Unsteady flow of a non-Newtonian fluid down an open inclined channel (Q1331241)

The authors investigate the flow of a Walters model \(B'\) fluid down an open inclined channel under gravity when a uniform tangential stress is applied at the free surface, and obtain analytical solutions. The special cases of constant, exponentially decreasing and periodic pressure gradients are then examined and some observations are made. The most important observation occurs in the case of constant pressure gradient. Here, unlike the Newtonian case, the flow is unsteady. This is a simple but interesting problem, solved using standard methods and presented in a paper that is readable.