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Mode-coupling approach to non-Newtonian Hele-Shaw flow

Magdalena Constantin·Michael Widom·Jose A. Miranda
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Abstract

The Saffman-Taylor viscous fingering problem is investigated for the displacement of a non-Newtonian fluid by a Newtonian one in a radial Hele-Shaw cell. We execute a mode-coupling approach to the problem and examine the morphology of the fluid-fluid interface in the weak shear limit. A differential equation describing the early nonlinear evolution of the interface modes is derived in detail. Owing to vorticity arising from our modified Darcy's law, we introduce a vector potential for the velocity in contrast to the conventional scalar potential. Our analytical results address how mode-coupling dynamics relates to tip-splitting and side branching in both shear thinning and shear thickening cases. The development of non-Newtonian interfacial patterns in rectangular Hele-Shaw cells is also analyzed.

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Magdalena Constantin, Michael Widom, Jose A. Miranda. 2002-12-19. Mode-coupling approach to non-Newtonian Hele-Shaw flow. https://doi.org/10.1103/physreve.67.026313

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