Axisymmetrical Flow

Abstract

The introduction of a stream function serves to unify the method of attack on all two-dimensional incompressible fluid motions. For those situations the solution of the equations of motion is reduced to the search for a single scalar function. Unfortunately, in the general case of three-dimensional motions this unified method of approach is denied us. Specific solutions of the equations of motion must be developed for each different boundary geometry. There exist, however, a number of classes of three-dimensional flows which can still be uniquely characterized by means of a single scalar function. Each of these involves a certain mode of symmetry in the flow pattern.