A GREENS FUNCTION SOLUTION FOR THE CASE OF LAMINAR

INCOMPRESSIBLE FLOW BETWEEN NON-CONCENTRIC

CIRCULAR CYLINDERS
BY

JAMES F. HEYDA

ABSTRACT

The main result is the determination of Greens function in bi-polar coordinates

for the potential equation for a non-concentric annular region. This is then used to
solve Poissons equation for the point velocity in laminar incompressible flow be-
tween non-concentric circular cylinders.

I. INTRODUCTION

iin explicit formulation for the case of a concentric circular ring

of Greens function for the potential equation is given by Hilbert-
Courant (1) .2 When the bounding circles of the annular region are no
longer concentric, the reflection principle used in (1) is no longer prac-
tical. Upon introducing bi-polar coordinates in the manner suggested
in Morse-Feshbach (z), a fairly simple form for Greens function can be
obtained. This result is then used to solve Poissons equation for the
point velocity in laminar incompressible flow between non-concentric
circular cylinders. When the eccentricity of the annular region tends to
zero, this velocity formulation reduces to the well-known result for a
concentric annulus.
II. BI-POLAR COORDINATES

In Pig. 1, if P is distant rl from the fixed pole Ol(c, 0) and rr from the
pole 02(-c, 0) and the angles of the vectors OIP and OzP are 13~and e2,
respectively, then P is defined to have the bi-polar coordinates (t, 7)
where
.$ = 7r - (e, - e,), ?j = log(r,/r,). (1)

The curves $ = const are a family of circles passing through O1 and

02, the E-values for points on the circle segments below the x-axis being
7rmore than the &values for points on the corresponding circle segments
above the x-axis.
The curves 77 = const are also a family of circles, having centers on
the x-axis and being normal to all the &circles. For 3 < 0, the circles
lie in the right half plane and enclose 01, while for TJ > 0 the circles lit
in the left half plane and enclose 0,.
LAircraft Nuclear Propulsion Department, General Electric Company, Cincinnati, Ohicj.
2 The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to the refrrerws appended to this paper.

25
26 JAMES F. HEYDA [J. F. I.

If we prefer, we may regard the xy-plane in Fig. 1 as the complex

z-plane and then define a new complex variable w by w = t + iv. To

FIG. 1.

determine the transformation between the z and w planes implied by the

bi-polar relations (l), observe that

r1
- = efl=
pG+ool( Ic-zz(*
rz lo,0 +opI = Ic +zl
or,

Similarly,
(-+z
f = ez- (tl, - a) = arg (c + 2) - arg (c - 2) = arg
(
___
c-2 > *

Hence, E and e-7 are respectively the angle and the absolute value of the
complex variable

{=--_ C-l-2 (2)

c - 2
Jan., 1959.1 LAMINAR INCOMPRESSIBLE FLOW 27

Writing { in polar form

r = pe6, p = e-1, (3)
we have
5_= e-l+iE = ei(E+iq) = eiw,
whence

(4)

From (2) we see that in the r-plane, the circle j{J = e-l is the
c+z = e-n, which, in the z-plane, has center at
map of the circle __
I c-2 I
(- c coth 3, 0) and is of radius c csch 77.
Applying these remarks to the non-concentric annular region of
interest shown in Fig. 2, we may regard the given circles A, B, with

FIG. 2.

radii a, b, respectively, as two particular members of the s-family of

circles enclosing point O2 ( - c, 0). If we assign A and B the values 71
and q2, then knowledge of a, b and d, where d is the distance between
the centers C, and Ca, is sufficient to determine ql, q2 and c. To see
this, observe that
a = c csch ql, b = ccsch7/2 (5)
d = c (coth r/z - coth 771), (6)
28 JAMES F. HEYDA [J. F. I.

three equations which may be solved for the unknowns TV, q2, c. If we
define the eccentricity E and the radius ratio s by

e = d/(b - a), s = a/b, (7)

we find that these unknowns may be computed in the order 92, c, v1 from

1/z = cash- 4 J+ + (1 - +t, (8)

G = bsinhT2 (9)

71 = sinh- (c/u). (IO)

Equation 4 yields the transformation equations

XC - c sinh 7 C sin [
cash 17+ cos 4
Y=
cash 77+ cos z$
(11)

A useful relation between 71 and ~2, not involving c directly, is

771 = 112 - logs + log [l - ~(1 - s)e+]. (12)

This follows directly from (5) and (6) by noting first that

d = b cash 72 - a cash ql
and hence,
d
cash 9z - a sinh q1
1,
a form which is easily manipulated into (12).
In particular, then, we see that for small eccentricities,

rll - 172 G log (b/a). (13)

To effect a reduction to the concentric case, we let d --+ 0, whence

e ---j 0, c--+ 00, 171-f 00, ?72--) 00,

but
lim (~1 - q2) = log (b/a). (14)

III. DERIVATION OF GREENS FUNCTION

Let (x, y) and (x0, yO) be distinct points of the non-concentric an-
nular region D shown in Fig. 2. Then, it will be recalled, the Greens
Jan.,
ws9.1 LAMINAR INCOMPRESSIBLE FLOW 29

function in question is the function G (x, y ; x0, ya), having the following
properties :

(4 VG = 0 in D for all (x, y) # (x0, yo), when G is regarded as a

function of (x, y).
Cb)For points (x, y) on the boundaries A or B, we have G = 0.
--
Cc)G(x, y; x,,, yo) = -& log zi(.t--~o)~+(y-~o)~+G*(x, y; so, y,,),

so that G has a logarithmic singularity at (x0, yo), while the

function G* is analytic in D without exception and V2G* = 0.

In terms of the complex variables z = x + iy, z. = ?co + iy,, we

may write G as

Gb, .Q>= - $TRe log (z - ZO) + G*(z, so>, (15)

where G* is understood to be real-valued.
Consider now the transformation (4). If we put ZL= ~ZU= - 77+ it,
then
2c(e U@_ eu)
&--=- (16)
(elL - l)(euo - 1)

The circle 77 = v. separates the region D into the sub-domains

D1: ql > 7 > 70 and D?: 70 > rl 2 vz.

Hence in order to have convergent expansions when an infinite series

representation is used for log (z - zo), we rewrite (16) in the forms

7 - z. = 2ceo(l - eU-Uo)/(l - ell)(l - efLo), (for DI)

= - 2ce[l - e- (U-1Lo)]/(1 - elL)(1 - PO), (for D1).

Thus we find

Therefore upon taking real parts we find

-$Relog(z - 20)

= & 7Ja- Iog 2c + j; (e-n+m) cos n(E - Eo)- (e-n? cos n4 + e-nmcos ?z$)} 117n)
C I
30 JAMES F. HEYDA [J. F. I.

when v1 L rl > ~0, and

- &Relog(z - zo)

= & 4 - log 26 + n<l; (en(qo)co5 n(f - Eo)- (e-nncos n$ + fP-71~0

COSn&)) (17b)
[ I
when 70 > 17 2 m.

Returning now to Eq. 15, we denote Greens function in bi-polar

coordinates by G(E, 17; (0, qo) and its non-singular component by
G*([, 7; EC,,
70). For convenience we also denote (17) by S(t, t; to, vo).
Thus Eq. 17 becomes

G(L 1; 50, ao) = S(k 7; to, 70) + G*(& 7; :o, ~0). (1%

Since FG* = 0, the most general G in terms of ntil order circular

harmonics is

G* = A07 + B + jl [(An cos n.f + B, sin n,$)eAn* f (C, cos n5 + D, sin n&P]. (19)

The constants in (19) can now be evaluated by noting that

G(f, 7; to, QO) must vanish when r] = ql and also when T,J= q2. We then
have the conditions

G*(L 71; fo, rlo) = - SC.571; 50,rlo),

G ($9 rlz; 40, rlo) = - SC47 7?2; 40, To).

Using these conditions, we obtain, after considerable simplification,

the following form of Greens function for the domains D1 and Dr.

For D1: rll 2 rl > 70 > m, (20)

G(.$, q; to, q,,) = & [ (I- )(M- ) f il

71 - 92
(e-n(-o) - H(q, 90; q,, qz)) OSi - )],;
For D2: ~1 L 70 > B >_ w,

GC.5rl; to,70)= &- (1 - 112)

(111
- 70) -I-
71 - r12 n-l
5 {en(v40)- H(s, 70; m, ~2)) cm n(Sn - 60)

where
e-cl--72) sinh n(vl-vo) -en(T-nl) sinh n(~z-~o)
H(% Ilo; t1r 72) = (21)
sinh n(rl,-72)

It should be noted that the series

Jan., 1959.1 LAMINAR INCOMPRESSIBLE FLOW 31

diverge when (to, fO) = (4, q), as they should, since G(& TJ;to, Be),
considered as a function of (E, v), has a logarithmic-type singularity at
(to, 70). It is also readily verified that G(g, qi; &,, qO) = 0, i = 1, 2.
In examining Eqs. 20 one notes that the symmetry property,

which is characteristic of Greens functions, is not readily apparent.

This is easily remedied by noting that

e_nCs_lO)_ N _= 2 sinh n(~ - 7) sinh 4v0 - d

,
sinh n(n - m)

en(n-Vl) _ 31 _= 2 sinh n(~ - ~2) sinh n(ql - 170)

sinh n.(ql - 172)

Thus, the Greens function takes on the compact, symmetrical and

rather elegant form

For D1 : q1 >_ 77> q. >_ q2, G = G1, where (22)

Gl (Es7 ; Eo,10) = & L(71 -qd2;2- d + 2 i

n--l
sinh n(m ,- 7) sinh n(m - IZ)cos n(t - Ee) ;
n slnh n(n - w) I
For Dz: ~1 2 70 > 7 2 q2, G = G2, where

IV. POINT VELOCITY IN LAMINAR FLOW

The laminar flow of an incompressible fluid of viscosity p through

the region bounded by non-concentric circular cyhnders is described by
Poissons equation
vzv = - -1 --
dp
(23)
/.L
dL

where v is the point velocity at (t, 7) in a normal cross section D and

dp/dL is the pressure gradient at D in the direction of the flow,

Let f dp/dL be denoted by the constant K. Then stated as a

bounda:y value problem, we wish to solve

V% = - K, (24)

subject to the conditions v(f, r]J = 0, ~(4, q2) = 0, where vl, q2 charac-
terize the boundary circles A, B of the region D.
Since we now have the Greens function available, the solution can
32 JAMES F. HEYDA [J. F. I.

be written down directly. Thus,

dt5 7) = K sr .D
G(& 17; to,rlo)dA (25)

where the element of area dA = dxdy = 1(x, y/&, ~o)d&d~o, the

Jacobian being computed from the transformation Eqs. 11. We find

Wodqo I^ ,\

dA= (cash r]o + cos top

(26)

so that the solution (259, expressed as an iterated integral, becomes

2T G(& rl; tot rlo)dEoho

v(& 7) = Kc I,*p
(27)
SS o (cash T,I~
+ cos &,)2

In terms of GI and Gz as defined in (22), this may in turn be written

v(t, a) = KC2 SS97 02*G(C;, r ; Earrlo)dEdrlo

(cash 70 + cos 40)

II * Gl(E, ?I ; to, rlo)dEodvo c28)

+ Kc2
ss7 o (cash 170 + cos to), *
We write (28) as

where

SS Il_-)lO
27471-92)
11
o
II=Kc2h2) q 2*
G&o, (30)
(cash r]o+cos Eo)2

12=K~2(~~-~) ~2 2* 7?0-rl2
ss7 4&o, (31)
27+1--72) o (cash vo+cos to)

2s sinh n(n -VO) sinh n(~-32) cosn([- [o)d&,dvo (32)

n sinh n(ql -v2) (cash go+cos ~~)2

sinhn(~1-11)sinhn(?lo-a2)cosn(~-f;o)d~odrlo. c33)
n sinh n(rl, -q2) (cash TJ~+COS to)2

The integrals II and I2 are readily evaluated and their sum is

II + I2 = - y ( z2) + y (coth 7 - coth rll). (34)

The integration with respect to to in (32) and (33) is a matter of

Jan.,rgs9.1 LAMINAR INCOMPRESSIBLE
FLOW 33

evaluating the integral

s=* cosnct;-
o
to)
(cash to + cos &,)2
dEo. (351

Employing symmetry considerations and putting z = eEo, we may

write (35) as a contour integral,

2cosnE zn"dz
(36)
I* =

lri -(z+ eno)2(z + c-to)2

the integration being taken around the unit circle Iz 1 = 1. Since

70 > 0 the integrand in (36) has a pole of order 2 at - e-+. Thus we,
may write

where
I* = (- l)ne--n?o [ !?fEh loI n&
viin+h3nv:inh ~0s
(37)

Using (37) the remaining integrations in (32), (33) are easily made..
Combining the results for IS, I4 so obtained with (34), we obtain the
result

- Kc2
[_
$ (- 1)~ n? cos nt
1 (coth 712- coth ~7). (38)

It is easily verified that ~(4, TV) = v(& q2) = 0 if one uses relation (6).
The form (38) may be simplified somewhat by using the following
relation, derived in (2, p. 1215).

1 + 2 2 (- l)ne-nv cos nE = coshs~~~os F.

n-1

With additional simplifications we can then show that

- Kcd 5 (- 1)~n?z z$:: :i;: I ;;, cos n.5 (39)

n=l
34 JAMES F. HEYDA [J. F. I.

If we let R be the radius of the circle with parameter 7, then using

(14) we see that as the annular eccentricity E --) 0,

We note also that, although c --+ 00 and d + 0 the product

cd ---f $(b2 - a2).

This follows since

Cd = c2bth 712 - coth 111]

.Thus

-Similarly we can show that as e -+ 0

Kc2 sinh v(coth 7 - coth vl) K

--+ 4 (R2 - a2).
2 cash r] + cos 4

Finally, we note that

00
sinh n(rl, - 7) < e-72
c (- l)+P?Z cos IzE + 0.
n=l sinh n(m - 71~) I 1 - e--Q

Thus, in the limit as E -+ 0, the form (39) tends towards the well-
known solution for the concentric annulus, namely,

v&y) = -z R2-u2- (b2-u2) log (R/a)

1% (b/a) 1 *
REFERENCES
(1) R. COURANT AND D. HILBERT, Methods of Mathematical Physics, New York, Inter-
science Publishers, Inc., 1953, Vol. I, pp. 386-388.
(2) P. MORSE AND H. FESHBACH, Methods of Theoretical Physics, New York, McGraw-Hill
Book Co., Inc., 1953, Vol. II.