Asymptotic analysis of the finite-cone-and-plate flow of a non-Newtonian fluid (Q1321585)

This is an extension of a previous work [\textit{D. O. Olagunju} and \textit{L. P. Cook}, J. Non-Newtonian Fluid Mech. 46, No. 1, 29-47 (1993; Zbl 0766.76002)] where the flow of a viscoelastic fluid between a rotating cone and a stationary plate was analyzed when the gap angle is small and the domain is assumed to be infinite. In the present work, the analysis is extended to the more practical situation where the dimensions of the cone and plate are finite, and the fluid is trapped by surface tension. Closed form expressions are obtained for the primary and weak secondary motions and for the deviation of the meniscus shape from a spherical surface. A condition is obtained for the velocity field to be bounded and continuous. It is shown that the secondary flow is made of either one or two toroidal vortices and that the meniscus has a bulge near the rotating cone and a trough near the stationary plate. The results seem to agree qualitatively with known experimental results.