Rathna Devanathan

Peristaltic motion of a non-Newtonian fluid

SummaryTo understand theoretically the flow properties of physiological fluids, we have considered as a model the peristaltic motion of a power law fluid in a tube, with a sinusoidal wave of small amplitude travelling down its wall. The solution for the stream function is obtained as a power series in terms of the amplitude of the wave. The stream function and the velocity components are evaluated by solving numerically two point boundary value problems with a singular point at the origin. The influence of the applied pressure gradient along with non-Newtonian parameters on the streamlines and velocity profiles are discussed in detail.

Pulsatile flow in tubes of varying cross-sections

SummaryThe pulsatile flow of an incompressible viscous fluid in a cylindrical tube of varying cross section is investigated for small Reynolds numbers. The solutions consist of a stedy and an oscillatory part. The shear stress distribution on the wall is evaluated and discussed in detail for special geometries like tapered tubes, locally constricted tubes and peristaltic tubes. The existence of separation in the flow field is noticed.ZusammenfassungEs wird die pulsierende Strömung einer zähen inkompressiblen Flüssigkeit in Rohren mit veränderlichem Querschnitt bei kleinen Reynoldsschen Zahlen untersucht. Die Lösungen bestehen aus einem stationären und einem oszillatorischen Anteil. Die Schubspannungsverteilung an den Rohrwänden wird für einige besondere geometrische Rohrformen wie konische Rohre, örtlich eingeschnürte Rohre und peristaltische Rohre berechnet und ausführlich diskutiert. Bei einigen Fällen wird die Existenz einer Ablösung im Strömungsfeld festgestellt.

Peristaltic motion of a micropolar fluid

Peristaltic motion of a micropolar fluid is studied for small amplitudes of peristalic waves under low Reynolds number analysis. The effect of pressure gradient on the secondary motion reveals many interesting and useful results. The critical value of the pressure gradient ensuing the reversal effect in both velocity field and microrotation is evaluated and discussed.

A couple stress model of blood flow in the microcirculation

A simple mathematical model depicting blood flow in the capillary is developed with an emphasis on the permeability property of the blood vessel based on Starlings hypothesis. In this study the effect of inertia has been neglected in comparison with the viscosity on the basis of the smallness of the Reynolds number of the flow in the capillary. The capillary blood vessel is approximated by a circular cylindrical tube with a permeable wall. The blood is represented by a couple stress fluid. With such an ideal model the velocity and pressure fields are determined. It is shown that an increase in the couple stress parameter increases the resistance to the flow and thereby decreases the volume rate flow. A comparison of the results with those of the Newtonian case has also been made.

Microcontinuum approach to the pulsatile flow in tubes with and without longitudinal vibration

A fully developed pulsatile flow in a circular rigid tube is analysed by a microcontinuum approach. Solutions for radial variation of axial velocity and cell rotational velocity across the tube are obtained using the momentum integral method. Simplified forms of the solutions are presented for the relevant physiological data. Marked deviations in the results are observed when compared to a Newtonian fluid model. It is interesting to see that there is sufficient reduction in the mass flow rate, phase lag and friction due to the micropolar character of the fluid.

The effects of slip velocity at a membrane surface on blood flow in the microcirculation

Closed-form solutions are presented for blood flow in the microcirculation by taking into account the influence of slip velocity at the membrane surface. In this study, the convective inertia force is neglected in comparison with that of blood viscosity on the basis of the smallness of the Reynolds number of the flow in microcirculation. The permeability property of the blood vessel is based on the well known Starlings hypothesis [11]. The effects of slip coefficient on the velocity and pressure fields are clearly depicted.

Motion of a viscous fluid with suspended particles in a curved tube

In this paper we have discussed the motion of a viscous fluid with suspended particles through a curved tube of small curvature ratio. The system is treated as two separate interacting continua. Solutions for axial and secondary velocities are obtained in the form of asymptotic expansions in powers of Dean Number. The streamline pattern for the particulate phase reveals many interesting features. The influence of the particulate continium on the fluid is described by the parameter τ which depends on the density ratio of the two continua. The concentration distribution of the particles in a given cross section is determined. It is noticed that the particles move closer to the wall for certain values of the concentration and the density ratio.

On a linear steady-state system of equations in microcontinuum fluid mechanics

Galerkin representations and integral representations are obtained for the linearized system of coupled differential equations governing steady incompressible flow of a micropolar fluid. The special case of 2-dimensional Stokes flows is then examined and further representation formulae as well as asymptotic expressions, are generated for both the microrotation and velocity vectors. With the aid of these formulae, the Stokes Paradox for micropolar fluids is established.

Flow of a power law fluid in an annulus with porous walls

SummaryThe steady flow of a power law fluid in annuli with porous walls is investigated. The solution for the axial velocity component is obtained as a power series in terms of the cross flowReynolds number, the first term of the series giving the solution for the case of the solid wall annulus. The cross flow is restricted to be such that the rate of injection of fluid at one wall of the annulus is equal to the rate of suction at the other wall and also we have considered only very small values of the cross flow velocity. The velocity profiles are drawn for different values ofn and for different gaps and the results are discussed in detail. The behaviour of the average flux, in different eases is also discussed.ZusammenfassungDas stationäre Strömen einer dem Potenzgesetz gehorchenden Flüssigkeit in Ringkanälen mit porösen Wänden wird untersucht. Die Lösung für die axiale Geschwindigkeitskomponente ergibt sich als eine Potenzreihe in der Form derReynolds-Zahl für die Querströmung, wobei der erste Term der Reihe die Lösung für den Fall eines Ringkanals mit undurchlässiger Wand ergibt. Die Querströmung ist dadurch beschränkt, daß die Injektionsgeschwindigkeit der Flüssigkeit an der einen Wand des Kanals genau so groß ist wie die Absaugungsgeschwindigkeit an der anderen Wand. Ebenso werden nur sehr kleine Werte der Querströmungsgeschwindigkeit untersucht. Die Geschwindigkeitsprofile werden für verschiedene Werte vonn und für verschiedene Spaltweiten angegeben. Die Ergebnisse werden ausführlich diskutiert. Ebenso wird das Verhalten der mittleren Strömung für die verschiedenen Fälle diskutiert.

Heat transfer to non-Newtonian fluids in laminar flow through concentric annuli with or without suction

In this paper we have investigated the heat transfer aspects of the flow of a power law fluid in an annulus with porous walls. The case of no suction (solid walls annulus) is also discussed in detail. The problem is studied under two types of thermal boundary conditions namely (I) when the walls are maintained at different constant temperatures and (II) when the walls are maintained at constant equal temperatures. The resulting integrals are evaluated numerically for different values of the flow behaviour index, n and radii ratio, β and the results are depicted in the graphs. The variation of Nusselt number at both the inner and outer walls of the annuii for different values of n and β is also evaluated. It is found that the parameter arising from the radii of the cylinders namely, the radii ratio plays a dominant role in the heat transfer phenomena.ZusammenfassungEs wurde der Wärmeübergang in einem Rohr mit porösen Wänden untersucht, das von einer Flüssigkeit durchströmt wird, deren Fließeigenschaften sich mittels eines Potenzgesetzes beschreiben lassen. Der Fall der Nichtabsaugung (undurchlässiges Rohr) wird ebenfalls ausführlich behandelt. Als Randbedingung wurden zwei Fälle untersucht. I. Die Wandungen befinden sich auf unterschiedlichen konstanten Temperaturen und II. sie haben gleiche konstante Temperaturen. Die erhaltenen Integrale wurden für verschiedene Werte des Exponenten n des Potenzgesetzes und des Radienverhältnisses numerisch ermittelt und graphisch dargestellt. Ebenso wird die Änderung der Nusselt-Zahl an der inneren und äußeren Rohrwandung für verschiedene Werte von n und ß abgeschätzt. Es zeigt sich, daß das Radienverhältnis von dominierendem Einfluß auf die Wärmeübertragungserscheinungen ist.