FINITE ELEMENT SIMULATION OF MICROPOLAR FLUID FLOW IN THE LID-DRIVEN SQUARE CAVITY

Abstract

The micropolar fluid theory augments the laws of classical continuum mechanics by incorporating the effects of fluid molecules on the continuum. So, the micropolar theory has been able to explain many phenomena at micro and nano scales. In this paper, a finite element formulation for the numerical analysis of micropolar laminar fluid flow is developed. In order to validate the results of the FE formulation, analytical solution of the Poiseuille flow of micropolar fluid in a microchannel is presented, and an excellent agreement between the results of the analytical solution and those of the FE formulation is observed. It is shown that the micropolar viscosity and the length scale parameter have significant roles on changing the flow characteristics. Then, the behavior of an incompressible viscous fluid flow in a lid-driven square cavity is investigated. The obtained results are compared to the results reported in the literature, and an excellent agreement is observed.