Uncoupled solution of the three-dimensional vorticity-velocity equations (Q1392752)

The three-dimensional incompressible Navier-Stokes equations in the vorticity-velocity representation are studied. Using some uncoupling techniques the existence of a unique solution is shown. The analysis is performed for the case of the underlying Stokes system, without loss of generality. The underlying technique relies upon the splitting of the vorticity \(\omega\) into a sum of the form \(\omega= \omega_0+\omega_J\), where \(\omega_0\) fulfills homogeneous Dirichlet boundary conditions for its tangential components and \(\omega_J\) is harmonic. Only a scalar boundary value problem needs to be solved to determine a harmonic component of the vorticity \(\omega_J\) for uncoupled formulations.