Shear-thinning: A stabilising effect? Yes, no, maybe?

Add to your list(s) Download to your calendar using vCal

• Paul Griffiths, University of Coventry
• Friday 02 February 2018, 12:00-13:00
• Civil and Mechanical Engineering G26.

If you have a question about this talk, please contact Meurig Gallagher.

In this talk we will investigate how viscosity effects the stability of a fluid flow. By assuming a shear-thinning viscosity relationship, where an increase in shear-rate results in a decrease in fluid viscosity, we show that flows can be interpreted as being either stabilised or destabilised, depending on the definition of the Reynolds number. Using a two-dimensional boundary-layer flow as our ‘toy model’ we are able to show equivalence between different shear-thinning models. The effect shear-thinning has on important parameters such as the critical Reynolds number and the maximum frequency of the disturbances will be discussed and interpreted in the wider context. Furthermore, to gain an insight into the underlying physical mechanisms affecting the destabilisation of the disturbances, an integral energy equation is derived and energy calculations are presented.

This talk is part of the Applied Mathematics Seminar Series series.

This talk is included in these lists:

• Applied Mathematics Seminar Series
• Civil and Mechanical Engineering G26
• School of Mathematics Events

Note that ex-directory lists are not shown.