See

discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/222883143

An alternative approach to
exact solutions of a special
class of Navier-Stokes flows

Article in Applied Mathematics and Computation · July 1998

DOI: 10.1016/S0096-3003(97)10047-9

CITATIONS READS

22 23

1 author:

M. H. Hamdan
University of New Brunswick, Saint John, New Brunswick, Cana…
136 PUBLICATIONS 494 CITATIONS

SEE PROFILE

Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related
projects:

Grid Distortion Errors in Streamfunction Coordinates View

project

All content following this page was uploaded by M. H. Hamdan on 01 July 2016.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

 Ap~IL~iED
MAThEMATiCS
AND
COM~JTATION
ELSEVIER AppliedMathematics and Computation 93 (1998) 83-90

An alternative approach to exact solutions

of a special class of Navier-Stokes flows
M.H. Hamdan 1
Department of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science, University of New Brunswick,
P.O. Box 5050, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada E2L 4L5

Abstract

An exact solution to the two-dimensional, viscous fluid flow, as governed by the Na-
vier-Stokes equations, is obtained for Riabouchinsky-type flows. A modified solution
methodology is developed in this work to better handle the type of flow considered,
and is promising in overcoming some of the disadvantages of the traditional ap-
proach. © 1998 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Riabouchinsky flow; Navier-Stokes; Linearization; Exact solution

I. I n t r o d u c t i o n

Due to the nonlinearity of the Navier-Stokes equations and the inapplicabil-

ity of the superposition principle for nonlinear partial differential equations,
exact solutions are difficult to obtain. Consequently, some exact solutions to
the Navier-Stokes equations have been obtained in cases where these equations
can be linearised and in cases where the partial differential equations can be re-
duced to ordinary differential equations, for which the solution is possible, in
addition to flows in which the vorticity distribution is chosen such that the gov-
erning equations written in terms of the streamfunction become linear. These
concepts have been discussed in great detail by m a n y authors (cf. Refs. [1-8]).
I f the flow is such that the streamfunction is taken to be linear in one of the
space dimensions then the flow is referred to as Riabouchinsky flow (after Ri-
abouchinsky [9]). In this case, the two-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations,

I E-mail: hamdan@unbsj.ca.

0096-3003/98/$19.00 © 1998 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.

PII: S0096-3003(97) 10047-9
84 M.H. Hamdan / Appl. Math. Comput. 93 (1998) 83-90

written as a fourth-order partial differential equation in terms of the stream-

function, may be replaced by two coupled fourth-order ordinary differential
equations in two unknown functions of a single variable. Solutions to the cou-
pled set are then obtained based on the knowledge of particular integrals of one
of the equations. Different types of flow may then be studied with the know-
ledge of one of the functions.
Riabouchinsky [9] assumed one of the functions to be zero and studied the
resulting flow which represents a plane stagnation flow in which the flow is sep-
arated in the two symmetrical regions by a vertical or a horizontal plane. In
addition to the study of Navier-Stokes flows and their applications (cf.
Ref. [1] and the references therein), Riabouchinsky flows have also received
considerable attention in the study of non-Newtonian flows [10] and in magne-
to hydrodynamics [11].
The approach used to solve the resulting coupled set of ordinary differential
equations suffers from some limitations, among which is its dependence on the
knowledge of the particular solutions of one of the equations. In addition, the
resulting solutions involve a number of arbitrary constants the determination
of which usually involves making many restrictive assumptions on the flow.
Other disadvantages of the approach will be discussed below.
In this work we offer a modest modification of the above approach and de-
velop a methodology that is capable of handling a wider class of flow problems.
The developed methodology overcomes some of the disadvantages of the tra-
ditional approach, and is also a promising technique in handling Brinkman-
type flow problems in porous media [12].

2. Governing equations

The two-dimensional steady flow of a viscous incompressible fluid is gov-

erned by the continuity equation and the Navier-Stokes equations which take
the following components form:
ux+vy = 0, (1)
p(uux + vuy) -- - p x + ~V2u, (2)
p(1,ll)x ~- 1)l)y) ~- - p y -~- [2vzu, (3)
where # is the kinematic viscosity coefficient, p is the fluid density, p is the pres-
sure, u and v are the horizontal and vertical components of velocity, respective-
ly. Letting ~ be the streamfunction of the two-dimensional flow and co the
vorticity, defined in terms of the velocity components as:
~y=u and ~px=-V, (4)

co = - .y, (5)
 M.H. Hamdan / Appl. Math. Comput. 93 (1998) 83-90 85

then the governing Eqs. (1)-(3) can be cast in the following vorticity-stream-
function form:
~o = - v 2 ~ , (6)

,'v2o~ - IO,,~ox - Ox<,] = 0, (7)

where v = IJ/p-
Substituting (6) into (7), we obtain
v v 4 0 + [~,xv2~,. - 0,.v2~,,] = 0. (s)
In Eq. (8), which represents the integrability condition for the Navier-Stokes
equations, ~72 ~ Oxx ÷ Ovy, ~ 74 ~---0 ....... - r 20xxw + 0~)., and subscript notation de-
notes partial differentiation.
In order to obtain an equation for the pressure p, Eqs. (2) and (3) are written
first in the following equivalent form, respectively:
p [(q2/Z)x - v(v~ - Uy)] = -p~ +/2~72b/, (9)

p[(q2/2)y + u(vx- Uy)] = -py + #V2v, (10)

where q2 : U2 + V2.
Then, defining p* = p + pq2/2 to be the generalized pressure function,
Eqs. (9) and (10) can be cast in the form:
#%- pro) = - p ~ , (11)

t*oJ, - pu(o = py. (12)

Using (4) and (5) in (1 l) and (12), we obtain
(13)

py -- p O y V 2 q / = - - # ( V 2 O ) x . (14)
Hence, once ~,(x,y) that satisfies Eq. (8) is determined, u, v and co can be deter-
mined from Eqs. (4) and (6), and the generalized pressure can be determined
from (11) and (12) or from (13) and (14).

3. Solution methodology

Assume that the streamfunction ~ is linear, with respect to the independent

variable y, and is of the form
O(x,y) = yf(x) + g(x), (15)
where f(x) and g(x) are arbitrary functions ofx. It is thus required to find f(x)
and g(x) such that t)(x,y) given by (15) satisfies Eq. (8). The equations that
86 M.H. Hamdan / Appl. Math. Comput. 93 (1998) 83-90

f(x) and g(x) satisfy can be obtained by substituting (15) in (8) and equating
the coefficients of similar powers of y. This leads to the following coupled set
of fourth-order ordinary differential equations:
vf (iv) + f f " - f f " = 0, (16)

vg(iv) %-g'f" -- fg" = 0. (17)

In the absence of general solutions for Eqs. (16) and (17), it is customary to
determine O(x,y) in accordance with the following algorithm.
1. Find a particular solution for f(x) satisfying Eq. (16).
2. Substitute this solution in Eq. (17) and find a general solution for g(x).
3. Substitute the above solution in Eq. (15) to find O(x,y), and hence find u, v
and ~o from Eqs. (4) and (6).
4. The generalized pressure is obtained from (13) and (14).
The above algorithm is detailed in what follows. Eq. (7) admits the three
particular solutions:
--6v
fl (x) = - - , (18)
x
fz(x) = va(1 + ~e°~), (19)

f3 (x) = cx %-d, (20)

where a, e, c and d are constants. It is clear that solution f3 (x) is independent of
the viscosity v.
Substituting fl (x), f2 (x) and f3 (x), in turn, in Eq. (8) results respectively in
the following solutions for g(x) [1]:
Case 1' When f(x) = fl (x) = -6v/x then
gi(x) = ao + al X-1%- a2x-2 %-a3x3 (21)
and the corresponding streamfunction takes the form:
~O(x,y) = -6v y + ao %-al x-1%- a2x-2 %-a3x3. (22)
x
Case 2: When f(x) = f2(x) = va(1 + ~e°~), then
g2(x) = bo %-ble x %-b 2 / e X d x f exp (ocex - x)dx

% - b s / e X d x f e x p ( ~ e X - x ) d x f exp(-~eX)dx (23)
and the corresponding streamfunction takes the form:

q;(x,y) = va(1 +~e~X)y%-bo+b,¢ +b2f eXd / exp (~eX - x) dx

+bsfexdxf exp(c~eX-x)dxf exp(-~eX)dx. (24)
 M.H. Hamdan / Appl. Math. Comput. 93 (1998) 83 90 87

Case 3: When f ( x ) = f3(x) = cx + d, then

g,(x) = /// c, exp + e2x }]dx dx dx (25)

and the corresponding streamfunction takes the form:

~b(x, y) = (cx + d)y +

/J/ [:{'
c, exp
}l
-~c2x 2 + CzX dx dx dx. (26)

In all of the above three cases, with the knowledge of ~(x, y), the velocity com-
ponents, u and v, and vorticity ~o can be computed using Eqs. (4) and (5), re-
spectively. The pressure, p(x,y), may then be computed from Eqs. (11) and
(12), or from (13) and (14).
Clearly, the above algorithm has the following disadvantages:
1. The approach is dependent on one's ability to find particular solutions for
f ( x ) satisfying Eq. (16). Furthermore, the three solutions obtained are the only
solutions possible using this approach.
2. The methodology is not readily extensible to other types of flow or flow
governed by a different set of equations (for example, the method may not be
applicable to the study of flow through porous media).
3. The solutions obtained using the above procedure involve a number of
arbitrary constants, and restrictive assumptions are needed to determine them.
It is also clear that determining g(x) is not an easy task, and the integrals are
rather involved.
In the absence of a systematic procedure for determining the arbitrary con-
stants, Riabouchinsky assumed that g(x) = 0, and obtained a special form of
the streamfunction: ~(x,y) = yf(x). This amounts to assigning the value of ze-
ro to each of the arbitrary constants in gl (x), g2(x) and g3(x). It should be not-
ed that this solution represents a plane stagnation flow in which the flow is
separated in the two symmetrical regions by the plane x = 0.

4. An alternative approach

As an improvement to the above algorithm, we propose to solve Eqs. (16)

and (17) using the following procedure:
1. Assume the form of the function g(x).
2. Substitute the assumed expression for g(x) in Eq. (17). This produces an or-
dinary differential equation for f (x).
3. Solve the ODE that results from (17) for the unknown function f ( x ) . This
solution will result in an expression for f ( x ) and will involve some arbitrary
constants.
4. Since the solution for f ( x ) , obtained by solving (17), must also satisfy (16),
therefore we substitute the expression for f ( x ) in (16) in order to determine
the arbitrary constants.
88 M.H. Hamdan / Appl. Math. Comput. 93 (1998) 83-90

In order to illustrate the utility of this solution procedure, we will apply it to

Eqs. (16) and (17). We will assume the form of g(x) and recover the forms
f , ( x ) = - 6 v / x and f2(x) = va(1 + :¢e~).
Case 1: Let g(x) = ~3, where c( is a known constant.
Substituting this g(x) in (17), we obtain the following ODE for f(x):
x2f" - 2 f = 0. (27)
This has the general solution
f ( x ) = c,x 1 + c2x 2, (28)
where c~ and c2 are arbitrary constants that can be determined as follows. Since
f ( x ) must also satisfy (16), therefore we substitute f ( x ) in (16) to get

c2=0 and 4c1+24=0 or c 1 = - 6 v .

V
Hence, when g ( x ) = c c x 3 , f ( x ) = - 6 v / x . The corresponding streamfunction,
vorticity, and velocity components take the following forms, respectively:

~(x,y) = - 6 v y- + ~c3, (29)

X

m(x,y) = 1 2 v ~ - 6~c, (30)

-6v
u(x,y) - , (31)
X

v(x,y) = 3 ~ 2 - 6 v ~ . (32)

In this form of solution, there are no arbitrary constants. However, depending

on the choice of ~, different flow patterns may be obtained. For example, the
corresponding Riabouchinsky solution that is obtained by setting gl (x) = 0
in (22) may be obtained here by taking c( = 0 in (29).
Case 2: Let g(x) - 7 -+- ~e~X, where ~,//, 7 are known constants. Substituting
g(x) in (17), we obtain the following ODE for f(x):
f , _ fi2f = _fl3v. (33)
This has the general solution
f ( x ) = cle & + c2e ~x + v[3, (34)
where c~ and c2 are arbitrary constants that can be determined as follows. Since
f ( x ) must also satisfy (16), therefore we substitute f ( x ) in (16) to get e2 = 0,
and e~ ~ 0 remains arbitrary.
Hence, when g(x) = 7 + ~e ~, f ( x ) = cle ~x + vfl.
The corresponding streamfunction, vorticity, and velocity components take
the following forms, respectively:
 M.H. Hamdan / Appl. Math. Comput. 93 (1998) 83 90 89

tp(x,y) = 7 + vfly + [~ + cly]e ~x, (35)

co(x, y) = _f12 [~ + c~y]e~X, (36)

u(x,y) = c,e ~x + vfl, (37)

v(x,y) = - f l [ e + cly]e ~. (38)

This f o r m o f s o l u t i o n c o n t a i n s one a r b i t r a r y c o n s t a n t , cl, t h a t can either be de-
t e r m i n e d given one c o n d i t i o n on the s t r e a m f u n c t i o n ~, o r it can be assigned
v a r i o u s values to p r o d u c e different flow patterns.

5. Conclusions

In this w o r k , we offered a m o d i f i c a t i o n to a s o l u t i o n m e t h o d o l o g y o f the

N a v i e r - S t o k e s e q u a t i o n s when the s t r e a m f u n c t i o n is o f the f o r m 0 = yf(x)
+ g(x), The p r o p o s e d m o d i f i c a t i o n has the following a d v a n t a g e s :
1. T h e n u m b e r o f a r b i t r a r y c o n s t a n t s arising when using the p r o p o s e d m e t h -
o d is c o n s i d e r a b l y less t h a n t h a t in the original m e t h o d . Hence, m a n y o f the
restrictive a s s u m p t i o n s used in assigning values to the a r b i t r a r y c o n s t a n t s are
no longer needed.
2. W i t h this new a p p r o a c h , we have an e x t e n d e d ability to h a n d l e o t h e r flow
m o d e l s (such as those g o v e r n i n g flow t h r o u g h p o r o u s m e d i a ) in a d d i t i o n to the
possibility o f g e n e r a t i n g m o r e solutions due to the m e t h o d ' s flexibility in
c h o o s i n g g(x).
It should be n o t e d t h a t the a p p r o a c h is also valid when the s t r e a m f u n c t i o n s
are o f the f o r m 0 = xf(y) + g(y).

References

[1] R. Berker, Integration des equations de mouvement d'un fluide visques incompressible, vol.
VIII/2, Stromungsmechanic II, Handbuch der Physic, 1963.
[2] J.M. Dorrepaal, An exact solution of the Navier-Stokes equation which describes non-
orthogonal stagnation-point flow in two dimensions, J. Fluid Mech. 163 (1986) 141-147.
[3] L.I.G. Kovasznay, Laminar flow behind a two-dimensional grid, Proc. Cambridge Philo-
sophical Society, vol. 44, 1948, pp. 58 62.
[4] S.P. Lin, M. Tobak, Reversed flow above a plate with suction, AIAA J. 24 (2) (1986) 334-335.
[5] K.B. Ranger, Flow at small Reynolds number of a viscous fluid bounded by a corrugated
boundary, Utilitas Math. 42 (1992) 31-38.
[6] G.I. Taylor, On the decay of vortices in a viscous fluid, Philos. Mag. 46 (1923) 671 674.
[7] C.-Y. Wang, On a class of exact solutions of the Navier-Stokes equations, J. Appl. Mech. 33
(1966) 69(~698.
[8] C.-Y. Wang, Exact solutions of the steady state Navier-Stokes equations, Ann. Rev. Fluid
Mech. 23 (1991) 159 177.
90 M.H. Hamdan / Appl. Math. Comput. 93 (1998) 83-90

[9] D. Riabouchinsky, Some considerations regarding plane irrotational motion of a liquid,

Compt. Rend. Hebd. Seanc. Acad. Sci. (Paris) 179 (1924) 1133 1136.
[10] P.N. Kaloni, K. Huschilt, Semi-inverse solutions of a non-newtonian fluid, Internat. J. Non-
Linear Mech. 19 (4) (1984) 373 381.
[11] F. Labropulu, Riabonchinsky flows in magnetohydrodynamics, M.Sc. Thesis, University of
Windsor, 1987.
[12] M.H. Hamdan, Single-phase flow through porous channels. A review: Flow models and entry
conditions, J. Appl. Math. Comput. 62 (2) (1994) 203-222.

View publication stats