Chapter 3

Low Reynolds number flows

( Lubrication theory, stokes flow, Oseen's flow)
3-1
( )
2
1
' ' : motion pressure V V p V p v

V = V + V
Limiting cases for the Navier-Stokes equation
( )
(a) Low Re creeping flow slow motion, larege viscosity
Consider steady, incompressible, Constant flow

Navier-Stokes eq.
0
1
0 1
Make non-dimensconal
Assume single scale velocity =
length =

dimensionle

ss quantities
pressure =
, , ,
V
l
p
V p x
V p x y
V p l
-
- - -
= = =
2
2 2
, z
Note: ,
y z
l l
l l
-
- -
= =
V = V V = V
3-2
( )
2
0 1
0
substitute
Vl p l
V V p V
v v
- - - - - -
-
V = V + V
inertia
Characteristic Reynolds number = Re
viscous
=
2
cm
1 mm V=1.4
sec
Re 1
cm
in air =0.14
sec
d
v
| |
=
|
<
|
\ .
Limiting cases for the Navier-Stokes equation
3-3
At small Re, to a first approximation, neglect the inertia
terms in the equation.
( ) ( )
( )
2
linear P.D.E. like pa
1
rallel flo 1 N-S eq.
2 continuit
0 '
y eq.


w
0
p V
V

= V + V
V =
4 eqations 4 unknows , v, , u w p
Limiting cases for the Navier-Stokes equation
3-4
( )
( )
( )
( )
2
2
0
1 '
'
=


contin
= -
uity
p V
p V
V V

O
V = V
V V = V V
(
| |
| |
V V V V V
( | |
\ .
\ .

V VO
0
2
p' is a potentia ' 0 l function p V =
Limiting cases for the Navier-Stokes equation
3-5
( )
2
a vorticity eq. 0
0 V
V O =
V =
( )
2 eqations
2 unknow u,v
(recover p from N-S eq.)
recover p from N-S eq.
( )
4
b vorticity eq. in terms of , stream function
0
4th order linear P.D.E. eq.
known as the bi-harmonic eq.

V =
Limiting cases for the Navier-Stokes equation
( )
2 2 D flow
3-6
x

|
c
u
c
r
c
y
z
R
r
The oldest known solution for a creeping motion
, ,
u |
c c c
Stokes flow 1851 (Sphere)
U

3-7
( )
( )
( )
2
2
2
V
vorticit
spherical coordinate
solve using vorticity eq. in terms of
y
sin
1 1
0
sin
1

sin
r r
r
r
r
V V V
rV
V
V
r r
r V
V
V
r r r
V
r
u u | |
| u
|
u
c c c
c
c
u
u

u u

u u
= + +
c (
c
O = V = = O
(
c c

c
c
V = = +
c c
c
=
c
1

sin
V
r r
u

u
c
=
c
Stokes flow 1851 (Sphere)
0 (symmetry)
3-8
( ) ( )
( )
2
2 2
2
2 2
2
2 2
2 2
wher
sin 1
sin sin
1
or E
sin
sin 1
E
vorticity
=
sin

0
E
1 sin
e
=-
sin
eq.
r r r
r
r r
r r
|
|
|
c
u
u u u u
c
u
u
u u u

u
c
u u
( c c c
| |
O = +
|
(
c c c
\ .

O =
c c c
| |
+
|
c c c
\ .
V O = = V V O V VO
c
c
+
c c c
( )
E
1
sin

u u

c (

`
(
c


)
4
0 V =
0
Stokes flow 1851 (Sphere)
3-9
2
vorticity eq. in terms of
E 0

=
( )( )
( )( )
( )( )
( )
r
1 , 0 0

Boundary Condit
2 , 0 0
3 , uniform x-directed flow
4
ions
?
r R V
r R V
r
r
u

u
u

u
u
c
= = =
c
c
= = =
c

linear 4th order P.D.E

Stokes flow 1851 (Sphere)
3-10


U

r
V
V
u
u
c
2
2 2
1
sin
sin
1
cos
sin

Integrate
= sin
2
& compare
r
V U
r r
V U
r
U
r
u

u
u

u
u u
u

c
= =
c
c
= =
c

---------------- B.C. (3)

Stokes flow 1851 (Sphere)
3-11
( ) ( )
( )
( )
2
2
2
2
2 2
2 2
2 2
2 2 2 2
2
2
2 2
Assume =
since the B.C. at r holds for all
let g sin
= sin
2
sin
2 2
sin 0
Must hold for all
2
0
f r g
f r
E f
r r
E f
r r r r
d
f
dr r
u
u
u u
u
u
u
u

=

| | c
=
|
c
\ .
| || | c c
= =
| |
c c
\ .\ .
| |
=
|
\ .
Stokes flow 1851 (Sphere)
3-12
( )
4 2
4 2 2 3 4
2 4
2 2
4 8 8
0

1, 1, 2, 4

expanding
solution
substitute
Boundary condition r = s in
2

n
d f d f df
f
dr r dr r dr r
f r
n
A
f r Br Cr Dr
r
U
r u

+ =
=
=
= + + +

2 2
D=0 ; C=
2
sin
2
U
A U
Br r
r
u

| |
= +
|
\ .
Stokes flow 1851 (Sphere)
3-13
( )
( )
2
3
3
3
1
r=R, 0
sin
= cos 2 cos
1
r=R, 0 0
sin
sin cos
=
4
solving
3
4
1 3 1
1
2 2 2
r
V
r
A B
U
R R
V
r r
A B
U
R R
U R
A
B U R
R R
U
r r
u

u
u u
u u

u
u u

c
= =
c
| |
+
|
\ .
c
= =
c
| |
=
|
\ .

|
= +
\
3
2 2
sin r u
(
|
(
|
.
(

B.C. (1)
B.C. (2)
Stokes flow 1851 (Sphere)
3-14
( )( )
( )
D
2 2
d
d
2
skin friction
3
D=6
1
pressure
3

6 D

1
frontal area dynamic head
2
24

Re
d=2R
Drag :
Drag c

oefficie
Re
nt :
va
D
RU
RU
C
R U
C
U d
t
t
t
v

= =
| |
|
\ .
=
= lid Re 1 <
Drag and Drag coefficient
3-15
dA
pdA
r
dA
u
t
U

( )
drag D
( )
lift L
Drag and Drag coefficient
3-16
3/13/2014
( )
a circular disk perpendicular t
special
o the s
cases
tream
disk
U

R = radius
D 16 RU

=
( )
b circular disk parallel to the stream

32
D =
3
RU

Ellipsoid in a parallel stream
R = radius
U

disk
3-18
( )
( )
( ) ( ) ( )
( ) ( )
inertia terms
' ' '
' ' '
v' v' v' ' ' '
+ ' v' ' j + U ' ' ' k
U u U u U u
V V u u v w i
x y z
w w w
U u w u v w
x y z x y z

( c + c + c +
V = + + +
(
c c c

( ( c c c c c c
+ + + + + +
( (
c c c c c c

Oseens approximation
'
v v' '

let
'

u U u
V U i V
w w

= +

= = +
`

=
)
( )
U u',v',w'
'

As
' ', '
sume
wher , e '
V
U V u v w
x

c
~ =
c
3-19
2
D
0 '
Hence '
' 1
momentum eq
Note:Approximation must fail near the surface, sin
. U ' '
continuity eq. ' 0
24
Drag coefficient
R
e
e
c
C
d
u u U
u U
V
p V
x
V

~
c
= V + V
c
V =
=
d d
4.5
where Re hold for Re up t 5 o
U d
v

+
=
Oseens approximation
3-20
NCKU Department of Mechanical Engineering