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A non-Newtonian fluid is a fluid that does not follow Newton's law of viscosity, i.e., constant viscosity
independent of stress. In non-Newtonian fluids, viscosity can change when under force to either more
liquid or more solid. Ketchup, for example, becomes runnier when shaken and is thus a non-Newtonian
fluid. Many salt solutions and molten polymers are non-Newtonian fluids, as are many commonly found
substances such as custard,[1] honey,[1] toothpaste, starch suspensions, corn starch, paint, blood, and
shampoo.
Most commonly, the viscosity (the gradual deformation by shear or tensile stresses) of non-Newtonian
fluids is dependent on shear rate or shear rate history. Some non-Newtonian fluids with shear-
independent viscosity, however, still exhibit normal stress-differences or other non-Newtonian behavior.
In a Newtonian fluid, the relation between the shear stress and the shear rate is linear, passing through the
origin, the constant of proportionality being the coefficient of viscosity. In a non-Newtonian fluid, the
relation between the shear stress and the shear rate is different. The fluid can even exhibit time-dependent
viscosity. Therefore, a constant coefficient of viscosity cannot be defined.
Although the concept of viscosity is commonly used in fluid mechanics to characterize the shear
properties of a fluid, it can be inadequate to describe non-Newtonian fluids. They are best studied
through several other rheological properties that relate stress and strain rate tensors under many different
flow conditions—such as oscillatory shear or extensional flow—which are measured using different
devices or rheometers. The properties are better studied using tensor-valued constitutive equations, which
are common in the field of continuum mechanics.
Contents
Types of non-Newtonian behaviour
Summary
Shear thickening fluid
Shear thinning fluid
Bingham plastic
Rheopectic or anti-thixotropic
Examples
"Oobleck"
Flubber (slime)
Chilled caramel topping
Silly Putty
Plant resin
Ketchup
Dry granular flows
See also
References
External links
Types of non-Newtonian behaviour
Summary
Another example of a shear thinning fluid is blood. This application is highly favoured within the body,
as it allows the viscosity of blood to decrease with increased shear strain rate.
Bingham plastic
Fluids that have a linear shear stress/shear strain relationship
require a finite yield stress before they begin to flow (the plot of
shear stress against shear strain does not pass through the origin).
These fluids are called Bingham plastics. Several examples are
clay suspensions, drilling mud, toothpaste, mayonnaise,
chocolate, and mustard. The surface of a Bingham plastic can
hold peaks when it is still. By contrast Newtonian fluids have flat
featureless surfaces when still.
Paint is a non-newtonian fluid. A flat
surface covered with white paint is
oriented vertically (before taking the Rheopectic or anti-thixotropic
picture the flat surface was
There are also fluids whose strain rate is a function of time.
horizontal, placed on a table). The
fluid starts dripping down the surface
Fluids that require a gradually increasing shear stress to maintain
but, because of its non-newtonian a constant strain rate are referred to as rheopectic. An opposite
nature, it is subjected to stress due to case of this is a fluid that thins out with time and requires a
the gravitational acceleration. decreasing stress to maintain a constant strain rate (thixotropic).
Therefore, instead of slipping along
the surface, it forms very large and
very dense drop with limited dripping. Examples
Many common substances exhibit non-Newtonian flows. These
include:[6]
"Oobleck"
An inexpensive, non-toxic example of a non-Newtonian fluid is a
suspension of starch (e.g., cornstarch) in water, sometimes called
"oobleck", "ooze", or "magic mud" (1 part of water to 1.5–2 parts
of corn starch).[8][9][10] The name "oobleck" is derived from the
Dr. Seuss book Bartholomew and the Oobleck.[8]
Silly Putty
Silly Putty is a silicone polymer based suspension which will flow, bounce, or break depending on strain
rate.
Plant resin
Plant resin is a viscoelastic solid polymer. When left in a container, it will flow slowly as a liquid to
conform to the contours of its container. If struck with greater force, however, it will shatter as a solid.
Ketchup
Ketchup is a shear thinning fluid.[3][13] Shear thinning means that the fluid viscosity decreases with
increasing shear stress. In other words, fluid motion is initially difficult at slow rates of deformation, but
will flow more freely at high rates.
See also
Bingham plastic
Caramel
Complex fluid
Dilatant
Dissipative particle dynamics
Generalized Newtonian fluid
Herschel–Bulkley fluid
Navier–Stokes equations
Newtonian fluid
Pseudoplastic
Quicksand
Rheology
Superfluids
Thixotropy
Weissenberg effect
References
1. Ouellette, Jennifer (2013). "An-Ti-Ci-Pa-Tion: The Physics of Dripping Honey" (https://blogs.
scientificamerican.com/cocktail-party-physics/an-ti-ci-pa-tion-the-physics-of-dripping-hone
y/). Scientific American.
2. Tropea, Cameron; Yarin, Alexander L.; Foss, John F. (2007). Springer handbook of
experimental fluid mechanics (https://books.google.com/books?id=y0xDUAdQAlkC&lpg=PA
669&dq=thixotropic&pg=PA667#v=onepage&q=thixotropic&f=false). Springer. pp. 661, 676.
ISBN 978-3-540-25141-5.
3. Garay, Paul N. (1996). Pump Application Desk Book (https://books.google.com/books?id=p
ww5cxwitHAC&lpg=PP1&dq=0881732311&pg=PA359#v=snippet&q=thixotropic&f=false)
(3rd ed.). Prentice Hall. p. 358. ISBN 978-0-88173-231-3.
4. Rao, M. A. (2007). Rheology of Fluid and Semisolid Foods: Principles and Applications (http
s://books.google.com/books?id=BLlmimePW18C&lpg=PA33&dq=shear%20thinning&pg=PA
8#v=snippet&q=%22shear%20thinning%22&f=false) (2nd ed.). Springer. p. 8. ISBN 978-0-
387-70929-1.
5. Schramm, Laurier L. (2005). Emulsions, Foams, and Suspensions: Fundamentals and
Applications (https://books.google.com/books?id=qFi61f1NqNIC&lpg=PA173&dq=pseudopl
astic&pg=PA173#v=onepage&q=pseudoplastic&f=false). Wiley VCH. p. 173. ISBN 978-3-
527-30743-2.
6. Chhabra, R.P. (2006). Bubbles, Drops, and Particles in Non-Newtonian Fluids (2nd ed.).
Hoboken: Taylor & Francis Ltd. pp. 9–10. ISBN 978-1420015386.
7. This demonstration of oobleck is a popular subject for YouTube videos.
8. Oobleck: The Dr. Seuss Science Experiment (http://www.instructables.com/id/Oobleck/)
9. "Outrageous Ooze" (http://www.exploratorium.edu/science_explorer/ooze.html).
Exploratorium.
10. Rupp, Rebecca. "Magic Mud and Other Great Experiments" (https://books.google.com/book
s?id=v4qow8T1qsYC&pg=PA235). The Complete Home Learning Source Book. pp. 235–
236.
11. Glurch Meets Oobleck (http://www.extension.iastate.edu/e-set/science_is_here/glurch.html)
Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20100706182730/http://www.extension.iastate.edu/e-
set/science_is_here/glurch.html) 6 July 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Iowa State
University Extension.
12. Barra, Giuseppina (2004). The Rheology of Caramel (http://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/11837)
(PhD). University of Nottingham.
13. Cartwright, Jon (2 September 2011). "Microscopy reveals why ketchup squirts" (http://www.r
sc.org/chemistryworld/News/2011/September/02091103.asp). Chemistry World. Royal
Society of Chemistry.
External links
Classical experiments with Non-Newtonian fluids by the National Committee for Fluid
Mechanics (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ol6bBB3zuGc) on YouTube
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