Steady flow of power-law fluids in a 1:3 planar sudden expansion

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2013

Authors

S. Dhinakaran (Author) FEUP; M. S. N. Oliveira (Author) Other; F. T. Pinho (Author) FEUP; M. A. Alves (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Journal of Non-Newtonian Fluid Mechanics

Vol. 198

Pages: 48-58

ISSN: 0377-0257

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 20 Citations

ISI Web of Science

Scopus - 26 Citations

INSPEC

Scientific classification

FOS: Engineering and technology > Mechanical engineering

Associated Projects

OPTIMAL - Optimização de microdispositivos para escoamento de fluidos viscoelásticos

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-006-8QG

DOI: 10.1016/j.jnnfm.2013.01.006

Abstract (EN): The laminar flow of inelastic non-Newtonian fluids, obeying the power-law model, through a planar sudden expansion with a 1:3 expansion ratio was investigated numerically using a finite volume method. A broad range of power-law indices in the range 0.2 <= n <= 4 was considered. Shear-thinning, Newtonian and shear-thickening fluids are analyzed, with particular emphasis on the flow patterns and bifurcation phenomenon occurring at high Reynolds number laminar flows. The effect of the generalized Reynolds number (based on power-law index, n, and the inflow channel height, h) on the main vortex characteristics and Couette correction are examined in detail in the range 0.01 <= Re-gen <= 600. Values for the critical generalized Reynolds number for the onset of steady flow asymmetry and the appearance of a third main vortex are also included. We found that the shear-thinning behavior increases the critical Re-gen, while shear-thickening has the opposite effect. Comparison with available literature and with predictions using a commercial software (Fluent (R) 6.3.26) are also presented and discussed. It was found that both results are in good agreement, and that our code is able to achieve converged solutions for a broad range of flow conditions, providing new benchmark quality data.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 11