Fluid mechanics Foundations and kinematics of flow Concept
Circulation
Summary
The circulation of a flow around a closed curve is the line integral of the velocity along the curve. By Stokes' theorem it equals the flux of vorticity through any surface bounded by the curve. Circulation around a wing determines its lift. Kelvin's circulation theorem says that in an ideal fluid it stays constant around a closed curve that moves with the fluid.
Where this leads
13 pages build on this one.
- Rankine vortex
- Kelvin's circulation theorem
- Helmholtz's theorems on vortices
- Lifting-line theory
- Vortex lattice method
- d'Alembert's paradox
- Kutta condition
- Thin airfoil theory
- Kármán vortex street
- Quantum vortex
- Kutta–Joukowski theorem
- Potential flow around a circular cylinder
- Biot–Savart law for vortex filaments
Further reading
About this page
| Tag | BTHH4Y71QR |
|---|---|
| URI | m2://BTHH4Y71QR |
| Kind | concept |
| Writing | W0 stub |
| MSC | 76A02, 76B47 |
| Same as | |
| Changed | 3 November 2026 |
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Used by
- Rankine vortex
- Kelvin's circulation theorem
- Helmholtz's theorems on vortices
- Lifting-line theory
- Kutta condition
- Thin airfoil theory
- Kármán vortex street
- Quantum vortex
- Kutta–Joukowski theorem
- Potential flow around a circular cylinder
- Biot–Savart law for vortex filaments