore,
flows?
where:
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Vortex Filament
Imagine a straight line, going through point O, and extending to infinity
both out of and into the page. This line is a straight vortex filament.
A point vortex
Vortex Filament
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Vortex Sheet
An infinite number of straight vortex filaments side by side, where the
strength of each filament is infinitesimally small. These side-by-side
vortex filaments form a vortex sheet.
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Let s be the distance measured along the vortex sheet in the edge view.
Define γ = γ(s) as the strength of the vortex sheet, per unit length along s.
Thus, the strength of an infinitesimal portion ds of the sheet is γ ds.
This small section of the vortex sheet can be treated as a distinct vortex
of strength γ ds.
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Small section of the vortex sheet of strength γ ds induces an infinitesimally
small velocity dV at point P.
Circulation around a point vortex is equal to the strength of the vortex.
The circulation around the vortex sheet is the sum of the strengths of the
elemental vortices.
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Velocity components tangential to the top and bottom are u1 and u2.
Velocity components perpendicular to the left and right sides are v1 and v2.
Circulation around the dashed path:
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Strength of the vortex sheet contained inside the dashed path:
Therefore:
Let the top and bottom of the dashed line approach the
vortex sheet; that is, let dn → 0.
The local jump in tangential velocity across the vortex sheet is equal to
the local sheet strength.
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Kutta Condition
Effect of circulation on the potential flow over an airfoil.
Which is the steady state flow pattern?
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It is observed that the flow smoothly leaves the top and the bottom
surfaces of the airfoil at the trailing edge.
The trailing edge however can have a finite angle or cusped.
Finite angle trailing edge:
If velocities along the top and bottom surfaces were finite at point a, then
we have two velocities in two different directions at the same point.
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This is not physically possible, and except that both velocities are set to
zero. That is, for the finite trailing edge, point a is a stagnation point
Cusped trailing edge:
For the cusped trailing edge V1 and V2 in the same direction at point a,
and hence both V1 and V2 can be finite.
However, the pressure at point a, p2, is a single, unique value, and
according to Bernoulli’s equation:
Department of Aerospace Engineering
The statement of the Kutta condition as follows:
1. For a given airfoil at a given angle of attack, the value around the
airfoil is such that the flow leaves the trailing edge smoothly.
2. If the trailing-edge angle is finite, the trailing edge is a stagnation point.
3. If the trailing edge is cusped, the velocities leaving the top and bottom
surfaces at the trailing edge are finite and equal in magnitude and direction.
Kutta condition in terms of the strength of the vortex sheet: