| Issue |
La Houille Blanche
Number 5, Octobre 2007
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Page(s) | 127 - 131 | |
| Section | Mécanique des fluides : Potentiels de vitesses | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/lhb:2007072 | |
| Published online | 31 October 2007 | |
Le Potentiel de vitesse pour les écoulements de fluides réels : la contribution de Joseph-Louis Lagrange
Velocity Potential in Real Fluid Flows : Joseph-Louis Lagrange’s Contribution
Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane QLD 4072, Australie
Auteur de correspondance : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Abstract
Today the concept of “potential flow” is too often associated, wrongly, with the notion of ideal, hence inviscid fluid. Herein the original development of Joseph-Louis LAGRANGE is presented. He introduced the velocity potential for real fluid flows, provided that the resultant of the forces derives from a potential. In the same article, LAGRANGE also presented the concept of stream function and the equation of the celerity of a small disturbance in shallow-water. LAGRANGE made an outstanding contribution in 1781 and he was truly ahead of his time.
Key words: Velocity potential / Irrotational flow motion / Real fluids / Joseph-Louis LAGRANGE / Stream function / Wave celerity.
© Société Hydrotechnique de France, 2007