Unsteady flow in a circular sector duct

Analytic solutions for the unsteady flow in a circular sector duct are found using series sums of Bessel integrals. For starting flow due to a step pressure gradient, the velocity profile is initially flat, then approaches the rounded steady state shape in a time scale proportional to the square of opening angle of the sector. For oscillatory flow, the velocity is quasi-steady for low frequencies, but shows “annular effect” at large frequencies. Increased opening angle increases the amplitude and the phase lag. In all cases, the shear stress at the apex is zero for acute sector angles but becomes infinite for obtuse sector angles.