Generalised Hele-Shaw flow: A Schwarz function approach

An equation governing the evolution of a Hele-Shaw free boundary flow in the presence of an arbitrary external potential – generalised Hele-Shaw flow – is derived in terms of the Schwarz function g(z, t) of the free boundary. This generalises the well-known equation ∂g/∂t = 2∂w/∂z, where w is the co...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:European journal of applied mathematics 2011-12, Vol.22 (6), p.517-532
Main Author: McDONALD, N. R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied mathematics
Boundary value problems
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Summary:An equation governing the evolution of a Hele-Shaw free boundary flow in the presence of an arbitrary external potential – generalised Hele-Shaw flow – is derived in terms of the Schwarz function g(z, t) of the free boundary. This generalises the well-known equation ∂g/∂t = 2∂w/∂z, where w is the complex potential, which has been successfully employed in constructing many exact solutions in the absence of external potentials. The new equation is used to re-derive some known explicit solutions for equilibrium and time-dependent free boundary flows in the presence of external potentials, including those with singular potential fields, uniform gravity and centrifugal forces. Some new solutions are also constructed that variously describe equilibrium flows with higher order hydrodynamic singularities in the presence of electric point sources and an unsteady solution describing bubbles under the combined influence of strain and centrifugal potential.
ISSN:0956-7925
1469-4425
DOI:10.1017/S0956792511000210