Newtonian flow with slip and pressure-drop predictions in hyperbolic confined geometries

We study theoretically the steady Newtonian flow in confined and hyperbolic long tubes (symmetric channels and axisymmetric pipes) considering slip along the walls. Using a stream function formulation, and the extended (or high-order) lubrication method in terms of the square of the aspect ratio of the tube, ε, the solution for the stream function is found analytically up to twentieth order in ε. At the classic lubrication limit, i.e. i.e. for a vanishing small aspect ratio, and for perfect slip conditions, the analysis predicts a plug-like velocity profile and a constant strain-rate on the midplane/axis of symmetry of the tube. A constant strain-rate is also predicted for the non-slip case. Furthermore, the high order asymptotic results for the stream function and fluid velocity are post-processed with an acceleration technique to investigate the convergence and accuracy of the solution. The results reveal the existence of a boundary layer at the inlet of the tube, the influence of which diminishes in a very short distance from the entrance. We discuss the effect of the contraction ratio of the tube and the dimensionless slip coefficient on the midplane/centerline and wall (slip) velocities, as well as on the average pressure-drop, required to maintain a constant flow-rate. The acceleration of converge technique on the solution for the pressure-drop revealed a remarkable convergence at a value slightly larger (∼1 %) than the value predicted by the classic lubrication theory. Finally, we comment on the common practice in the literature for approaching the velocity profile with the velocity profile at the classic lubrication limit, and we compare the high-order results for the strain rate at the midplane/centerline with the effective strain rate previously derived in the literature by Housiadas & Beris, J. Rheology, 68(3), 327–339, 2024.