Implications of Viscosity

Viscosity manifests itself through creation of both shear and rotation. One of the most important
characteristics of a real fluid is it satisfies no slip condition on a solid surface. In other words,
whenever fluid flows past a solid surface, the layer of fluid in contact with the surface cannot slip
against the surface, with the result that all components of fluid velocity will be zero at the solid,
impermeable surface. This condition creates the highest shear on the fluid by a solid non-porous
wall. As fluid particles adjacent to the wall try to stop the next layer of fluid, the shear gradually
loses its strength as we move away from the wall. This is the cause of the boundary layer
formation on a solid surface. The internal will be beyond the entrance length, which means that
boundary layer growth from each wall has already met at the center of the channel.





Beyond the entrance length, which is typically 138-140 D for laminar pipe flows and 25-40 D for
turbulent pipe flows, we call the flow fully developed. That is:

Parallel Flows: Instead of assuming fully developed flow, if we assume a parallel flow, it
means all fluid streamlines are parallel. In such a case of parallel flow along x,
Since all fluid media must satisfy the mass, momentum and energy equation, we find by the
application of continuity equation for incompressible flows,





We therefore find that a parallel flow is indeed fully developed.

Entrance
Length
x
ox
Velocity Profiles dont change with
x fully developed
0 w v , 0 u = = =
0
x
u
=
c
c
0
x
u
, 0
z
w
y
v
x
u
=
c
c
=
c
c
+
c
c
+
c
c
0 v = 0 w =

With the introduction of parallel flows, simplification of the governing equations becomes much
simpler. We now develop the applications for some specific types of internal flows.


Plane Poiseuille Flow

This is the case of fully developed incompressible flow between two infinitely large parallel
plates. We seek the velocity profile and shear flow field for such flows. As before, if the flow is
assumed parallel in the x-direction, 0 w v , 0 u = = = . Therefore, the continuity equation reduces
to 0
x
u
=
c
c
, which satisfies the fully developed condition. Let us investigate the y- and z-
momentum equations for such a flow. Also, we assume that the body forces are negligible.
Therefore:



0
z
p
y
p
=
c
c
=
c
c
from above, which means that pressure is a function of x only. Now we simplify
the x-momentum equation:






(Note that
x
p
c
c
was modified to
dx
dp
from the y and z equation results)

|
|
.
|

\
|
c
c
+
c
c
+
c
c
+ +
c
c
=
|
|
.
|

\
|
c
c
+
c
c
+
c
c
+
c
c

2
2
2
2
2
2
y
z
v
y
v
x
v
B
y
p
z
v
w
y
v
v
x
v
u
t
v
: y
|
|
.
|

\
|
c
c
+
c
c
+
c
c
+ +
c
c
=
|
|
.
|

\
|
c
c
+
c
c
+
c
c
+
c
c

2
2
2
2
2
2
z
z
w
y
w
x
w
B
z
p
z
w
w
y
w
v
x
w
u
t
w
: z
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0
|
|
.
|

\
|
c
c
+
c
c
+
c
c
+ + =
|
|
.
|

\
|
c
c
+
c
c
+
c
c
+
c
c

2
2
2
2
2
2
x
z
u
y
u
x
u
B
dx
dp
z
u
w
y
u
v
x
u
u
t
u
: x
0 0 0
u(y)
x
y
h
( ) hy y
dx
dp
2
1
) y ( u
2

|
.
|

\
|

=
Let us further assume that the flow is steady. 0
t
u
=
c
c
. Also 0
x
u
=
c
c
0
x
u
2
2
=
c
c
. Furthermore,
the flow can be assumed to be free from the end conditions since the plates are infinitely long
and deep. 0
z
u
=
c
c
, which means 0
z
u
2
2
=
c
c
also. Thus the x-equation simplifies to:

2
2
y
u
dx
dp
0
c
c
+ =
dx
dp 1
y
u
2
2

=
c
c


We can integrate this equation twice in y to write:

2 1
2
C y C y
dx
dp
2
1
) y ( u + +
|
.
|

\
|

= (C
1
and C
2
= Constants)

Boundary Conditions: Since both plates are stationary, u(0) = 0, u(h) = 0








The velocity profile u(y) may be evaluated with
2
C 0 = , and,
h
dx
dp
2
1
C h C h
dx
dp
2
1
0
1 1
2
|
.
|

\
|

= +
|
.
|

\
|

=






To be able to plot this velocity profile, let us assume
[The partial derivatives in velocity are no
longer needed since 0
z
u
x
u
t
u
=
c
c
=
c
c
=
c
c
]
x
y
6.25
m/s
h=1 m
Flow
Parabolic Velocity Profile
3 2 1
m / N 5
dx
dp
, m sec/ N 10 , m 1 h = = =



Note that the velocity profile starts with a zero value on the wall, reaches a peak value of 6.25
m/s in the middle of the channel (h = 0.5 m) before reducing to zero on the upper wall (h = 1 m)
symmetrically. Also, try to plot the function when 0
dx
dp
> (instead of 5 N/m
3
). You will see an
unrealistic curve (showing fluid bulges out along "-" x direction). We can check the volumetric
flow rate to claim this point.
}
=
}
- =
=
h
0 y A
dy w u A d V Q

, where w = depth of the channel and i

dy w A d =

or,
( )dy hy y
dx
dp
2
1
dy u
w
Q
h
0 y
2
h
0 y
}

|
.
|

\
|
}

= =
= =


3
h
0
2 3
h
dx
dp
12
1
2
y
3
y
dx
dp
2
1
-
|
.
|

\
|

=
(

(
|
|
.
|

\
|

|
.
|

\
|

=

From this expression, it is easy to see that since Q, w, h, and are all positive quantities, Q
cannot be positive unless 0
dx
dp
< . Thus, we make an important discovery for Plane Poiseuille
Flow: A Plane-Poiseuille flow cannot exist if the pressure gradient,
dx
dp
, is not negative. We also
introduce a new definition of average velocity in this context. Average velocity through any area
A is defined as the volumetric flow rate per unit depth, i.e.


2
3
h
dx
dp
12
1
w h
h
dx
dp
12
1
A
Q
V -
|
.
|

\
|

=
-
-
|
.
|

\
|

= =

If we evaluate the maximum velocity in this flow,

( ) 0 h y 2
dx
dp
2
1
0
dy
du
=

=
2
h
y = , which occurs at the center of the channel.
( )
2 / h y
2
max
2 / h y
hy y
dx
dp
2
1
u ) y ( u
=
= (

= =

|
.
|

\
|

=
dx
dp
8
1


Therefore we notice that the maximum velocity

2
3
dx
dp
12
1
dx
dp
8
1
V
u
max
=
|
.
|

\
|

|
.
|

\
|

or, V
2
3
u
max
= for this flow.

Shear Stress Distribution:

( ) h y 2
dx
dp
2
1
x
v
y
u
yx

|
.
|

\
|

=
|
|
.
|

\
|
c
c
+
c
c
= t

|
.
|

\
|

|
.
|

\
|
=
2
h
y
dx
dp
2
1

If we plot this function along with the velocity profile, we notice a linear variation of shear stress
and shear force as follows:








These plots were made with 0
dx
dp
< as stated before.





x
y
u(y)
h=1 m
u
max

t
yx
F
yx
Couette Flow

This type of flow is also between infinite parallel plates. However, the boundary conditions are a
little different from Plane Poiseuille Flows. Here one of the plates remains stationary, whereas
the other moves with a constant velocity, U. For visualization, we assume the bottom plate
stationary and the top plate moving.








All the assumptions applicable to the derivation of Plane Poiseuille flows hold in the case of
Couette flows. Thus, we may skip part of the derivation and start with the velocity profile.

2 1
2
C y C y
dx
dp
2
1
) y ( u + +
|
.
|

\
|

=

Now, 0 C 0 ) 0 ( u
2
= =

h C h
dx
dp
2
1
U U ) y ( u
1
2
+
|
.
|

\
|

= =

h
dx
dp
2
1
h
U
C
1
|
.
|

\
|

=

( )
h
Uy
hy y
dx
dp
2
1
) y ( u
2
+
|
.
|

\
|

=

If we compare the above velocity profile with that obtained for Plane Poiseuille flows, we find
x
y
u=0
h
Flow
U
Flow
For
0
dx
dp
<

x
y
U
h
For
0
dx
dp
>

For
0
dx
dp
=

Couette Flow Velocity Profiles
the right hand side has an additional term,
h
Uy
. The plot of just this term is a linear velocity
profile from y = 0, u = 0 to y = h, u = U. Thus, the Couette flow velocity profile may be thought
of as the superposition of the Plane Poiseuille flows velocity profile and this additional linear
profile. Because of this additional fluid momentum, Couette flows can exist even with mild
adverse pressure gradient (i.e., 0
dx
dp
< ). Recall that the existence of Q > 0 makes the flow
possible.

Since we know the velocity profile ( )
h
Uy
hy y
dx
dp
2
1
) y ( u
2
+ |
.
|

\
|

= , all the flow quantities such

as volumetric flow rate, average velocity, maximum velocity, shear stress and shear force
distributions can be computed as before using their respective formulae.

Hagen Poiseuille Flow (or, Pipe Flow)

Now we come to derive the most popular application of the internal flows, commonly known as
Hagen Poiseuille Flow or, simply pipe flows. Since pipes have cylindrical geometry, we use the
cylindrical form of the momentum equations. Let us assume an incompressible, steady flow
through a circular pipe without any appreciable body forces. Assuming a parallel flow in the z-
direction, 0 V
z
= , but 0 V V
r
= =
O
.

Continuity equation ( ) 0
z
V V
r
1
V r
r
z
r
=
c
c
+
O c
c
+
c
c

O


0
z
V
z
=
c
c


As in the case of Plane Poiseuille flow, writing out the momentum equations in O and r direction
will simply result in 0
p
r
p
=
O c
c
=
c
c
. Therefore, let us focus on z-direction.

|
.
|

\
|
c
c
+
O c
c
- +
c
c
+
c
c

O
z
V
V
V
r
V
r
V
V
t
V
: z
z
z
z z
r
z


|
|
.
|

\
|
c
c
+
O c
c
- +
c
c
- +
c
c
+ + =
2
z
2
2
z
2
2
z
2
z
2
z
z
V V
r
1
r
V
r
1
r
V
B
dz
dp

We can further assume 0
V
z
=
O c
c
because of the cylindrical symmetry.
0 0
0 0 0 0
0
2R
r
z
u
|
|
.
|

\
|
c
c
- +
c
c
+ =
r
V
r
1
r
V
dz
dp
0
z
2
z
2



|
|
.
|

\
|
c
c
- +
c
c
+ =
r
V
r
1
r
V
dz
dp
z
2
z
2
[ 0
V
z
V
t
V
z z z
=
O c
c
=
c
c
=
c
c
]


|
.
|

\
|
c
c
c
c
+ =
r
V
r
r r dz
dp
z



dz
dp r
dr
dV
r
dr
d
z

=
|
.
|

\
|


or, integrating twice over r, we get

2 1
2
z
C r ln C
dz
dp
4
r
) r ( V + +
|
.
|

\
|

= (C
1
, C
2
= Constants)


Since the pipe radius is R, the boundary conditions
may be written as 0 ) R r ( V
r
= =
and 0 ) 0 r (
dr
dV
z
= = .



The second boundary condition is due to flow symmetry at r = 0, whereas the first one is due to
no-slip condition. Solving the constants C
1
and C
2
we get

|
|
.
|

\
|

|
.
|

\
|

=
2
2 2
z
R
r
1
dz
dp
4
R
) r ( V

As in the case of Plane Poiseuille flows, 0
dz
dp
< for this flow to exist (i.e., Q > 0).
Some additional results are:
x
y
dr
|
.
|

\
|

t
=
dz
dp
8
R
Q
4
,
|
.
|

\
|

=
dz
dp
8
R
V
2
, V 2 V
max
Z
= , and
|
.
|

\
|
= = t
dz
dp
2
r
dr
dV
z
z
r


[Note: You must use an annular area element
z
e dr r 2 A d t =

to derive V and Q results.]

Conclusion

Poiseuille flow is the pure pressure-driven fluid motion in channels with fixed walls, while
Couette flow is the pure shear-driven motion of a fluid between walls which are moving
relative to each other.