On the converging flow of viscoelastic fluids through cones and wedges (Q1058900)

Solutions to the slow flow of viscoelastic fluids through converging cones and wedges are obtained by using a new approximation method which involves division of the fluid medium into two district regions by a streamline interface such that one region represents an inner irrotational sink flow occupying most of the flow field and the other an outer highly sheared self-lubricating layer adjacent to the wall. Different constitutive equations are used for the two regions, and the interface provides an extra kinematic condition on the flow which is sufficient to determine a unique solution. This two-fluid (or two-zone) method is applied to an example of a die-entry flow into a short- capillary in polymer processing.