Peristaltic transport of a power-law fluid: Application to the ductus efferentes of the reproductive tract

Abstract

The problem of peristaltic transport of a non-Newtonian (power-law) fluid in uniform and non-uniform two-dimensional channels has been investigated under zero Reynolds number with long wavelength approximation. A comparison of the results with those for a Newtonian fluid model shows that the magnitude of pressure rise, under a given set of conditions, is smaller in the case of the non-Newtonian fluid (power-law indexn < 1) at zero flow rate. Further, the pressure rise is smaller asn decreases from 1 at zero flow rate, is independent ofn at a certain value of flow rate and becomes greater if flow rate increases further. Also, at a given flow rate, an increase in wavelength leads to a decrease in pressure rise and increase in the influence of non-Newtonian behaviour. Pressure rise in the case of non-uniform geometry, is found to be much smaller than the corresponding value in the case of uniform geometry. Finally, the analysis is applied and compared with observed flow rates in the ductus efferentes of the male reproductive tract.