BSL Transport Phenomena 2e Revised: Chapter 3 - Problem 3B.

10 Page 1 of 8

Problem 3B.10
Radial flow between parallel disks (Fig. 3B.10). A part of a lubrication system consists of
two circular disks between which a lubricant flows radially. The flow takes place because of a
modified pressure difference P1 − P2 between the inner and outer radii r1 and r2 , respectively.

(a) Write the equations of continuity and motion for this flow system, assuming steady-state,
laminar, incompressible Newtonian flow. Consider only the region r1 ≤ r ≤ r2 and a flow
that is radially directed.
(b) Show how the equation of continuity enables one to simplify the equation of motion to give
φ2 dP 1 d2 φ
−ρ = − + µ (3B.10-1)
r3 dr r dz 2
in which φ = rvr is a function of z only. Why is φ independent of r?
(c) It can be shown that no solution exists for Eq. 3B.10-1 unless the nonlinear term containing
φ is omitted. Omission of this term corresponds to the “creeping flow assumption.” Show
that for creeping flow, Eq. 3B.10-1 can be integrated with respect to r to give
r2 d2 φ
 
0 = (P1 − P2 ) + µ ln (3B.10-2)
r1 dz 2

(d) Show that further integration with respect to z gives

(P1 − P2 )b2
  z 2 
vr (r, z) = 1− (3B.10-3)
2µr ln(r2 /r1 ) b

(e) Show that the mass flow rate is

4π(P1 − P2 )b3 ρ
w= (3B.10-4)
3µ ln(r2 /r1 )

(f ) Sketch the curves P(r) and vr (r, z).

Solution

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BSL Transport Phenomena 2e Revised: Chapter 3 - Problem 3B.10 Page 2 of 8

Part (a)

Since the flow is radial and there is space between the disks, we assume that the velocity varies as
a function of radius and height and that the fluid moves only in the r-direction.

v = vr (r, z)r̂

If we assume the fluid does not slip on the walls, then it has the wall’s velocity at z = −b and
z = b.

Boundary Condition 1: vr (r, −b) = 0

Boundary Condition 2: vr (r, b) = 0

The equation of continuity results by considering a mass balance over a volume element that the
fluid is flowing through. Assuming the fluid density ρ is constant, the equation simplifies to

∇ · v = 0. (1)

The equation of motion results by considering a momentum balance over a volume element that
the fluid is flowing through. Assuming the fluid viscosity µ is also constant, the equation
simplifies to the Navier-Stokes equation.
∂
ρv + ∇ · ρvv = −∇p + µ∇2 v + ρg (2)
∂t
As this is a vector equation, it actually represents three scalar equations—one for each variable in
the chosen coordinate system. Using cylindrical coordinates is the appropriate choice for this
problem, so equations (1) and (2) will be used in (r, θ, z). From Appendix B.4 on page 846, the
continuity equation becomes
1 ∂ 1 ∂vθ ∂vz
(rvr ) + + = 0.
r ∂r |r {z
∂θ} |{z}
∂z
=0 =0
Multiply both sides by r.
∂
(rvr ) = 0
∂r
It is here we see that rvr is independent of r. Integrate both sides partially with respect to r.

rvr = φ(z),

where φ is an arbitrary function of z. From Appendix B.6 on page 848, the Navier-Stokes
equation yields the following three scalar equations in cylindrical coordinates.
vθ2 1 ∂ 2 vr ∂ 2 vr
     
∂vr ∂vr vθ ∂vr ∂vr ∂p ∂ 1 ∂ 2 ∂vθ
ρ +vr + + vz − =− +µ (rvr ) + 2 + − 2 + ρgr
∂t
|{z} ∂r |r {z∂θ} | {z∂z} |{z}
r ∂r ∂r r ∂r ∂θ2} ∂z 2
|r {z |r {z∂θ}
=0 =0 =0 =0 =0 =0
2 2
     
∂vθ ∂vθ vθ ∂vθ ∂vθ vr vθ 1 ∂p ∂ 1 ∂ 1 ∂ vθ ∂ vθ 2 ∂vr
ρ + vr + + vz + =− +µ (rvθ ) + 2 + + 2 + ρgθ
∂t ∂r} |r {z∂θ} | {z ∂z} | {z
r} | r{z∂θ} ∂r r ∂r r ∂θ2 ∂z 2 r ∂θ |{z}
|{z} | {z | {z } | {z } | {z } | {z } =0
=0 =0 =0 =0 =0 =0 =0 =0 =0 =0

1 ∂ 2 vz ∂ 2 vz
     
∂vz ∂vz vθ ∂vz ∂vz ∂p 1 ∂ ∂vz
ρ + vr + + vz = − +µ r + 2 + + ρgz
∂t ∂r} |r {z∂θ} | {z∂z} ∂z} r ∂r ∂r ∂θ2} |∂z
r {z 2 |{z}
|{z} | {z | {z | {z } | {z } =0
=0 =0 =0 =0 =0 =0 =0 =0

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BSL Transport Phenomena 2e Revised: Chapter 3 - Problem 3B.10 Page 3 of 8

The relevant equation for the velocity is the r-equation, which has simplified considerably from
the assumption that v = vr (r, z)r̂.

∂ 2 vr
   
∂vr ∂p ∂ 1 ∂
ρvr =− +µ (rvr ) + + ρgr
∂r ∂r ∂r r ∂r ∂z 2

Part (b)

From the continuity equation, the first term in square brackets is zero.

∂vr ∂p ∂ 2 vr
ρvr =− + µ 2 + ρgr
∂r ∂r ∂z
Rewrite the left side and factor a minus sign from the pressure and gravity terms on the right side.

∂ 2 vr
 
ρ ∂ 2 ∂p
(vr ) = − − ρgr + µ 2
2 ∂r ∂r ∂z

Substitute vr = φ/r.
φ2 ∂2
   
ρ ∂ ∂ φ
= − (p − ρgr r) + µ 2
2 ∂r r2 ∂r ∂z r
Introduce the modified pressure function here,

1 ∂2φ
 
ρ 2∂ 1 dP
φ = − + µ ,
2 ∂r r2 dr r ∂z 2

where P = P(r) = p(r) − ρgr r. Therefore,

φ2 dP 1 d2 φ
−ρ = − + µ .
r3 dr r dz 2
Part (c)

If creeping flow is assumed, then the nonlinear term on the left side is zero.

dP 1 d2 φ
0=− +µ
dr r dz 2
Bring dP/dr to the left side.
dP 1 d2 φ
=µ (3)
dr r dz 2
Separate variables.
dr d2 φ
dP = µ
r dz 2
Integrate both sides.
ˆ P2 ˆ r2
dr d2 φ
dP = µ ,
P1 r1 r dz 2
where P1 = P(r1 ) and P2 = P(r2 ).
r2 2
 d φ
P2 − P1 = µ(ln r) 2
r1 dz

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BSL Transport Phenomena 2e Revised: Chapter 3 - Problem 3B.10 Page 4 of 8

Plug in the limits.

d2 φ
0 = P1 − P2 + µ(ln r2 − ln r1 )
dz 2
Therefore,
r2 d2 φ
 
0 = (P1 − P2 ) + µ ln .
r1 dz 2
Part (d)

Solve for the term containing φ.

d2 φ P2 − P1
=
dz 2 µ ln(r2 /r1 )
Integrate both sides with respect to z.
dφ P2 − P1
= z + C1
dz µ ln(r2 /r1 )
Integrate both sides with respect to z once more.
P2 − P1 2
φ(z) = z + C1 z + C2
2µ ln(r2 /r1 )
Use the boundary conditions for vr to obtain those for φ.
φ(−b)
vr (r, −b) = 0 → =0 → φ(−b) = 0
r
φ(b)
vr (r, b) = 0 → =0 → φ(b) = 0
r
Apply them now to determine C1 and C2 .
P2 − P1 2
φ(−b) = b − C1 b + C2 = 0
2µ ln(r2 /r1 )
P2 − P1 2
φ(b) = b + C1 b + C2 = 0
2µ ln(r2 /r1 )
Solving the system of equations yields
P2 − P1 2
C1 = 0 and C2 = − b .
2µ ln(r2 /r1 )
So then
P2 − P1 2 P2 − P1 2
φ(z) = z − b
2µ ln(r2 /r1 ) 2µ ln(r2 /r1 )
P2 − P1 2
=− (b − z 2 )
2µ ln(r2 /r1 )
(P1 − P2 )b2
  z 2 
= 1− .
2µ ln(r2 /r1 ) b

Therefore, since vr = φ/r,

(P1 − P2 )b2
  z 2 
vr (r, z) = 1− .
2µr ln(r2 /r1 ) b

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BSL Transport Phenomena 2e Revised: Chapter 3 - Problem 3B.10 Page 5 of 8

Part (e)

The volumetric flow rate is obtained by integrating the velocity distribution over the area the
fluid is flowing through. ¨
dV
= vr dA
dt
Multiply both sides by the density ρ.
¨
dV
ρ =ρ vr dA
dt
Because ρ is constant, it can be brought inside the derivative.
¨
d(ρV )
=ρ vr dA
dt
Density times volume is mass.
¨
dm
=ρ vr dA
dt
ˆ b ˆ 2π
=ρ vr (r, z)(r dθ)(dz)
−b 0
ˆ b ˆ 2π
(P1 − P2 )b2
  z 2 
=ρ 1− (r dθ dz)
−b 0 2µr ln(r2 /r1 ) b
ˆ ˆ
(P1 − P2 )ρ b 2π 2
= (b − z 2 ) dθ dz
2µ ln(r2 /r1 ) −b 0
ˆ 2π  ˆ b
(P1 − P2 )ρ
= dθ (b2 − z 2 ) dz
2µ ln(r2 /r1 ) 0 −b
b
(P1 − P2 )ρ z 3 

2
= (2π) b z −
2µ ln(r2 /r1 ) 3 −b
(P1 − P2 )ρ
 3
2b3

2b
= (2π) +
2µ ln(r2 /r1 ) 3 3

Therefore, letting w = dm/dt,

4π(P1 − P2 )b3 ρ
w= .
3µ ln(r2 /r1 )
Part (f )

We can solve for the modified pressure function with equation (3).

dP µ d2 φ
=
dr r dz 2
1 P2 − P1
=
r ln(r2 /r1 )
Integrate both sides with respect to r.
P2 − P1
P(r) = ln r + C3
ln(r2 /r1 )

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BSL Transport Phenomena 2e Revised: Chapter 3 - Problem 3B.10 Page 6 of 8

To determine C3 , use the condition that P(r2 ) = P2 .

P2 − P1 P1 ln r2 − P2 ln r1
P(r2 ) = ln r2 + C3 = P2 → C3 =
ln(r2 /r1 ) ln(r2 /r1 )

So then
P2 − P1 P1 ln r2 − P2 ln r1
P(r) = ln r +
ln(r2 /r1 ) ln(r2 /r1 )
r2 r
P1 ln + P2 ln
r r1
= r2 .
ln
r1

Figure 1: This is a plot of P(r) as a function of r.

Now the velocity field v = vr (r, z)r̂ will be plotted by changing to Cartesian coordinates.
!
(P1 − P2 )b2
  z 2  x y
v = vr (x, y, z)(cos θx̂ + sin θŷ) = p 1− p x̂ + p ŷ
2µ x2 + y 2 ln(r2 /r1 ) b x2 + y 2 x2 + y 2

If we set
(P1 − P2 )b2
= 10
2µ ln(r2 /r1 )
and b = 0.1, for example, then we obtain the following velocity field.

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BSL Transport Phenomena 2e Revised: Chapter 3 - Problem 3B.10 Page 7 of 8

Figure 2: This is a sample plot of the velocity field v = vr (r, z)r̂.

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BSL Transport Phenomena 2e Revised: Chapter 3 - Problem 3B.10 Page 8 of 8

Figure 3: This is a cross-sectional plot of the sample velocity field at z = 0.

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