Stream function and stream-function-coordinate (SFC) formulation for inviscid flow field calculations (Q1083303)

Three-dimensional, steady, inviscid, compressible, isoenergetic, rotational flows can be completely described by two families of stream functions. In the present study, explicit forms of the governing equations for these two stream functions of barotropic fluid flows are derived. With the assumptions of two-dimensional or axisymmetric, incompressible and/or irrotational flows, this formulation can be reduced to the familiar special cases. The concept of stream-function-coordinate (SFC) is introduced along with some relevant examples. Exact gas dynamic equations using stream functions as independent variables are also presented. Applications and difficulties involved with the SFC concept are clearly exposed, and several possible ways to resolve these problems are discussed.