Stratified flows of Newtonian and viscoelastic fluids (Q1117775)

Our previous work on stratified flows of Newtonian fluids [e.g.: the authors, Rheol. Acta 26, 401-413 (1987; Zbl 0631.76117)] is extended to include the case of viscoelastic/viscoelastic or viscoelastic/Newtonian stratified flow. The numerical method is based on the use of a recent mixed finite element for calculating viscoelastic flows at high values of the Weissenberg number, and on a coupled calculation of the interface coordinates and the stress, velocity and pressure fields. Newton- Raphson's iteration method is used throughout the algorithm. The method is applied to flows in T-joint geometries and over a step, for which experimental data are available. The qualitative agreement is good for both situations, but the quantitative agreement is poor for the step geometry. Strong kinematic deviations from the Newtonian situation are also shown to exist for flows through abrupt expansions and contractions where the outer Newtonian fluid acts as a lubricant.