Peristaltic Transport of Two-Layered Power-Law Fluids

Abstract

Peristaltic transport of two-layered power-law fluids in axisymmetric tubes is studied. Use of the power-law fluid model permits independent choice of shear thinning, shear thickening, or Newtonian fluids for the core and the peripheral layer. The interface between the two layers is determined from a transcendental equation in the core radius. The variation of the time-mean flow Q̄ with the pressure rise or drop over one wavelength Δp is studied. It is observed that a negative time-mean flow is achieved under free pumping (Δp = 0) for the wave forms considered here if one of the peripheral layer and core fluids is non-Newtonian. The rheology of the peripheral layer fluid is a dominant factor in producing a negative or positive mean flow. It is noticed that a sinusoidal wave always yields a positive mean flow for powerlaw fluids. The trapped bolus volume for sinusoidal peristaltic wave is observed to decrease with an increase in the rate of shear thinning of the core and the peripheral layer fluids.