Self-similar solution of the second kind for a convergent viscous gravity current

The axisymmetric flow of a very viscous fluid toward a central orifice is studied. In a recent paper, a self-similar solution for this problem has been found. The self-similarity is of the second kind and hence the flow remembers its initial condition only through a nondimensional constant which cha...

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Autores principales: Diez, J.A., Gratton, R., Gratton, J.
Formato: JOUR
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_08998213_v4_n6_p1148_Diez
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Sumario:The axisymmetric flow of a very viscous fluid toward a central orifice is studied. In a recent paper, a self-similar solution for this problem has been found. The self-similarity is of the second kind and hence the flow remembers its initial condition only through a nondimensional constant which characterizes it. In this work this convergent flow is studied experimentally (using silicone oils) by measuring the front position and the height profile as a function of time. It is verified that the self-similar solution properly describes the flow within a certain interval of the cavity radius, where values are obtained for the similarity exponent δ in agreement (accounting for experimental errors) with the theoretical value 0.762... . The transition to the self-similar flow is also simulated numerically and numerical values are obtained for the time closure for different initial conditions. These simulations also show the theoretical self-similar flow after the cavity closure, which is very difficult to observe experimentally. © 1992 American Institute of Physics.