Resistance to uniaxial extensional flow of fibre suspensions

The tensile stress due to resistance to uniaxial extensional flow of fibre suspensions in Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids has been measured using the filament stretching technique. It has been found that addition of fibres to a Newtonian fluid increases the extensional viscosity. The steady state results agree with Bachelors theory and the stress growth behaviour is qualitatively predicted by the theory of Dinh and Armstrong. Experimental results from this work have also shown that the behaviour of a fibre suspension in viscoelastic fluid is qualitatively described by Fans equation. The added fibres increase the extensional stress growth coefficient of the viscoelastic fluid at low strain but have marginal effect on the fluid after the onset of strain-hardening.     

Flowing colloidal suspensions in non-Newtonian suspending fluids: Decoupling the composite birefringence

The rheology of dilute, colloidal suspensions in polymeric suspending fluids can be studied with simultaneous dichroism and birefringence measurements. The dichroism provides a direct measure of the particle dynamics, but the birefringence is a composite property with independent contributions from the suspended particles and the polymer molecules. For suspensions where the contribution from the particles is significant, the composite birefringence must be decoupled in order to analyze the dynamics of the polymeric suspending fluid. A method to perform the decoupling is derived and then demonstrated through transient shear flow experiments with dilute suspensions ofFeOOH particles in semi-dilute, xanthan gum suspending fluids. The birefringence of the xanthan gum suspending fluid is calculated from experimental measurements of the composite birefringence and the dichroism of the suspension. To gather information on particle/polymer interactions, the calculated birefringence is compared to the birefringence of xanthan gum solutions containing no suspended particles and the dirchoism is compared to that of a suspension in a Newtonian fluid.     

On viscoelastic effects in non-Newtonian steady flows through porous media

This paper presents a mathematical model for describing approximately the viscoelastic effects in non-Newtonian steady flows through a porous medium. The rheological behaviour of power law fluids is considered in the Maxwell model of elastic behaviour of the fluids. The equations governing the steady flow through porous media are derived and an analytical solution of these equations in the case of a simple flow system is obtained. The conditions for which the viscoelastic effects may become observable from the pressure distribution measurements are shown and expressed in terms of some dimensionless groups. These have been found to be relevant in the evaluation of viscoelastic effects in the steady flow through porous media.     

On the effective viscosity of pseudoplastic suspensions

Summary An expression is developed that predicts the concentration dependence of the apparent viscosity of a concentrated pseudoplastic suspension. The result, which is an extension of the Frankel and Acrivos Newtonian suspension analysis, shows that the influence of particles concentration on the effective viscosity of pseudoplastic suspensions increases as the power law index of the suspension increases. Experimental data shows good agreement with the theoretical predictions.With 8 figures     

Time periodic viscosity of concentrated kaolin suspensions at constant shear rates

Knowledge of the viscosity of concentrated suspensions is required for several technical applications, e.g. process control in mechanical engineering, casting of ceramics and pipeline transport of solids. Our previous viscometric investigations of concentrated suspensions showed, under particular shear conditions, an apparent viscosity that was periodic in time for a constant shear rate and temperature. These results were obtained with rotational viscometers with a set coaxial geometry. The inner cylinder was rigidly coupled to the viscometer driving axis. In this paper we describe a viscosity time behavior which was found using another type of coupling. Measurements were performed with rotational viscometers with a non-rigidly linked inner cylinder (small sample adapter supplied by Brookfield). Using kaolin suspensions of 30% solid mass content, viscosity oscillations appear. They show a regular time pattern at certain intervals of low shear rates. The amplitudes reach up to 20% of the viscosity mean value. In addition a motion of the inner cylinder away from the coaxial position is observed. This dislocation is followed by a relocation into the coaxial position. A maximum in the viscosity value is correlated with a maximum of the dislocation position. The process of dislocation and relocation of the inner cylinder is assumed to be caused by local anisotropically distributed inhomogeneities, which originate from shear-induced agglomeration and deglomeration of suspended particles. The motion of the inner cylinder is described by introducing a perturbation term into the equation of motion. The parameters of the perturbation term are fitted to the experimental data. Received: 10 September 1998 Accepted: 28 April 1999     

Concentration-dependent behaviour of the shear viscosity of coal-fuel oil suspensions

A function correlating the relative viscosity of a suspension of solid particles in liquids to their concentration is derived here theoretically using only general thermodynamic ideas, with out any consideration of microscopic hydrodynamic models. This function ( _r = exp (1/2B ^* C ²)) has a great advantage over the many different functions proposed in literature, for it depends on a single parameter,B ^*, and is therefore concise. To test the validity of this function, a least-squares regression analysis was undertaken of available data on the viscosity and concentration of suspensions of coal particles in fuel oil, which promise to be a useful alternative to fuel oil in the near future. The proposed function was found to accurately describe the concentration-dependent behaviour of the relative viscosity of these suspensions. Furthermore, an attempt was made to obtain information about the factors affecting the value ofB ^*, however the results were only qualitative because of, among other things, the inaccuracy of the viscosity measurements in such highly viscous fluids. shear viscosity of the suspension - ₀ shear viscosity of the Newtonian suspending medium - _r = /₀ relative viscosity - solid volume concentration - c solid weight concentration - _m maximum attainable volume concentration of solids - solid volume concentration at which the relative viscosity of the suspension becomes infinite - c _m maximum attainable solid weight concentration - _s density of the solid phase - _l density of the liquid phase - _m density of the suspension - k _n coefficients of theø-power series expansion of _r - { _j } sets of parameters specifying the thermodynamic state of the solid phase of a suspension - T absolute temperature (K) - f (c, T, _j) formal expression for the relative variation of the viscosity with concentration = [1 / (/c)] _T,j - d median size of the granulometric distribution - _B plastic or Bingham viscosity - K consistency factor - n flow index - g ([c _m –c],T, _j ) function including an asymptotic divergence asc tends toc _m , formally describing the concentration dependent behaviour of the shear viscosity of a suspension - A (T, _j) regression analysis parameters - B (T, _j) regression analysis parameters - B ^* (T, _j ) regression analysis parameters     

Dynamics of non-Newtonian fluid interfaces in a porous medium: Incompressible fluids

This paper concerns the applications of frontal advance theory to the dynamics of a moving flat interface in a porous medium, when both displacing and displaced fluids are of power law behaviour. The rheological effects of non-Newtonian behaviour of these fluids on the interface position and its velocity are numerically illustrated and discussed with regard to the practical implications in oil displacement mechanisms. The results obtained should be useful in finding an optimal policy of injection in order to control the dynamics of the moving interface in field projects of enhanced oil recovery floods.     

Flocculation and rheology of kaolinite/quartz suspensions

Rheological properties of suspensions of Na-kaolinite and colloidal quartz (Min-U-Sil) at constant overall volume concentration of 2% are determined with a Weissenberg Rheogoniometer using a combined Couette and cone-and-plate geometry. The results are interpreted in terms of the flocculation behaviour of the constituent particles in the presence of high salt concentrations (0.1–0.75m NaCl) at pH 6, 7 and 8. In these chemical environments these suspensions are pseudoplastic for much of the range of mixture compositions becoming Newtonian for suspensions containing only quartz. These properties reflect the dominant influence of interactions between kaolinite particles on the flocculation behaviour of the mixture.Nomenclature a ₁, a₂ radii of spheres - A Hamaker constant - b radius of cylinder - C volumetric solids concentration - e ₀ electronic charge - H ₀ shortest distance between surfaces - I ionic strength - J collision frequency per unit volume - k Boltzmann constant - l length of cylinder - m number in eq. (2) - N particle number concentration - S (H ₀ + b)/b in eq. (4) - T absolute temperature - U electrophoretic mobility - V _A van der Waals attractive energy - V _R coulombic energy - V _T total energy of interaction - X H ₀/2a₁ in eq. (5) - Y a ₂/a₁ in eq. (5) - thickness of plate - shear rate - permittivity - zeta potential - k Debye-Hückel parameter - µ dynamic viscosity - µ _pl plastic viscosity - v valency of counter ion - shear stress - _B Bingham stress - ₁, ₂ dimensionless potentials - ₁, ₂ surface potentials     

Turbulent forced convection heat transfer of non-Newtonian nanofluids

Forced convection heat transfer of non-Newtonian nanofluids in a circular tube with constant wall temperature under turbulent flow conditions was investigated experimentally. Three types of nanofluids were prepared by dispersing homogeneously γ-Al₂O₃, TiO₂ and CuO nanoparticles into the base fluid. An aqueous solution of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) was used as the base fluid. Nanofluids as well as the base fluid show shear-thinning (pseudoplastic) rheological behavior. Results indicate that the convective heat transfer coefficient of nanofluids is higher than that of the base fluid. The enhancement of the convective heat transfer coefficient increases with an increase in the Peclet number and the nanoparticle concentration. The increase in the convective heat transfer coefficient of nanofluids is greater than the increase that would be observed considering strictly the increase in the effective thermal conductivity of nanofluids. Experimental data were compared to heat transfer coefficients predicted using available correlations for purely viscous non-Newtonian fluids. Results show poor agreement between experimental and predicted values. New correlation was proposed to predict successfully Nusselt numbers of non-Newtonian nanofluids as a function of Reynolds and Prandtl numbers.     

Numerical modelling of viscous non-Newtonian effects in lubricating systems

Modern lubricants often exhibit shear-thinning due to the presence of high molecular weight polymers as additives. Therefore the influence of such non-Newtonian effects on the performances of lubricating systems must be predicted. The corresponding fluid film flow is governed by a non-linear partial differential equation, which generalizes the classical Reynolds equation. Having prescribed adequate boundary conditions, this equation is solved by a finite element method with optimal control. The problem of the square slider bearing lubricated by the Rabinowitsch fluid is solved in order to test the accuracy of the numerical scheme. The pressure and velocity fields are given and compared with the corresponding ones obtained for the Newtonian fluid.     

The rheological behaviour of Ca(OH)2 suspensions in water

The rheological characteristics of Ca(OH)₂ suspensions are investigated in order to check the elastic floc model for energy dissipation during flow. It is found that the energy, required to overcome the viscous drag experienced by particles moving within flocs, can account for the total energy dissipation.     

Self-similar solutions for displacement of non-Newtonian fluids through porous media

This paper presents a class of self-similar solutions describing piston-like displacement (single-phase flow is included as a special case) of one slightly compressible non-Newtonian, power-law, dilatant fluid by another through a homogeneous, isotropic porous medium. These solutions can be used to evaluate the validity and accuracy of existing approximate solutions, such as the assumption of constant flow rate at each radial distance that Ikoku and Ramey use to linearize the partial differential equation for the flow of non-Newtonian, power-law fluid through a porous medium.Nomenclature a parameter, defined by (A8) - A cross-section area of linear reservoir - B constant - c fluid compressibility - c _f formation compressibility - c _t system compressibility - c t dimensionless system compressibility, defined by (24) - C constant of integration - D _I dimensionless coefficient, directly proportional to injection rate, for linear displacement case, defined by (22). - D ₂ dimensionless coefficient, directly proportional to injection rate, for radial displacement case, defined by (55) - erf(x) error function - ercf(x) complementary error function - Ei(x) exponential integral - f dimensionless pressure, defined by (10) - h formation thickness - k permeability - l linear location of moving boundary between the displacing and displaced fluids - n flow behavior parameter - p pressure - p _i injection pressure - p ₀ initial pressure; reference pressure - p ₀ dimensionless initial pressure, defined by (19) - q injection rate - r radial distance - R radial location of moving boundary between the displacing and displaced fluids - t time - u superficial velocity - U substitution of variable - x linear distance - _e effective viscosity - _e dimensionless effective viscosity, defined by (24) - dimensionless variable, defined by (9) or (45) - _i0 value of corresponding to the location of the moving boundary between the displacing and displaced fluids - density - ₀ value of density at reference pressure - porosity - ₀ value of porosity at reference pressure - 1 displacing fluid - 2 displaced fluid     

Comparison of two numerical methods for the solution of non-Newtonian flow in ducts

Two numerical methods, the Galerkin finite element method (FEM) and the boundary-fitted co-ordinate transformation method (BFCTM), have been applied to solve inelastic non-Newtonian fluid flow in ducts of irregular cross-section. Three representative fluid models, namely the power-law, the Ellis and the Bingham models, have been analysed. The application of the FEM is straightforward, while for the BFCTM the accurate estimation of viscosity on the duct boundary and the proper mesh adjustment appear to be critical for generating convergent solutions. A detailed comparison of the two numerical methods in terms of volumetric flow rate, axial velocity, shear rate, viscosity and CPU time is given. Both methods can generate accurate solutions of velocity over a wide range of variables, but the FEM requires much less computing time to reach the same level of accuracy. Only the BFCTM can be used to approximate shear rate and viscosity with reasonable accuracy.     

Non-Newtonian end effects in falling ball viscometry of concentrated suspensions

In a Newtonian fluid contained in a cylinder, a small ball initially at rest released just below the surface would accelerate to achieve a steady-state velocity within one cylinder diameter. After traversing the center section of the cylinder, the ball would begin slowing down within one cylinder diameter of the bottom. This behavior is also observed in suspensions where the size of the suspended particles is small relative to the containing cylinder. However, in concentrated suspensions of larger suspended particles, balls released near the upper surface travel faster than the steady state velocity. In addition, the length of the upper surface end effect, where the falling ball decelerates to the steady state velocity, and the lower end effect zone, where the ball decelerates to rest at the bottom, is many times longer than in a Newtonian single-phase liquid. These non-Newtonian end effects are reduced if the suspended particles are polydisperse in their size distribution.     

Interaction between Taylor bubbles rising in stagnant non-Newtonian fluids

The interaction between Taylor bubbles rising in stagnant non-Newtonian solutions was studied. Aqueous solutions of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and polyacrylamide (PAA) polymers were used to study the effect of different rheological properties: shear viscosity and viscoelasticity. The solutions studied covered a range of Reynolds numbers between 10 and 714, and Deborah numbers up to 14. The study was performed with pairs of Taylor bubbles rising in a vertical column (0.032 m internal diameter) filled with stagnant liquid. The velocities of the leading and trailing bubbles were measured by sets of laser diodes/photocells placed along the column. The velocity of the trailing bubble was analysed together with the liquid velocity profile in the wake of a single rising bubble (Particle Image Velocimetry data obtained from the literature). For the less concentrated CMC solutions, with moderate shear viscosity and low viscoelasticity, the interaction between Taylor bubbles was similar to that found in Newtonian fluids. For the most concentrated CMC solution, which has high shear viscosity and moderate viscoelasticity, a negative wake forms behind the Taylor bubbles, inhibiting coalescence since the bubbles maintain a minimum distance of about 1D between them. For the PAA solutions, with moderate shear viscosity but higher viscoelasticity than the CMC solutions, longer wake lengths are seen, which are responsible for trailing bubble acceleration at greater distances from the leading bubble. Also in the PAA solutions, the long time needed for the fluid to recover its initial shear viscosity after the passage of the first bubble makes the fluid less resistant to the trailing bubble flow. Hence, the trailing bubble can travel at a higher velocity than the leading bubble, even at distances above 90D.     

The rheological behaviour of Ca(OH)2 suspensions

The rheological behaviour of Ca(OH)₂ suspensions is investigated, predominantly at a solid volume fraction of 0.25. The influence of standing without being subject to shear (“contact time”) is distinguished from that of being sheared (“shearing time”). The results are interpreted on the basis of the “elastic floc” model of energy dissipation during flow, with a view to the problem whether, in addition to an energy dissipation term related to the viscous drag experienced by particles moving within flocs, there should be an independent energy dissipation term related to fluid movement in the flocs when they change volume or shape. It appears that this additional energy dissipation term is not necessary, if the increase in viscous friction, experienced by two particles which are close together, is taken into account. Paper, presented at the First Conference of European Rheologists at Graz, April 14–16, 1982. A short version has been published in [18].     

On the behaviour of gelled fibre suspensions in steady shear

The shear rheological properties of suspensions of gelled agar fibres in a low viscosity Newtonian matrix fluid were investigated. Two classes of fibres, low aspect ratio fibres and high aspect ratio fibres with an aspect ratio of the order of 10 and 100 respectively were included in the investigations. For all fibre phase volumes investigated, from as low as 0.01 upwards, the flow curves are characterised by an apparent yield stress followed by shear-thinning which was independent of the fibre aspect ratio. Based on our analysis of the flow curves, we conclude that the high aspect ratio fibres behave like flexible threads in contrast to the low aspect ratio fibres whose high shear relative viscosity is successfully described by a relation for long rigid rods. These findings are supported by flow visualisation using an optical shearing stage coupled to a light microscope.