Paper 1, Section II, C

Fluid Dynamics II
Part II, 2018

A two-dimensional layer of very viscous fluid of uniform thickness h(t)h(t) sits on a stationary, rigid surface y=0y=0. It is impacted by a stream of air (which can be assumed inviscid) such that the air pressure at y=hy=h is p012ρaE2x2p_{0}-\frac{1}{2} \rho_{a} E^{2} x^{2}, where p0p_{0} and EE are constants, ρa\rho_{a} is the density of the air, and xx is the coordinate parallel to the surface.

What boundary conditions apply to the velocity u=(u,v)\mathbf{u}=(u, v) and stress tensor σ\sigma of the viscous fluid at y=0y=0 and y=hy=h ?

By assuming the form ψ=xf(y)\psi=x f(y) for the stream function of the flow, or otherwise, solve the Stokes equations for the velocity and pressure fields. Show that the layer thins at a rate

V=dh dt=13ρaμE2h3V=-\frac{\mathrm{d} h}{\mathrm{~d} t}=\frac{1}{3} \frac{\rho_{a}}{\mu} E^{2} h^{3}