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

4 Page 1 of 6

Problem 3B.4
Creeping flow between two concentric spheres (Fig. 3B.4). A very viscous Newtonian fluid
flows in the space between two concentric spheres, as shown in the figure. It is desired to find the
rate of flow in the system as a function of the imposed pressure difference. Neglect end effects
and postulate that vθ depends only on r and θ with the other velocity components zero.

(a) Using the equation of continuity, show that vθ sin θ = u(r), where u(r) is a function of r to
be determined.

(b) Write the θ-component of the equation of motion for this system, assuming the flow to be
slow enough that the [v · ∇v] term is negligible. Show that this gives
  
1 ∂P 1 1 d 2 du
0=− +µ r (3B.4-1)
r ∂θ sin θ r2 dr dr

(c) Separate this into two equations

 
∂P µ d 2 du
sin θ = B; r =B (3B.4-2, 3)
∂θ r dr dr
where B is the separation constant, and solve the two equations to get
P2 − P1
B= (3B.4-4)
2 ln cot 12 ε
(P1 − P2 )R 
  
r R
u(r) = 1− +κ 1− (3B.4-5)
4µ ln cot(ε/2) R r
where P1 and P2 are the values of the modified pressure at θ = ε and θ = π − ε,
respectively.

(d) Use the results above to get the mass rate of flow

π(P1 − P2 )R3 (1 − κ)3 ρ

w= (3B.4-6)
12µ ln cot(ε/2)

Solution

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BSL Transport Phenomena 2e Revised: Chapter 3 - Problem 3B.4 Page 2 of 6

Part (a)

For two concentric spheres a spherical coordinate system (r, θ, φ) is used, where θ represents the
angle from the polar axis. We assume that the fluid flows only in the θ-direction and that the
velocity varies as a function of r and θ.

v = vθ (r, θ)θ̂

If we assume the fluid does not slip on the walls, then it has the wall’s velocity at r = κR and
r = R.

Boundary Condition 1: vθ (κR, θ) = 0

Boundary Condition 2: vθ (R, θ) = 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.

From Appendix B.4 on page 846, the continuity equation in spherical coordinates becomes

1 ∂ 2 1 ∂ 1 ∂vφ
2
(r vr ) + (vθ sin θ) + = 0.
|r ∂r{z } r sin θ ∂θ r sin θ ∂φ
| {z }
=0 =0

Multiply both sides by r sin θ.

∂
(vθ sin θ) = 0
∂θ
Integrate both sides partially with respect to θ, to obtain

vθ sin θ = u(r),

where u(r) is an arbitrary function of r. Divide both sides by sin θ to solve for vθ .

u(r)
vθ (r, θ) =
sin θ
Use the boundary conditions for vθ to obtain those for u.

u(κR)
vθ (κR, θ) = =0 → u(κR) = 0
sin θ
u(R)
vθ (R, θ) = =0 → u(R) = 0
sin θ
Part (b)

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 constant in addition to ρ, the
equation simplifies to the Navier-Stokes equation.
∂
ρv + ∇ · ρvv = −∇p + µ∇2 v + ρg
∂t

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BSL Transport Phenomena 2e Revised: Chapter 3 - Problem 3B.4 Page 3 of 6

Creeping flow is assumed, so the acceleration terms on the left side are zero.

0 = −∇p + µ∇2 v + ρg

As this is a vector equation, it actually represents three scalar equations—one for each variable in
the chosen coordinate system. From Appendix B.6 on page 848, the Navier-Stokes equation yields
the following three scalar equations in spherical coordinates.

1 ∂2 2 ∂ 2 vr
   
∂p 1 ∂ ∂vr 1
0=− + µ 2 2 (r vr ) + 2 sin θ + 2 2 + ρgr
∂r |r ∂r{z } |r sin θ ∂θ{z ∂θ r sin θ ∂φ2
} | {z }
=0 =0 =0
    
1 ∂p 1 ∂ ∂v θ 1 ∂ 1 ∂
0=− +µ 2 r2 + 2 (vθ sin θ)
r ∂θ r ∂r ∂r r ∂θ sin θ ∂θ
∂ 2 vθ

1 2 ∂vr 2 cot θ ∂vφ
+ 2 2 + − + ρgθ
r sin θ ∂φ2 |r2{z∂θ} r2 sin θ ∂φ
| {z } | {z }
=0 =0 =0
    
1 ∂p 1 ∂ ∂v φ 1 ∂ 1 ∂
0=− +µ 2 r2 + 2 (vφ sin θ)
r sin θ ∂φ r ∂r ∂r r ∂θ sin θ ∂θ
| {z } | {z } | {z }
=0 =0 =0
∂ 2 vφ

1 2 ∂vr 2 cot θ ∂vθ
+ 2 2 + 2 + + ρgφ
r sin θ ∂φ2 r sin θ ∂φ r2 sin θ ∂φ |{z}
| {z } | {z } | {z } =0
=0 =0 =0

The relevant equation for the velocity is the θ-equation, which has simplified considerably from
the assumption that v = vθ (r, θ)θ̂.
    
1 ∂p 1 ∂ 2 ∂vθ 1 ∂ 1 ∂
0=− +µ 2 r + 2 (vθ sin θ) + ρgθ
r ∂θ r ∂r ∂r r ∂θ sin θ ∂θ

It was found from part (a) that vθ sin θ is only a function of r, so the second term in square
brackets is zero.   
1 ∂p 1 ∂ 2 ∂vθ
0=− +µ 2 r + ρgθ
r ∂θ r ∂r ∂r
Replace vθ with u(r)/ sin θ. Also, assuming that gravity points downward, the vector is
g = −gẑ = −g[(cos θ)r̂ + (− sin θ)θ̂] in spherical coordinates, so gθ = g sin θ.
  
1 ∂p 1 ∂ 2 ∂ u(r)
0=− + ρg sin θ + µ 2 r
r ∂θ r ∂r ∂r sin θ
    
1 ∂p 1 1 d 2 du
0=− − ρgr sin θ + µ r
r ∂θ sin θ r2 dr dr
Therefore,
  
1 ∂P 1 1 d 2 du
0=− +µ r ,
r ∂θ sin θ r2 dr dr

where P = P(r, θ) = p(r, θ) + ρgr cos θ is the modified pressure.

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BSL Transport Phenomena 2e Revised: Chapter 3 - Problem 3B.4 Page 4 of 6

Part (c)

Bring the term with P to the left side.

 
1 ∂P µ d 2 du
= 2 r
r ∂θ r sin θ dr dr
Multiply both sides by r sin θ.  
∂P µ d 2 du
sin θ = r
∂θ r dr dr
If we assume that the space between the spheres is small, then the modified pressure is
approximately constant in r.  
dP µ d 2 du
sin θ = r
dθ r dr dr
The only way a function of θ can be equal to a function of r is if both are equal to a constant B.
 
dP µ d 2 du
sin θ = r =B
dθ r dr dr
Solve the first equation for P.
dP
sin θ =B
dθ
Multiply both sides by dθ/ sin θ.
B
dP = dθ
sin θ
Integrate both sides.
ˆ P2 ˆ θ2
B
dP = dθ,
P1 θ1 sin θ
where θ1 = ε, θ2 = π − ε, and P1 and P2 are the modified pressures at these angles, respectively.

θ π−ε

P2 − P1 = B ln tan 
2 ε
 
π−ε ε
= B ln tan − ln tan
2 2
π−ε
tan
= B ln 2
ε
tan
2
ε
cot
= B ln 2
ε
tan
2
 ε 2
= B ln cot
2
ε
= 2B ln cot
2
Dividing both sides by 2 ln cot(ε/2), therefore,

P2 − P1
B= .
2 ln cot(ε/2)

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BSL Transport Phenomena 2e Revised: Chapter 3 - Problem 3B.4 Page 5 of 6

Now solve the second equation for u.

 
µ d 2 du
r =B
r dr dr

Multiply both sides by r/µ.  

d 2 du Br
r =
dr dr µ
Integrate both sides with respect to r.

du Br2
r2 = + C1
dr 2µ

Divide both sides by r2 .

du B C1
= + 2
dr 2µ r
Integrate both sides with respect to r once more.
B C1
u(r) = r− + C2
2µ r
Apply the boundary conditions here to determine C1 and C2 .
B C1
u(κR) = κR − + C2 = 0
2µ κR
B C1
u(R) = R− + C2 = 0
2µ R
Solving this system of equations yields

BκR2 κ+1
C1 = − and C2 = −BR .
2µ 2µ
So then
B BκR2 1 κ+1
u(r) = r+ − BR
2µ 2µ r 2µ
 
BR r κR
= + −κ−1
2µ R r
  
BR  r R
=− 1− +κ 1−
2µ R r
P2 − P1 R
  
r  R
=− 1− +κ 1−
2 ln cot(ε/2) 2µ R r

Therefore,
(P1 − P2 )R 
  
r R
u(r) = 1− +κ 1− .
4µ ln cot(ε/2) R r

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BSL Transport Phenomena 2e Revised: Chapter 3 - Problem 3B.4 Page 6 of 6

Part (d)

The volumetric flow rate is obtained by integrating the velocity distribution over the area the
fluid is flowing through. ¨
dV
= vθ dA
dt
To get the mass flow rate, multiply both sides by the density ρ.
¨
dV
ρ =ρ vθ dA
dt
Bring ρ inside the derivative. ¨
d(ρV )
=ρ vθ dA
dt
Density times volume is mass.
¨
dm
=ρ vθ (r, θ) dA
dt
ˆ 2π ˆ R
=ρ vθ (r, θ)(dr)(r sin θ dφ)
0 κR
ˆ 2π ˆ R
u(r)
=ρ (r sin θ dr dφ)
0 κR sin θ
ˆ 2π ˆ R
=ρ ru(r) dr dφ
0 κR
ˆ 2π  ˆ R
=ρ dφ ru(r) dr
0 κR
ˆ R
= 2πρ ru(r) dr
κR
ˆ R
(P1 − P2 )R 
  
r R
= 2πρ r 1− +κ 1− dr
κR 4µ ln cot(ε/2) R r
ˆ 
π(P1 − P2 )Rρ R r2

= r− + κr − κR dr
2µ ln cot(ε/2) κR R
π(P1 − P2 )Rρ R2
= · (1 − κ)3
2µ ln cot(ε/2) 6

Therefore, letting w = dm/dt, the mass flow rate is

π(P1 − P2 )R3 (1 − κ)3 ρ

w= .
12µ ln cot(ε/2)

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