Set , so . For the unidirectional velocity , the axial inertialess Cauchy momentum equation is
The free surface is shear-free, , and integration gives
This result follows from force balance alone, so it is independent of the constitutive equation and of .
The axial shear force exerted by the liquid on the cylindrical fibre is therefore
Its direction is downstream; the reaction on the fluid is upstream. In particular, the yield stress changes the velocity field but not the total force required by the imposed pressure drop.