Simulation of Incompressible Non-Newtonian Flows Through Channels with Sudden Expansion Using the Power-Law Model

Authors

  • R. Manica
  • A.L. de Bortoli

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5540/tema.2003.04.03.0333

Abstract

The goal of this work is to analyze incompressible Newtonian and non-Newtonian flows through channels with sudden expansion. The governing equations are solved using the finite-differences explicit Runge-Kutta time-stepping scheme in nondimensionalized form in which continuity and momentum are solved simultaneously along the grid points. The power-law model is applied to predict pseudoplastic (shear-thinning) and dilatant (shear-thickening) behavior in such expansions. The critical Reynolds number, in which the solution becomes asymmetric, is analyzed. Numerical results for a 3 : 1 expansion show good agreement with other numerical tests found in the literature for Reynolds numbers ranging from 40 to 140 for Newtonian flow. For the non-Newtonian case, a comparison with an analytical solution is presented.

References

[1] A.N. Alexandrou, T.M. Mcgilvreay, G. Burgos, Steady Hershel-Bulkley Fluid Flow in Three-dimensional Expansions, Journal of Non-Newtonian Fluid Mechanics, 100 (2001), 77-96.

R. Fearn, T. Mullin and K.A. Cliffe, Nonlinear Flow Phenomena in a Symmetric Sudden Expansion, Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 211 (1990), 595-608.

J. Ferguson and Z. Kemblowki, “Applied Fluid Rheology”, Elsevier Cambridge, 1991.

L. Lefton and D. Wei, A Penalty Method for Approximations of the Stationary Power-Law Stokes Problem, Eletronic Journal of Differential Equations, 7 (2001), 1-12.

L. Luo, Symmetric Breaking of Flow in 2D Symmetric Channels: Simulation by Lattice-Boltzmann Method, International Journal of Modern Physics, 8 (1997), 859-867.

B. Pak, Y.I. Cho and S.U.S. Choi, Separation and Reattachment of Non- Newtonian Fluid Flows in a Sudden Expansion Pipe, Journal of Non-Newtonian Fluid Mechanics, 37 (1990), 175-199.

R. I. Tanner, “Engineering Rheology”, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1992.

C.V. Vradis and J.K. Hammad, Strongly Coupled Block-Implicit Solution Technique for Non-Newtonian Convective Heat Transfer Problems, Numerical Heat Transfer, 33 (1998), 79-97.

Published

2003-06-01

How to Cite

Manica, R., & de Bortoli, A. (2003). Simulation of Incompressible Non-Newtonian Flows Through Channels with Sudden Expansion Using the Power-Law Model. Trends in Computational and Applied Mathematics, 4(3), 333–340. https://doi.org/10.5540/tema.2003.04.03.0333

Issue

Section

Original Article