Unsteady solution of viscous fluid flow in an infinite cylinder with a variable body force

Abstract

In this Brief Communication, the unsteady viscous flow with a variable body force in an infinite cylinder is solved exactly. The solution describes the transient velocity profiles and pressure gradients, which can be used in the application of sedimentation of spherical particles in viscous fluid. The current solution is compared with the previously solved problem between two infinite parallel plates. It is found that, for a similar body force, the central-line velocity of the cylinder will be greater than that of the two-infinite-plate case. But the slip velocity at the wall of cylinder will be smaller than that of the flow between two infinite plates. The transient pressure gradients are also different, resulting in a smaller value for the cylindrical case with a similar body force.