Peristaltic pumping of a micropolar fluid in a tube

Abstract

Peristaltic transport of a micropolar fluid in a circular tube is studied under low Reynolds number and long wavelength approximations. The closed form solutions are obtained for velocity, microrotation components, as well as the stream function and they contain new additional parameters namely, N the coupling number and m the micropolar parameter. In the case of free pumping (pressure difference Δp=0) the difference in pumping flux is observed to be very small for Newtonian and micropolar fluids but in the case of pumping (Δp>0) the characteristics are significantly altered for different N and m. It is observed that the peristalsis in micropolar fluids works as a pump against a greater pressure rise compared with a Newtonian fluid. Streamline patterns which depict trapping phenomena are presented for different parameter ranges. The limit on the trapping of the center streamline is obtained. The effects of N and m on friction force for different Δp are discussed.