Using the Navier-Stokes equation

Solving Simple Problems

(2nd Semester, 2015/16 Session)

Dr. Yeoh Hak Koon

KKEK 2156 (Momentum Transfer)

Department of Chemical Engineering
University of Malaya
Key steps to solve flow problems
Basic assumptions: steady state, incompressible Newtonian fluid

1. Set up the problem, by imagining the flow Most critical!

2. Simplify the governing equations (continuity first, then Navier-

Stokes)

3. Prescribe boundary conditions

4. Solve for and check the velocity profile

5. Answer the specific questions, e.g. getting derived quantities

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Sample problem 1

in Cartesian coordinates

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 Sample Problem 1
A liquid forms a thin film as it flows down on a large piece of
inclined plate. How is the volumetric flow rate V related to the
thickness h of the film?

How to start?
V
What to do?

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 1. Set up and imagine the flow
Coordinates:
which coordinate system?
Use
where is the origin? Common sense!
how should the axes point? Most simple possibility
Knowledge about B.C.s

A feel for the flow pattern:

what drives the flow (pressure, shear, gravity, a mix)?
is this a steady state problem?
which velocity component represents the main flow?
can other velocity components be assumed zero?
can edge effects be neglected, i.e. are the edges far away?
which coordinates will the velocity depend on?
any symmetry to exploit?
This decides if the problem
is 1D, 2D or 3D

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 continued
One possible set-up / label of the system:

y
h
uy = uz = 0

0
ux = ux(y)

gx = g sin

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2. Simplify governing equations
In this sequence:

Continuity Equation Navier-Stokes Equation

Often helps to zero out terms in the Navier-Stokes equation

For some cases, it solves directly for the velocity profile!

For sample problem 1: u 0

u x u y u z
0
x y z

u x u x u x u x P 2u x 2u x 2u x
ux uy uz g x 2
t x y z x
2 2
x y z

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 continued
Further simplifications to the Navier-Stokes equation:
Steady state
No edge effects, i.e. ux = ux(y) only
Unidirectional flow (uy = uz = 0)
No pressure gradient (liquid is exposed to the atmosphere)
gx = g sin

u x u x u x P 2u x 2u x
uy uz g x 2
t y z x y z 2

We finally have
d 2u x
0 g sin Change to ODE notation as ux is
dy 2 only a function of one variable

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 3. Apply B.C.s
The computational domain is 1D, so 1 B.C. at each end is
required:
y
h

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 4. Solve and check the solution
You should get

gh 2 sin y y
2

ux 2
2 h h
Check:
Is the equation dimensionally consistent?

Does ux satisfy all B.C.s?

Does the dependence on , etc. make sense?

These are mainly to check

for human errors

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5. Answer the specific questions
The volumetric flow rate V is: Some application-oriented
scenarios:
Wh
V u dydz
0 0
x V is to rise to match
production demand, but h
gh W sin 2
2 h
y 2
should remain. What can be

2
0
y 2 dy
h h adjusted, and by how much?
h
gh W sin y
2 2
y 3
The liquid viscosity changes,
2
2 h 3 h what can be done to maintain
0
h?
gh 3 W sin
V
3 To check the onset of
turbulence, define a suitable
Reynolds number

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Sample problem 2

in Cylindrical coordinates

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 Sample problem 2
When a cylindrical piston moves up and down in its
chamber, a thin layer of lubricant between the piston and
the wall moves along. Consider just the upward stroke,
obtain an expression for the shear stress on the chamber
wall. You may assume that steady state is achieved quickly.

Piston Region of interest

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 1. Set-up the problem
This is a combined shear-and-gravity-driven flow

U
Use cylindrical coordinates: z
r=Rh

Properties assumed:
r=R
Newtonian liquid
incompressible flow h
g=
Velocity profile:

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 2. Simplify governing equations
Continuity equation: .u = 0

1
ru r 1 u u z 0
r r r z

z-component of the Navier-Stokes (NS) equation:

u u u u z u
z u r z uz z
t r r z

P 1 u z 1 2 u z 2 u z
g z r 2 2
z r r r r 2
z

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 3. Apply B.C.s
The governing equation:
Why rewrite as
1 d du z g an ODE?
r
r dr dr

Apply no-slip B.C.s:

U
z
r=Rh

r=R g = gzez = gez

h

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 4. Solve and check the solution
Integrating:

Apply B.C.s (a bit tedious algebra)

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 continued
You should get:

ghR h ln r R gR 2 r 2
u z U 2 1
4 R ln 1 h R 4 R

Check:
Is the expression dimensionally consistent?
Does it satisfy the B.C.s?
0.80
uz (m/s) uz (m/s)
How uz might look like?
0.35
0.70
0.30
0.60 0.25
0.50 0.20

due to tussling between TWO

0.40 0.15
0.30 0.10
forces in opposite directions 0.20 r/R 0.05 r/R
0.00
0.10
0.94 0.96 0.98 1.00
-0.05
0.00
0.95 0.96 0.97 0.98 0.99 1.00 -0.10

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 5. Answer the specific questions
Shear stress on the chamber wall:
=
=

From u z u r
rz
r z

u z ghR h 1r gr
We have rz U 2
r 4 R ln 1 h R 2

ghR h gR
At r = R, rz 4 R 2 U R ln 1 h R
2

Could be positive or negative, depends on duz/dr

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Sample problem 3

in Spherical coordinates

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 Sample problem 3
For a very crude model of the oceans, assume that Earth is a
perfect sphere, covered with a single ocean of uniform depth
(we are all under water!). As Earth rotates about its axis, is
u = r sin a possible velocity profile?

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 1. Set-up the problem
This is again a shear-driven flow, with only non-zero u
(spherical coordinates)

Assumed: Newtonian liquid, steady state, incompressible

flow, negligible wind shear

Functional form of u? A
r
B

Who rotates faster:
A or B?

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 2. Simplify governing equations
Continuity equation:
1 2 1 1 u
u r u r u sin 0
r r r r sin

Affirms that u does /

-component of NS simplifies to: does not depend on

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 3. Apply B.C.s
The computational domain is 2D, since u = u(r, ). The
boundaries are now lines.
=0

= /2

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 4. Check the solution
Does the proposed velocity profile u = r sin satisfy
the governing equation, AND
ALL B.C.s?

Such a simple solution (solid body rotation)

is very rare!

Imagine the ocean being fully frozen,

how would it rotate?

There is NO shear stress for

solid body rotation

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 Summary of the 5 key steps

Given a
flow
1. Set up the problem, imagine the flow
problem

2. Simplify continuity and Navier-Stokes equations

3. Prescribe B.C.s

4. Solve and check

5. Answer the question

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