Premium
Applicability of the Reynolds Equation for modeling fluid flow between rough surfaces
Author(s) -
Brown Stephen R.,
Stockman Harlan W.,
Reeves Sally J.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/95gl02666
Subject(s) - reynolds number , mechanics , amplitude , wavelength , surface finish , flow (mathematics) , reynolds equation , physics , surface roughness , hele shaw flow , lattice gas automaton , open channel flow , fluid dynamics , classical mechanics , materials science , optics , thermodynamics , turbulence , stochastic cellular automaton , automaton , astronomy , composite material
Predictions of the Reynolds equation for flow between rough‐walled surfaces have been compared to a more exact calculation of Navier‐Stokes flow based on a lattice‐gas automaton method. Two‐dimensional channels were constructed with an idealized sinusoidal roughness on each wall. Flow in the channels was studied by both methods for various amplitude to wavelength ratios of the roughness, surface separations, relative alignment or phase of the sinusoids, and Reynolds numbers. The Reynolds equation overestimates fluid velocity as the surfaces are placed together or the amplitude of the roughness increases relative to its wavelength.