Large-Reynolds-Number Asymptotics of the Berman Problem

Similarity flow of a viscous fluid in a channel is considered, driven by uniform withdrawal of the fluid through the channel walls. The nonlinear ordinary differential boundary value problem that results has several branches of solutions; those of Types III, III₁, and I₁ are investigated here, in the limit of large wall-suction Reynolds number. This paper gives a markedly more accurate Type III asymptotic solution than previously available, and describes the true asymptotics of the other branches for the first time. The asymptotic structure of the Type III₁ solution is particularly subtle, requiring matching between seven different layers. Numerical solutions of the boundary value problem provide support for the asymptotic solutions obtained.