Flow on the surface of a cylinder

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on fluid dynamics involving an infinite cylinder moving at a constant velocity \(\vec{U}\) in a stationary background flow. The velocity potential is expressed in cylindrical polar coordinates as \(\phi=-\frac{U a^2 \cos(\theta)}{r}\), where \(a\) is the cylinder's radius. The velocity field \(\vec{u}\) is derived as \(\vec{u} = \frac{U a^2 \cos(\theta)}{r^2} \vec{r} + \frac{U a^2 \sin(\theta)}{r^2} \vec{\theta}\). The discussion also touches on proving the boundary condition for the background flow and establishing that \(\nabla \times \vec{u} = 0\) indicates the flow is irrotational.

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  • Understanding of fluid dynamics principles
  • Familiarity with cylindrical polar coordinates
  • Knowledge of vector calculus, particularly gradient and curl operations
  • Basic concepts of irrotational flow
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Homework Statement


An infinite cylinder is moving at constant velocity \vec{U} in a stationary background flow. On the surface of the sphere no fluid penetrates, so that \vec{U} \cdot \vec{n} = \vec{u} \cdot \vec{n}. Where \vec{n} is the vector normal to the surface of the cylinder. At the instant the axis of the cylinder coincides with the origin, the velocity potential in cylindrical polar coordinates is given by;
\phi=-\frac{U a^2 cos(\theta)}{r}
where a is the radius of the cylinder.
i) find the velocity field \vec{u}
ii) prove the relavent boundary condition for the background flow.
iii) Find \vec{U}

Homework Equations


The Attempt at a Solution


i) basical it is grad \phi I got \vec{u} =\frac{U a^2 cos(\theta)}{r^2} \vec{r}+\frac{U a^2 sin(\theta)}{r^2} \vec{\theta}
ii) not sure what boundary i tried solving U dot n = u dot n
with n as r_hat, but didnt get anywhere.
 
Last edited:
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for ii) I proved that \nabla \times \vec{u} = 0 which shows its irrotational but I am not positive if that's the correct thing to do
 

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