What is irrotational flow?

1. Feb 11, 2005

Baggio

All the math based texts just simply derive or state curl(U)=0 but what does this physically mean?

Does it mean that a single fluid element does not rotate?

2. Feb 11, 2005

dextercioby

It means that the velocity vector field is a conservative one,as it comes from a scalar potential (due to curl=0).Yes,the condition is called "irrotational flow" for good reason;basically the fluid lines do not curl,they are parallel wrt themselves at any moment of time.
http://discover.edventures.com/functions/termlib.php?action=&termid=532&alpha=r&searchString= [Broken]

Daniel.

Last edited by a moderator: May 1, 2017
3. Feb 11, 2005

Gokul43201

Staff Emeritus
I suspect a good intro to superfluidity will cover this nicely ... let me check if I've got something bookmarked.

4. Feb 11, 2005

dextercioby

I would suspect an equivalent term for it would be:"laminar flow".

But that's just terminology.The basic idea behind is relevant.

Daniel.

EDIT:It would be really dull,if i wasn't wrong from time to time,huh...? :tongue2:

Last edited: Feb 11, 2005
5. Feb 11, 2005

arildno

There is no connection between the concepts "laminar flow" and "irrotational flow".
Couette flow is certainly laminar, but not at all irrotational.
Irrotational means what it says: the local angular velocity at a point is zero.

EDIT: Yes, I think I would yawn myself to death if you were right all the time..
(Possibly, that's what I ought to do, anyways?? )

Last edited: Feb 11, 2005
6. Feb 11, 2005

Baggio

I thought so, thanks.