Fluid Mechanics, SG2214, HT2013

September 13, 2013

Exercise 4: Exact solutions of Navier-Stokes equations

Example 1: adimensional form of governing equations

Calculating the two-dimensional flow around a cylinder (radius a, located at x = y = 0) in a uniform stream
U involves solving
∂ ū 1
+ (ū · ∇)ū = − ∇p + ν∇2 ū, ∇ · ū = 0,
∂t ρ
with the boundary conditions

ū = 0 on x2 + y 2 = a2 ū → (U, 0) as x2 + y 2 → ∞.

Rewrite this problem in non-dimensional form using the dimensionless variables

x̄0 = x̄/a, ū0 = ū/U, p0 = p/ρU 2 , t0 = tU/a.

∂ a ∂
Note that the scaling x̄0 = x̄/a implies ∇0 = a∇ and t0 = tU/a gives 0 = .
∂t U ∂t
Change to dimensionless variables

U 2 ∂ ū0 U2 0 ρU 2 0 0 νU 0 2 0
0
+ (ū · ∇0 )ū0 = − ∇ p + 2 ∇ ū
a ∂t a ρa a

and divide by U 2 /a
νU
∂ ū0 2
+ (ū0 · ∇0 )ū0 = −∇0 p0 + a2
U2
∇0 ū0
∂t0 a
|{z}
1
Re

U2
inertial forces Ua
The Reynolds number is Re = a = =
νU viscous forces ν
a2
∂ ū0 1 02 0
0
+ (ū0 · ∇0 )ū0 = −∇0 p0 + ∇ ū
∂t Re
The continuity condition is simply
U 0 0
∇ · ū = 0 ⇒ ∇ · ū = 0 ⇒ ∇0 · ū0 = 0 .
a
The boundary conditions are non-dimensionalised as follows:
2 2 2 2
ū = 0 on x2 + y 2 = a2 ⇒ U ū0 = 0 on a2 x0 + a2 y 0 = a2 ⇒ ū0 = 0 on x0 + y 0 = 1.
2 2
ū → (U, 0, 0) as x2 + y 2 → ∞ ⇒ U ū0 → (U, 0, 0) as a2 x0 + a2 y 0 → ∞ ⇒
2 2
ū0 → (1, 0, 0) as x0 + y 0 → ∞

A solution to this problem will depend on x̄0 , Re and t0 only. The solution is thus the same for a specific Re
independently of the individual values of U , a and ν.

1
Example 2: vorticity and deformation
Show that the net viscous force per unit volume is proportional to the spatial derivative of vorticity, i.e.
∂τij ∂ωk
= −µεijk
∂xj ∂xj

and discuss its implication for flows with uniform vorticity (as in solid-body rotation).
 2
∂ 2 uj ∂ 2 ui
  
∂τij ∂ ∂ui ∂uj ∂ ui
=µ + =µ + =µ
∂xj ∂xj ∂xj ∂xi ∂xj ∂xj ∂xj ∂xi ∂xj ∂xj

∂ 2 um ∂ 2 um
 
∂ωk ∂ ∂um
−µεijk = −µεijk εklm = −µεkij εklm = −µ(δil δjm − δim δjl ) =
∂xj ∂xj ∂xl ∂xj xl ∂xj xl
 2
∂ 2 ui ∂ 2 ui

∂ uj
−µ − =µ
∂xj ∂xi ∂xj ∂xj ∂xj ∂xj
Thus
∂τij ∂ωk
= −µεijk
∂xj ∂xj
The net viscous force vanishes when the vorticity is uniform, since no deformation exists.

Example 3: Poiseuille Flow (Pipe Flow)

Consider the viscous flow of a fluid through a pipe with a circular cross-section given by r = a under the
∂p
constant pressure gradient P = − . Show that
∂z
P 2
uz = (a − r2 ) ur = uθ = 0.
4µ

Figure 1: Coordinate system for Poiseuille flow.

Use the Navier-Stokes equations in cylindrical coordinates (see lecture notes)

u2θ
 
∂ur 1 ∂p 2 ur 2 ∂uθ
+ (ū · ∇)ur − =− + ν ∇ ur − 2 − 2
∂t r ρ ∂r r r ∂θ
 
∂uθ ur uθ 1 ∂p 2 2 ∂ur uθ
+ (ū · ∇)uθ + =− + ν ∇ uθ + 2 − 2
∂t r ρ r ∂θ r ∂θ r
∂uz 1 ∂p
+ (ū · ∇)uz = − + ν∇2 uz
∂t ρ ∂z
1 ∂ 1 ∂uθ ∂uz
(r ur ) + + =0.
r ∂r r ∂θ ∂z

2
 ∂p ∂p
We know that = 0 and = 0 and can directly see that ur = uθ = 0 satisfys the two first equations.
∂θ ∂r
From the continuity equation we get
∂uz
=0 ⇒ uz = uz (r, θ) only.
∂z
Considering a steady flow we get from the axial component of the Navier-Stokes equations
∂uz ∂uz 1
(ū · ∇)uz = uz ⇒ uz = P + ν∇2 uz .
∂z ∂z ρ
∂uz
But we know that = 0 from the continuity equation. We get
∂z
1 ∂ ∂uz P ∂ ∂uz P
∇2 uz = (r )=− ⇒ (r )=− r
r ∂r ∂r µ ∂r ∂r µ
Integrate once in r gives
∂uz P 2 ∂uz P c1
r =− r + c1 ⇒ =− r+ ,
∂r 2µ ∂r 2µ r
and integrating again we get
P 2
uz = − r + c1 ln(r) + c2 using the boundary conditions uz (r = 0) < ∞ ⇒ c1 = 0 .
4µ
P a2
We also have uz = 0 at r = a and this gives c2 = and we finally get
4µ

P 2
uz = (a − r2 ) .
4µ

Example 4: Flow over an Inclined Plate

Two incompressible viscous fluids flow one on top of the other down an inclined plate at an angle α (see figure
2). They both have the same density ρ, but different viscosities µ1 and µ2 . The lower fluid has depth h1 and
the upper h2 . Assuming that viscous forces from the surrounding air is negligible and that the pressure on
the free surface is constant, show that
 
1 g sin(α)
u1 (y) = (h1 + h2 )y − y 2 .
2 ν1

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X

Figure 2: Coordinate system for flow down an inclined plate.

Make the ansatz ū1 = [u1 (y), 0, 0] and ū2 = [u2 (y), 0, 0]. The continuity equation
∂u ∂v ∂v
+ =0 gives = 0 ⇒ v = c and the boundary condition at y = 0 give v = 0.
∂x ∂y ∂y

3
• Layer 1:
1 ∂p1
N–S · ēy : 0 = − − g cos(α) ⇒ p1 = −ρg cos(α)y + f1 (x)
ρ ∂y
1 0 d2 u1 0
N–S · ēx : 0 = − f1 (x) + ν1 2 + g sin(α) ⇒ f1 (x) = c1
ρ dy
• Layer 2:
1 ∂p2
N–S · ēy : 0 = − − g cos(α) ⇒ p2 = −ρg cos(α)y + f2 (x)
ρ ∂y
1 0 d2 u2 0
N–S · ēx : 0 = − f2 (x) + ν2 2 + g sin(α) ⇒ f2 (x) = c2
ρ dy
The pressure at the free surface y = h1 + h2 is p0 :
0
p0 = −ρg cos(α)(h1 + h2 ) + f2 (x) ⇒ f2 = p0 + ρg(h1 + h2 ) cos(α) ⇒ f2 = 0

The pressure is continuous at y = h1 :

0
p0 + ρgh2 cos(α) = −ρgh1 cos(α) + f1 (x) ⇒ f1 = p0 + ρg(h1 + h2 ) cos(α) ⇒ f1 = 0

This gives the pressure:

p1 (y) = p2 (y) = p(y) = −ρ g cos(α)y + p0 + ρ g cos(α)(h1 + h2 )

We now have two momentum equations in x:

d2 u1
0 = ν1 + g sin(α) (1)
dy 2

d2 u2
0 = ν2 + g sin(α) (2)
dy 2
And four boundary conditions:

BC1: No slip on the plate: u1 (0) = 0


du2 
BC2: No viscous forces on the free surface: µ2 =0
dy y=h1 +h2
 
du1  du2 
BC3: Force balance at the fluid interface: µ1 = µ2
dy y=h1 dy y=h1
BC4: Continous velocity at the interface: u1 |y=h1 = u2 |y=h1
du1 g g 2
(1) ⇒ = − y sin(α) + c11 ⇒ u1 = − y sin(α) + c11 y + c12
dy ν1 2 ν1
du2 g g 2
(2) ⇒ = − y sin(α) + c21 ⇒ u2 = − y sin(α) + c21 y + c22
dy ν2 2 ν2
BC1 ⇒ c12 = 0
g g
BC2 ⇒ µ2 (− (h1 + h2 ) sin(α) + c21 ) = 0 ⇒ c21 = (h1 + h2 ) sin(α)
ν2 ν2
g g µ2 g
BC3 ⇒ µ1 (− y sin(α)+c11 ) = µ2 (− y sin(α)+c21 ) {µ = νρ} ⇒ c11 = c21 = (h1 +h2 ) sin(α)
ν1 ν2 µ1 ν1
g 2 g g 2 g
BC4 ⇒ − h1 sin(α) + (h1 + h2 ) sin(α)h1 = − h1 sin(α) + (h1 + h2 ) sin(α)h1 + c22
2 ν1 ν1 2 ν2 ν2
 2  
h1 1 1
⇒ c22 = g sin(α) − (h1 + h2 )h1 −
2 ν2 ν1

4
This gives us the velocities:
g 2 g
u1 (y) = − y sin(α) + (h1 + h2 ) sin(α)y
2 ν1 ν1
 
g sin(α) 1
u1 (y) = (h1 + h2 )y − y 2
ν1 2
 2  
g sin(α) 2 g sin(α) h1 1 1
u2 (y) = − y + (h1 + h2 )y + g sin(α) − (h1 + h2 )h1 −
2 ν2 ν2 2 ν2 ν1
   2  
g sin(α) 1 h 1 1
u2 (y) = (h1 + h2 )y − y 2 + g sin(α) 1 − (h1 + h2 )h1 −
ν2 2 2 ν2 ν1
The velocity in layer 1 does depend on h2 but not on the viscosity in layer 2. This is because the depth
is important for the tangential stress boundary condition at the interface, unlike the viscosity. There is no
acceleration of the upper layer and thus the tangential stress must be equal to the gravitational force on the
upper layer which depends on h2 but not on ν2 .

Extra Material
Plane Couette Flow
Consider the flow of a viscous Newtonian fluid between two parallel plates located at y = 0 and y = h. The
upper plane is moving with velocity U . Calculate the flow field.

Assume the following:

Steady flow:
∂
=0
∂t
Parallel, fully-developed flow:
∂ui
v = 0, =0
∂x
Two-dimensional flow:
∂
w = 0, =0
∂z
No pressure gradient:
∂p
=0
∂xi
The streamwise Navier-Stokes equation is
∂u 1
+ (ū · ∇)u = − ∇p + ν∇2 u ,
∂t ρ
can be simplified using the above assumptions. We get

∂2u ∂u
=0 ⇒ =A ⇒ u = Ay + B .
∂y 2 ∂y
With the boundary conditions

u(0) = 0 ⇒ B = 0, u(h) = U ⇒ A = U/h

we finally obtain
Uy
u(y) = .
h

5
Plane Poiseuille Flow (Channel Flow)
Consider the flow of a viscous Newtonian fluid between two solid boundaries at y = ±h driven by a constant
pressure gradient ∇p = [−P, 0, 0]. Show that
P 2
u= (h − y 2 ), v = w = 0.
2µ

Figure 3: Coordinate system for plane Poiseuille flow.

Navier-Stokes equations:
 ∂ ū + (ū · ∇)ū = − 1 ∇p + ν∇2 ū


∂t ρ
∇ · ū = 0.


Boundary conditions:
ū(y = ±h) = 0
∂ ū
• We are considering stationary flow and thus = 0.
∂t
• The constant pressure gradient implies ū = ū(y). Changes of ū in x, z would require a changing pressure
gradient in x, z.
∂v
• The continuity equation ∇ · ū reduces to = 0. The boundary condition v(y = ±h) = 0 then implies
∂y
v = 0.
Consider the spanwise (z) component of the Navier-Stokes equations:
∂w ∂2w
v =ν 2 ⇒ w = c1 y + c2
|{z} ∂y ∂y
=0

The boundary conditions w(y = −h) = w(y = h) = 0 imply c1 = c2 = 0 and thus w = 0. We can conclude
that ū = [u(y), 0, 0].

Consider now the streamwise (x) component of the Navier-Stokes equations:

P ∂2u ∂u P P 2
0= +ν 2 ⇒ = − y + d1 {µ = ρν} ⇒ u(y) = − y + d1 y + d2
ρ ∂y ∂y νρ 2µ
The boundary conditions at y = ±h give
P 2 P 2
0=− h + d1 h + d2 and 0 = − h − d1 h + d2
2µ 2µ
P 2
We can directly conclude that d1 = 0 and this gives d2 = h . The solution is thus
2µ
P 2
u= (h − y 2 ), v=w=0.
2µ