Capillary collapse of an annular viscous cylinder

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.