Stability of yield stress fluid flows, Part 1

Abstract

<h2>Abstract</h2> Yield stress fluids are idealized simple models (e.g., Bingham, Casson, Herschel-Bulkley), describing fluids for which there is no deformation wherever the deviatoric stress lies below the yield stress. This simple rheological change results in hydrodynamic stability features that are quite different from those of purely viscous fluids. We can classify the flows into those that have a non-zero base flow <b>U</b>, and those for which <b>U</b> = 0. Unlike purely viscous fluids, flows with <b>U</b> = 0 have meaningful applications beyond hydrostatics. It is these flows that we explore here, focusing on general features of stability, control and determining the critical limits.