Numerical-integration of the Navier-stokes Equations For A Disk Rotating In A Housing

The Navier-Stokes equations for the fluid motion induced by a disk rotating inside a cylindrical cavity have been integrated for several values of the boundary layer thickness δ. The equivalence of such a device to a rotating disk immersed in an infinite medium has been shown in the limit as δ → 0. From that solution and taking into account edge effect corrections an equation for the viscous torque acting on the disk has been derived, which depends only on δ. Moreover, these results justify the use of a rotating disk to perform accurate viscosity measurements. © 1985, Walter de Gruyter. All rights reserved.