Order of magnitude analysis of NS Equation

Is it possible to identify the relative magnitudes of the different terms

(even approximately)?

It may then be possible to neglect the term(s) that may not play a
crucial role in the transport process thereby simplifying NS equations.
 External Incompressible Viscous Flow – Boundary Layer

Freestream Velocity, U∞
Approach y Boundary Layer
Velocity Inviscid
Thickness, δ
V Flow
Viscous
x vx = f (x, y)

Flow over a flat plate

vx = f (x, y) Viscous 2D flow inside BL vx = 0.99U∞

vx = U∞ at y = δ
Inviscid flow outside BL

δ - boundary layer thickness

 Flow Inside the Boundary Layer

 vx  vx   2 vx  2 vx 
vx + vy = 2 + 2 
x y   x  y 

Boundary Layer Approximations

 vx  vx  2 vx  2 vx
vx  v y  
y x y 2
 x2

 vx  vx  2 vx
vx + vy =
x y  y2
 Flow between two parallel disks with liquid entry through
a small hole at the centre of the top plate

Flow In
Disk radius = r2
Hole radius = r1
Z=+b

Z=-b

Flow Out
The pressure is p1 at r = r1 and p2 at r = r2
  1  1  
+ (  r vr ) + (  v ) + (  vz ) = 0
t r r r  z

 vr vr v vr v 2 vr 

 + vr + − + vz 
  t r r  r z 

P   1   1  vr 2 v  vr 
2 2
=− +  ( rvr )  + 2 2 − 2 + 2  +  g r
r  r  r r  r  r  z 
The governing equation

 vr P  2 vr  ( z)
 vr =− + vr =
r r  z2 r

 vr 1
= − 2  ( z)
r r

 d P  d2
− 3 =− +
 d r r d z2

The term on the LHS represents convective transport of momentum. For the
present scenario, this would be small. Setting it equal to zero leads to a condition
commonly termed as CREEPING FLOW
 The governing equation

 vr P  2 vr
 vr =− +
r r  z2

Major assumption on the nature of the flow (CREEPING FLOW)

d P  d2
0=− +
d r r d z2
Assume a constant applied pressure difference

P = P1 − P2

 d2 dP
=
r d z2 dr

Pz 2
 =− + C1Z + C2
r
2  ln 2
r
Boundary Conditions

No slip, vr = 0 at z = ±b

Evaluate C1 and C2.

 P b 2 z 
2

vr ( r , z ) = = 1 −   
r 2  r ln 2   b  
r
r1
 +b +b
4   P b3
Q = 2   r vr dz = 2    ( z ) dz =
r2
−b −b 3  ln
r1
An incompressible fluid flows between two porous, parallel flat plates
as shown in the figure. An identical fluid is injected at a constant
speed V through the bottom plate and simultaneously extracted from
the upper plate at the same velocity. Assume the flow to be steady,
fully-developed, the pressure gradient in the x-direction is a constant,
and neglect body forces.

Determine expressions for the y component of velocity.

Show that the x component of velocity can be expressed as
𝜌𝑉𝑦
ℎ 𝜕𝑝 1 − exp 𝑦
𝜇
𝑢𝑥 = −
𝜌𝑉 𝜕𝑥 𝜌𝑉ℎ ℎ
1 − exp
𝜇
The equation of continuity for fully developed, steady flow in x-direction

𝜕𝑣𝑥 𝜕𝑣𝑦 𝜕𝑣𝑧

+ + =0
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧

The x component of the NS equation

𝜕 𝑣𝑥 𝜕 𝑣𝑥 𝜕 𝑣𝑥 𝜕 𝑣𝑥
𝜌 + 𝑣𝑥 + 𝑣𝑦 + 𝑣𝑧
𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
𝜕𝑃 𝜕 2 𝑣𝑥 𝜕 2 𝑣𝑥 𝜕 2 𝑥
= − + 𝜇 2
+ 2
+ 2
+ 𝜌 𝑔𝑥
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
 The governing equation

 vx P  2 vx
 vy =− +
y x  y2

Assumptions:

Constant pressure gradient in the x direction

Boundary Conditions
The expression for the velocity component in the x-direction can be obtained as

𝜌𝑉𝑦
ℎ 𝜕𝑝 1 − exp 𝑦
𝜇
𝑢𝑥 = −
𝜌𝑉 𝜕𝑥 𝜌𝑉ℎ ℎ
1 − exp
𝜇
A thrust bearing as shown in the figure is lubricated by pumping oil at a high
pressure of p0. The angular velocity is equal to ω. Note that under laminar
conditions, both Vr and Vθ in the thin gap will be non-zero and p is a function of
r only. Neglect convective and body force terms in equations of motion. You
may also assume that the pressure at r = R is equal to patm, whereas the pressure
from r = 0 till r = R0 is equal to p0.

(i) Start with the equation of continuity to obtain the functional form of Vr.

(ii) Show that V =  r 1 + z  satisfies the θ component of the NS equation.

  
2  h
p
(iii) Write the r component of NS equation to show that r is a constant.
r
(iv) Evaluate the pressure distribution using the boundary conditions

(v) Find the vertical load the bearing can support and the flow rate of oil
required.
 (i) Start with the equation of continuity to obtain the functional form of Vr.

The Equation of Continuity

 
C has to be a function onlu of z, as vr is a function of r and z, and ( rVr ) = ( C ) = 0
r r
 𝜔𝑟 𝑧
(ii) Show that 𝑉𝜃 = 1+ satisfies the θ component of the NS equation.
2 ℎ

Neglect convective (LHS) and body force terms in equations of motion,

noting that P is not a function of θ and there is angular symmetry.

The governing equation become

 2 v  1  
= −  ( rv )
 
z 2 r  r r 
 p
(iii) Write the r component of NS equation to show that r is a constant
r
 p
r
 r

Cancelling all the convective terms (terms (LHS), angular symmetry and no body force

P  2 ( rvr )
r =
r z 2
P is a function of r only

Since LHS is a function of r and the RHS is a function of z,

then they must be constant

P  2 ( rvr )
r = =K
r z 2
(iv) Evaluate the pressure distribution using the boundary conditions

P  2 ( rvr )
r = =K
r z 2

P = K ln r + C1

At r = ro, P = Po and at r = R P = Patm

Evaluate K and C1 and K to obtain the complete expression for P

Po − Patm
K=
R
ln o
R
Note the non-linear variation of P with r and the pressure gradient is not a constant
(v) Find the vertical load the bearing can support and the flow rate of
oil required.
 2 ( rvr )
 =K
z 2

At z = h, vr = 0 and z = -h vr = 0

Evaluate, using the boundary conditions to obtain the complete expression for Vr and Q

Vr =
K
2 r
( z 2 − h2 )
+h
K 4 3
Q =  Vr 2 r dz = − h
−h
 3
 Axial Load
R
= ( Po − Patm )  R +  ( P − Patm )2 rdr
2
0
Ro

Substitute the expression of P and integrate to obtain the axial load as

 ( Po − Patm )
Load =
2 ln R
(R 2
− Ro2 )
Ro
Consider the spin-coating process used to coat silicon wafers with photoresist. The
process is designed to produce a very thin, uniform coating by spinning a viscous,
Newtonian, liquid onto a substrate (wafer). The process has angular symmetry, the
rotation rate is constant, and since the film is thin, there are no real pressure gradients or
fluid accelerations and body forces to speak of. The thin film also moves with the
substrate as if it were a rigid body, v  f(z)

a) Show that the continuity and momentum equations reduce to:

v2
− =
d 2 vr
;
1
( r vr ) +  v z = 0
r dz 2
r r z

b) What are the boundary conditions for this problem?

c) Solve the equations for vr and vz.
d) The velocity, vz, at the film/air interface is just the change in film thickness
with time. Use this to obtain a differential equation for h, and integrate this
equation to obtain the solution as:

1 1 1   2 2 
 2 + 2  =   t
2 h ho   3 
Where ω is the rate of rotation (vθ = 2πrω) and h0 is the initial height of the film.
 In this case, the following conditions will hold:

v = Cons tan t , g r = g = g z = 0,  ,  constant

  P P P
= 0, = 0, = = =0
 t r  z

The continuity and momentum equations in cylindrical coordinates become

1   vz
( r)
r v + =0
r r z
Since the fluid moves essentially as a rigid body, vr = f (r, z). This film is
very thin with respect to the radial or angular dimensions so that
v , vr  vz

Thus since the angular velocity is constant and vz is small, we only need to deal
with the momentum equation for vr
Neglecting all the obvious terms,

  vr v2  vr    1    2 vr 
  vr − + vz  =   ( r vr )  + 2 
  r r  z   r  r r  z 
 𝜕 1 𝜕 𝜕2 𝑣𝑟 𝜕𝑣 𝑣𝜃2 𝜕𝑣𝑟
𝜇 𝑟𝑣𝑟 + = 𝜌(𝑣𝑟 𝑟 − + 𝑣𝑧 )
𝜕𝑟 𝑟 𝜕𝑟 𝜕𝑧 2 𝜕𝑟 𝑟 𝜕𝑧

Since the film is very thin, vr changes rapidly with the film thickness, much
more rapidly than it changes with the radial position.
vz is quite small as compared to the other components

Thus 1st term on LHS is neglected w.r.t. the second term.

For the same reason, 1st and 3rd terms on the rhs can be neglected.

 vr
In one case, vz is very small and in the second is also very small.
r
vθ is quite large
Thus
d 2 vr  v2
 2 + =0
dz r
The boundary conditions are

z = 0; vr = 0 The coordinate system is such that z = 0

dvr refers to the bottom plate, while z = h is the
z = h; =0 free surface of the photoresist
dz

Noting that v = 2 r , the above equation is solved

 4  2 2
 z2 
vr = r hz − 
  2 

Using the continuity equation

1  vz
( r)
r v + =0
r r z

4  2 2  z 3 2 
vz =  −hz 
 3 

BC: vz = 0 at z = 0
 1
h
 2 2 h3 d h
vz =  vz dz = − =
h0  dt

At t = 0 h = h0
1 1 2 2  2
− 2 = t
h 2
h0 

One of the possible answers

This can also be solved by assuming vz at z = h to be equal to dh/dt

Supplementary Information – in relation to the query about spreading of a droplet on a solid substrate
and contact line motion – slip velocity

Wetting: Partial or Total Wetting

A liquid spreads on a substrate in a film if the energy of the system is lowered by the
presence of the liquid film .

The surface energy per unit surface of the dry solid surface is γSG; the surface energy of the
wetted solid is γSL+γLG.

The spreading parameter S determines the type of spreading (total or partial)

S = γSG − (γSL + γLG)

If S > 0, the liquid spreads on the solid surface; if S < 0 the liquid forms a droplet.

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