Arc length-streamfunction formulation and its application (Q1337240)

A new approach has been developed to calculate two-dimensional steady incompressible potential internal and external flows using an arc length- streamfunction formulation. The computational domain is obtained by a coordinate transformation that specifies the curvilinear coordinates \(s\), \(\psi\) as the arc length along a streamline and streamfunction. We solve two elliptic differential equations for the Cartesian coordinates \(x\) and \(y\), as unknown functions of \(s\) and \(\psi\). When the equations are solved, the grid and the flow field are obtained simultaneously. Most boundary conditions are of the Dirichlet type, which simplifies the numerical procedure.