School of Mathematics and Statistics

MAST30030
Applied Mathematical Modelling

Assignment 3. Due: May 26

This assignment counts for 15% of the marks for this subject.

Question 1
For time t ≥ 0, the velocity field u = ui + vj is given by
x
u(x, y, t) = ; v(x, y, t) = y.
1 + 2t
i. Find the streamlines in parametric form.
ii. Find the Cartesian equations of the streamlines at any time t ≥ 0.
iii. Hence, find the Cartesian form of the streamline at t = 0 passing through the point, (x, y) = (1, 1).

iv. Find the path of the particle that is released from the position (x, y) = (1, 1) at t = 0. Express your result
in parametric form.
v. Dye is injected continuously into the fluid at position (x, y) = (1, 1), from time t = 0. Use your result in
part iv to find the Cartesian form of the curve that the dye prescribes in the fluid at t = 1.
vi. Plot the curves from parts iv and v on the same (x, y) Cartesian plane, for the time interval 0 ≤ t ≤ 1.
Discuss the origin of any similarities or differences you observe in these two curves.

Question 2
i. The generalised Lorentz reciprocal theorem for two Stokes flows (which may or may not be subject to
body forces) in the same spatial domain, with velocity and stress tensor (u, T) and (u0 , T0 ), respectively,
is Z Z
0 0
n · (u · T − u · T ) dS = u · (∇ · T0 ) − u0 · (∇ · T) dV
S V
where n is the unit vector into the fluid domain, V , and S is the surface of this domain. Use Cartesian
tensor methods to prove this identity. Hint: You may need to use the constitutive equation for an
incompressible viscous fluid and the continuity equation.

ii. Consider a solid sphere of radius, a, held stationary in an unbounded fluid. The fluid is subjected to a
body force per unit mass,
A cos θ
b= r̂
r3
where r̂ is the radial unit vector in spherical coordinates and A is a constant. Determine the force in the
z-direction experienced by this stationary sphere using only the known solution for Stokes flow around a
solid sphere of radius, a, moving with velocity, U k, in a viscous fluid (with no body force). The Stokes
streamfunction, Ψ0 , for the latter problem is

a3
 
0 U
Ψ (r, θ) = 3ar − sin2 θ.
4 r

1
 Hint: Use the generalised Lorentz reciprocal theorem in part i and choose the flow field defined by Ψ0 for
u0 . Let u be the velocity field for the flow problem with the body force, b. Explain why the bounding
surface of the fluid domain far from the spheres does not contribute to the required force.

Question 3
A motorised canoe is travelling at a moderate speed of 5 km/h, within which you are a passenger. On this
particular day, you are wearing a long-sleeved shirt whose sleeve is rolled up such that there is a gap of 10 cm
from the end of the sleeve to your wrist. You decide to place your hand vertically in the moving water from your
finger tips up to your wrist, so you can sample the water’s temperature. The water climbs up your arm due to
its velocity relative to you. Will the water wet your sleeve? Explain your answer showing all calculations. You
may assume gravitational acceleration is 9.8 m/s2 and the flow is inviscid.

Question 4
Consider an infinitely long cylinder whose cross-section is the sector of a circle, i.e., in cylindrical coordinates,
σ ≤ a, −β < φ ≤ β, where a and β are positive constants. The domain of the polar angle of this cylindrical
coordinate system is −π < φ ≤ π. The cylinder contains a fluid of viscosity, µ, and a constant pressure gradient,
G, is applied along the cylinder’s axis in the z-direction, i.e., ∂p/∂z = −G. You may start with the governing
equation for unidirectional flow
∂w
ρ = G + µ∇2 w
∂t
where the velocity field, u = w(σ, φ)ẑ, ρ is the fluid density and t is time.
i. Write your solution for w(σ, φ) as the sum of a homogenous and particular solution to the above partial
differential equation. Using the method of separation of variables for the homogenous part, and assuming
a particular solution of the form, wp (σ, φ) = σ m f (φ), where m is a constant, derive the following exact
solution for the flow field within the cylinder when β 6= π/4, 3π/4,
∞
( )
Ga2
 
cos 2φ σ 2 X  σ κn
w(σ, φ) = −1 + Cn cos κn φ
4µ cos 2β a n=0
a

where
4(−1)n sinc ([κn + 2]β) + sinc ([κn − 2]β)
Cn = −
π(2n + 1) cos 2β
and κn = π(n + 1/2)/β. Hint: Use boundary conditions on the cylinder’s radial surfaces first.
ii. Using a computer package, e.g., Matlab, Mathematica, WolframAlpha etc, plot the fluid’s velocity profile
for several different values of β ∈ (0, π]. How does the result for β = π differ from the result for flow along
a cylinder of circular cross-section? Explain your answer.
iii. Plot the fluid’s velocity profile for several values of β, near β = π/4. Explain your results and hence
comment on the behaviour of the flow at β = π/4, without solving the problem for β = π/4.