In fluid dynamics, Taylor–Culick flow describes the axisymmetric flow inside a long slender cylinder with one end closed, supplied by a constant flow injection through the sidewall. The flow is named after Geoffrey Ingram Taylor and F. E. C. Culick. In 1956, Taylor showed that when a fluid forced into porous sheet of cone or wedge, a favorable longitudinal pressure gradient is set up in the direction of the flow inside the cone or wedge and the flow is rotational; this is in contrast in the vice versa case wherein the fluid is forced out of the cone or wedge sheet from inside in which case, the flow is uniform inside the cone or wedge and is obviously potential. Taylor also obtained solutions for the velocity in the limiting case where the cone or the wedge degenerates into a circular tube or parallel plates. Later in 1966, Culick found the solution corresponding to the tube problem, in problem applied to solid-propellant rocket combustion. Here the thermal expansion of the gas due to combustion occurring at
the inner surface of the combustion chamber (long slender cylinder) generates a flow directed towards the axis.