A pair of stream functions for three-dimensional vortex flows (Q1366324)

The author presents a novel form of the equations of motion for incompressible inviscid fluid flows. A vector potential is defined using a pair of stream functions, and the equations for these two stream functions that govern general steady incompressible loss-free flows are investigated. It is noted that the method is limited to the case of axisymmetric vortex flows. The equations are suitable to investigate transitions from axisymmetric upstream flows to helical downstream flows. A close analogy with the Clebsch's transformation is shown.