Modeling of non-Newtonian fluid flows in porous textile structures under RTM technologies

Abstract

Abstract In this paper, the investigation is devoted to the application of homogenization methods to the transport theory of non-Newtonian shear-thinning fluids in porous fabric structures. Mathematical model is proposed for describing the local transfer of non-Newtonian shear-thinning fluid over a periodic cell, and the symmetry of the microstructure and periodic boundary conditions are used to significantly reduce the complexity of the problem and the computational burden. Solving local problems allows us to find accurate local distributions of velocities, pressure and viscosity inside a separate pore, and also to evaluate the permeability of the porous medium and the effective viscosity of the fluid when only the geometry of the pore is known. Finally, the numerical results for the local transport of pseudoplastic fluid in porous media are given.