Instabilities in Viscoelastic Flows

Department Of Chemical Engineering

Indian Institute Of Technology, Delhi
By
Salman Khan
2011CH10112
Introduction
Problem Statement:








A Polymeric fluid flows through the narrow annular region solely by the
drag due to the motion of the wire (and is referred to as 'axial annular
Couette flow'). Neglect end effects and assume an isothermal system.

Finds extensive applications in optical fiber coating , structural fibers ,
enforced composites, manufacture of glass, polymeric fiber and
conducting cables or textile fibres fiber insulation, thermoplastic materials
etc.

Annular Flow with the inner cylinder moving axially [Source: BSL(2002)]



Literature review
Literature suggests that for the Newtonian fluid case, the velocity profile
in the annular region is always stable (linear stability theory).

For viscoelastic fluids, due to time-dependent stresses, the steady-profile
may become unstable to small amplitude perturbations and undergo an
instability.

In polymer processing, various instabilities are observed in experiments
leading to defects in the final product.

Instabilities can be explained using linear stability theory.






Scaling (non-dimensionalization)
v V t

Mathematical Formulation
Fluid flow in wire coating die.


Continuity: = 0

Momentum balance: Re

+ = p +

Constitutive equation (Upper Convected Maxwell (UCM) Model):
De

+ = +

where De is Deborah no. given by

and
0 Newtonian fluid
0 Viscoelastic effects (generally >1)
is Very important parameter which decides the viscoelasticity
quantitatively (Its a measure of viscoelastic ).



Dimensionless equations:
Solution for base state
steady state fully developed flow in z direction

=
ln
ln

= 0 and

= 2

First normal stress difference,
1
=

0
but for Newtonian it is always zero.
N
1
may cause flow instability.

= 1
=
Linear stability analysis
, , =

()
(+)

where = [
,

,
,

and is wave no. of the perturbation wave = 2/.
s is perturbation growth rate which is complex valued i.e
S =

< 0 Stable

< 0 Unstable

= 0 Neutral
Base flow + Perturbation superposition:
Procedure
Now after finding the base state variables, an axis symmetric
perturbations are imposed on the base state , which is a function of
radial, axial coordinate and time. These solutions are used to
perform linear stability analysis.

, , =

()
(+)

where = [
,

,
,

Formulating the governing equations of mass, momentum and find
their solution using numerical methods .


Results

After imposing axisymmetric perturbations on the base state and
simultaneously solving these six equations in Mathematica, finally
we get a forth order ODE in

with B.C.s given below.

4

4
+
3

3
+
2

2
+
1

+
0
= 0

Boundary conditions:
at =

= 0 and

= 0
and same at = i.e.

= 0 and

= 0

Coefficients

s are variable means function of r, hence ODE to be

solved numerically



The main objective of this project is to find out the critical velocity
that decides the stability of the system. Since any hydrodynamic
instability during the shear flow, generates oscillations in the
coating layer thickness which is undesirable.

Since the 4
th
order ODE with variable coefficients cannot be solved
analytically. So we need to use Numerical techniques like Runge-
kutta methods (RK4 ) , finite element difference etc.

Finally ,we want to plot De v/s

to find critical shear rate or

velocity which decides the onset of instability (when

=0).
Future plan
To find out, the liner growth rate which is calculated from linearized
perturbation governing equations.

The dynamical equations for perturbations will be solved numerically
using FORTRAN programming to obtain the growth rate as eigenvalue of
the problem.

Further the role of fluid elasticity will be examined.
References:

Bird, R. B., Stewart, W. E., & Lightfoot, E. N. (2002). Transport
phenomena (2nd ed.). New York: J. Wiley.

Larson, R. G. (1992). Instabilities in viscoelastic flows. Rheologica
Acta, 31, 213-263.

Olsson, F., & Ystrm, J. (1993). Some properties of the Upper Convected
Maxwell model for viscoelastic fluid flow. Journal of Non-newtonian Fluid
Mechanics, 48, 125-145.

Gonzalex, A. G., Diez, J. A., Gratton, R., Campana, D. M., & Saita, F. A.
(2010). Instability of a viscous liquid coating a cylindrical fibre. Journal of
Fluid Mechanics, 651, 117-143.