COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS MODELLING OF ELECTRO-STRUCTURED FLOWS

The use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software for modelling the flow of electro-structured fluids is introduced. A non-Newtonian fluids package written specifically to model Bingham plastics is validated for several flow rates between stationary parallel plates for varying yield stresses, plate separations and lengths. The computing procedure is rationalised in terms of grid fitting of the 'plug' edge. The programme is modified to include an analytical expression which relates delectro-rheological fluid parameters. This approach is then used to predict valve flow rates from small sample, Couette viscometer produced data: its output compares with experimental results.