(a) Incompressible fluid of viscosity μ fills the thin, slowly varying gap between rigid boundaries at z=0 and z=h(x,y)>0. The boundary at z=0 translates in its own plane with a constant velocity U=(U,0,0), while the other boundary is stationary. If h has typical magnitude H and varies on a lengthscale L, state conditions for the lubrication approximation to be appropriate.
Write down the lubrication equations for this problem and show that the horizontal volume flux q=(qx,qy,0) is given by
q=2Uh−12μh3∇p
where p(x,y) is the pressure.
Explain why q=∇∧(0,0,ψ) for some function ψ(x,y). Deduce that ψ satisfies the equation
∇⋅(h31∇ψ)=−h3U∂y∂h
(b) Now consider the case U=0,h=h0 for r>a and h=h1 for r<a, where h0,h1 and a are constants, and (r,θ) are polar coordinates. A uniform pressure gradient ∇p=−Gex is applied at infinity. Show that ψ∼Arsinθ as r→∞, where the constant A is to be determined.
Given that a≫h0,h1, you may assume that the equations of part (a) apply for r<a and r>a, and are subject to conditions that the radial component qr of the volume flux and the pressure p are both continuous across r=a. Show that these continuity conditions imply that
[∂θ∂ψ]−+=0 and [h31∂r∂ψ]−+=0
respectively, where []−+denotes the jump across r=a.
Hence determine ψ(r,θ) and deduce that the total flux through r=a is given by
h03+h134Aah13