Transition flow of a fibrous suspension in a pipe as the flow of an anisotropic fluid

Abstract

The transition flow is considered of a fibrous suspension in a pipe. The flow region consists of two subregions: at the center of the flow a plug formed by interwoven fibers and fluid moves as a rigid body; between the solid wall and the plug is a boundary layer in which the suspension is a mixture of the liquid phase and fibers separated from the plug [1–3]. In the boundary region the suspension is simulated as an anisotropic Ericksen—Leslie fluid [4, 5] which satisfies certain additional conditions. Equations are obtained for the velocity profile and drag coefficient of the pipe, which are both qualitatively and quantitatively in good agreement with the experimental results [6–8]. Within the framework of the model, a mechanism is found for reducing the drag in the flow of a fibrous suspension as compared to the drag of its liquid phase.