The effect of the Coriolis force on axisymmetric rotating thin film flows

• Published in: International journal of non-linear mechanics Vol. 36; no. 4; pp. 629 - 635
• Main Authors: Myers, T.G, Charpin, J.P.F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2001; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Computational methods in fluid dynamics; Coriolis force; Exact sciences and technology; Fluid dynamics; Fourth-order diffusion equation; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Mathematical methods in physics; Numerical approximation and analysis; Ordinary and partial differential equations, boundary value problems; Physics; Rotating disk; Surface tension; Thin fluid film; Thin fluid film; Surface tension; Coriolis force; Fourth-order diffusion equation; Rotating disk; Rotating flow; Fourth order equation; Numerical method; Fluid layer; Axial symmetry; Film flow; Thin films; Surface forces; Centrifugal force; Coriolis acceleration; Diffusion equation; Newtonian fluid; Non linear effect; Gravity
• ISSN: 0020-7462; 1878-5638
• DOI: 10.1016/S0020-7462(00)00026-3

The axisymmetric flow of a thin Newtonian fluid layer subject to centrifugal and Coriolis forces, surface tension and gravity is considered. Employing lubrication theory the mathematical problem is reduced to the solution of a fourth-order nonlinear partial differential equation for the film height, which requires solving numerically. At the moving contact line a precursor film model is adopted. Once the film height is known other quantities, such as fluid velocities and pressure may be easily determined. Of particular interest, is the fact that, within the restrictions of lubrication theory the Coriolis term in the radial velocity equation is of the same order as the inertia terms and is therefore negligible. This means the velocity equations are not fully coupled and, when the flow is axisymmetric, the Coriolis force has no effect on the height of the fluid film.