Paper 1, Section I, B

Fluid Dynamics | Part IB, 2014

Constant density viscous fluid with dynamic viscosity μ\mu flows in a two-dimensional horizontal channel of depth hh. There is a constant pressure gradient G>0G>0 in the horizontal xx-direction. The upper horizontal boundary at y=hy=h is driven at constant horizontal speed U>0U>0, with the lower boundary being held at rest. Show that the steady fluid velocity uu in the xx-direction is

u=G2μy(hy)+Uyhu=\frac{-G}{2 \mu} y(h-y)+\frac{U y}{h}

Show that it is possible to have du/dy<0d u / d y<0 at some point in the flow for sufficiently large pressure gradient. Derive a relationship between GG and UU so that there is no net volume flux along the channel. For the flow with no net volume flux, sketch the velocity profile.

Typos? Please submit corrections to this page on GitHub.