GPU accelerated simulations of three-dimensional flow of power-law fluids in a driven cube

Newtonian fluid flow in two- and three-dimensional cavities with a moving wall has been studied extensively in a number of previous works. However, relatively a fewer number of studies have considered the motion of non-Newtonian fluids such as shear thinning and shear thickening power law fluids. In this paper, we have simulated the three-dimensional, non-Newtonian flow of a power law fluid in a cubic cavity driven by shear from the top wall. We have used an in-house developed fractional step code, implemented on a Graphics Processor Unit. Three Reynolds numbers have been studied with power law index set to 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5. The flow patterns, viscosity distributions and velocity profiles are presented for Reynolds numbers of 100, 400 and 1000. All three Reynolds numbers are found to yield steady state flows. Tabulated values of velocity are given for the nine cases studied, including the Newtonian cases.     

New model for single spherical particle settling velocity in power law (visco-inelastic) fluids

Particle settling in a non-Newtonian power law fluid is of interest to many industrial applications, including chemical, food, pharmaceutical, and petroleum industry. Conventionally, the Newtonian model for the drag coefficient prediction is extended to non-Newtonian fluids. The approach of merely replacing a viscosity term in Newtonian correlation with a power law apparent viscosity is reported to be inadequate.     

On the Generation of Discontinuous Shearing Motions of a Non-Newtonian Fluid

The system under study models unsteady, one-dimensional shear flow of a highly elastic and viscous incompressible non-Newtonian fluid with fading memory under isothermal conditions. The flow, in a channel, is driven by a constant pressure gradient, is symmetric about the center line, and satisfies a no-slip boundary condition at the wall. The non-Newtonian contribution to the stress is assumed to obey a differential constitutive law (due to Oldroyd, Johnson & Segalman), the key feature of which is a non-monotone relation between the total steady shear stress and strain rate. In a regime in which the Reynolds number is much smaller than the Deborah (or Weissenberg) number, one obtains a degenerate, singularly perturbed system of nonlinear reaction-diffusion equations. It is shown that if the driving pressure gradient exceeds a critical value (the local shear stress maximum of the steady stress vs. strain rate relation), then the solution to the governing system, starting from rest at , tends as to a particular discontinuous steady state solution (the “top-jumping” steady state), except in a small neighborhood of the discontinuity. This discontinuous steady state is shown to be nonlinearly stable in a precise sense with respect to perturbations yielding smooth initial data. Such discontinuous steady states have been proposed to explain “spurting” flows, which exhibit a large increase in mean flow rate when the driving pressure is raised above a critical value. (Accepted April 22, 1996)     

Experimental and numerical investigations of pressure drop in a rectangular duct with modified power law fluids

Numerical solutions are presented for fully developed laminar flow for a modified power law fluid (MPL) in a rectangular duct. The solutions are applicable to pseudoplastic fluids over a wide shear rate range from Newtonian behavior at low shear rates, through a transition region, to power law behavior at higher shear rates. The analysis identified a dimensionless shear rate parameter which, for a given set of operating conditions, specifies where in the shear rate range a particular system is operating, i.e. in the Newtonian, transition, or power law regions. The numerical results of the friction factor times Reynolds number for the Newtonian and power law region are compared with previously published results showing agreement within 0.05% in the Newtonian region, and 0.9% and 5.1% in the power law region. Rheological flow curves were measured for three CMC-7H4 solutions and were found to be well represented by the MPL constitutive equation. The friction factor times Reynolds number values were measured in the transition region for which previous measurements were unavailable. Good agreement was found between experiment and calculation thus confirming the validity of the analysis.     

Direct numerical simulation of the turbulent energy balance and the shear stresses in power-law fluid flows in pipes

The results of direct numerical simulation of turbulent flows of non-Newtonian pseudoplastic fluids in a straight pipe are presented. The data on the distributions of the turbulent stress tensor components and the shear stress and turbulent kinetic energy balances are obtained for steady turbulent flows at the Reynolds numbers of 10⁴ and 2×10⁴. As distinct from Newtonian fluid flows, the viscous shear stresses turn out to be significant even far from the wall. In power-law fluid flows the mechanism of the energy transport from axial to transverse component fluctuations is suppressed. It is shown that with decrease in the fluid index the turbulent transfer of the momentum and the velocity fluctuations between the wall layer and the flow core reduces, while the turbulent energy flux toward the wall increases. The earlier-proposed models for the average viscosity and the non-Newtonian one-point correlations are in good agreement with the data of direct numerical simulation.     

Positive Solutions to Singular Second and Third Order Differential Equations for Quantum Fluids

We analyze a quantum trajectory model given by a steady-state hydrodynamic system for quantum fluids with positive constant temperature in bounded domains for arbitrary large data. The momentum equation can be written as a dispersive third-order equation for the particle density where viscous effects are incorporated. The phenomena that admit positivity of the solutions are studied. The cases, one space dimensional dispersive or non-dispersive, viscous or non-viscous, are thoroughly analyzed with respect to positivity and existence or non-existence of solutions, all depending on the constitutive relation for the pressure law. We distinguish between isothermal (linear) and isentropic (power law) pressure functions of the density. It is proved that in the dispersive, non-viscous model, a classical positive solution only exists for “small” (positive) particle current densities, both for the isentropic and isothermal case. Uniqueness is also shown in the isentropic subsonic case, when the pressure law is strictly convex. However, we prove that no weak isentropic solution can exist for “large” current densities. The dispersive, viscous problem admits a classical positive solution for all current densities, both for the isentropic and isothermal case, with an “ultra-diffusion” condition. The proofs are based on a reformulation of the equations as a singular elliptic second-order problem and on a variant of the Stampacchia truncation technique. Some of the results are extended to general third-order equations in any space dimension. Accepted July 1, 2000?Published online February 14, 2001     

Interior Differentiability of Weak Solutions to the Equations of Stationary Motion of a Class of Non-Newtonian Fluids

In this paper, we consider weak solutions to the equations of stationary motion of a class of non-Newtonian fluids the constitutive law of which includes the power law model as special case. We prove the existence of second order derivatives of weak solutions to these equations.     

Frottements et pertes de pression des fluides non newtoniens dans des conduites non circulaires

The study of fluid flow in a duct requires characteristic parameters of the flow and dimensionless numbers to correlate and compare experimental results. For Newtonian fluids in simple configurations, the definition of the Reynolds number is quite standard, but for non-Newtonian fluid flows in ducts with arbitrary shape of cross section, the dependence of the apparent viscosity with the shear rate requires a generalization of this dimensionless number. This note proposes a general method valid for a large class of non-Newtonian fluids and for all duct shapes. An application is developed for a viscoelastic flow through a rectangular duct. Results obtained in the present investigation are in a good agreement with available correlations. To cite this article: M. Mahfoud et al., C. R. Mecanique 333 (2005).     

Separating forces in blade coating of viscous and viscoelastic liquids

Coating of viscous and viscoelastic liquids is examined both theoretically and experimentally. A single simple geometry, a blade over a rotating roll, is considered. A perturbation solution to the Navier-Stokes equations yields a lubrication theory with first order corrections for curvature and inertia. A numerical solutions by the Finite Element Method (FEM) is compared to the analytical solutions. For Newtonian fluids, agreement between these mathematical models, and data on blade loading, is quite good.The effect of a non-Newtonian viscosity is explored by adopting a purely viscous power law model. The zeroth-order (lubrication) equations are solved by the method of Steidler and Horowitz, and predictions for coating thickness and blade loading agree quite well with those obtained from a FEM solution of the full equations of motion for a power law fluid. Data on blade loading, obtained using a strongly elastic polymer solution, are compared to these mathematical models, and discrepancies are noted.     

Extensional rheology of concentrated poly(ethylene oxide) solutions

The shear and extensional rheology of three concentrated poly(ethylene oxide) solutions is examined. Shear theology including steady shear viscosity, normal stress difference and linear viscoelastic material functions all collapse onto master curves independent of concentration and temperature. Extensional flow experiments are performed in fiber spinning and opposed nozzles geometries. The concentration dependence of extensional behavior measured using both techniques is presented. The zero-shear viscosity and apparent extensional viscosities measured with both extensional rheometers exhibit a power law dependence with polymer concentration. Strain hardening in the fiber spinning device is found to be of similar magnitude for all test fluids, irrespective of strain rate. The opposed nozzle device measures an apparent extensional viscosity which is one order of magnitude smaller than the value determined with the fiber spinline device. This could be attributed to errors caused by shear, dynamic pressure, and the relatively small strains developed in the opposed nozzle device. This instrument cannot measure local kinematics or stresses, but averages these values over the non-homogenous flow field. These results show that it is not possible to measure the extensional viscosity of non-Newtonian and shear thinning fluids with this device. Fiber spin-line experiments are coupled with a momentum balance and constitutive model to predict stress growth and diameter profiles. A one-mode Giesekus model accurately captures the plateau values of steady and dynamic shear properties, but fails to capture the gradual shear thinning of viscosity. Giesekus model parameters determined from shear rheology are not capable of quantitatively predicting fiber spinline kinematics. However, model parameters fit to a single spinline experiment accurately predict stress growth behavior for different applied spinline tensions.     

On local solutions to non-Newtonian slow viscous flows

The eigenfunction expansion method is used to obtain local solutions to some non-Newtonian slow viscous flows. The forms of viscosity variation amenable to such analysis are restricted but do include power-law fluids. Power-law flow near a sharp corner between plane boundaries is analysed and results are obtained for the critical corner angle for eddy formation. Flows near a 90° corner with either a moving boundary or a finite flow rate at the corner are also considered. The “stick-slip” behaviour of a power-law fluid at a plane solid boundary is shown to obey a simple law.     

Thermal chaotic mixing of power-law fluids in a mixer with alternately rotating walls

We investigate the enhancement of both mixing and heat transfer in a two-rod mixer for highly viscous non-Newtonian fluids. The mixer is composed of two vertical circular rods in a cylindrical tank. Chaotic flows are obtained by imposing the temporal modulations of the rotational velocities of the walls. We study the effects of different stirring protocols, which lead to non-chaotic and chaotic flows, on the efficiency of both mixing and heat transfer for three different rheological fluid behaviors: shear-thinning, Newtonian and shear-thickening. For this purpose, we use statistical indicators that characterize the mean value of the fluid temperature and its homogenization. We find that chaotic mixing is suitable for shear-thickening fluids for which we observe a clear enhancement of the thermal mixing (heat extraction and homogenization). This is due to the increase in the apparent fluid viscosity in the vicinity of the rotating walls. This aspect confirms the relevance of chaotic mixing for highly viscous fluids.     

Thermal explosion during the flow of a viscous liquid

Frank-Kamenetskii has discussed a steady-state formulation of thermal explosions [1]. Bostandzhiyan et al. [2] and Bostandzhiyan and Chernyaeva [3] have shown, for the flow in a cylindrical tube of Newtonian and non-Newtonian liquids having a strong (nonlinear) temperature dependence of the viscosity, that a phenomenon analogous to thermal explosion may occur during the flow of a chemically inert liquid. Bostandzhiyan et al. [4] have also studied Couette flow and the flow between two rotating circular cylinders of a Newtonian liquid having the same temperature dependence for its viscosity. It was shown that, although the heat balance equation reduces to the equations of the steady-state theory of thermal explosion for the corresponding region, hydrodynamic thermal “explosion” was not observed in these cases. This phenomenon was found to be characteristic of only pressurized flows. Below, we study thermal explosions during the Poiseuille flow of a viscous, chemically reactive liquid in an infinite circular cylindrical tube, and during the motion of the liquid between infinite rotating cylinders. The combined effect of chemical and mechanical heat cources are considered. Zhurnal Prikladnoi Mekhaniki i Teknicheskoi Fiziki, Vol. 9, No. 5, pp. 38–43, 1968     

Studies on heat transfer to Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids in agitated vessel

Heat transfer studies to Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids are carried out in a stirred vessel fitted with anchor/turbine impeller and a coil for heating/cooling with an objective of determining experimentally the heat transfer coefficient of few industrially important systems namely castor oil and its methyl esters, soap solution, CMC and chalk slurries. The effect of impeller geometry, speed and aeration is investigated. Generalized Reynolds and Prandtl numbers are calculated using an apparent viscosity for non-Newtonian fluids. The data is correlated using a Sieder–Tate type equation. A trend of increase in heat transfer coefficient with RPM in presence and absence of solids has been observed. Relatively high values of Nusselt numbers are obtained for non-Newtonian fluids when aeration is coupled with agitation. The contribution of natural convection to heat transfer has been accounted for by incorporating the Grashof number. The correlations developed based on these studies are applied for design of commercial scale soponification reactor. Power per unit volume resulted in reliable design of a reactor.     

Dynamic scaling of unsteady shear-thinning non-Newtonian fluid flows in a large-scale model of a distal anastomosis

Dimensional analysis has been applied to an unsteady pulsatile flow of a shear-thinning power-law non-Newtonian liquid. An experiment was then designed in which both Newtonian and non-Newtonian liquids were used to model blood flow through a large-scale (38.5 mm dia.), simplified, rigid arterial junction (a distal anastomosis of a femorodistal bypass). The flow field within the junction was obtained by Particle Imaging Velocimetry and near-wall velocities were used to calculate the wall shear stresses. Dimensionless wall shear stresses were obtained at different points in the cardiac cycle for two different but dynamically similar non-Newtonian fluids; the good agreement between the measured dimensionless wall shear stresses confirm the validity of the dimensional analysis. However, blood exhibits a constant viscosity at high-shear rates and to obtain complete dynamic similarity between large-scale experiments and life-scale flows, the high-shear viscosity also needs to be included in the analysis. How this might be done is discussed in the paper.     

An investigation of non-newtonian flow past a sphere

Any experimental work on the flow of a polymer solution or any theoretical analysis on the basis of a visoelastic constitutive equation does not always bring out viscoelastic effects but may be showing a non-Newtonian viscosity effect. Therefore, in order to obtain a clear understanding about viscoelastic effects, it is desirable to have a sufficient knowledge of the non-Newtonian viscosity effect. To facilitate this, finite-difference numerical solutions of non-Newtonian flow were carried out using a non-Newtonian viscous model for the Reynolds numbers of 0.1, 1.0, 20 and 60.Drag force measurements and flow visualization experiments were also performed over a wide range of experimental conditions using polymer solutions. The present work appears to support the following idea: When compared with the Newtonian case on the basis of DV_∞P/η₀, where η₀ is the zero shear viscosity, it is on account of the non-Newtonian viscosity that the friction and pressure drags decrease, that the separating vortices behind the sphere become larger, and that no shift occurs in the streamlines. On the other hand, it is due to viscoelasticity that the normal force drag increases, that the separating vortices behind the sphere become smaller, and that an upstream shift occurs in the streamlines.     

Droplet deformation of a strongly shear thinning dense suspension of polymeric micelles

We investigated the deformation of a strong shear thinning droplet undergoing simple shear flow in a Newtonian liquid. The droplet was an aqueous solution of poly(ethylene oxide) end capped with an alkyl group that forms spherical micelles in aqueous solution. At high concentrations and below a critical temperature, the jammed micelles showed strong shear thinning behaviour, and neither a yield stress nor a Newtonian viscosity was observed. At small shear rates, the droplet rotated and aligned in the flow, but did not deform or only very weakly. At high shear rates, the droplet deformation increased with increasing shear rate. The deformed droplet did not relax after the shear was stopped except for a modest rounding of the edges. For each shear rate, an apparent viscosity, η _ad, of the equivalent Newtonian droplet was calculated assuming affine deformation. η _ad showed a power law dependence on the capillary number Ca with an exponent of − 1.8 and was larger than the shear viscosity of the micelle suspension at the same shear rates. The results were explained by the existence of a strong gradient of the viscosity inside the droplet leading to a very low viscosity fluid layer near the droplet/matrix interface.     

On Solutions of Some Non-Linear Differential Equations Arising in Newtonian and Non-Newtonian Fluids

Some steady as well as unsteady solutions of the equations of motion for an incompressible Newtonian and non-Newtonian (second-grade) fluids are obtained by applying different methods including the Lie symmetry group method. The flows considered are axially symmetric with the swirling motion, and the governing equations for second-grade fluid flow have been modeled. Expressions for streamlines, velocity and vorticity components are constructed explicitly in each case. Exact analytical solutions in second-grade fluid are obtained and compared with the corresponding viscous solutions.     

Pulsatile flows of Leslie–Ericksen liquid crystals

Capillary pulsatile flows of calamitic (rod-like) and discotic nematic liquid crystals are analyzed using the Leslie–Ericksen equations for low-molar mass liquid crystals, using computational, analytical, and scaling methods. The dependence of flow-enhancement and power requirement on frequency, amplitude, pressure drop wave-form, molecular geometry is characterized. The unique roles of orientation-dependent local viscosity and backflow (orientation-driven flow) on flow-enhancement and power requirement are elucidated. The local viscosity effect is shown to be a significant factor in flow-enhancement at all pressure drops, but only affects power requirement at higher pressure drops. Backflow has weak effects on flow-enhancement and large effects on power requirements at low average pressure drops. Amplitude, frequency, and molecular geometry effects are clearly manifested through viscosity and backflow. A detailed comparison with predictions for power law fluids shows a clear correspondence between these non-Newtonian fluids and nematic liquid crystals. The unique distinguishing feature of pulsatile flows of liquid crystals is found to be backflow, such that power increases with increasing frequency, a featured that does not exist in other non-Newtonian fluids due to lack of a strong flow driven by restructuring/re-orientation processes. Future use of these new results may include measurements of viscoelastic parameters that control backflow.