The flow of an Oldroyd fluid past a reentrant corner: The downstream boundary layer (Q597849)

\textit{E. J. Hinch} [J. Non-Newton. Fluid Mech. 50, No.~2--3, 161--171 (1993; Zbl 0794.76008)] and \textit{M. Renardy} [ibid. 58, 83--91 (1995)] have both investigated the fundamental problem of flow of a viscoelastic fluid around a sharp corner. Their studies, however, have left unanswered questions. For example, Hinch's work pointed out to a flow with a purely elastic stress, but according to penaldy fails in the boundary layers near the walls. The main objective of this paper is to continue the studies of Hinch and Renardy and to attempt to answer some of the unsolved questions. This well-written paper starts with a summary of, and different perspective on the above contributions. It then proceeds to investigate the downstream boundary layer and to obtain some asymptotic results. The major result of the paper is the demonstration of the existence of a steady attached flow of Oldroyd-B fluid near a reentrant corner of angle \(\pi/p\). The stress near the corner is of magnitude that is proportional to \(r\), is \(r^{2p - 2}\), and is purely elastic throughout most of the flow, so that near the walls there is a viscous stress of comparable magnitude.