Womersley flow of generalized Newtonian liquid

Abstract

We show that in an infinite straight pipe of arbitrary (sufficiently smooth) cross-section, a generalized non-Newtonian liquid admits one and only one fully developed time-periodic flow (Womersley flow) when either the flow rate (problem 1) or the axial pressure gradient (problem 2) is prescribed in analogous time-periodic fashion. In addition, we show that the relevant solution depends continuously upon the data in appropriate norms. As is well known from the Newtonian counterpart of the problem, the latter is pivotal for the analysis of flow in a general unbounded pipe system with cylindrical outlets (Leray's problem). It is also worth remarking that problem 1 possesses an intrinsic interest from both mathematical and physical viewpoints, in that it constitutes a (nonlinear) inverse problem with a significant bearing on several applications, including blood flow modelling in large arteries.