Characterization of smooth solutions to the Navier-Stokes equations in a pipe with two types of slip boundary conditions

Abstract: Smooth solutions of the stationary Navier-Stokes equations in an infinitely long pipe, equipped with the Navier-slip or Navier-Hodge-Lions boundary condition, are considered in this paper. Three main results are presented. First, when equipped with the Navier-slip boundary condition, it is shown that, $W^{1,\infty}$ axially symmetric solutions with zero flux at one cross section, must be swirling solutions: $u=(- C x_2, C x_1,0)$, and $x_3-$periodic solutions must be helical solutions: $u=(-C_1x_2,C_1x_1,C_2)$. Second, also equipped with the Navier-slip boundary condition, if the swirl or vertical component of the axially symmetric solution is independent of the vertical variable $x_3$, solutions are also proven to be helical solutions. In the case of the vertical component being independent of $x_3$, the $W^{1,\infty}$ assumption is not needed. In the case of the swirl component being independent of $x_3$, the $W^{1,\infty}$ assumption can be relaxed extensively such that the horizontal radial component of the velocity, $u_r$, can grow exponentially with respect to the distance to the origin. Also, by constructing a counterexample, we show that the growing assumption on $u_r$ is optimal. Third, when equipped with the Navier-Hodge-Lions boundary condition, we can show that if the gradient of the velocity grows sublinearly, then the solution, enjoying the Liouville-type theorem, is a trivial shear flow: $(0,0,C)$.