On the uniqueness of flow of a Navier-Stokes fluid due to a stretching boundary (Q1094954)

The uniqueness of the solution of the Navier-Stokes equation which describes two-dimensional flow of a fluid is investigated. The authors consider the two-dimensional flow of a Navier-Stokes fluid due to the stretching of a flat sheet coinciding with the plane \(y=0\), the fluid being confined to \(y>0\). A steady uniform stress leading to equal and opposite forces is applied along the x-axis so that the sheet is stretched keeping the origin fixed. Appropriate boundary conditions are \(u=cx\), \(v=0\) at \(y=0\) \((c>0)\) and \(u\to U_{\infty}\) at \(y\to \infty\). The solution of the Navier-Stokes equation is sought in the form \(\bar u=\bar xf(\bar y)+g'(\bar y)\), \(\bar v=-f(\bar y).\) As result we have a system of coupled ordinary differential equation for f and g with the appropriate boundary conditions. It is proved that the solution of the system \(f(\bar y)=1-\bar e^{\bar y}\) is unique.