The Rectangular Channel

Steven A. Jones
BIEN 501
Friday, April 4th, 2008

Louisiana Tech University Slide 1

Ruston, LA 71272
 The Rectangular Channel

Major Learning Objectives:

1. Deduce boundary conditions for a 2-
dimensional laminar internal flow problem.
2. Reduce continuity and momentum for the
problem.
3. Divide the momentum equation into its
homogeneous and non-homogeneous
components.
4. Transform the boundary conditions for the new
momentum equation.

Louisiana Tech University Slide 2

Ruston, LA 71272
 The Rectangular Channel

Major Learning Objectives (continued):

• Use separation of variables to deduce the form
of the solutions.
• Apply boundary conditions along three
boundaries.
• Use superposition to deduce the series form of
the complete solution.
• Use orthogonality (from Sturm-Liouville) to
deduce the coefficients in the infinite series.

Louisiana Tech University Slide 3

Ruston, LA 71272
 Rectangular Channel
w
z
y 2

h
y
2
x
z
Look at the half-channel. z=0 is the midline of the channel.
z ranges from –w/2 to +w/2
y ranges from –h/2 to +h/2
Fully Developed Flow
No-Slip Boundary Conditions
Louisiana Tech University Slide 4
Ruston, LA 71272
 Boundary Conditions
w
z
y 2

h
y
2
x
z
We can write down 6 boundary conditions, (but we only
need 4).
vx   h / 2, z   0
vx  y ,  w / 2   0
vx / y  0, z   0
vx / dz  y, 0   0
Louisiana Tech University Slide 5
Ruston, LA 71272
 Navier-Stokes Equations
Look at v v Term for Fully Developed Flow
vx vx vx
vx  vy  vz x  momentum
x y z
v y v y v y
vx  vy  vz y  momentum
x y z
vz vz vz
vx  vy  vz z  momentum
x y z
With vx = vy = 0 and no z gradients, which terms go to
zero?
Louisiana Tech University Slide 6
Ruston, LA 71272
 Navier-Stokes Equations

vx vx vx

vx  vy  vz x  momentum
x y z
v y v y v y
vx  vy  vz x  momentum
x y z
vz vz vz
vx  vy  vz x  momentum
x y z

All of them!

Louisiana Tech University Slide 7

Ruston, LA 71272
 Continuity

vx v y vz
  0
x y z

All terms in the continuity equation are zero.

This result tells us that our assumptions are
consistent with continuity.

Louisiana Tech University Slide 8

Ruston, LA 71272
 y-momentum
Before we look at x-momentum, look at y-momentum.

v y v y v y v y
 vx  vy  vz 
t x y z
1 p   2
v  2
v  2
vy 
   2  2  2   g y
y y

 y  x y z
 

With no y and z velocities, this equation tells us that the y

pressure gradient is cancelled by gravity.

Louisiana Tech University Slide 9

Ruston, LA 71272
 Constant Pressure Gradient
 2vx  2vx 1 p
 2 
y 2
z  x
We learned from the y and z momentum that pressure
did not depend on y and z. So the right hand side of the
above equation can only depend on x, but the left hand
of the equation cannot depend on x because of the fully
developed flow assumption. Therefore, p / x cannot
depend on x, y or z and must be constant.

Louisiana Tech University Slide 10

Ruston, LA 71272
 Particular Solution
The equation:
 vx  vx 1 p
2 2
 2 
y 2
z  x
Is non-homogeneous, meaning that the right hand side
is not zero. A standard method for solving this type of
equation is to first find a “particular solution” and
subtract that solution from the equation to find a new
homogeneous equation.
1 p  4 y 
2

It is easy to show that the solution: vx  1  2 

 x  h 
Satisfies the equation (hint: substitute this function back
into the equation).
Louisiana Tech University Slide 11
Ruston, LA 71272
 Particular Solution
The function:
1 p  4 y 2 
vx  Vx  1  2 
 x  h 

Also satisfies the boundary conditions at y   h / 2 .

It does not satisfy the boundary conditions for z  w / 2
so our work is not quite done yet. However, we have
made progress.

Louisiana Tech University Slide 12

Ruston, LA 71272
Comments on the Particular Solution

1 p  4 y 2 
Instead of: vx  1  2 
 x  h 
1 p  4 z 2 
We could have used: vx  1  2 
 x  w 
This solution would have reversed the roles of y and z, but
the procedure would otherwise be the same.

Louisiana Tech University Slide 13

Ruston, LA 71272
 Comments on Particular Solution
When you have an equation like:
3vx 3vx  2vx  2vx vx
 3  2  2   C0
y 3
z y z y
Or something more complicated, it is generally easy to find a
particular solution. Choose one of the variables, say y, and ask
if there is a function f(y) that will yield a constant when
differentiated an amount of times equal to the lowest order
differential. Since it is not a function of z, the derivatives in z do
not contribute, nor do the higher order derivatives in y (because
the derivative of a constant is zero).
For example, a particular solution to the above equation is
vx  y   C0 x
Louisiana Tech University Slide 14
Ruston, LA 71272
 Exercise
Find particular solutions to the following:
 4 vx  4 vx
 4  C0
y 4
z
 3 vx  3 vx  2 vx  2 vx
  3   2   2  C0
y 3
z y z
 5 v x  3 vx
  vx  C0
y 5
zy 2

 3 vx  3 vx  2 vx
   2  C0
y 3
zy 2
y

Louisiana Tech University Slide 15

Ruston, LA 71272
 Exercise Answers
 4 vx  4 v x C0 4 C0 4
 4  C0  vx  y or z
y 4
z 24 24
 3 vx  3 vx  2 vx  2 vx C0 2 C0 2
  3   2   2  C0  vx  y or z
y 3
z y z 2 2
 v x  vx
5 3
  vx  C0  vx  C0
y 5
zy 2

 3 vx  3vx  2 vx C0 2
   2  C0  vx  y
y 3
zy 2
y 2

Louisiana Tech University Slide 16

Ruston, LA 71272
 Complete Solution
The complete solution will be of the form:

1 p  4 y 2 
vx  Vx  y   f  y, z   1  2   f  y, z 
 x  h 

Where the particular solution part will handle the

nonhomogeneity in the partial differential equation and
the second part, f (y, z), will satisfy the homogeneous
equation and satisfy the boundary conditions.

Louisiana Tech University Slide 17

Ruston, LA 71272
 Reduce the Equation
1 p  4 y 2 
Plug: vx  1  2   f  y, z 
 x  h 
These two
 vx  vx 1 p
2 2 terms cancel
Into:  2 
y 2
z  x
 2  1 p  4 y 2    f  y, z 
2
To get:
2 
 1  2   
y   x  h  y 2
 2  1 p  4 y 2    f  y, z  1 p
2

 2  1  2    
z   x  h  z 2
 x
Louisiana Tech University Slide 18
Ruston, LA 71272
 Reduce the Equation (continued)
We are left with Laplace’s equation:

 2f  y, z   2f  y, z 
 0
y 2
z 2

But remember vx  y, z   Vx  y   f  y, z  so

f  y, z   vx  y, z   Vx  y 

Louisiana Tech University Slide 19

Ruston, LA 71272
 Reduce the Equation (continued)
If f  x, y   vx  x, y   Vx  y 
And if vx must satisfy the boundary conditions:

vx   h / 2, z   0 vx  y,  w / 2   0
vx / y  0, z   0 vx / dz  y, 0   0

Then f must satisfy the boundary conditions:

f   h / 2, z   Vx   h / 2   0 f  y,  w / 2   Vx  y   0
f / y  0, z   Vx  0  / y  0 f / dz  y, 0   Vx  y  z  0

Louisiana Tech University Slide 20

Ruston, LA 71272
 Exercise
Why is each of the indicated terms below zero?

f   h / 2, z   Vx   h / 2   0 f  y,  w / 2   Vx  y   0
f / y  0, z   Vx  0  / y  0 f / dz  y, 0   Vx  y  z  0

Vx   h / 2   0
Vx  0  / y  0
Vx  y  z  0

Louisiana Tech University Slide 21

Ruston, LA 71272
 Exercise Answers
Why is each of the indicated terms below zero?

f   h / 2, z   Vx   h / 2   0 f  y,  w / 2   Vx  y   0
f / y  0, z   Vx  0  / y  0 f / dz  y, 0   Vx  y  z  0

Vx   h / 2   0 From Couette flow (plug h/2 into Vx(y))

Vx  0  / y  0 From symmetry of Couette flow
Vx  y  z  0 Because Vx(y) does not depend on z.

Louisiana Tech University Slide 22

Ruston, LA 71272
 Summary of Equations
We must therefore solve Laplace’s equation:

 2f  y, z   2f  y, z 
 0
y 2
z 2

Subject to the following boundary conditions:

1 p  4 y 2 
f   h / 2, z   0 f  y,  w / 2   Vx  y   1  2   0
 x  h 
f / y  0, z   0 f / dz  y, 0   0

Louisiana Tech University Slide 23

Ruston, LA 71272
 Visual

Vz  y 

Louisiana Tech University Slide 24

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 Separable Solution to
Homogeneous Equation
f  f  y, z   Y  y  Z  z 
  2YZ  2YZ 
 2  2 0
 y z 
Y
2
 Z
2
Z 2 Y 2  0
y z

1Y 2
1Z 1d Z 2
2 1 d Y
2 2
  
2
 ,   2

Y y 2
Z z 2
Z dz 2
Y dy 2

Louisiana Tech University Slide 25

Ruston, LA 71272
 Solution to ODEs
d 2Y d 2
Z
2
  2
Y  0, 2
  2
Z 0
dy dz
Z  z   C cosh  z  D sinh  z
Y  y   A cos  y  B sin  y
It may help to remember that the sin and sinh (cos and
cosh) functions can be written as:

eia  e i ei  e i

cos   , sin  
2 2i
e a  e  e  e 
cosh   , sinh  
2 2

Louisiana Tech University Slide 26

Ruston, LA 71272
 Solution to ODEs
If Z  z   C cosh  z  D sinh  z
Y  y   A cos  y  B sin  y

And f  y, z   Y  y  Z  z 

Then anything that has this form:

f  y, z   C cosh  z  D sinh  z  A cos  y  B sin  y 

Satisfies the homogeneous equation.

Louisiana Tech University Slide 27

Ruston, LA 71272
 Superposition
Since there may be multiple values of l that work, a
complete solution must consider all possible such
solutions. We also note that the equations are linear, so
that we can add solutions and still have a solution.
Thus, we can write:

f  y, z    A  C cosh  z  D sinh  z  A cos  y  B sin  y 

all 

Louisiana Tech University Slide 28

Ruston, LA 71272
 Boundary Conditions in y
f  y, z     C cosh  z  D sinh  z  A cos  y  B sin  y 
all 

First consider the boundary condition along the centerline

where y = 0.
f  0, z 
 0   A  sin   0   B  cos   0   0  B  0
y

Next, the boundary condition at y = h/2 requires:

f  h / 2, z     C cosh  z  D sinh  z  A cos  h / 2   0
all 

This equation is true for all values of z only if: A cos  h / 2  0


i.e.  h / 2    n  12      2n  1 (The book uses n’=2n+1)
h
Louisiana Tech University Slide 29
Ruston, LA 71272
 Boundary Conditions in z
We now have the following:

 
f  y, z     Cn cosh
 2n  1 
z  Dn sinh
 2n  1  
z  An cos
 2n  1  
y
n=0  h h  h 

But it is a lot to write, so we will continue to write it in terms

of  for now.

Louisiana Tech University Slide 30

Ruston, LA 71272
 Boundary Conditions in z

f  y, z     C cosh  z  D sinh  z  A cos  y 
n=0

Consider the boundary condition along the centerline where

z = 0.
f  y, 0 
 0  C  sinh   0   D  cosh   0   0  D  0
z
Next, the boundary condition at z = w/2 requires:
1 p  4 y 2 
f  y, w / 2    A cosh   w / 2  cos   y   1  2 
all   x  h 

This boundary condition is the one that requires the most

work.
Louisiana Tech University Slide 31
Ruston, LA 71272
 Boundary Conditions in z
Notice that this equation is a function of y only.

1 p  4 y 2 
f  y, w / 2    A cosh   w / 2  cos   y   1  2 
all   x  h 

It can be interpreted to mean that the right hand side is

being expanded as a Fourier cosine series within the interval
of interest (i.e. –h/2 < y < h/2).

p  4 y 2      2n  1 y 
1  2    n cos  
x  h  n 0  h 

We use the standard approach that was used to derive Fourier

series.
Louisiana Tech University Slide 32
Ruston, LA 71272
 Orthogonal Expansion
Multiply both sides of the equation by cos (m y ).

cos  m y  p  4 y 2 
cos  m y   A cosh  n w / 2  cos  n y   1  2 
all n  x  h 

cos  m y  p  4 y 2 

all n
A cosh  n w / 2  cos  n y  cos  m y  

1  2 
x  h 

Integrate from –h/2 to h/2

cos  m y  p  4 y 2 
h / 2 alln A cosh  n w / 2 cos  n y  cos  m y dy  h / 2  x 1  h2  dy
h/2 h/2

Louisiana Tech University Slide 33

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 Orthogonality
cos  m y  p  4 y 2 
h / 2 alln A cosh  n w / 2 cos  n y  cos  m y dy  h / 2  x 1  h2  dy
h/2 h/2

The left hand side will be zero for all m except n = m so:

cos  m y  p  4 y 2 
h / 2 Am cosh  m w / 2 cos  m y  dy  h / 2  x 1  h2  dy
h/2 h/2
2

Note that the sum disappeared because only the

value of n that is equal to m is needed.

Louisiana Tech University Slide 34

Ruston, LA 71272
 Orthogonality
cos   y  p  4 y 2

h / 2 Am cosh  m w / 2 cos  m y  dy  h / 2  x 1  h2  dy
h/2 h/2 m
2

But
cos2  n y dy  h / 2
h/2
 h / 2

So

An h cos  n y  p  4 y 2 
cosh  n w / 2   
h/2
1  2  dy
2  h / 2  x  h 

Or
2 cos  m y  p  4 y 2 
h/2
Am 
h cosh  m w / 2   h / 2 
1  2  dy
x  h 

Louisiana Tech University Slide 35

Ruston, LA 71272
 Integrating Cosine Squared
cos (with 1/2)
cos squared (with 1/2)
cos (with 3/2)
cos squared (with 3/2)
1.5
zero line
1

0.5
cosines

-0.5

-1

-1.5
-25 -20 -15 -10 -5 0 5 10 15 20 25
y

The area of the rectangle is h. The area under cos2 is h/2.

Louisiana Tech University Slide 36

Ruston, LA 71272
 Orthogonality
2 h/2 cos  m y  p  4 y 2 
Am 
h cosh  m w / 2   h / 2 
1  2  dy
x  h 

So

2 p  4 
sin  m y  y  h  2  m  
h h/2
Am  h / 2 
2 2
 y cos y dy
h cosh  m w / 2  x  2 h 

The final integral can be obtained with integration by parts

(twice).

Louisiana Tech University Slide 37

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 Derived Information
The final form of the solution is:
1 dp  4 y 2 
vx  y , z    1  2    A cosh  z / 2  cos   y 
 dx  h  all 
We can obtain the shear stress from the stress tensor.

Louisiana Tech University Slide 38

Ruston, LA 71272
 The Stress Tensor

For fluids:

 u1 1  u1 u2  1  u1 u3  

      
 x1 2  x2 x1  2  x3 x1  
  
1 u u  u2 1  u2 u3  
τ  2   2  1    
 2  x1 x2  x2 2  x3 x2  
 
 1  u3 u1  1  u3 u2  u3 
 2  x  x    
2  x2 x3  x3 
  1 3  

The shear stress has 4 non-zero components.

Louisiana Tech University Slide 39

Ruston, LA 71272
 Shear Stress, Bottom Surface
 
1  vx  1  vx
 0   
 2  y 
 2  z
 1  v
 
τ  2   x
 0 0 
 2  y
 
 
 1  vx

0 
 2  z
 0
 
Along the bottom surface, we are concerned only with txy.
vx
t xy 
y
Louisiana Tech University Slide 40
Ruston, LA 71272
 Shear Stress, Bottom Surface

f  y, z    A cosh  z / 2  cos   y 
all 

vx
t xy 
y

t xy    A cosh  z / 2  sin   y 
all 

Louisiana Tech University Slide 41

Ruston, LA 71272
 Relationship of Flow Rate to
Pressure Gradient
To obtain flow rate in terms of pressure gradient, we
must integrate the velocity over the cross-section.

vx  y, z  dy dz
w/ 2 h/2
Q 
w/ 2 h / 2

1 dp  4 y 2 
1  2    A cosh  z / 2  cos   y dydz
w/ 2 h/2
   
w/ 2 h / 2  dx  h  all 

This relationship could be used, for example, to determine

how much pressure is required to drive blood through a
microchannel device at a given flow rate.

Louisiana Tech University Slide 42

Ruston, LA 71272
 Example

You are interested in designing a microdevice that samples

blood from a vein and causes it to flow with a shear rate of
15 dynes/cm2 over a microchannel that is coated with
fibrinogen. The pressure difference driving the flow is the
venous pressure. If you use a vacuum container at the
downstream end of the device, can you obtain the required
shear stress, and if so, what should be the dimensions of
the channel?

Louisiana Tech University Slide 43

Ruston, LA 71272