Stability of Thixotropic Fluids in Pipe Flow

Turbulent pipe flow of shear-thinning fluids

Direct numerical simulation of the weakly turbulent flow of non-Newtonian fluids is undertaken for two different generalised Newtonian rheology models using a spectral element-Fourier method. Results for a power law (shear-thinning) rheology agree well with experimentally determined logarithmic layer correlations and with other previously published experimental work. As the flow index becomes s...

Stability analysis for two - phase pipe flow

Stability analysis of stratified two-phase liquid-gas flow in a horizontal pipe

This study aimed at linear stability analysis of the stratified two-phase liquid-gas flow in a horizontal pipe. First, equations governing the linear stability of flow in each phase and boundary conditions were obtained. The governing equations were eigenvalue Orr Sommerfeld equations which are difficult and stiff problems to solve. After obtaining the velocity profiles of the gas and liquid ph...

Stability of flow through a slowly diverging pipe

Although the critical Reynolds number for linear instability of the laminar flow in a straight pipe is infinite, we show that it is finite for a divergent pipe, and approaches infinity as the inverse of the divergence angle. The velocity profile at the threshold of inviscid stability is obtained. A non-parallel analysis yields linear instability at surprisingly low Reynolds numbers, of about 15...

Stability of steady flow through an axially corrugated pipe

The linear stability of steady flow in pipes with circular cross-section and sinusoidal axial variation in diameter is studied by finding global eigenmodes with axial wavelength commensurate with that of the wall corrugation, chosen to be equal to one pipe mean radius. The maximum peak-to-peak height of corrugation considered is approximately 8% of the mean diameter. At low corrugation amplitud...