Motion driven by surface-tension gradients in a tube lining

Abstract

A fluid layer that lines the inner surface of a circular tube has motion induced by axial surface-tension gradients. The lubrication equations for the system are analysed and it is found that even for thin layers the motions differ markedly from those in planar layers. The planar case serves as a class of outer solutions. These approximate solutions are modified by a boundary-layer correction where the mean surface tension is important.