Radial Viscous Flow between Two Parallel Annular Plates

Mya San May

-


Abstract
We seek the approximate solution to the Navier-Stokes equation for the
radial flow between two parallel annular plates since there is no exact
solution which satisfies the boundary conditions for the problem.

1. Introduction
In this paper, we shall deduce the velocity distribution of steady flow of an
incompressible fluid of density and viscosity between two parallel, coaxial
annular plates of inner radius r
1,
outer radius r
2
and separation h when pressure
difference p is applied between the inner and outer radii.
As an exact solution of the Navier-Stokes equation appears to be difficult, it
suffices to give an approximate solution assuming that the velocity is purely radial,
r z) u(r, q = , in a cylindrical coordinate system (r, , z) whose z-axis coincides with
that of the two annuli. We will deduce a condition for validity of the approximation.
This problem arises, for example, in considerations of a rotary joint between
two sections of a pipe. Here, we ignore the extra complication of the effect of the
rotation of one of the annuli on the fluid flow.

2. Two-Dimensional Flow between Parallel Plates





Figure (1)

The velocity distribution obeys the continuity equation for an incompressible
fluid,

-
Dr, Tutor, Department of Mathematics, University of Magway
z=0
z=h
72 Magway University Research Journal 2012, Vol. IV, No. 1
0 q . = V ,
(1)
and if the motion is steady and no body force then the Navier-Stokes equation reduces
to
q p q ) . q (
2
V + V = V .
(2)

It is already known that an analytic solution is readily obtained for the
problem of two-dimensional viscous flow between two parallel plates. For example,
suppose that the plates are at the planes z = 0 and z = h, and that the flow is in the x-
direction, i.e., i

z) (x, u q = . Then the boundary conditions are as follows:

q (z = 0) = 0 = q (z = h) ,
(3)
which means that the flow velocity vanishes next to the plates.
The equation of continuity (1) then tells us that 0
x
u
=
c
c
, so that the velocity is a
function of z only,
i

(z) u q = .
(4)
Then the Navier-Stokes equation (2) becomes

|
|
.
|

\
|
c
c
+
c
c
+
|
.
|

\
|
c
c
+
c
c
=
(

|
.
|

\
|
c
c
i

z
u(z)
i

x
u(z)
k

z
p
i

x
p
) i

(u(z)
x
u(z)
2
2
2
2
.
The z-component of the Navier-Stokes equation (2) reduces to 0
z
p
=
c
c
, so that
the pressure is a function of x only.
The x-component of (2) is

2
2
z
u(z)

x
p(x)
c
c
=
c
c
.
(5)
Since the left-hand side is a function of x, and the right-hand side is a function
of z, (5) can be satisfied only if both sides are constant. Supposing that the pressure
decreases with increasing x, we write
Magway University Research Journal 2012, Vol. IV, No. 1 73
0.
x
p
constant
x
p
> = =
c
c

From (5),it follows that
B, Az
2
z

x
p(x)

1
u(z)
2
+ +
c
c
=
(6)
where A and B are constants.
Since 0, 0) (z q = = we find B = 0 and similarly, since q (z h) 0, = = we get
1 p(x) h
A .
x 2
c
=
c

Then
2
1 p(x) z 1 p(x) hz
u(z)
x 2 x 2
| | c c
= +
|
c c
\ .

= h) (z
2
z

x
p(x)

c
c

= z) (h
2
z
)
x
p(x)
(

c
c

u(z)=
2
z) (h z

x
p
.
(7)
Hence the average velocity u
a
is given by


u
a
=
}
h
0
dz u(z)
h
1

=
}

A
A
h
0
dz
2
z) (h z
x
p

h
1

= dz ) z (zh
2
1

x
p

h
1
h
0
2
}

=
(
(

h
0
h
0
3
z

2
h z

2
1

x
p

h
1
3 2

=
(

3
h

2
h

x
p

h
1
2
1
3 3

=
6
h

x
p

h 2
1
3
.
74 Magway University Research Journal 2012, Vol. IV, No. 1
u
a
=
x
p

12
h
2
.
(8)
Then
2
a
h
u 12

x
p
= .
From (7) , we obtain
2
z) (h z

h
u 12
u(z)
2
a

= and hence
u(z) . )
h
z
(1
h
z
u 6
a
=
(9)

3. Radial Flow between Parallel Annular Plates
For the problem of radial flow between two annular plates, we seek a solution
in which the velocity is purely radial, i.e., . r z) u(r, q = The continuity equation (1) for
this hypothesis tells us that
div q = , 0 ru
r r
1
=
(

c
c

(10)
so that 0
r
(ru)
=
c
c
.
By integrating both sides, we get
ru =f(z) since u = u (r, z).
Therefore , we have
u=
r
f(z)
,
so that
= q r
r
f(z)
.
(11)
Magway University Research Journal 2012, Vol. IV, No. 1 75
Following the example of two-dimensional flow between parallel plates, we expect a
parabolic profile in z as in (7),
z) (h z (z) f ,
(12)
which satisfies the boundary conditions (3).
Using the trial solution (11) in cylindrical polar coordinates, (2) becomes

). r
r
f(z)
( )
z
r
z r
1
r
r
r
(
r
1
)
z
p
k

p

r

r
p
r (
) r
r
f(z)
( )
z
k

r
r ( . ) r
r
f(z)
(
c
c
c
c
+
c
c
c
c
+
c
c
c
c
+
c
c
+
c
c
+
c
c

=
)
`

c
c
+
c
c
+
c
c

). r
r
f(z)
( )
z r
1
r r
1
r
( )
z
p
k

p

r

r
p
r ( r
r
f(z)
r r
f(z)

2
2
2
2
2 2
2
c
c
+
c
c
+
c
c
+
c
c
+
c
c
+
c
c
+
c
c
=
(

c
c

f(z) f(z) p p p 2f(z) f(z)

( )r (r k ) r r
2 3 3
r r r z
r r r
2
1 f(z) r f(z) f(z)
( r ) r
2 2
r r r
r z

(
(
(

c c c
= + + +
c c c
c c c c
+ + +
c c c
c
= r
r
(z) f

3
2
(

c
c
+
c
c
+ +
c
c
+
c
c
+
c
c
r
r
f(z)
z
)
r
f(z)
(
r
1
r
r
f(z)
)
z
p
k

p

r

r
p
r (
2
2
2 3

=
(

c
c
+
|
|
.
|

\
|
c
c
+
c
c
+ +
c
c
+
c
c
+
c
c
r
r
f(z)
z

r
f(z)
r
f(z)

r
1
r
r
f(z)
)
z
p
k

p

r

r
p
r (
2
2
2 3
.
Therefore
r
r
(z) f

3
2
=
(

c
c
+ +
c
c
+
c
c
+
c
c
r
r
f(z)
z
r
r
f(z)
r
r
f(z)
)
z
p
k

p

r

r
p
r (
2
2
3 3
.
The z-component of the Navier-Stokes equation (2) again tells us that the
pressure must be independent of z: p =p(r).
Thus (2) becomes
r
r
(z) f

3
2
r
r
f(z)
z
r
r
p
2
2
c
c
+
c
c
= .
(13)
The radial component of (13) yields the nonlinear form

dr
dp
r f
dz
f d
r
3 2
2
2
2
= + .
(14) The hoped-for separation of this equation can only be achieved if f(z) =F is
76 Magway University Research Journal 2012, Vol. IV, No. 1
constant, which requires the pressure profile to be p(r) = .
2r
F
A
2
2
The boundary
conditions (3) cannot be satisfied by this solution because the fluid must be at rest
(i.e., q = 0) to satisfy (3). Further, this solution exists only for the case that the
pressure is increasing with increasing radius. The fluid flow must then be inward, so
the constant F must be negative. The Navier-Stokes equation is not time-reversal
invariant due to the dissipation of energy associated with the viscosity, and so
reversing the velocity of a solution does not, in general lead to another solution.
While we have obtained an analytic solution to the non-linear Navier-Stokes
equation (2), it is not a solution to the problem of radial flow between two annuli. It is
hard to imagine a physical problem involving steady radially inward flow of a long
tube of fluid, to which the solution could apply.
Instead of an exact solution, we are led to seek an approximate solution in
which the non-linear term
2
f of (14) can be ignored. In this case, the differential
equation takes the separable form
m constant
dr
dp

r

dz
f d
2
2
= = = .
(15)
Integrating both sides, we get
f = B Az
2
z

dr
dp

r
2
+ + , where A and B are constants.
From these equations and boundary conditions, we obtain A =
2
h

dr
dp

r
and B =
0.
Substituting, f =
2
zh

dr
dp

r
2
z

dr
dp

r
2
.
f = h) (z
2
z

dr
dp

r
.
(16)
The average of f(z) = f
a
is given by
f
a
=
}
h
0
dz f(z)
h
1

Magway University Research Journal 2012, Vol. IV, No. 1 77
= dz hz) (z
dr
dp

2
r

h
1
2
h
0

}

=
(
(

h
0
h
0
2
hz
3
z

dr
dp

h 2
r
2 3
.
=
(

0)
2
h
( 0)
3
h
(
dr
dp

h 2
r
3 3

=
|
|
.
|

\
|
6
3h 2h

dr
dp

h 2
r
3 3

f
a
=
2
h
dr
dp

12
r
.
(17)
From (16), we get f = h) (z
2
z

h
f 12
2
a

=
a
z z
6f 1
h h
| |

|
\ .
.
Following (7), we write the solution for f that satisfies the boundary conditions
(3) as
f (z) =
a
z z
6f 1
h h
| |

|
\ .

(18)
where f
a
is the average of f(z) over the interval h. z 0 s s
From (15), we obtain

r
m

dr
dp
= .
Integrating both sides, we find
p = A r ln m + .
If r = r
1
and p = p
1
, then p
1
=
1
r ln m +A.
Therefore A= . r ln m p
1 1
+
Similarly, if r = r
2
and p = p
2
,

then p
2
=
2
r ln m +A.
Therefore A= p
2
+
2
r ln m .
78 Magway University Research Journal 2012, Vol. IV, No. 1
Thus we get
1
2
2 1
r
r
ln
p p
m

= and A=
1
2
1 2 2 1
r
r
ln
r ln p r ln p
.
The part of (15) that describes the pressure leads to the solution
p ( r )=
1
2
2 1
r
r
ln
p p
ln r +

1
2
1 2 2 1
r
r
ln
r ln p r ln p

.


p ( r ) =
1
2
1 2 2 1 2 1
r
r
ln
r ln p r ln p r ln p r ln p + +

=
1
2
1
2
2
1
r
r
ln
r
r
ln p
r
r
ln p +
,
(19)
where p
i
= p (r
i
). Substituting (18) and (19) back into (15), we find

a
f =
2
h
r
m

12
r
|
.
|

\
|

=
12
h
2

1
2
2 1
r
r
ln
p p

=

12
h
2

1
2
r
r
ln
p A
,
(20)
where p A =
2 1
p p . Hence, the flow velocity is
( ) r
r
f(z)
z r, q =
=
a
1 z z
6 f 1 r
r h h
| |

|
\ .

= r z) (h
h
z

r
r
ln 12
p h
6
r
1
2
1
2
2

Magway University Research Journal 2012, Vol. IV, No. 1 79
= r
r
r
ln r 2
p z) z(h
1
2

,
(21) whose average with respect to z is u
a
r
f
a
=
. As with all solution to the
linearized Navier-Stokes equation, the velocity is independent of the density. It is also
to be noted that the direction of the flow is from the high pressure region to the low.
For the approximate solution (21) to be valid, the term
2
a
2
f f ~ must be small
in (14), which requires

dr
dp
r f
3 2
<< .
It follows 1
dr
dp
r
f
3
2
<<

dr
dp
r
f
3
2
a
<< 1
1
dr
dp
r
144
)
dr
dp
( h r


3
2
2 4 2
<<
|
|
|
|
.
|

\
|

1
r 144
h
dr
dp

2
4
<<
1
r 144
h
r
m

2
4
<<
|
.
|

\
|

80 Magway University Research Journal 2012, Vol. IV, No. 1
1
r
r
ln r 144
h ) p (p

1
2 2 2
4
2 1
<<


1
r
r
ln r 144
h ) p (p

1
2 2 2
4
2 1
<<

.
1
r
r
ln r 144
p h
1
2 2 2
4
<< where p A = ) p (p
2 1
.
(22)
When this condition is not satisfied, the solution must include velocity
component in the z- direction that are significant near the inner and outer radii, while
the flow pattern at intermediate radii could be reasonably well described by (21).
In the case of low viscosity we make an approximate analysis of (14) by
taking the factor f to be the constant
2
a
f of (18). Then,
, h
dr
dp

12
r
f since
r
f

r h
f 12

dr
dp
2
a 3
2
a
2
a
= + ~
(23)
which integrates to

2
a a
2 2
12 f f
p ln r A
h 2r
~ + .
When r = r
1
and p = p
1
, A p
1
+ ~
2
1
2
a
1 2
a
2r
f
r ln
h
f 12
+ .
Similarly, if r = r
2
and p = p
2
then A p
2
+ ~
2
2
2
a
2 2
a
2r
f
r ln
h
f 12
+ .
So, we obtained

2
a a
2 2
12 f f
p(r) ln r
h 2r
~ + + p
1

2
1
2
a
1 2
a
2r
f
r ln
h
f 12
+ ,
p (r)
|
|
.
|

\
|
+ ~
2 2
1
2
a
1
2
a
1
r
1
r
1

2
f

r
r
ln
h
f 12
p ,
(24)
Magway University Research Journal 2012, Vol. IV, No. 1 81
where p
1
is the pressure at radius r
1
. Evaluating this at radius r
2
where the pressure is
p
2
, we can write
~ = p p p
2 1

2
1
2
a
1 2
a
2r
f
r ln
h
f 12

2
2
2
a
2 2
a
2r
f
r ln
h
f 12
+ + ,
~ = p p p
2 1 2
1
2
2
2
a
1
2
2
a
p p
r
1
r
1
2
f

r
r
ln
h
f 12
+ =
|
|
.
|

\
|
+
(25)
where the term

1
2
2
a

a
a
2
a
(u )
(u )
f
p since u ,
2 2 r
= =
(26)
is the familiar change in pressure associated with the change in velocity described by
Bernoullis law for fluids with zero viscosity. From (25), we have

|
|
.
|

\
|

2
1
2
2
2
a
r
1
r
1
2
f
+
1
2
2
a
r
r
ln
h
f 12
0 p =
2 2
2
2 2 1 2
2 2 2 2
1 1 1 2
2 2
1 2
2 2
1 2
a
r r r r 12 12
ln ( ln ) 2 ( ) ( p)
h r h r r r
f
r r
( )
r r

.
The constant f
a
= r
r
a
u is determined by equation (25) to be

2
2 2 2 2
2 2
1 2 1 2 2 2
1 1 1 2
a 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
2 1 2 1 2 1
r r
12 r r ln 12 r r ln
r r 2 r r p
f
h (r r ) h (r r ) (r r )
| |
|
| =

|
|
\ .
.
(27)
The direction of the flow can be either from high pressure to low or vice versa, but
with different velocities in these two cases.

Conclusion
We have obtained an analytic form of solution for the radial flow between
annular plates in the linear approximation to the Navier-Stokes equation . An
experimental study of a case well approximated by the solution is reported in [ 4 ] .
82 Magway University Research Journal 2012, Vol. IV, No. 1
There are only three examples in which analytic solutions to the equation have
been obtained when the non-linear term (q )q V is non-vanishing [ 5 ].These three
cases are
( i ) the flow due to an infinite plane disk rotating uniformly about its axis,
( ii ) the steady flow between two plane walls meeting at an angle and
( iii ) the flow in a jet emerging from the end of a narrow tube into an infinite
space filled with the fluid.

References
Batchelor, G.K., 1997, An Introduction to Fluid Dynamic, Cambridge University Press, New York,
Burgess, D and Van Elst, H., 2002 MAS 209: Fluid Dynamics, University of
London, London.
Chorlton, F., 1967, Fluid Dynamics, D. Van Nostrand Co.Ltd, Londan.
Kirk McDonald, T., 2008, Radial Viscous Flow between Two Parallel Annular Plates, Princeton
University, Princeton, June 25, 2000; updated July 30.
Landau, L. D and Lifshitz, E. M., 1987, Fluid Mechanic, 2
nd
ed, chap (2) Pergamon Press, Oxford,
Wilson, D. H., 1964, Hydrodynamics, Edward Arnold (Publishers) Ltd, London.