RheoI.
Acta 11, 170-178 (1972) I
From the Department o/Applied Mathematics, Indian Institute o/Science, Bangalore (India)
Peristaltic m o t i o n o f a n o n - N e w t o n i a n fluid
By K. K. Ra]u and R. D e v a n a t h a n
With 7 figures and 4 tables
1. Introduction
Peristaltic motion is of very frequent occurrence in
physiological flows; particularly, peristaltic pumping is
often used in medical instruments such as the heart
lung machine, as well as occurring naturally in ureters
etc. Many authors have investigated the oscillatory
flow problems in tubes considering the pressure gradient
to v a r y exponentially. B u t it is known t h a t the physio-
logical flows are not only maintained by pressure
gradient, b u t are supported b y the motion of the
boundaries. I n order to study such flows in detail
several investigations have been carried out represent-
ing t h e physiological passages as elastic tubes. Skalak
(1) a n d Rudinger (2) have reviewed different mathe-
matical methods t h a t are made use of to u n d e r s t a n d
these problems.
The theoretical approach for studying peristaltic
motion has been investigated b y Shapiro (3) for the
case of two-dimensional channel and b y Shapiro,
Jaffrin, and Weinberg (4) for a n axisymmetric tube.
Shapiro and Latham (5) have given some experimental
results which m a y be compared with the theoretical
predictions. Later, Burns and Parkes (6) have discussed
the peristaltic motion in b o t h two-dimensional and
axisymmetric cases under the assumption of small
Reynolds n u m b e r and linearised b o u n d a r y conditions.
Fung a n d Yih (7) have studied the two-dimensional
problem of peristaltic waves when the flow is induced
b y a sinusoidal travelling wave motion of the walls of
the tube a t moderate amplitudes. Later, Yin and Fung
(8) extended this analysis to axisymmetric flow in a
circular cylindrical tube. A perturbation method of
solutions in terms of the wave amplitude to tube radius
is considered taking the nonlinear convective terms.
Recently Chow (9) has also discussed the peristaltic
t r a n s p o r t in a circular cylindrical pipe. The solution
for t h e axisymmetric case is obtained in the form of a
power series expansion when the Reynolds n u m b e r is
small. Also the solutions are presented when the radius
of the pipe to wave amplitude ratio is very small.
Though all these investigations aim a t understanding
the details of blood flow problems, the mathematical
complications restrict these theoretical approaches,
and consequently approximate theories only can be
developed. I t m a y be mentioned t h a t all these above
investigations (1-9) on peristaltic motion have been
carried out b y assuming the blood a n d other physio-
logical fluids to behave like Newtonian fluids. B u t so
far no a t t e m p t has been made to u n d e r s t a n d the prob-
lem for a non-Newtonian fluid. As an initiating approach
to u n d e r s t a n d these problems, in a n earlier investigation
(10) we considered the steady motion of a power law
fluid in a rigid tube with a sinusoidal deformation at the
boundary. The amplitude of the deformation is assumed
to be small a n d t h e solution for the stream function is
obtained as a power series in terms of the amplitude of
deformation.
(Received September 15, 1971)
Since it has been realized t h a t blood can be treated
as a pscudqplastic fluid for all practical purposes the
aim of the present paper is to s t u d y the peristaltic
motion of a power law fluid in a cylindrical tube with
a sinusoidal wave of small amplitude travelling down
its wall.
Following the analysis of Chow (9), we obtain the
solution for the stream function as a power series in
terms of the amplitude of deformation. The streamline
p a t t e r n s for Newtonian a n d non-Newtonian fluids are
depicted graphically. I t is found t h a t for low pressure
gradient the streamlines form closed loops a n d for
higher pressure gradient the streamlines run parallel
to the axis of the tube when considered near the axis,
whereas a considerable deformation is noted when
considered near the boundary. This type of streamline
p a t t e r n is similar to t h e one observed b y Burns and
Parkes (6) for the Newtonian fluid.
2. Basic equations and formulation of the
problem
The non-Newtonian fluid of a power law
model is characterised by the constitutive
equation
Ti] = - - P ( ~ i j + I~pOEij, [2.1]
where Tij and E~j. are the stress and rate of
deformation tensors. P is the isotropic pres-
sure, #v is the flow consistency index, n is the
flow behaviour index and
n-1
O = ]EijEijl - ~ [2.2]
I t is well-known t h a t for n ~> 1, this model
represents the dilatant, Newtonian and pseu-
doplastic fluids respectively.
Consider the axisymmetric flow of a power
law fluid in a circular cylindrical tube with a
sinusoidal wave of small amplitude travelling
down its wall. The wall of the tube is given
by the equation
R = a [ l + s c o s 2--;-;(Z--Cv)], [2.3]
where 'a' is the radius of the original un-
disturbed tube, as is the amplitude of the
wave, 2 is the wavelength and C is the wave
speed. R and Z are the cylindrical polar co-
 R @ u and Devanathan, Peristaltic motion o / a non-Newtonian fluid 171

ordinates with Z measured along the axis of 3. S o l u t i o n for the s t r e a m f u n c t i o n

the t u b e and R is in the radial direction. ~ is
the time. The solution for ~0 is o b t a i n e d as a power
The simplified non-dimensional equation series in t e r m s of the amplitude of the wave
of c o n t i n u i t y and the m o m e n t u m equations, e, b y expanding ~ and p in the form
in cylindrical coordinates are: ~~
Continuity e q u a t i o n [3.1]
P = P o + ePx + e~P.~ + .J
Ou u Ow Substituting [3.1] along with [2.11] a n d
O~ + r - + ~-z = O. [2.41 [2.12] in [2.5] and [2.6] and collecting t h e
M o m e n t u m equations coefficients of various order t e r m s we o b t a i n
the differential equations for ~Vo, ~01, V2. . . . .
Ou On On Op 1 I n the absence of peristaltic wave along
the b o u n d a r y of the tube, we obtain the usual
u Ou O0 Ou aw]OO] Hagen-Poiseuille t y p e flow of a power law
X [O(V2u--fi)+ 2 ~ r ~ r r + ( ~ z +~-r/-~zj, fluid in a cylindrical t u b e of circular cross-
section. As the axial velocity in this ease is a
[2.5] function of r only, we find t h a t ~00 is a function
Ow Ow Ow Op 1 of r alone, and hence
0--{- + u ~ + w Oz Oz + Re
0~, - 0vo o. [3.2]
[ (Ou Ou,~ O0 Ow 0 0 ~ Oz Ot
• OV2w+ O~z + Or ] Or + 20zz O z ] ' [2.6]
We obtain the solution for % as
where r, z, t, u, w and 0 are all dimensionless
-- tic /O~lln n n r 3+l/n
quantities r e n d e r e d dimensionless with the
help of the characteristic length 'a' and the where
characteristic velocity ' C ' . u and w are the
velocity components in r and z directions k o = Re 01Oo [3.4]
Oz '
respectively and
~po/(?Z being the constant axial pressure gra-
n-1
dient. In other words, 1%is a non-dimensionM
O= 2\ar! + -OTz+ ~ 1 i , I2.7] p a r a m e t e r in t e r m s of the pressure gradient.
I t can be seen t h a t for n = 1, [3.3] reduces
02 1 0 03 to the widely k n o w n H a g e n - P o i s e u i l l e profile,
V~ ~ ~r~ + r - O r + ~Oz ,
and
]% ~ r4
Vo(r) = ~ - ~ - ---r2)9 [3.5]
an+a c2-no
~e , [2.8] W e obtain the following first order equa-
#p
tions for Y~I and PI from [2.5] and [2.6]:
the generMised R e y n o l d s number.
1 02~,1
T h e b o u n d a r y conditions are + 1 dy)0 02~/)1 Opl l
r OzOt r ~ dr Oz2 Or Re
U n 1
W
)< [ ( 1 d2Y~'~~ r-1 dF~
2dr
where
n 03~pl n 2 O~yh 2 n ~ 02~
2~a Oz~ + r Or20z n r 2 OrOz
a~ 2 [2.10] x -- r +

2(n-- 1) O~pl]
H e r e the b o u n d a r y condition on the w a v y nr 3 Oz ] '
[3.6]
wall of the t u b e is o b t a i n e d b y taking the no- and
slip condition. 1 0~1 + 1 d~o 02~ 1 d2~0 0~1 + 1 d~o O~t
We introduce the stream function ~0 b y r OrOt r 2 dr OzOr r 2 dr 2 Oz r 3 dr Oz
t h e following substitutions, so t h a t the
equation of c o n t i n u i t y [2.4] is identically
satisfied, Oz + Re - - dr ~ rz dr ] ]
1 0~ [n Oa~l 2 n 03~1 1 0~
u [2.11]
r Oz ' X [r Or3 + r OrOz~ r ~ Ors
1 --n 0~1 1 0~1]
w = -10~f
---. [2.12] [3.7]
r Or + r2 Oz2 + r ff Or J "
172 Rheologica Acta, B a n d 11, Heft 2 (1972)

Eliminating p~ from these equations we and

obtain the differential e q u a t i o n for ~ as
nr*a .... - 2 r a G ' " + [2n: 1 r 3 + (2n--4)cc3r '] G"
dy~o [ 1 0a~ 1 0a~ 1 03~ 3 0~]
dr [ r 3 Oza + r3 Or~Oz r a OrOz r ~ Oz [2n+l 2n--4 ]
~ r + n cr G'
3 d3~o 0~o~ 1 da~o 0~o~ 1 ~3~
+
r ~ dr ~ Oz r ~ dr ~ Oz -- ---i
r -~r~t
+ [na*r" {n--n 1)3 a ' r ' ] G
n-1
1
+-7- ~-~t + -r Oz30t - Re (k~ n
--*-1 n 2 ~+a.
n--1 : - - Re (k0/2) n a In+i- (rn+" --rn )F'"
+ -2 n-+ 1 03~0~
Or 4 r2 Or S n r~ Or3 2
n , ~+e ~+a. n - - 1 n +2
2 n + 1 3 ~ + 2 n - - 4 03~])1 + n~-T (rn --rn ) F' + - n r
nr ~ Or n r ~ OrOz~
n 04~a~ ]
+
nr z Oz3 r Or30z3 + r--0~-z~ J " [3.8]
The b o u n d a r y conditions on ~0~as obtained
+ Re(ko/2)- ~ cr
1--n [) +8 F " -- r:+2
--
1+3a 3 F ] ,
from [6.8] and [6.9] are -- r

[a.12]
O~pl ~ __ (ko/2)lm cos~ (z -- t)
Or where primes denote differentiation w . r . t . r .
at r 1. [3.9]
0~_ ~ ~ - - a s i n a ( z - - t )
Using the b o u n d a r y conditions [3.9], the
Oz b o u n d a r y conditions on F(r) a n d G(r) are
given b y
These b o u n d a r y conditions suggest t h a t we
can obtain the solution for ~ in the form F(1) : 1, F'(1) (k,/2) lm]
a(1) = 0, a'(1) = O j [3.13]
yh(r, z) = F(r) cosa(z -- t) + G(r) sina(z -- t), [3.10] and
F(0) = 0, ~'(0) = o]
where F(r) and G(r) are functions of r only, a ( o ) = o, a'(o) = o j" [3.14]
to be d e t e r m i n e d from [3.8] and [3.9].
Substituting for ~0 from [3.3] a n d for ~ I t m a y be r e m a r k e d here t h a t the dif-
from [3.10] and collecting the coefficients of ferential equations for F(r) and G(r) are
cos ~ ( z - - t) and sin ~(z - - t) on b o t h sides of v e r y complicated with the presence of the
[3.8], we obtain the following differential flow b e h a v i o u r index n and c a n n o t be solved
equations for the functions F(r) and G(r): in closed forms, even in the case of Newtonian
fluids (n = 1).
nr'F'"'-- 2 r 3 F ' " + [ 2 n + l r2 + ( 2 n - - 4 ) a 2 r * ] I n order to visualize the flow field, follow-
ing Chow (9), we introduce f u r t h e r simplifi-
cations assuming t h a t the -Reynolds n u m b e r
-- - - r~ n a2r 3 F"
for the flow is v e r y small and accordingly
represent the functions F(r) and G(r) in the
-~- [ ~ 0r (n --n 1)3 c~3r3] F form of power series in terms of Re. The solu-
tions for F(r) a n d G(r) are t a k e n to lie in the
form
= R~(k~ l ~-~i-[ r -- ~ a" F(r) = Fo(r ) + -Re2. F3(r ) + . . . ]
[3.15]
G(r) Re" Gl(r ) + O(Re ~) J"

+T+I ( --
a'+
- - r
n
(7 Substituting [3.15] in [3,11-3.14] a n d separat -
ing various order terms we obtain the follow-
ing differential equations for F 0, G1, F~ . . . .

nr~F~176 [[ 2 n n+ -1- r ' ~_+ ( 2 n - - 4) cr3r4] Fo"

~-~n r A A+2
4- Re(ko/2) n a [ _ r n + a G , , +r n G' _ _ 2n--4 ]
--[2~1 r+ ~--a3r~JFo '
1
[3.11] + [nc~ar 4 (n- ]
1)3 c~2r2|/~0
+ r~+~. ~,3. GI [ = 0, [3.16]
J 2
 Ra]u and Devanathan, Peristaltic motion o~ a n o n - N e w t o n i a n fluid 173

nraGl,,,,2r3Gl,,,~_ [ 2 n ~ n l r 2 + ( 2 n - - 4 ) a 2 r 4 ] GI" solve the two point b o u n d a r y value problems

for F 0 and G 1 b y making use of a numerical
technique.
__ _ _ or 3 G 1'
n + n 1
4. N u m e r i c a l m e t h o d
~- [ n ~47.a (T~--n 1)2 5r ~1
T h e i m p o r t a n t feature of these b o u n d a r y
2_ 1 value problems is t h a t t h e y h a v e regular
~ - r --r Fo" singular points at r = 0. We m a k e use of the
Runge-Kutta-Gill integration procedure to
solve for F o and G 1. The equation for F o is
+ ~ --r + n r F0 solved first, for different values of the flow
b e h a v i o u r index n, with the above integra-
tion method, starting from the point r = 1
+ n + [ +r 1 [

rn
3
--
2
++') Fo ] and going up to a point near a b o u t r = 0.
The b o u n d a r y conditions at the point r = 0
are made to be satisfied b y e x t r a p o l a t i o n and
+ (k0/2) ~ - a r Fo" -- r n F o" -- r n a~Fo , are modified b y f u r t h e r iterations.
The solutions of F 0 are made use f u r t h e r
[3.17] to solve the differential equations for G 1 in
the same procedure as described above. The
nr4F2 ,,/+ -- 2 r 3 F 2 ' " + [ 2 n + -1- r 2 + (2n -- 4) a~r 4] F2" solutions are obtained b y making use of a
n
CDC-3600 computer. The numerical values
2n--4 of the solutions for F o and Gt are p r e s e n t e d
in tables I - 4 for different values of the flow
b e h a v i o u r index and for different values of
--
n
~2r2 F~
the non-dimensional p a r a m e t e r / c o. Since the
values of F 2 and higher order terms are v e r y
2 ~ ~_
----1 [ n (rn+a +3) small we are not recording the same here.
:(]c0/2) n -a" -n+ 1 --r GI"
5. D i s c u s s i o n o f the results
-- n - 1 ~-~2
"Jr- =n +n 1 \''-+2
~rn r~+a) GI' + - - - r 2 G1 T h e peristaltic m o t i o n of a power law
fluid in a t u b e with a sinusoidal wave travel-
ling down its b o u n d a r y has been considered
n o~2.(r~+3rn 51)G1 ]
+ n~" u n d e r the assumption t h a t the a m p l i t u d e of
1-n
+ @o/2)~ a - - r
_:_
+3 G ( ' + r n !+. 2G ~ ' + r n + 3 a 2.G 1 ,
l ] the wave is small. The s t r e a m function a n d
the velocity components are o b t a i n e d as
power series in terms of the amplitude of
deformation.
[3.18] The streamlines are p l o t t e d in figs. 1 and 2
T h e b o u n d a r y conditions are for the Newtonian a n d non-Newtonian fluids
F0 l, F 0' = -- (]c0/2)1In] respectively for low pressure gradient. Fol-
G1 = 0 , GI'=0 j on r = l , [3.19] lowing B u r n s and Parkes (6), and for con-
venience, we have t a k e n Z = z - - t and p l o t t e d
F0 : Fo' ~ O]
G 1 G 1' = 0J on r = 0. [3.20] the streamlines for different values of Z. I t is
seen t h a t the streamlines form closed loops
The differential equations for higher order with Z-axis being a ~v = 0 streamline and the
t e r m s can be o b t a i n e d similarly, b u t as t h e y streamline with ~ = 0 runs a p p r o x i m a t e l y
are l e n g t h y and complicated we are not re- perpendicular to the Z-axis as shown in figs.
cording t h e m here. These differential equa- i a n d 2. This t y p e of streamline p a t t e r n has
tions for the case of n : 1 can be solved in been observed b y B u r n s and Parkes in their
closed forms in t e r m s of modified Bessel investigation of peristaltic m o t i o n of N e w -
functions, as given b y Chow. B u t the pres- tonian fluids.
ence of the flow b e h a v i o u r index n makes The streamlines for a higher pressure gra-
these equations, for the non-Newtonian dient are p l o t t e d in the fig. 3 for the Newtonian
fluids e x t r e m e l y complicated and t h e y can- fluids. W e find t h a t the streamline p a t t e r n in
not be solved in closed form. Thus we have to this case is entirely different from figs. 1 and
174 Rheologica Acta, Band 11, Heft 2 (1972)

2, which are for lower values ofk 0. I n t h i s case,
the streamlines r u n parMlel to the axis of the
t u b e when t h e y are considered near a b o u t
the axis, whereas a considerable d e f o r m a t i o n
is observed when t h e y are considered near
the b o u n d a r y .
The physical explanation for this sort of
behaviour of the streamlines can be given in
a similar way to t h a t which we have given
in the case of a rigid t u b e with sinusoidal
deformation in our previous investigation
(10). The region m a y be considered to be
consisting of two parts - one the central core
region of the t u b e and the other near the
b o u n d a r y - the b o u n d a r y layer region. I n
the case of low pressure gradient, the effects of
the wave travelling along the b o u n d a r y of
the t u b e are more d o m i n a n t and hence we
obtain the closed streamline p a t t e r n s us
shown in figs. 1 and 2.

Table 1

n 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4

r Fo G1 Fo G1 Fo G1 Fo G1 Fo G1

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0.1 0.014596-0.000004 0.017584-0.000027 0.019485-0.000132 0.020832-0.000356 0.022054-0.000708
0.2 0.058434-0.000010 0.069655-0.000108 0.076305-0.000491 0.080950-0.001298 0.084849-0.002565
0.3 0.131985-0.000020 0.154355-0.000223 0.167136-0.000983 0.175865-0.002546 0.182906-0.004960
0.4 0.234882-0.000031 0.268212-0.000347 0.286701-0.001476 0.299089-0.003741 0.308834-0.007174
0.5 0.364599-0.000041 0.405442-0.000443 0.427520-0.001823 0.442088-0.004522 0.453367-0.008537
0.6 0.515170-0.000046 0.557377-0.000478 0.579673-0.001899 0.594224-0.004608 0.605400-0.008563
0.7 0.675787-0.000043 0.711843-0.000425 0.730517-0.001633 0.742644-0.003877 0.751974-0.007092
0.8 0.829156-0.000030 0.852442-0.000286 0.864332-0.001060 0.872112-0.002461 0.878215-0.004432
0.9 0.949488-0.000012 0.957692-0.000104 0.961902-0.000373 0.964795-0.008476 0.967234-0.001503
1.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 0.0
/co ~ 0.01.

Table 2

n 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4

r Fo G1 Fo G1 2"0 G1 Fo G1 Fo G1

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0.1 0.014616-0.000009 0.017730-0.000053 0.019692-0.000137 0.021212-0.000271 0.022596-0.000432
0.2 0.058510-0.000019 0.070050-0.000199 0.077110-0.000521 0.082362-0.000990 0.086899-0.001564
0.3 0.132154-0.000061 0.155142-0.000410 0.168856-0.001048 0.178829-0.001943 0.187185-0.003022
0.4 0.235174-0.000112 0.269492-0.000635 0.289535-0.001574 0.303901-0.002852 0.315724-0.004366
0.5 0.365033-0.000159 0.407248-0.000811 0.431497-0.001944 0.448749-0.003445 0.462817-0.005187
0.6 0.515741-0.000187 0.559643-0.000873 0.584601-0.002024 0.602362-0.003505 0.616836-0.005192
0.7 0.676451-0.000181 0.714367-0.000777 0.735915-0.001739 0.751436-0.002944 0.764210-0.004289
0.8 0.829814-0.000131 0.854841-0.000522 0.869369-0.001127 0.880201-0.001864 0.889363-0.002671
0.9 0.949962-0.000052 0.959349-0.000190 0.965312-0.000396 0.970195-0.000640 0.974603-0.000903
1.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 0.0
]co ~ 0.2.

Table 3

n 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4

r Fo GI Fo G1 Fo G1 Fo G1 Fo G1

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0.1 0.014904-0.000034 0.018321-0.000096 0.020624-0.000182 0.022422-0.000287 0.024057-0.000401
0.2 0.059642-0.000117 0.072399-0.000358 0.080700-0.000682 0.086998-0.001051 0.092389-0.001433
0.3 0.134637-0.000246 0.160342-0.000735 0.176512-0.001368 0.188606-0.002061 0.198632-0.002759
0.4 0.239420-0.000399 0.278039-0.001137 0.302141-0.002052 0.319803-0.003022 0.334147-0.003975
0.5 0.371264-0.000539 0.419468-0.001449 0.449185-0.002530 0.470776-0.003641 0.488078-0.004706
0.6 0.523850-0.000619 0.575077-0.001558 0.606508-0.002626 0.629283-0.003692 0.647403-0.004691
0.7 0.685816-0.000588 0.731619-0.001383 0.759911-0.002247 0.780529-0.003086 0.796918-0.003856
0.8 0.839044-0.000423 0.871269-0.000925 0.891751-0.001449 0.906969-0.001943 0.919160-0.002387
0.9 0.956574-0.000165 0.970707-0.000335 0.980463-0.000506 0.988066-0.000663 0.994299-0.000801
1.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 0.0
ko ~ 0.5.
 Ra]u and Devanathan, Peristaltic motion o/a non-Newtonian fluid 175

Table 4

n 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4

r 2'0 Gi Fo Gi Fo Gi Fo Gi Fo Gi

0 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0.1 0.015492-0.000009 0.019377-0.000143 0.021773-0.000245 0.237011-0.000342 0.025411-0.000435
0.2 0.062049-0.000168 0.076207-0.000547 0.085175-0.000911 0.091903-0.001253 0.097524-0.001559
0.3 0.140047-0.000415 0.168379-0.001127 0.186074-0.001823 0.198957-0.002455 0.209356-0.003002
0.4 0.248840-0.000710 0.291625-0.001744 0.317893-0.002730 0.336638-0.003596 0.351414-0.004321
0.5 0.385283-0.000984 0.438875-0.002222 0.471293-0.003360 0.494095-0.004324 0.511760-0.005108
0.6 0.542300-0.001143 0.599592-0.002385 0.633891-0.003478 0.657785-0.004374 0.676064-0.005080
0.7 0.707309-0.001093 0.7590300.002110 0.789907-0.002966 0.811329-0.003644 0.827586-0.004162
0.8 0.860375-0.000786 0.897385-0.001405 0.919731-0.001903 0.935307-0.002285 0.947099-0.002567
0.9 0.971939-0.000306 0.988770-0.000506 0.999405-0.000661 1.006987-0.000776 1.012770-0.000858
1.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 0.0
ko = 1.0.

1.C

0. c.

0.4

0.7

0.fi

0.5

0.~

0.3

0.2--

Fig. 1. Streamlines 0,1 -- ~0 ~..0

for the Newtonian
fluids a t l o w p r e s s u r e
gradient 0 I I I I I [~=~ I [ I
-ff 31- 0 W "IT 331" 3"1- 5W 331- 7~" ZII"
2

B u t as the pressure gradient increases, we The streamline p a t t e r n given b y Burns a n d

find t h a t the streamlines in the central p a r t
of the region are more influenced b y it, t h a n
b y the motion of the b o u n d a r y and hence
t h e y r u n more or less parallel to the axis
while in the region near the b o u n d a r y , the
flow is influenced b y b o t h the wave a n d the
pressure gradient and thus we obtain the
p a t t e r n s of streamlines depicted in fig. 3.
Parkes for Newtonian fluids is similar.
F r o m the numerical calculations we find
t h a t this change in the behaviour of the
streamline p a t t e r n s occurs depending on
the values of k 0, e a n d Re. J u s t for the sake of
u n d e r s t a n d i n g the n a t u r e of peristaltics, we
have t a k e n some typical values of the para-
meters and calculated the critical value of k o.
176 Rheologica Acta, Band 11, He/t 2 (1972)

tO

0.9

0.8

0.7

0.6
-t
0.5

0.4

0.3
I
I
0.2

.~,-o Fig. 2. Comparison of

streamlines for pseu-
0.1 - -
doplastie (n ~ 0 . 8 - - - )
i a n d dflatant
I ,.,/-o = (n ~ 1.2 ) fluid
o
W
z
"W
a
I I
o
I
W
-~-
i 3TI"
I
5"ff 3"11"
1
7"ff
2W
at low pressure gradient

For example, when s ~-- 0.01, Re ~ 0.01,
~ 1, /co is found to be approximately 0.2
for the Newtonian fluids, i.e. for values of/c o
less t h a n 0.2, the streamlines form a system
of closed loops whereas for /co > 0.2 the
streamlines are continuous curves running
along the axis of the tube.
Similarly the critical values of/co for dif-
ferent fluids can be determined depending on
the particular values of the flow behaviour
index n and other parameters involved. For
further understanding of the problem we
have shown the radial velocity profiles in
fig. 4 for the Newtonian fluids. In fig. 5, a
comparison of the radial velocities for
pseudoplastic and dilatant fluids is given. We
find t h a t these profiles for a particular Z, for
both Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids,
attain the maximum value on the boundary,
while the radial velocity is zero on the axis
of the tube. Also it may be mentioned t h a t
the general qualitative nature of the profiles
is not much affected by the amplitude of the
wave travelling along the boundary except
t h a t they are either slightly elongated or
contracted.
The axial velocity profiles for the IVew-
tonian fluids are presented in figs. 6 and 7 at
low and high pressure gradients respectively.
It is noted t h a t the axial velocity for the case
of low pressure gradient drops to a minimum
on the axis of the tube as shown in fig. 6, while
for higher pressure gradients the axial ve-
locity profiles form more or less parabolic
curves with small deviations on the axis of the
tube. This type of behaviour is the resultant
of the effects of pressure gradient and the
wave, and can be observed from the stream-
line patterns depicted in the figures and dis-
cussed earlier. The amplitude of the wave
also is found to influence the axial velocity
to a certain extent. These results are in
agreement with those presented by Yin and
Fung (8). Recently, Yin and tfung (11) have
given the comparison of theory and experi-
ment in peristaltic transport of Newtonian
fluids. However, experiments for non-New-
tonian fluids have yet to be considered.
Further details about the influence of the
Reynolds number, the amplitude of the wave
and the parameter ~ can be easily understood
by choosing various values of these para-
 Raju and Devanathan, Peristaltic motion o/ a non-Newtonian fluid 177

lOI
0.9

0.8

0.7

0.6
o 03

0.5

0.4

0.3
~ -0.0089

0.2

0.1L- --0.0010
Fig. 3. Streamlines for
t h e Newtonian fluids
when ]co = 1.0 0 I I I 1 I 0 I l I I
_~_.. o
3w _ 5W 3"11" 7IT
Z

0[ 1 1.0

08t /
0.6
0.8

0.6

--=~--- 0.4

0.2 0,2

01d ~ I I I 0 ~ I I I I I
0 a2 E4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2
LL

Fig. 4. Radial velocity profiles for t h e Newtonian case
meters except for the tedious computation
work involved.
Thus we have presented a theoretical ap-
proach to study the peristaltic motion of non-
Newtonian fluids. Although, the real peristal-
Fig. 5. Comparison o f radial velocity profiles for non-
Newtonian fluids. I)seudoplastic (n = 0.8 . . . . ) a n d
d i l a t a n t (n ~ 1.2 - - ) fluids
tic motion present in the problems of phy-
siology is very complex, the present analysis
can serve as a model which may help in
12
178 Rheologica Acta, Band 11, Heft 2 (1972)
1.(
0.8
~i ~ v _ 0
0"#"/
0.01 0102 0.03 0.04
w India for the financial assistance.
Fig. 6. Axial velocity profiles for the Newton- 1.0
ian fluids at low pressure gradients
0.8
0.6
_ z-~
0.4
0.2
Fig. 7. Axial velocity profiles for the Newton-
Jan fluids at higher pressure gradient 0 I
0 0.04
Summary
To understand theoretically the flow properties of
physiological fluids, we have considered as a model
the peristaltic motion of a power law fluid in a tube,
with a sinusoidal wave of small amplitude travelling
down its wall. The solution for the stream function is
obtained as a power series in terms of the amplitude
of the wave. The stream function and the velocity
components are evaluated by solving numerically two
point boundary value problems with a singular point
at the origin. The influence of the applied pressure
gradient along with non.Newtonian parameters on the
streamlines and velocity profiles are discussed in detail.
•e]erences
1) Skalak, R., Proe. Symposion on Biomechanics,
ASME. (Ed. Y.C. Fung, p. 20.) (p. 20. 1966.)
2) Rudinger, G., Biomedical fluid mechanics
symposium, sponsored by Fluid Mechanics Committee,
ASME, 1966, p. 1.
3) Shapiro, A. H., Proceedings, workshop on Urete-
ral Reflux in children, Washington, D.C., National
Academy of Science, Natural Research Council, 1967,
p. 109.
understanding the mechanics of physiological
flows. From the point of view of mechanics,
it is interesting to note how the peristaltic
motion is influenced b y the applied pressure
gradient.
In conclusion, we mention that this ana-
lysis being the first attempt made in literature
to understand the peristaltic motion of non-
Newtonian fluids, further aspects and de-
velopments on these problems can be in-
vestigated.
Acknowledgement
One of us (K.K.R.) thanks C.S.I.R., Government of
I I i
0.08 0.12 0.16 0.20 0.24 0.28
--W
4) Sho/piro, A. H., M. Y. Jaffrin, and S. L. Wein-
berg, Fluid mechanics laboratory publication No. 68.5,
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, Sept. 1968.
5) Latham, T. W. and A. H. Shapiro, (Abstract)
Proc. Annual Conf. on Engg. in Medicine and Biology,
San Francisco. (Ed.) G. G. Vurek, vol. 8, 1966, p. 147.
6) Burns, J. C. and T. Parkes, J. Fluid Mech. 29,
731 (1967).
7) Fung, Y. C. and C. S. Yih, J. App. Mech.,
Trans. ASME., 35E, 669 (1968).
8) Yin, F. and Y. C. Fung, J. App. Mech., Trans.
ASME., 36E, 579 (1969).
9) Chow, T. S., J. App. Mech., Trans. ASME., 37E,
901 (1970).
10) Kanaka Baju, K., Flow of a non-Newtonian
fluid in a tube with sinusoidal deformation. (To ap-
pear in 1972 Proc. Phys. Soc. Japan
11) Yin, F. and Y. C. Fung, J. Fluid Mech. 47, 93
(1971).
Authors' address:
K. Kanaka Ra]u and Rathna Devanathan
Dept. of Applied Mathematics
Indian Institute of Science
Bangalore 12 (India)