Non-isothermal flow of a polymeric liquid through rounded L-channels

The non-isothermal creeping flow of nylon-6 in L-channels with rounded corner has been studied numerically. A differential-type, non-isothermal White-Metzner constitutive equation is used for this flow simulation. Computational results were obtained by the elastic-viscous split-stress (EVSS) finite element method, incorporating the streamline-upwind Petrov-Galerkin (SUPG) scheme. The generated thermal field is entirely due to viscous heating. Essential flow characteristics, including temperature distribution in the flow field, are predicted. The resulting local Nusselt numbers along the walls and dimensionless bulk temperature along the channel are predicted. Furthermore, the effects of flow-rate, temperature-thinning, and geometry are investigated. In the curved elbow, the local heat transfer coefficient is higher along the outer wall than along the inner, and the difference is more significant for higher flow-rate. The local Nusselt number and bulk temperature distributions increase with flow-rate, but decrease with fluid temperature-thinning. The effect of elbow radius on these two values is only significant in the curved elbow. (C) 2003 IoM Communications Ltd. Published by Maney for the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining.