Axially Symmetric Stagnation-Point Flow of a Rarefied Gas

Abstract

This paper treats theoretically the axially symmetric stagnation-point flow of a rarefied gas. Representative Mach number Ms defined in the continuum flow region is assumed to be small and thus the analysis is based on the linearized version of the B-G-K equation. A method of solution similar to that used previously in the analysis of the two dimensional stagnation-point flow is applied in which the continuum flow and the Knudsen layer flow are considered successively. Actual analysis has been put forward to the second approximation correct to the order of √Mₛ. The results of the distributions of flow velocity, density and temperature in the Knudsen layer as well as the shear stress on the wall are discussed in detail.