Flows of Dense Suspensions of Polymer Particles through Oblique Bifurcating Channels: Two Continua Approach

Abstract

A two-velocity mathematical model is proposed for dense suspension flows through channel bifurcations. Equations agree with thermodynamic laws and they are suitable for both heavy and light particles. The pulsatile mode of injection of particles is considered. In the 2D-case, we address the issue of partitioning particles and study how a loss of particles into the side branch depends on the bifurcation angle. A qualitative agreement with experiment data are established. We capture the Zweifach–Fung effect. We treat polymer particles as a phase enjoying the rheology of the Bingham viscoplastic material. We prove that the polymer particle distribution between two branches correlates with the averaged-in-time Bingham number in these branches.