Unsteady, laminar flows of non-Newtonian fluids in pipes

Abstract

Velocity profiles for unsteady laminar flows of power law non-Newtonian fluids in pipes have been derived using an explicit finite difference technique. Three unsteady flows have been considered, viz. 1. The transient start-up following the sudden imposition of a constant pressure gradient to a fluid at rest. 2. Oscillatory flow following the imposition of a sinusoidally varying pressure gradient with a zero mean value. 3. Pulsating flow following the imposition of a sinusoidally varying pressure gradient with a non-zero mean. The effects of the major parameters which influence these flows are demonstrated.