Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2023 iii Paper 352 1 b Solution 2026-09-28
Set , so . For the unidirectional velocity , the axial inertialess Cauchy momentum equation isThe free surface is shear-free, , and integration givesThis 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 thereforeIts 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.