A boundary integral equation method for axisymmetric viscous flows

Abstract A boundary integral equation formulation is presented in this paper for the analysis of steady viscous flows whose velocity fields possess rotational symmetry. For flows described by linear equations the BIE method results particularly well suited the flowfield variables being expressed in terms of some quantities on the domain contour. The integral representation for the axisymmetric Stokes' flow is reported and the Green's functions needed to accomplish the solution are derived and discussed. Finally further examples of applications are given when the nonlinear terms play a relevant role in defining the structure of the motion.