Fingering instability in non-Newtonian fluids during squeeze flow in a Hele-Shaw cell

Instability at the interface separating different fluids, may develop under different conditions, leading to increased roughness of the boundary. A difference in viscosity of the fluids is usually responsible for viscous fingering, this occurs when the pressure on the low viscosity side is higher. W...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Indian journal of physics 2015-05, Vol.89 (5), p.471-477
Main Authors: Dutta Choudhury, M, Tarafdar, S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Astrophysics and Astroparticles
Boundaries
Boundary layer
Fluid dynamics
Fluid flow
Fluid mechanics
Fluids
Instability
Non Newtonian fluids
Original Paper
Physics
Physics and Astronomy
Stability
Viscosity
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Summary:Instability at the interface separating different fluids, may develop under different conditions, leading to increased roughness of the boundary. A difference in viscosity of the fluids is usually responsible for viscous fingering, this occurs when the pressure on the low viscosity side is higher. We report here a reverse effect when a non-Newtonian fluid is squeezed between two plane surfaces by applying a force. We observe that a wave-like irregularity develops on the interface, though the viscosity of the air surrounding the fluid is negligible compared to the apparent viscosity of the thick potato starch gel under study. Development of the wavelength of the undulations as a function of the fluid composition and other factors is studied. We suggest a qualitative explanation for this effect, which is observed only in non-Newtonian fluids.
ISSN:0973-1458
0974-9845
DOI:10.1007/s12648-014-0606-3