2.

25 Advanced Fluid Mechanics

October 15th 2008

Couette & Poiseuille Flows . 1 Some of the fundamental solutions for fully developed
viscous flow are shown next. The flow can be pressure or viscosity driven, or a combination of
both. We consider a fluid, with viscosity µ and density ρ. (Note: W is the depth into the page.)

• a) PLANE Wall-Driven Flow (Couette Flow)

Parallel flow: u(y) = u(y)x̂, flow between parallel plates at y = 0 and y = H, wall-driven,
and resisted by fluid viscosity.

Umax = max(Utop , Ubottom )

Umin = min(Utop , Ubottom )

Uavg = 0.5 ∗ (Utop + Ubottom ) u(y)

H
ŷ
Q′ = Q/W

H
Q′ = 2
(Utop − Ubottom ) (signed) x̂

(Utop −Ubottom )

τw,top = −µ H
u(y) = (Utop − Ubottom )(y/H) + Ubottom

• b) PLANE Pressure-Driven Flow (Poiseuille Flow) (Stationary walls)

Parallel flow: u(y) = u(y)x̂, flow between parallel plates at y = 0 and y = H,

pressure driven.

H2
Umax = − dP
dx 8µ
−dP
dx >0

Uavg = 23 Umax u(y ) H

y
H3
Q′ = − dP
dx 12µ

H dP x
τw = 2 (− dx )
U H 2 ) dP y y
(τw on either wall in the x direction) u(y) = 2µ (− dx )( H (1 − H ))

1
2.25 Advanced Fluid Mechanics Problem
• c) TUBE Pressure Driven Flow (Poiseuille Flow) (Stationary walls)

Parallel flow: u(r) = u(r)x̂, flow along a tube.

−dP
dx >0

U R2 ) dP
Umax = 4µ (− dx )
U R2 )U r̂
dP
)
Uavg = 8µ − dx u(r) 2R = D
x̂
4
Q = − dP πR
dx 8µ

τw (2πRL) = πR2 L(− dP

dx )
U R2 ) r 2
(τw in the x direction) u(r) = 4µ (− dP
dx )(1 − ( R ) )

ΔP 16
f= 1 L
ρU 2 D
= ReD
2

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2.25 Advanced Fluid Mechanics

Fall 2013

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