Some simple flows of an Oldroyd-B fluid

Exact solutions for the following five problems of an Oldroyd-B fluid are obtained. (i) Stokes problem (ii) modified Stokes problem (iii) the time-periodic Poiseuille flow due to an oscillating pressure gradient (iv) the non-periodic flows between two boundaries, and (v) symmetric flow with an arbitrary initial velocity. Some interesting flows caused by certain special oscillations are also obtained. The physical interpretation of the results is presented. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.