Non-newtonian fluids in shear

Newtonian Non-Newtonian
 independent of γ  is function of γ
(but function of T and P) (and also of T and P)

𝛔 𝝈

𝛔=𝛈×𝛄 𝛔=𝛈×𝛄

𝛄 𝛄

𝐥𝐨𝐠(𝜼) 𝐥𝐨𝐠(𝛈) Newton’s law still

valid for non-
Newtonian liquids

𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝛄 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝛄

Shear-thinning (or « pseudoplastic »)  decreases when γ increases

Shear-thickening (or « dilatant »):  increases when γ increases
 Industrial fluids with complex rheological behavior
//

Polymer melts:

Uncrosslinked polymers  in a range between 100 and 105 Pas

amorphous polymers at T> Tg
Very pronounced shear-thinning
or semi-crystalline polymers at T> Tf

Suspensions:

Cements, paints, inks, slurries, drilling muds  in a range between 10-3 and 102 Pas

Deformable particles: emulsions, blood Complex shear behavior

 The power-law model for the shear viscosity

Typical η γ curve of a polymer melt

Newtonian behavior at very low γ

« Power-law »

Shear-thinning at higher γ
Newtonian plateau
0: Newtonian viscosity
η0 ~Mw 3,4 if Mw>Mc
𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝛈

Power-law for 𝛈 𝛄
in a wide range of 𝛄

1: Characterization of molecular structure

2: Compression molding, thermoforming
3: Extrusion
4: Blow-molding, injection

𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝛄
Logarithmic scales
 Typical η γ curve of a concentrated suspensions
(around 50% volume fraction of solid phase)

Newtonian plateau or apparent

𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝛈

yield stress at very low γ

« Yield stress » Shear-thinning at higher γ

behavior

Shear-thickening at still higher γ

Again shear-thinning at very high γ

Newtonian Power-law for

behavior 𝛈 𝛄 in limited
ranges of 𝛄
𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝛄
 Remarks on the use of the power-law

log()
Power-law, only valid in a
given range of shear rates

log(γ)

The viscosity is always > 0 but the shear rate can be >0 or <0

log η = a × log γ + b «Power-law »

 By convention, the parameters of the power-law are n (flow index)
and K (consistency) such that:

log η = (𝐧 − 1) × log γ + log 𝐊 or: η= 𝐊× γ 𝐧−1

Hence an equivalent way to write out the power-law:

According to Newton’s law: n−1

σ=η×γ=K× γ ×γ

If the sign of 𝝈 and γ are known, using if σ and γ > 0, σ = K × γn

absolute values is not required:
if σ and γ < 0, σ = −K × −γ n
 𝐧−1
η=𝐊× γ

If n > 1, the exponent is > 0: Shear-thickening liquid

If n =1, the exponent is zero: =K=Cst Newtonian liquid

If n < 1, the exponent is < 0: Shear-thinning liquid

But in all 𝐧
cases: σ =𝐊× γ

The flow index is

Since 𝝈 always increases with 𝛾, n>0
always positive
Steady-state pressure-driven flow of a non-Newtonian liquid in a
horizontal cylindrical pipe

The expression of viscosity does not

appear in the momentum balance
𝝈(r)
Sum of forces on system = 0, projection on z-axis

PL − P0
− × πr 2 L + σ r × 2πrL = 0
z L
r
r PL − P0
σ r = ×
P P 2 L
0 L

The expression of shear stress is also valid for a

power-law fluid (or any non-Newtonian fluid)
 Velocity field and volume flow rate for a power-law fluid

Newton’s law still valid: 𝛔=𝛈×𝛄 but: η γ =K× γ n−1

≠ Cst

r PL − P0 dv
Integration of: σ r = × =K× γ n−1 ×γ with: γ =
2 L dr

n
To fix ideas, one assumes: r PL − P0 dv
=− −
2LK dr
PL − P0 < 0 γ < 0
Like in the figure: 1
dv PL − P0 n 1
=− − × rn
dr 2LK

1 1 1
With the boundary condition PL − P0 n R +1 − r +1
n n Integration
at the wall: v(R)=0
v(r) = − ×
2LK 1
n+1
 Pressure-driven flow of a non-Newtonian liquid in cylindrical pipes

Expression of the volume flow rate for a power-law fluid

1 1 1
R PL − P0 n Rn+1 − r n+1
q = v dA = v(r) × 2πrdr with: v(r) = − ×
2LK 1
A 0
n+1
1 1
n PL − P0 n R 1 1 n PL − P0 n 1 1 1
→ q = 2π − r × R +1
n − r +2
n dr = 2π − Rn+3 −
n+1 2LK n+1 2LK 2 1+3
0
n

Final result or the flow rate when: 𝐏𝐋 − 𝐏𝟎 < 𝟎 𝐪 > 𝟎

1 Particular case:
n PL − P0 n 1 if n=1 and K=
q=π − Rn+3  Newtonian fluid
3n + 1 2LK

πR4 PL − P0
q =−
8μ L
 Comparaison between mean velocity v and maximum velocity vmax

1
1 1 1
n PL − P0 n 1
PL − P0 n R +1
n − r +1
n
Since: v(r) = − × vmax = v(0) = − R +1
n
2LK 1 n+1 2LK
+1
n
1 1
Since: n PL − P0 n 1 q n PL − P0 n 1
q=π − Rn+3 v= = − Rn+1
3n + 1 2LK πR2 3n + 1 2LK

𝐯𝐦𝐚𝐱 𝟑𝐧 + 𝟏
⇒ =
𝐫 𝐯 𝐧+𝟏
𝐑 𝟏 𝟐

vmax
if n = 1 =2
v
vmax
if n → 0 →1
v
 Application to capillary rheometry

1
n ∆P n 1
For a power-law fluid: q =π Rn+3 (absolute
3n + 1 2LK values)

measured
unknown
Piston
1
Temperature It appears that: q ∝ ∆P n
transducer Sheath

Pressure
Test transducer The graph:
𝐥𝐨𝐠 ∆𝐏
fluid 
Capillary  Allows to
(cylindrical pipe or  n
rectangular slit  determine n
Test 
fluid
𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝐪

Then K is obtained from flow rate and pressure data

 Cone and plate rheometry

Ω The test fluid is placed between a fixed disc and

a cone rotating at constant angular velocity Ω
Rotating
cone Radius R

Angle Fluid The cone apex touches the center

 of the disc

Fixed disc In practice, the angle  is smaller than

(plate) in the figure (a few degrees)

Ω Rotating
cone
More realistic sectional view
Fluid

The fluid is sheared between the

Fixed rotating cone and the fixed disc
disc
 Cone and plate rheometry

Velocity field in the fluid

At the distance r from the
axis:
Rotating cone
𝐯𝛗 = 𝐫 × 𝛀
𝛑
−𝛃 𝐯𝛗 = 𝐫 × 𝛀 𝐫 × 𝐭𝐠 𝜷
𝟐

 𝐯𝛗 = 𝟎
Fixed disc

Shear rate:
Velocity at the Velocity
cone surface gradient in r×Ω 𝛀
Zero
the fluid γ= =
velocity at r × tg β 𝐭𝐠 𝛃
the disc
surface
γ uniform in the whole fluid
 Cone and plate rheometry

dS=2prdr Expression of the torque T:

Contribution to T of the fluid in contact with the disc

on the surface of area dS between radii r and r+dr:

Force
dT = σ × 2πrdr × r
Shear stress exerted Area
by the fluid on the Total torque T:
fixed disc
R R
T= σ× 2πr 2 dr = 2π η γ × γ × r 2 dr
0 0
𝛄 is uniform hence 𝛈 = 𝐟(𝛄) is uniform

Ω Ω R3
⇒ T = 2π × η γ = × ×
tg β tg β 3
 Parallel-plate rheometry

R The cone is replaced by a second

Rotating
parallel plane disc
disc
h
R: radii of the discs

Fixed h: distance (gap) between the discs

disc

at the distance r from the axis:

Shear rate:
Rotating disc
𝐯𝛉 = 𝐫 × 𝛀 𝐫×𝛀
γ=
𝐡 𝐡

𝐯𝛉 = 𝟎
Fixed
γ non uniform in the
disc fluid
 Concentric cylinder (Searle and Couette) rheometry

The outer cylinder rotates and the inner The outer cylinder is fixed and the inner
cylinder is fixed COUETTE viscometer cylinder rotates SEARLE viscometer

T
T
 Concentric cylinder (Searle) rheometry

The contribution to the torque of the

fluid sheared in the bottom of the
reservoir is not considerd

𝐑𝟎 ≤ 𝐫 ≤ 𝐑𝟏

How can the expression of the shear stress

at the radius r in the fluid, be obtained?
𝐇
𝝈 𝐫 ?

A simple expression as a function of the total torque

can be obtained in steady-state flow regime
 Concentric cylinder rheometry

Viscous friction force within the fluid on a surface

element dS normal to tthe radial direction

𝐝𝐟 = 𝛔 𝐫 × 𝐝𝐒

Moment of the corresponding torque :

𝐝𝐓 = 𝐫 × 𝛔 𝐫 × 𝐝𝐒

Integration on the cylindrical surface at radius r of length H

𝐓 = 𝐫 × 𝛔 𝐫 × 𝟐𝛑𝐫𝐇

Hence the expression of the stress:

𝐓
The stress is not constant in the gap 𝛔 𝐫 =
𝟐𝛑𝐫 𝟐 𝐇
It varies only slightly in a narrow gap
 Concentric cylinder rheometry

Correct expression of the vr = 0

shear rate for the symmetry vθ (r)
of the velocity field: vz = 0

𝐝𝐯𝛉 𝐯𝛉 𝐝 𝐯𝛉 𝐝
𝛄= − =𝐫 =𝐫 𝛚(𝐫)
𝐝𝐫 𝐫 𝐝𝐫 𝐫 𝐝𝐫

Solution for the velocity field for a Newtonian fluid:

d vθ σ r T 1
Integration of: γ r =r = = ×
dr r η 2πηH r 2

d vθ T 1 𝐯𝛉 𝐓 𝟏
= × 3 ⇒ = 𝐀− 𝟐
dr r 2πηH r 𝐫 𝟐𝛑𝛈𝐇 𝟐𝐫
 Concentric cylinder rheometry

Bondary condition at outer cylinder:

1
vθ R 1 = 0 ⇒ A =
2R1 2

T r 1
⇒ vθ (r) = −
4πηH R1 2 r

T R0 1
Boundary condition at vθ R 0 = ΩR 0 ⇒ ΩR 0 = −
inner cylinder: 4πηH R1 2 R 0

Rearranging, the viscosity 𝐑𝟎𝟐 − 𝐑𝟏𝟐

𝐓 Only valid for a
is obtained as a function 𝛈=
of the torque: 𝟒𝛑𝐇𝛀 𝐑 𝟎 𝟐 𝐑 𝟏 𝟐 Newtonian fluid !
 Concentric cylinder rheometry

A particular case:
« Brookfield » type viscometer
(a single cylinder immersed in a large volume of fluid)

T R 0 2 − R1 2 T
R1 ≫ R 0 ⇒ μ = =
4πHΩ R 0 2 R1 2 4πHΩR 0 2

This method to measure the viscosity is only valid for Newtonian fluids !
 Concentric cylinder rheometry

R1 + R 0
The narrow gap approximation: if ∆R = R1 − R 0 ≪ R mean =
2

T T
then σ r = ≅ 2 = Cst
2πr 2 H 2πR mean H

d vθ ∆ω ΩR mean
γ r =r ≅ R mean = = Cst
dr r ∆R ∆R

Stress ans strain rate are then almost constant in the gap:

Expression of the viscosity for an

𝛀𝐑 𝐦 ∆𝐑 𝐓
then: 𝛈 𝛄= = ×
any fluid (Newtonian or not) ∆𝐑 𝟑
𝟐𝛑𝐑 𝐦 𝐇 𝛀
 Main geometries of viscosimeters/rheometers

UBBELOHDE