Piston flow in a two-dimensional channel

A solution using biorthogonal eigenfunctions is presented for viscous flow caused by a piston in a two-dimensional channel. The resulting infinite set of linear equations is solved using Spence's optimal weighting function me thod [IMA J. Appl. Math. 30, 107 (1983)]. The solution is compared to that with a shear-free piston surface; in the latter configuration the fluid mor e rapidly approaches the Poiseuille flow profile established away from the face of the piston. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics. [S1070-6631(00) 00805-9].