Viscoelastic flow between eccentric rotating cylinders: unstructured control volume method

This paper reports a convergent numerical algorithm for the Upper-Convected Maxwell (UCM) fluid between two eccentric cylinders at various eccentricity ratios (?); the outer cylinder is stationary, and the inner one rotating. The problem is solved by an unstructured control volume method (UCV), which is designed for a general viscoelastic flow problem with an arbitrary computational domain. A self-consistent false diffusion technique and an iteration scheme are used in combination to solve the problem. The computations of the UCM fluid using the numerical algorithm are carried out to a higher value of the Deborah number (De) at each eccentricity tested than hitherto possible with previous numerical simulations. The solutions are compared with previous numerical results, confirming the effectiveness of the UCV method as a general technique for solving viscoelastic flow problems.     

Purely elastic flow asymmetries in flow-focusing devices

The flow of a viscoelastic fluid through a microfluidic flow-focusing device is investigated numerically with a finite-volume code using the upper-convected Maxwell (UCM) and Phan-Thien–Tanner (PTT) models. The conceived device is shaped much like a conventional planar “cross-slot” except for comprising three inlets and one exit arm. Strong viscoelastic effects are observed as a consequence of the high deformation rates. In fact, purely elastic instabilities that are entirely absent in the corresponding Newtonian fluid flow are seen to occur as the Deborah number (De) is increased above a critical threshold. From two-dimensional numerical simulations we are able to distinguish two types of instability, one in which the flow becomes asymmetric but remains steady, and a subsequent instability at higher De in which the flow becomes unsteady, oscillating in time. For the UCM model, the effects of the geometric parameters of the device (e.g. the relative width of the entrance branches, WR) and of the ratio of inlet average velocities (VR) on the onset of asymmetry are systematically examined. We observe that for high velocity ratios, the critical Deborah number is independent of VR (e.g. De_c ≈ 0.33 for WR = 1), but depends non-monotonically on the relative width of the entrance branches. Using the PTT model we are able to demonstrate that the extensional viscosity and the corresponding very large stresses are decisive for the onset of the steady-flow asymmetry.     

A purely elastic transition in Taylor-Couette flow

Experimental evidence of a non-inertial, cellular instability in the Taylor-Couette flow of a viscoelastic fluid is presented. A linear stability analysis for an Oldroyd-B fluid, which is successful in describing many features of the experimental fluid, predicts the critical Deborah number,De _c , at which the instability is observed. The dependence ofDe _c on the value of the dimensionless gap between the cylinders is also determined.This paper is dedicated to Professor Hanswalter Giesekus on the occasion of his retirement as Editor of Rheologica Acta.     

A numerical study of steady and unsteady viscoelastic flow past bounded cylinders

We consider two-dimensional, inertia-free, flow of a constant-viscosity viscoelastic fluid obeying the FENE-CR equation past a cylinder placed symmetrically in a channel, with a blockage ratio of 0.5. Through numerical simulations we show that the flow becomes unsteady when the Deborah number (using the usual definition) is greater than De ≈ 1.3, for an extensibility parameter of the model of L² = 144. The transition from steady to unsteady flow is characterised by a small pulsating recirculation zone of size approximately equal to 0.15 cylinder radius attached to the downstream face of the cylinder. There is also a rise in drag coefficient, which shows a sinusoidal variation with time. The results suggest a possible triggering mechanism leading to the steady three-dimensional Gortler-type vortical structures, which have been observed in experiments of the flow of a viscoelastic fluid around cylinders. The results reveal that the reason for failure of the search for steady numerical solutions at relatively high Deborah numbers is that the two-dimensional flow separates and eventually becomes unsteady. For a lower extensibility parameter, L² = 100, a similar recirculation is formed given rise to a small standing eddy behind the cylinder which becomes unsteady and pulsates in time for Deborah numbers larger than De ≈ 4.0–4.5.     

On extensibility effects in the cross-slot flow bifurcation

The flow of finite-extensibility models in a two-dimensional planar cross-slot geometry is studied numerically, using a finite-volume method, with a view to quantifying the influences of the level of extensibility, concentration parameter, and sharpness of corners, on the occurrence of the bifurcated flow pattern that is known to exist above a critical Deborah number. The work reported here extends previous studies, in which the viscoelastic flow of upper-convected Maxwell (UCM) and Oldroyd-B fluids (i.e. infinitely extensionable models) in a cross-slot geometry was shown to go through a supercritical instability at a critical value of the Deborah number, by providing further numerical data with controlled accuracy. We map the effects of the L² parameter in two different closures of the finite extendable non-linear elastic (FENE) model (the FENE-CR and FENE-P models), for a channel-intersecting geometry having sharp, “slightly” and “markedly” rounded corners. The results show the phenomenon to be largely controlled by the extensional properties of the constitutive model, with the critical Deborah number for bifurcation tending to be reduced as extensibility increases. In contrast, rounding of the corners exhibits only a marginal influence on the triggering mechanism leading to the pitchfork bifurcation, which seems essentially to be restricted to the central region in the vicinity of the stagnation point.     

Non-linear temporal stability analysis of viscoelastic plane channel flows using a fully-spectral method

A non-linear analysis of the temporal evolution of finite, two-dimensional disturbances is conducted for plane Poiseuille and Couette flows of viscoelastic fluids. A fully-spectral method of solution is used with a stream-function formulation of the problem. The upper-convected Maxwell (UCM), Oldroyd-B and Giesekus models are considered. The bifurcation of solutions for increasing elasticity is investigated both in the high and low Reynolds number regimes. The transition mechanism is discussed in terms of both the transient linear growth of misfit disturbances due to non-normality, and their possible saturation into finite-amplitude periodic solutions due to non-linear effects.     

Three-dimensional flow of Newtonian and Boger fluids in square–square contractions

The flow of a Newtonian fluid and a Boger fluid through sudden square–square contractions was investigated experimentally aiming to characterize the flow and provide quantitative data for benchmarking in a complex three-dimensional flow. Visualizations of the flow patterns were undertaken using streak-line photography, detailed velocity field measurements were conducted using particle image velocimetry (PIV) and pressure drop measurements were performed in various geometries with different contraction ratios. For the Newtonian fluid, the experimental results are compared with numerical simulations performed using a finite volume method, and excellent agreement is found for the range of Reynolds number tested (Re₂ ≤ 23). For the viscoelastic case, recirculations are still present upstream of the contraction but we also observe other complex flow patterns that are dependent on contraction ratio (CR) and Deborah number (De₂) for the range of conditions studied: CR = 2.4, 4, 8, 12 and De₂ ≤ 150. For low contraction ratios strong divergent flow is observed upstream of the contraction, whereas for high contraction ratios there is no upstream divergent flow, except in the vicinity of the re-entrant corner where a localized atypical divergent flow is observed. For all contraction ratios studied, at sufficiently high Deborah numbers, strong elastic vortex enhancement upstream of the contraction is observed, which leads to the onset of a periodic complex flow at higher flow rates. The vortices observed under steady flow are not closed, and fluid elasticity was found to modify the flow direction within the recirculations as compared to that found for Newtonian fluids. The entry pressure drop, quantified using a Couette correction, was found to increase with the Deborah number for the higher contraction ratios.     

Stress gradient-induced migration effects in the Taylor–Couette flow of a dilute polymer solution

We present an investigation of the phenomenon of stress-induced polymer migration for dilute polymer solutions in the Taylor–Couette device, consisting of two infinitely long, concentric cylinders rotating at constant angular velocities. The underlying physical model is represented by the dilute limit of a two-fluid Hamiltonian system involving two components: one (the polymer) is viscoelastic and obeys the Oldroyd-B constitutive equation, and the other (the solvent) is viscous Newtonian. The two components are considered to be in thermal, but not mechanical equilibrium, interacting with each other through an isotropic drag coefficient tensor. This allows for stress-induced diffusion of polymer chains. The governing equations consist of the continuity and the momentum equations for the bulk velocity, the constitutive model for the polymer chain conformation tensor and the diffusion equation for the polymer concentration. The diffusion equation contains an extra source term, which is proportional to gradients in the polymer stress, so that polymer concentration gradients can develop even in the absence of externally imposed fluxes in the presence of stress inhomogeneities. The solution to the steady-state purely azimuthal flow is obtained first using a spectral collocation method and an adaptive mesh formulation to track the steep changes of the concentration in the flow domain. The calculations show the development of strong polymer migration towards the inner cylinder with increasing Deborah number (De) in agreement with experimental observations. The migration is enhanced for increasing values of the gap thickness resulting in concentration changes by several orders of magnitude in the area between the inner and outer cylinder walls. The extent of the migration also depends strongly on the ratio of the solvent to the polymer viscosity. In addition to a strongly inhomogeneous polymer concentration, significant deviations from the homogenous flow are also observed in the velocity profile. Next, results are reported from a linear stability analysis around the steady-state solution against axisymmetric disturbances corresponding to various wavenumbers in the axial direction. The calculations show that the steady-state solution remains stable up to moderate values of the Deborah number, explaining why some of the predicted stress-induced migration effects should be experimentally observable. The role of the Peclet number (Pe) on the stability of the system is elucidated.     

Cross-stream forces and velocities of fixed and freely suspended particles in viscoelastic Poiseuille flow: Perturbation and numerical analyses

The cross-stream migration of a circular particles (or infinitely long cylinder) in two dimensional, inertia-less viscoelastic pressure-driven flows is examined through complementary finite element simulations and second-order fluid perturbation analyses for small Deborah number (De), where De is defined as the fluid relaxation time divided by the characteristic flow time. A neutrally buoyant, freely suspended particle migrates toward the center of the channel for all particle sizes and cross-stream positions due to the coupled effects of the linear and quadratic variations of the imposed velocity. A particle that is held at a fixed position, in contrast, experiences a cross-stream force directed toward the wall as a result of the coupled effects of the local shear flow and the flow relative to the particle.     

Injection and suction of an upper-convected maxwell fluid through a porous-walled tube

The steady-state, similarity solutions of the flow of an upper-convected Maxwell fluid through a tube with a porous wall are constructed by asymptotic and numerical analyses as functions of the direction of flow through the tube, the amount of elasticity in the fluid, as measured by the Deborah number De, and the degree of fluid slip along the tube wall. Fluid slip is assumed to be proportional to the local shear stress and is measured by a slip parameter β that ranges between no-slip (β = 1) and perfect slip (β = 0). The most interesting results are for fluid injection into the tube. For β = 1, the family of flows emanating from the Newtonian limit (De = 0) has a limit point where it turns back to lower values of De. These solutions become asymptotic to De = 0) and develop an O(De) boundary layer near the tube wall with singularly high stresses matched to homogeneous elongational flow in the core. This solution structure persists for all nonzero values of the slip parameter. For β ≠ 1, a family of exact solutions is found with extensional kinematics, but nonzero shear stress convected into the tube through the wall. These flows differ for low De from the Newtonian asymptote only by the absence of the boundary layer at the tube wall. Finite difference calculations evolve smoothly between the Newtonian-like and extensional solutions because of approximation error due to under-resolution of the boundary layer. The radial gradient of the axial normal stress of the extensional flow is infinite at the centerline of the tube for De > 1; this singularity causes failure of the finite difference approximations for these Deborah numbers unless the variables are rescaled to take the asymptotic behavior into account.     

Suppression or enhancement of interfacial instability in two-layer plane Couette flow of FENE-P fluids past a deformable solid layer

The linear stability of two-layer plane Couette flow of FENE-P fluids past a deformable solid layer is analyzed in order to examine the effect of solid deformability on the interfacial instability due to elasticity and viscosity stratification at the two-fluid interface. The solid layer is modeled using both linear viscoelastic and neo-Hookean constitutive equations. The limiting case of two-layer flow of upper-convected Maxwell (UCM) fluids is used as a starting point, and results for the FENE-P case are obtained by numerically continuing the UCM results for the interfacial mode to finite values of the chain extensibility parameter. For the case of two-layer plane Couette flow past a rigid solid surface, our results show that the finite extensibility of the polymer chain significantly alters the neutral stability boundaries of the interfacial instability. In particular, the two-layer Couette flow of FENE-P fluids is found to be unstable in a larger range of nondimensional parameters when compared to two-layer flow of UCM fluids. The presence of the deformable solid layer is shown to completely suppress the interfacial instability in most of the parameter regimes where the interfacial mode is unstable, while it could have a completely destabilizing effect in other parameter regimes even when the interfacial mode is stable in rigid channels. When compared with two-layer UCM flow, the two-layer FENE-P case is found in general to require solid layers with relatively lower shear modulii in order to suppress the interfacial instability. The results from the linear elastic solid model are compared with those obtained using the (more rigorous) neo-Hookean model for the solid, and good agreement is found between the two models for neutral stability curves pertaining to the two-fluid interfacial mode. The present study thus provides an important extension of the earlier analysis of two-layer UCM flow [V. Shankar, Stability of two-layer viscoelastic plane Couette flow past a deformable solid layer: implications of fluid viscosity stratification, J. Non-Newtonian Fluid Mech. 125 (2005) 143–158] to more accurate constitutive models for the fluid and solid layers, and reaffirms the central conclusion of instability suppression in two-layer flows of viscoelastic fluids by soft elastomeric coatings in more realistic settings.     

Experimentelle Untersuchung turbulenter Rohrströmungen hochreiner wäßriger Polyacrylamid-Lösungen

The polymeric material investigated consisted of laboratory synthesized polyacrylamide molecular weight fractions of relatively low dispersity. Drag reduction measurements were performed in a single pass pipe flow system. A Deborah numberDe and an expression for the drag reductionWV ^* were derived from the hypothesis that the Toms effect results from an increase in the elongational viscosity which reduces the number and the intensity of bursting periods. Figures presentingWV ^* as a function ofDe are shown.     

On the numerical stability of mixed finite-element methods for viscoelastic flows governed by differential constitutive equations

Mixed finite-element methods for computation of viscoelastic flows governed by differential constitutive equations vary by the polynomial approximations used for the velocity, pressure, and stress fields, and by the weighted residual methods used to discretize the momentum, continuity, and constitutive equations. This paper focuses on computation of the linear stability of the planar Couette flow as a test of the numerical stability for solution of the upper-convected Maxwell model. Previous theoretical results prove this inertialess flow to be always stable, but that accurate calculation is difficult at high De because eigenvalues with fine spatial structure and high temporal frequency approach neutral stability. Computations with the much used biquadratic finite-element approximations for velocity and deviatoric stress and bilinear interpolation for pressure demonstrate numerical instability beyond a critical value of De for either the explicitly elliptic momentum equation (EEME) or elastic-viscous split-stress (EVSS) formulations, applying Galerkin's method for solution of the momentum and continuity equations, and using streamline upwind Petrov-Galerkin (SUPG) method for solution of the hyperbolic constitutive equation. The disturbance that causes the instability is concentrated near the stationary streamline of the base flow. The removal of this instability in a slightly modified form of the EEME formulation suggests that the instability results from coupling the approximations to the variables. A new mixed finite-element method, EVSS-G, is presented that includes smooth interpolation of the velocity gradients in the constitutive equation that is compatible with bilinear interpolation of the stress field. This formulation is tested with SUPG, streamline upwinding (SU), and Galerkin least squares (GLS) discretization of the constitutive equation. The EVSS-G/SUPG and EVSS-G/SU do not have the numerical instability described above; linear stability calculations for planar Couette flow are stable to values of De in excess of 50 and converge with mesh and time step. Calculations for the steady-state flow and its linear stability for a sphere falling in a tube demonstrate the appearance of linear instability to a time-periodic instability simultaneously with the apparent loss of existence of the steady-state solution. The instability appears as finely structured secondary cells that move from the front to the back of the sphere.Financial support for this research was given by the National Science Foundation, the Office of Naval Research, and the Defense Research Projects Agency. Computational resources were supplied by a grant from the Pittsburgh National Supercomputer Center and by the MIT Supercomputer Facility.     

Non-axisymmetric modes in viscoelastic taylor-couette flow

In this work, the linear stability analysis of the viscoelastic Taylor-Couette flow against non-axisymmetric disturbances is investigated. A pseudospectrally generated, generalized algebraic eigenvalue problem is constructed from the linearized set of the three-dimensional governing equations around the steady-state azimuthal solution. Numerical evaluation of the critical eigenvalues shows that for an upper-convected Maxwell model and for the specific set of geometric and kinematic parameters examined in this work, the azimuthal Couette (base) flow becomes unstable against non-axisymmetric time periodic disturbances before it does so for axisymmetric ones, provided the elasticity number ε (De/Re) is larger than some non-zero but small value (ε 0.01). In addition, as ε increases, different families of eigensolutions become responsible for the onset of instability. In particular, the azimuthal wavenumber of the critical eigensolution has been found to change from 1 to 2 to 3 and then back to 2 as ε increases from 0.01 to infinity (inertialess flow).In an analogous fashion to the axisymmetric viscoelastic Taylor-Couette flow, two possible patterns of time-dependent solutions (limit cycles) can emerge after the onset of instability: ribbons and spirals, corresponding to azimuthal and traveling waves, respectively. These patterns are dictated solely by the symmetry of the primary flow and have already been observed in conjunction with experiments involving Newtonian fluids but with the two cylinders counter-rotatng instead of co-rotating as considered here. Inclusion of a non-zero solvent viscosity (Oldroyd-B model) has been found to affect the results quantitatively but not qualitatively. These theoretical predictions are of particular importance for the interpretation of the experimental data obtained in a Taylor-Couette flow using highly elastic viscoelastic fluids.     

A 1-D theory for extensional deformation of a viscoelastic filament under exponential stretching

We consider a viscoelastic filament placed between two coaxial discs, with the bottom plate fixed and the top plate pulled at an exponential rate. Using a slender rod approximation, we derive a one-dimensional (1-D) model which describes the deformation of a viscoelastic filament governed by the Oldroyd-B constitutive model. It is assumed that the flow is axisymmetric and that inertia and gravity are negligible. One solution of the model equations corresponds to ideal uniaxial elongation. A linear stability analysis shows that this solution is unstable for a Newtonian fluid and for viscoelastic filaments with small Deborah number (De ≤ 0.5). For Deborah number greater than 0.5, ideal uniaxial elongation is linearly stable. Numerical solution of the nonlinear equations confirms the result of the linear stability analysis. For initial conditions close to ideal uniaxial flow, our results show that if De > 0.5, the central portion of the filament undergoes considerable strain hardening. As a result, the sample remains almost cylindrical and the deformation approaches pure uniaxial extension as the Hencky strain increases. For De ≤ 0.5, the Trouton ratio based on the effective extension rate at the mid-plane radius gives a much better approximation to the true extensional viscosity than that based on the imposed stretch rate.     

Thermal study of an array of inline horizontal cylinders below a nearly adiabatic ceiling

Steady state two-dimensional free convection heat transfer from a horizontal, isothermal cylinder in a horizontal array of cylinders consists of three isothermal cylinders, located underneath a nearly adiabatic ceiling is studied experimentally. A Mach–Zehnder interferometer is used to determine thermal field and smoke test is made to visualize flow field. Effects of the cylinders spacing to its diameter (S/D), and cylinder distance from ceiling to its diameter (L/D) on heat transfer from the centered cylinder are investigated for Rayleigh numbers from 1500 to 6000. Experiments are performed for an inline array configuration of horizontal cylinders of diameters D = 13 mm. Results indicate that due to the nearly adiabatic ceiling and neighboring cylinders, thermal plume resulted from the centered cylinder separates from cylinder surface even for high L/D values and forming recirculation regions. By decreasing the space ratio S/D, the recirculation flow strength increases. Also, by decreasing S/D, boundary layers of neighboring cylinders combine and form a developing flow between cylinders. The strength of developing flow depends on the cylinders Rayleigh number and S/D ratio. Due to the developing flow between cylinders, the vortex flow on the top of the centered cylinder appears for all L/D ratios and this vortex influences the value of local Nusselt number distribution around the cylinder.Variation of average Nusselt number of the centered cylinder depends highly on L/D and the trend with S/D depends on the value of Rayleigh number.     

Spallation analysis with a closed trans-scale formulation of damage evolution

A closed, trans-scale formulation of damage evolution based on the statistical microdamage mechanics is summarized in this paper. The dynamic function of damage bridges the mesoscopic and macroscopic evolution of damage. The spallation in an aluminium plate is studied with this formulation. It is found that the damage evolution is governed by several dimensionless parameters, i.e., imposed Deborah numbersDe ^* andDe, Mach numberM and damage numberS. In particular, the most critical mode of the macroscopic damage evolution, i.e., the damage localization, is determined by Deborah numberDe ^*. Deborah numberDe ^* reflects the coupling and competition between the macroscopic loading and the microdamage growth. Therefore, our results reveal the multi-scale nature of spallation. In fact, the damage localization results from the nonlinearity of the microdamage growth. In addition, the dependence of the damage rate on imposed Deborah numbersDe ^* andDe, Mach numberM and damage numberS is discussed. The project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (10172084, 10232040, 10232050, 10372012, 10302029) and the Special Funds for Major State Research Project (G200077305)     

Steady viscoelastic film flow over 2D topography: I. The effect of viscoelastic properties under creeping flow

Two-dimensional, steady flow of a viscoelastic film over a periodic topography under the action of a body force is studied. The exponential Phan-Thien and Tanner (ePTT) constitutive model is used. The conservation equations are solved via the usual mixed finite element method combined with a quasi-elliptic grid generation scheme in order to capture the large deformations of the free surface. The constitutive equation is weighted using the SUPG method and solved via the polymeric stress splitting EVSS-G technique. First, the code is validated by verifying that in isolated topographies the periodicity conditions result in fully developed viscoelastic film flow at the inflow/outflow boundaries and that its predictions for Newtonian fluids over 2D topography under creeping flow conditions coincide with those of previous works. Since the lubrication approximation is not invoked here, the topographical features can have wall segments that form any angle with the main flow, but only slight smoothing of the convex corners assists in reducing the stress singularity there. Thus, steady-state solutions are computed accurately up to high Deborah numbers, resulting in large deformations of the free surface. The magnitude of the capillary ridge in the film before the entrance to a step down of the substrate and of the capillary depression before a step up is increased as De increases up to ～0.7 due to increased fluid elasticity. Above this value they decrease, because increasing De increases also the shear and elongational thinning, which eventually affect them more. Increasing the ratio of solvent to polymer viscosities, β, the elongational parameter, ? and the molecular slip parameter, ξ, monotonically increases their magnitudes and especially that of the capillary ridge, but the mechanisms leading to these changes are different as explained in the text.     

Shear viscosity of slightly-elastic concentrated suspensions at low and high shear rates

A quasi-static asymptotic analysis is employed to investigate the elastic effects of fluids on the shear viscosity of highly concentrated suspensions at low and high shear rates. First a brief discussion is presented on the difference between a quasi-static analysis and the periodic-dynamic approach. The critical point is based on the different order-of-contact time between particles. By considering the motions between a particle withN near contact point particles in a two-dimensional “cell” structure and incorporating the concept of shear-dependent maximum packing fraction reveals the structural evolution of the suspension under shear and a newly asymptotic framework is devised. In order to separate the influence of different elastic mechanisms, the second-order Rivlin-Ericksen fluid assumption for describing normal-stress coefficients at low shear rates and Harnoy's constitutive equation for accounting for the stress relaxation mechanism at high shear rates are employed. The derived formulation shows that the relative shear viscosity is characterized by a recoverable shear strain,S _R at low shear rates if the second normal-stress difference can be neglected, and Deborah number,De, at high shear rates. The predicted values of the viscosities increase withS _R , but decrease withDe. The role ofS _R in the matrix is more pronounced than that ofDe. These tendencies are significant when the maximum packing fraction is considered to be shear-dependent. The results are consistent with that of Frankel and Acrivos in the case of a Newtonian suspension, except for when the different divergent threshhold is given as [1 ? (Φ/Φ _m )^1/2] ? 1.