Chapter 7

Unsteady flows
Transient pressure flow
Assume: laminar flow at low Reynolds number, little effect of entrance region,
isothermal incompressible Newtonian flow, the only velocity component u z (r , t )

∂u z ∂u z ∂p 1 ∂ ⎛ ∂u z ⎞
0= ρ =− +μ ⎜r ⎟
∂z ∂t ∂z r ∂r ⎝ ∂r ⎠

Steady solution of Hagen-Poiseuille flow

⎡ ⎛ r ⎞2 ⎤ ∂p Δp 4u zmax μ
u =u
s max
⎢1 − ⎜ ⎟ ⎥ − = = constant =
z z
⎢⎣ ⎝ R ⎠ ⎥⎦ ∂z L R2

Assume:
[Link] is the sum of steady solution and an unknown transient function U(r,t)
[Link] pressure is identical to the steady profile even for the unsteady flow
∂p Δp ΔP − ρ g z L
u z = u zs + U (r , t ) − = = = constant
∂z L L
 ∂U 1 ∂ ⎛ ∂U ⎞ r U μt
ρ =μ ⎜r ⎟ s= Φ= τ=
∂t r ∂r ⎝ ∂r ⎠ R u zmax ρR 2

∂Φ 1 ∂ ⎛ ∂Φ ⎞
= ⎜s ⎟
∂τ s ∂s ⎝ ∂s ⎠
∂Φ
= 0 along s = 0 Φ = −(1 − s 2 ) at τ = 0 Φ = 0 on s =1
∂s
∞
J o (λn s)
Φ = −8∑ exp(−λ2nτ )
n =1 λn J1 (λn )
3

Transient disappears in a
dimensionless time of the
order of τ = 1
ρR2
t∞ =
μ
R: equivalent radius
Quasi-steady flows
- draining of a tank through a capillary
Time dependence comes from the time
dependent pressure that drives the flow
p = ρ gH (t ) at z=0
Pressure source is hydrostatic head

∂p ρ gH (t ) ∂u z ρ gH (t ) 1 ∂ ⎛ ∂u z ⎞
− = C (t ) = ρ = +μ ⎜r ⎟
∂z L ∂t L r ∂r ⎝ ∂r ⎠
dV dH R
Q=− = − AT = ∫ 2π ru z dr
dt dt 0

Coupled integro-differential equation

 If the flow is slow enough, we use a steady state model for one particular
feature of an unsteady but slowly varing flow

C (t ) R 2 ⎡ ⎛ r ⎞2 ⎤ π R 4 ρgH (t ) π R 4 Δp
uz = − ⎢1 − ⎜ ⎟ ⎥ Q= = − AT
dH Q=
4μ ⎢⎣ ⎝ R ⎠ ⎥⎦ 8μ L dt 8μ L
H πρ gR 4

= e −τ τ ≡ 8μ L A t
H o
T

Requires infinite time for complete drainage

for 90% drainage for 95% drainage for 99% drainage
τ = 2.3 when H H o = 0.10 24 μ L AT τ = 4.6 when H H o = 0.01
t∞ ≡
πρ gR 4
Squeezing flow
Time dependence comes from a time
dependent change in the geometry
Laminar creeping flow

Order of magnitude
Axial Q = 2π R 2 H& UR R R
= >> 1
Radial Q = 2π R × 2 H × U R H& 2H H

Radial velocity is much greater than axial velocity

(except very close to the plate)
 ∂u z ∂p ⎡ 1 ∂ ⎛ ∂u z ⎞ ∂ 2u z ⎤ ∂p
ρ =− +μ⎢ ⎜r ⎟+ 2 ⎥ =0 p = p(r , t )
∂t ∂z ⎣ r ∂r ⎝ ∂r ⎠ ∂z ⎦ ∂z
Since the disks are rigid bodies, uz along the surfaces is independent of
radial position -> assume uz is everywhere independent of r

1 ∂ ∂u 1 ∂ du
(rur ) + z = 0 (rur ) = − z = f ( z , t ) ur = 12 rf ( z , t )
r ∂r ∂z r ∂r dz

∂ur ∂p ⎡ ∂ ⎛1 ∂ ⎞ ∂ ur ⎤ Assume viscous effect dominates

2
ρ =− +μ⎢ ⎜ (rur ) ⎟ + 2 ⎥
inertial (accelerative) effect
∂t ∂r ∂
⎣ ⎝r r ∂r ⎠ ∂z ⎦

dp ∂ 2u r μ r ∂ 2 f rf H 2 ⎛ dp ⎞ ⎡ ⎛ z ⎞ ⎤
2
=μ 2 = ur = = ⎜ − ⎟ ⎢1 − ⎜ ⎟ ⎥
dr ∂z 2 ∂z 2 2 2 μ ⎝ dr ⎠ ⎢⎣ ⎝ H ⎠ ⎥⎦
BC : f = 0 on z = ±H
1 dp 3H& 3H& μ R 2 ⎡ ⎛ r ⎞2 ⎤
− =
H
∫−H
2π rur dz = 2π R 2 H& μr dr 2 H 3
p=
4H 3
⎢1 − ⎜ ⎟ ⎥
⎢⎣ ⎝ R ⎠ ⎥⎦
This pressure resists the movement of the disks toward each other,
so an external force is required to drive them together
R
F = 2π ∫ Tzz z =H r dr
0
∂u z ∂u z 1 ∂ 3μ H& ⎡ ⎛ z ⎞2 ⎤
Tzz = p − 2 μ 2μ = −2μ (rur ) = ⎢1 − ⎜ ⎟ ⎥
∂z ∂z r ∂r H ⎣⎢ ⎝ H ⎠ ⎦⎥
R 3π R 4 μ H&
F = 2π ∫ p (r )r dr =
0 8H 3 Stefan equation

If the disks are driven under constant force

3
dH 8 F H
H& = − = o
dt 3π R 4 μ
1 1 16 Fot
− =
H 2 H o2 3π R 4 μ

good for high viscosity, slow squeezing

Squeezing flow of inviscid fluid
Slip boundary conditoin
Radial velocity is independent
of the axial position

1 ∂ du H& H&
(rur ) = − z = C (t ) uz = − z ur = − r
r ∂r dz H 2H

⎡ ∂u ∂u ∂u ⎤ ∂p && H& 2 ⎞
∂p ρr ⎛ H
ρ ⎢ r + ur r + u z r ⎥ = − − = ⎜ − ⎟
⎣ ∂t ∂r ∂z ⎦ ∂r ∂r H ⎜⎝ 2 4 H ⎟⎠

For constant speed squeezing

ρr 2 H& 2 R ρπ R 4 H& 2
p=
8H 2
0 ∫
F1 = 2π rp (r ) dr =
16 H 2
Strictly from the unsteady
nature of the flow
Draining of a liquid film from a vertical plate
A uniform film of initial thickness H suddenly begins to
drain, and the initial amount of liquid ultimately drains
completely off the plate
Assume:
film thickness varies gradually in the x-direction
(nearly parallel flow)
Viscous thin film with low Reynolds number
(neglect inertia, surface tension)

∂u ∂ 2u ∂ 2u g⎛ z2 ⎞
=ν ( 2 + 2 ) + g u = ⎜⎜ hz − ⎟⎟
∂t ∂x ∂z ν⎝ 2⎠
Lubrication approximation Quasi-steady approximation:
almost parallel flow the flow field for any film thickness h(x,t) is the
same as the steady flow for uniform film thickness
 h ( x ,t ) gh3
The flow rate per unit width in the y-direction q=∫ u ( z , t ) dz =
0 3ν
Any difference between the flow in and out of film must appear as a
change in film thickness
∂h ∂h ∂q ∂ gh3 gh 2 ∂h
qx − q x + dx = dx =− =− =−
∂t ∂t ∂x ∂x 3ν ν ∂x
h = Axα t β Nonlinear partial differential equation

g
β Axα t β −1 = − ( A2 x 2α t 2 β )α Axα −1t β
ν
1/ 2 1/ 2
⎛ν ⎞ ⎛ νx ⎞
A = ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ h = ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟
⎝g⎠ ⎝ gt ⎠

[Link] is infinite at t=0

[Link] is zero at the top

Excellent at least after an initial period of time

as long as we are not concerned with the film thickness near the top plate
Leveling of a surface disturbance
Magnetic recording system
Slider velocity ~ 10m/s
Air gap ~ a few hundred nanometers or less
Lubricant to prevent contact ~ 30-50Å
In the order of molecular size, certain
phenomena are not accounted for by NS

Contact of the slider with the lubricant results in a furrow

-> how quickly the lubricant flows back into the furrow to restore the protection

Assume the disturbance to the film

thickness is simusoidal
H ( x) = H + h sin kx
2π
k≡ h << H
λ
Assumption: lubrication approximation, quasi-steady state
∂ 2u x ∂ 2u x ∂p ∂p
0 = μ( 2 + 2 ) − =0
∂x ∂y ∂x ∂y
Neglect any effect of gravity because the film is so thin
Surface tension provides the dominant force for restoration of the uniform film
σ 1 d 2H
p ( x, t ) = =− 2 p = −σH ′′ = σhk 2 sin kx p′′ = −σhk 4 sin kx
R ( x, t ) R dx

p′ 2 a
ux = y + y+b p ' = ∂p / ∂x
2μ μ p′ 2 p′H
ux = y − y
u x = 0 at y = 0 2μ μ
∂u
μ x = 0 at y = H ( x, t ) ≈ H
∂y
H ( x,t ) H p′H 3 dQ p′′H 3 ∂H
Q=∫ u x dy ≈ ∫ u x dy = − =− =−
0 0 3μ dx 3μ ∂t
∂H ∂h dQ p′′H 3 σhk 4 sin kxH 3
= sin kx = − = =−
∂t ∂t dx 3μ 3μ
1 ∂h σk 4 H 3
=− ≡ −β h = ho exp(− β t )
h ∂t 3μ
Decay rate for the disturbance
A disturbance to an extremely thin film will decay very slowly
If one uses a lubricant of low viscosity,
[Link] viscosity lubricants will have a smaller load-bearing capacity,
and it will be easier for the head to crash through the lubricant
[Link] the high centrigugal force tends to produce a radial flow of
lubricant off the disk
-> design of new lubricants is important (i.e. that bond chemically to the
topmost solid layer of the disk