Non-Newtonian Fluids

Non-Newtonian Flow
Goals
Describe key differences between a Newtonian
and non-Newtonian fluid
Identify examples of Bingham plastics (BP) and
power law (PL) fluids
Write basic equations describing shear stress
and velocities of non-Newtonian fluids
Calculate frictional losses in a non-Newtonian
flow system
Non-Newtonian Fluids
Newtonian Fluid
dr
du
z
rz
t =
Non-Newtonian Fluid
dr
du
z
rz
q t =
is the apparent viscosity and is not constant for
non-Newtonian fluids.
- Apparent Viscosity
The shear rate dependence of categorizes
non-Newtonian fluids into several types.
Power Law Fluids:
Pseudoplastic (viscosity) decreases as shear rate
increases (shear rate thinning)
Dilatant (viscosity) increases as shear rate increases
(shear rate thickening)
Bingham Plastics:
depends on a critical shear stress (t
0
) and then
becomes constant

Non-Newtonian Fluids
Newtonian
Bingham Plastic:
Pseudoplastic:
Dilatant:
sludge, paint, blood, ketchup
latex, paper pulp, clay solns.
quicksand
Modeling Power Law Fluids
Oswald - de Waele
|
.
|

\
|

(
(

|
.
|

\
|
=
|
.
|

\
|
=

dr
du
dr
du
K
dr
du
K
z
n
z
n
z
rz
1
t
where:
K = flow consistency index
n = flow behavior index
Note: Most non-Newtonian fluids are pseudoplastic n<1.
eff

Modeling Bingham Plastics

0
t t <
rz
0 =
dr
du
z
Rigid
0
t t >
rz
0
t t =

dr
du
z
rz
Frictional Losses
Non-Newtonian Fluids
Recall:
2
4
2
V
D
L
f h
f
=
Applies to any type of fluid under any flow conditions
Laminar Flow
Mechanical Energy Balance
W h z g
V p
f

2
2
= + A +
A
+
A o

0 0 0
MEB (contd)
Combining:
|
|
.
|

\
|
A

|
.
|

\
|
=

p
V L
D
f
2
2
4
1
Momentum Balance
( )
g w
F F S p S p V V m =
2 2 1 1 1 1 2 2
| |

0
0
( ) p r rL
rz
A =
2
2 t t t
rz
r
L
p t 2 = A
Power Law Fluid
n
z
rz
dr
du
K
|
.
|

\
|
= t
n
n
z
r
KL
p
dr
du
1
1
2
1
|
.
|

\
|
A
=
R r = 0 =
z
u
Boundary Condition
Velocity Profile of Power Law Fluid
Circular Conduit

(

|
.
|

\
|
+
|
.
|

\
|
A
=
+ +
n
n
n
n
n
z
r R
n
n
KL
p
u
1 1
1
1 2
1
Upon Integration and Applying BC
Power Law (contd)
Need bulk average velocity
( )
} }
= = dr ru
R
dS u
S
V
z
S
t
t
2
1 1
2
n
n
n
R
n
n
KL
p
V
1
1
1 3 2
1
+
|
.
|

\
|
+
(

A
=
1
2
1 3
2
+
+
|
.
|

\
|
+
= A
n
n
n
n
D
V LK
n
n
p

p
V L
D
f
A
|
.
|

\
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
2
2
4
1
Power LawResults
Hagen-Poiseuille for Power Law Fluid
Recall
Laminar Friction Factor
Power Law Fluid

n n
n
n
D V
K
n
n
f

+
|
.
|

\
|
+
=
2
1
1 3
2
Define a Power Law Reynolds Number
K
D V
n
n
Re
n n
n
n
PL

|
.
|

\
|
+
=
2
3
1 3
2
PL
Re
f
16
=
Turbulent Flow
( )( )
( )
2
,
1 3 3
3 5 2 4
2100 Re
+
+ +
=
n
n n
critical PL
Example
A concentrated suspension flows through 75 m of 3 cm
ID pipe at a bulk velocity of 5 cm/sec. From rheological
data, it is determined that the fluid has a power law
behavior with n=2 and an apparent viscosity of 18 poise
at a shear rate of 10/sec. Find the pressure drop in the
pipe.
Bingham Plastics
Bingham plastics exhibit
Newtonian behavior after
the shear stress exceeds
t
o
. For flow in circular
conduits Bingham
plastics behave in an
interesting fashion.
Bingham Plastics
Unsheared Core
c
r r s ( )
2
0
2
c
c
c z
r R
r
u u = =

t
c
r r >
( )
(

|
.
|

\
|
+

0
1
2
t
t
R
r r R
u
rz
z
Sheared Annular Region
Bingham Plastic Friction Factor
( )
(

+ =
7
3
4
Re 3
Re 6
1
Re
16
BP
BP BP
f
He He
f
2
0
2

t D
He

V D
BP
Re
Hedstrom Number
(Non-linear)
Turbulent Bingham Plastic Flow
( )
He x
BP
a
e a
f
5
10 9 . 2
193 . 0
146 . 0 1 378 . 1
Re 10

+ =
=