A Numerical Study of Axially Symmetric Flow Between Two Rotating Infinite Porous Disks

This paper presents a numerical study of the axially symmetric flow between two rotating, contrarotating, and one-rotating another-stationary disks with, and without, porosity. The flow is considered only in the gap between the disks. The formulation is reduced to six-coupled first-order nonlinear ordinary differential equations which are solved with arbitrarily small truncation error. The effects of porosity, rate of rotation, and sense of rotation are evaluated; indicating, interalia, possible engineering applications. For example, it is found that seepage of fluid through the disks into the flow region increases the skin friction and increases the tendency of the disks to repel each other. The increase in the rate of rotation reinforces the force of attraction between the disks and weakens the skin friction; however, contrarotation has contrary effects.