- #1
flasherffff
- 10
- 0
there is something i can't seem to get about potential flow,
when we work with potential flows we combine some simple potential flows to satisfy some boundary condition (shape of the body and potential at infinity),
we get the resulting flow and we assume that that is the flow in reality
BUT (this is what bothers me) the potential flow that satisfies those boundary condition (shape of the body) is not unique.
example 1: the panel sheet method and vortex sheet method can produce the same external airfoil shape ,but have different flow patterns around them
example 2:the rotating vs the non rotating cylinder
both flows satisfy the same boundary conditions but are different
so... how can we assume that some solution to a given geometry is like reality ,when the solution isn't even unique mathematically
when we work with potential flows we combine some simple potential flows to satisfy some boundary condition (shape of the body and potential at infinity),
we get the resulting flow and we assume that that is the flow in reality
BUT (this is what bothers me) the potential flow that satisfies those boundary condition (shape of the body) is not unique.
example 1: the panel sheet method and vortex sheet method can produce the same external airfoil shape ,but have different flow patterns around them
example 2:the rotating vs the non rotating cylinder
both flows satisfy the same boundary conditions but are different
so... how can we assume that some solution to a given geometry is like reality ,when the solution isn't even unique mathematically