Rheological behaviour effect of non-Newtonian fluids on dynamic of moving interface in porous media (Q795672)

The flow of two immiscibles fluids, separated by an interface, through a porous medium is considered. A practical example is the displacement of oil by water in underground reservoires. The kinematics are simplified by restrictive assumptions. Only linear or plane radial flow problems are considered. When the two fluids are non-Newtonian of Bingham type a modified Darcy's law is derived. Some problems of steady flow are discussed in comparison with Newton fluids. Applying another modified Darcy's law which is obtained for power-law compressible fluids with a yield stress also the dynamic of the moving interface in unsteady linear flow is investigated in a simplified manner. A criterion for the interface stability is derived from this simplified theory.