Remarks on the solution of extended Stokes' problems

The analytical solutions of first and second Stokes' problems are discussed, for infinite and finite-depth flows of a Newtonian fluid in planar geometries. Problems arising from the motion of the wall as a whole (one-dimensional flows) as well as of only one half of the wall (two-dimensional) are solved and the wall stresses are evaluated.The solutions are written in real form. In many cases, they improve the ones in literature, leading to simpler mathematical forms of velocities and stresses. The numerical computation of the solutions is performed by using recurrence relations and elementary integrals, in order to avoid the evaluation of integrals of rapidly oscillating functions.The main physical features of the solutions are also discussed. In particular, the steady-state solutions of the second Stokes' problems are analyzed by separating their “in phase” and “in quadrature” components, with respect to the wall motion. By using this approach, stagnation points have been found in infinite-depth flows.