Low Reynolds number flow due to impulsively started circular cylinder (Q5896254)

The paper concerns the flow at low Reynolds number caused by the sudden impartment of a finite magnitude, rectilinear velocity (acceleration) to a circular cylinder initially at rest in an infinite expanse of resting fluid. The imparted velocity (acceleration) is taken perpendicular to the axis of the cylinder. Solutions in both the cases have been sought for three distinct physical behaviours: (i) early in the process throughout the field, (ii) late but away from the obstacle, and (iii) late in the vicinity of the cylinder. The work is secondary in nature as the case of instantaneous departure of a sphere from rest and acquiring a constant velocity has already been considered by the same authors elsewhere [On two-dimensional magneto-hydrodynamic turbulence, J. Fluid Mech. 88, 17-32 (1978)]. The main distinction in solutions in the past and the present case have, however, been explained here by means of the vorticity-balance relation. The disturbance flow away from the cylinder has also been depicted graphically.