Inviscid Shear Flow Analysis of Corner Eddies Ahead of a Channel Flow Contraction

Abstract

The steady rotational flow of an inviscid fluid in a two-dimensional channel toward a sink or a contraction is treated. The velocity distribution at upstream infinity is approximated by a linear combination of uniform flow, linear shear flow, and a cosine curve. The combinations were adjusted to simulate flows ranging from laminar to turbulent. Vorticity is assumed conserved on streamlines. The resulting linear equations of motion are solved exactly. The solution show the dependence of the corner eddy separation and reattachment on flow geometry and approach flow vorticity and velocity distribution typified by a shape factor.