THE NO-SLIP BOUNDARY CONDITION IN FINITE DIFFERENCE APPROXIMATIONS

A finite difference method for the Navier–Stokes equations in vorticity –streamfunction formulation is proposed to resolve the difficulty of the lack of a vorticity boundary condition at a no-slip boundary. It is particularly suitable for flows in regions with complicated geometries. Convergence with second-order accuracy in vorticity and velocity is established. In numerical experiments the convergence rates agree with theoretical predictions. Test results for the two-dimensional driven cavity problem and for the flow in expansion and contraction channels are given.