Annular viscous extension

Uniform axial strain rate $E$ in an annular Newtonian fluid gives radial velocity $u_r=-Er/2+C/r$. For radii $R_i,R_e$, area parameter $A=R_e^2-R_i^2$, and constant gas pressures,The opposite signs of inner and outer curvature in the Young–Laplace equation give these expressions. The kinematic boundary condition implies $\dot{A}=-EA$ and

For equal internal and external pressures, zero axial strain rate and positive surface tension, annular viscous extension gives constant $A=R_e^2-R_i^2$ and thickness $D(t)=R_e(0)-R_i(0)+\gamma t/(2\mu )$. Since $R_i=(A/D-D)/2$, the central hole closes atThe formula holds until closure and requires a genuine initial annulus; the subsequent topology has no inner cylindrical interface.