B4.26

Fluid Dynamics II
Part II, 2001

Starting from the steady planar vorticity equation

uω=ν2ω,\mathbf{u} \cdot \nabla \omega=\nu \nabla^{2} \omega,

outline briefly the derivation of the boundary layer equation

uux+vuy=UdU/dx+νuyy,u u_{x}+v u_{y}=U d U / d x+\nu u_{y y},

explaining the significance of the symbols used.

Viscous fluid occupies the region y>0y>0 with rigid stationary walls along y=0y=0 for x>0x>0 and x<0x<0. There is a line sink at the origin of strength πQ,Q>0\pi Q, Q>0, with Q/ν1Q / \nu \gg 1. Assuming that vorticity is confined to boundary layers along the rigid walls:

(a) Find the flow outside the boundary layers.

(b) Explain why the boundary layer thickness δ\delta along the wall x>0x>0 is proportional to xx, and deduce that

δ=(νQ)12x\delta=\left(\frac{\nu}{Q}\right)^{\frac{1}{2}} x

(c) Show that the boundary layer equation admits a solution having stream function

ψ=(νQ)1/2f(η) with η=y/δ\psi=(\nu Q)^{1 / 2} f(\eta) \quad \text { with } \quad \eta=y / \delta

Find the equation and boundary conditions satisfied by ff.

(d) Verify that a solution is

f=61+cosh(η2+c)1f^{\prime}=\frac{6}{1+\cosh (\eta \sqrt{2}+c)}-1

provided that cc has one of two values to be determined. Should the positive or negative value be chosen?