A new model of turbulent fibre suspension and its application in the pipe flow

A new model of turbulent fibre suspension in pipe flow is developed by deriving the equations of Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes, turbulence kinetic energy and turbulence dissipation rate with the additional term of the fibres, and the equation of probability distribution function for mean fibre orientation. The equations are solved numerically. The numerical mean velocity is in agreement with the experimental data. The effects of Reynolds number, fibre concentration, and fibre aspect-ratio on the mean velocity, turbulent kinetic energy and turbulent dissipation rate are analysed. The results show that the effect of Reynolds number on the flow behaviour is insignificant. The turbulent kinetic energy and turbulent dissipation rate increase with an increasing fibre concentration and fibre aspect-ratio. © 2012 Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering