Topological Characteristics of Obstacles and Nonlinear Rheological Fluid Flow in Presence of Insulated Fins: a Fluid Force Reduction Study

Abstract

In this work, a comprehensive study of fluid forces and thermal analysis of two-dimensional, laminar, and incompressible complex (power law, Bingham, and Herschel-Bulkley) fluid flow over a topological cross-sectional cylinder (square, hexagon, and circle) in channel have been computationally done by using finite element technique. The characteristics of nonlinear flow for varying ranges of power law index (0.4 <= n <= 1.6), Bingham number (0 <= Bn <= 50), Prandtl number (0.7 <= Pr <= 10), Reynolds number (10 <= Re <= 50), and Grashof number (1 <= Gr <= 10) have been examined. Considerable evaluation for thermal flow field in the form of dimensionless velocity profile, isotherms, drag and lift coefficients, and average Nusselt number (Nu(avg)) is done. Also, for a range of Bn, the drag forces reduction is observed for circular and hexagonal obstacles in comparison with the square cylinder. At Bn = 0 corresponding to Newtonian fluid, maximum reduction in drag force is reported.