Perturbation theory for viscoelastic fluids between eccentric rotating cylinders (Q799417)

For all Deborah numbers singular perturbation methods are used to derive expansions valid for small gaps between eccentric cylinders with the inner one rotating (journal bearing). Besides the Newtonian, the following four viscoelastic models are investigated: second-order fluids, Criminale-Ericksen-Filbey, upper-convected Maxwell, and White-Metzner, with zero secondary normal stress coefficient. This problem provides a test case for studying different viscoelastic constitutive equations; it is concluded that steep stress gradients are built in the constitutive equations which separate the effects of elasticity, memory and shear thinning on the development of velocity and stress fields, profiles of which are compared for the four models by plotting the first-order corrections. Torque and loads are calculated, and the effect of the constitutive equation on critical Deborah number for flow separation is presented for each model.