Parametric study on the three-dimensional distribution of velocity of a FENE-CR fluid flow through a curved channel

Abstract

In order to better understand the three-dimensional non-Newtonian flow in an 180 degrees curved duct of square cross-section, simulations were carried out considering an incompressible viscoelastic fluid, which follows the non-linear FENE-CR model, having constant shear viscosity. A fully implicit finite-volume method was used for the solution of the governing equations. Numerical simulations were performed for different Reynolds and Weissenberg numbers, and by varying the model parameters, namely the retardation ratio (beta) and the extensibility (L-2). The aim was to analyse the development and distribution of velocity field in the cross-sections along the curved channel and as a consequence to understand the variation of maximum velocity with these parameters. The results reveal complex changes with increasing extensibility and decreasing retardation parameter, which are associated to transition from one to two pairs of vortices in the secondary flow. Comparison with the literature confirms and reveals that the absence of shear-thinning delays this transition.