Further contributions on the flow past a stationary and confined cylinder: Creeping and slowly moving flow of Power law fluids

The steady flow of generalized Newtonian fluid around a stationary cylinder placed between two parallel plates was studied numerically. Finite volume method was applied to solve the momentum equations along with the continuity equation and the Power law rheological model within the laminar flow regime for a range of the Reynolds number Re and the Power law index n   values. The values of the Reynolds number, based on physical and rheological properties, cylinder radius and bulk velocity, were varied between 0.0001≤Re≤100.0001≤Re≤10, while the Power law index values mapped the 0.50≤n≤1.500.50≤n≤1.50 range, allowing for the investigation of both shear-thinning and shear-thickening effects at the creeping as well as slowly moving fluid flow conditions. We report accurate results of a systematic study with a focus on the most important characteristics of fluid flow past circular cylinder. It is shown that for the creeping flow regime there exist finite sized redevelopment length, drag and loss coefficient. Last but not least, the present numerical results indicate that the shear-thinning viscous behaviour decreases the onset of flow separation.

► Flow of shear thinning/thickening fluid past cylinder.
► The redevelopment length of the Power law fluids in the creeping flow limit is constant.
► At the creeping flow limit the pressure gradient is negative along cylinder surface.
► Normal stress variations exhibit two local maxima and one local minimum.
► Shear stress variations exhibit two minima and one maximum.