MIT Department of Mechanical Engineering

2.25 Advanced Fluid Mechanics

Stokes Second Problem ATP

Stokes apparently had many problems. This Second Problem is identical to the First Problem, except that
we replace (2) with u(y = 0, t) = U cos(t) the plate now oscillates. Note that we are interested only
in the steady periodic solution: u behaves as cos(t + u ) in time, where the phase u is independent of t.
(The initial condition (4) is thus irrelevant it washes out.)

In the steady-periodic state the wall shear stress will be of the form

W = CU 1 2 3 4 cos(t + ), (1)

where the phase is independent of t and C is a non-dimensional constant. Find the exponents 1 , 2 , 3
and 4 by dimensional analysis.

Hint: (one approach): See Hint for Stokes First Problem; make good use of the steady-periodic form
of the solution.

2.25 Advanced Fluid Mechanics 1 c 2008, MIT

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Viscous Flow Stokes Second Problem ATP

Solution:

Lets start by non dimesionalizing the equations. Now write u = U;

u
thus divided by (U ).

u 2 u
= 0 < y < , (2)
t y 2

u (y = 0, t) = cos(t), (3)
u (y , t) 0, (4)
u (y, t = 0) = 0,

(5)

and hence,

u = f (y, t, , ), (6)

(notice that no mass appears in the equations) so,

1 = u , (7)

2 = ty 2 2 , (8)
2 = t, (9)
a3 = y 3 3 , (10)

Solving the system of equations,

3 = 2, 3 = 1, (11)

then,

a3 = , (12)
y2

or,

y
3 =
. (13)

Then, reexpressing the original function in terms of the non-dimensional parameters,

1 = f (2 , 3 ), (14)

or,

u y
= f ( , t), (15)
U

2.25 Advanced Fluid Mechanics 2 c 2008, MIT

Copyright @
Viscous Flow Stokes Second Problem ATP

Now, for the steady periodic behaviour u

U must be sinusoidal in time, so

u y y
= A ! cos t + ! (16)
U

where,

A(0) = 1 and (0) = 0. (17)

Furthermore,

u
W = |y=0 (18)
y
1 1
W = U A1 (0) ! ) cos(t + (0)) A(0) ! ) sin(t + (0))1 (0) (19)

1
W = U ! A1 (0) cos(t + (0)) 1 (0) sin(t + (0)) . (20)

Finally, the last equation can be reexpressed as:

0.5
1 2
W = U ! A1 (0)2 + 1 (0) cos(t + ( 0) ). (21)

'
(0)
where, 0 = arctan A ' (0) ; and A (0) and (0) are universal constants.
1 1

Problem Solution by MC, Fall 2008

2.25 Advanced Fluid Mechanics 3 c 2008, MIT

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2.25 Advanced Fluid Mechanics

Fall 2013

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