Kinetic analysis of longitudinal Couette flow between coaxial cylinders

Abstract

On the basis of a model kinetic equation, the rarefied gas flow between coaxial circular cylinders, of which the outer one is at rest while the inner one travels along its symmetry axis at a constant velocity, is studied. The problem is solved numerically in both the linear and nonlinear formulations by an implicit conservative method of second-order accuracy. The effect of the rarefaction, the cylinder radius ratio, and the inner cylinder velocity on the flow parameters is investigated. The limits of applicability of the linearized kinetic equation are established.