Flow Through Fibre Networks - Effect of Fluid Rheology
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31265/rt9q0p57Abstract
Fluid flow in fibrous networks is crucial for many technical applications, such as wound care and hygiene products, as well as for tissue paper. The flow of Newtonian, low-viscous fluids like water is well studied, whereas the flow of viscoelastic fluids is less so. It is nevertheless highly important for the applications.
Model fluids could be used to determine the influence of important rheological properties such as viscosity, elasticity, and shear thinning on the flow. Fluids containing the same components can be tuned to have constant viscosity (Newtonian), constant viscosity but elastic (Boger), and shear thinning to determine the influence of each property on the flow. Initially, flow was determined in real time for Newtonian and shear-thinning fluids using light microscopy and X-ray radiography. The results showed a large influence of the fluid rheology on the flow through the fibre networks.
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