Paper 1, Section II, D

Fluid Dynamics | Part IB, 2018

A layer of fluid of dynamic viscosity μ\mu, density ρ\rho and uniform thickness hh flows down a rigid vertical plane. The adjacent air has uniform pressure p0p_{0} and exerts a tangential stress on the fluid that is proportional to the surface velocity and opposes the flow, with constant of proportionality kk. The acceleration due to gravity is gg.

(a) Draw a diagram of this situation, including indications of the applied stresses and body forces, a suitable coordinate system and a representation of the expected velocity profile.

(b) Write down the equations and boundary conditions governing the flow, with a brief description of each, paying careful attention to signs. Solve these equations to determine the pressure and velocity fields in terms of the parameters given above.

(c) Show that the surface velocity of the fluid layer is ρgh22μ(1+khμ)1\frac{\rho g h^{2}}{2 \mu}\left(1+\frac{k h}{\mu}\right)^{-1}.

(d) Determine the volume flux per unit width of the plane for general values of kk and its limiting values when k0k \rightarrow 0 and kk \rightarrow \infty.

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