ME 311

Problems on Exact Solutions of Navier-Stokes Equation

1. It is everyday experience that, if you lubricate sliding solid surfaces with oil, the friction
is greatly reduced. The situation is illustrated in the figure below, in which a block of large
length W (perpendicular to the plane of the figure) is sliding with relative velocity U on an
oil film of thickness h{x} that is much smaller than the block width L (<<W). Figure has
been drawn in the reference frame of the block so that the bottom surface is moving with
a velocity U while the block is stationary. The block is tilted with an inclination angle 𝛼 to
the horizontal that is small so that sin𝛼 = 𝛼 and cos𝛼 = 𝛼. Neglecting gravity so that
p{0}=p{L} and assuming the inertia of the fluid is negligible, derive an expression for the
volumetric flow rate Q of oil through the gap between the block and the horizontal surface
as measured in the reference frame of figure. Express your answer as a function of U, W,
h1, h2.

2. Air at 20oC and 1 atm is driven between two parallel plates 1 cm apart by an imposed
pressure gradient (dp/dx) and by the upper plate’s moving at 20 cm/s. Find (a) the volume
flow rate (in cm3/s per meter of width) if dp/dx = - 0.3 Pa/m and (b) the value of (dp/dx) (in
Pa/m) which causes the shear stress at the lower plate to be zero. µ=1.81x10-5 Pa.s.

3. A thin flat plate of width W is dipped into a viscous fluid to a depth L and subsequently
pulled out. It is then held stationary in a vertical position while the fluid drains from it, as
shown in the figure below. The thickness h{x,t} of the fluid film increases from top (x=0)
to bottom (x=L) and decreases with time as the fluid drains away. Assuming that the fluid
inertia is negligible and that at any point there is a balance of gravity and viscous forces
in the fluid film on the plate, derive an expression for the volume flow rate per unit width,
Q/W, in the film on one side of the plate as a function of the film thickness h{x,t} and the
fluid properties.
4. A paper coating process consists of pulling a continuous sheet of paper upward through
the surface of a pool of coating liquid at a speed V=0.1 m/s. A film of coating liquid of
constant thickness h adheres to the paper, as shown in the figure below. Calculate the
film thickness h if the liquid speed u(h) at the outside edge of the liquid layer (y=h) is zero
and the liquid kinematic viscosity 𝜈 =10-6 m2/s.

5. Two viscous, incompressible, immiscible fluids of same density but different viscosities
flow in separate layers between parallel boundaries located at y=+h as shown in the figure
below. Thickness of each fluid layer is identical and their interface is flat. The flow is driven
by a constant favourable pressure gradient of dp/dx. Derive expressions for the velocity
profiles in the fluid layers. Also, make a sketch of the velocity profiles. Assume the flow
to be steady and the plates to be of infinitely large width.