High-Weissenberg predictions for micellar fluids in contraction–expansion flows

Abstract This study is concerned with the numerical modelling of thixotropic and non-thixotropic materials in contraction–expansion flows at high Weissenberg number ( We ). Thixotropy is represented via a new micellar time-dependent constitutive model for worm-like micellar systems and contrasted against network-based time-independent PTT forms. The work focuses on steady-state solutions in axisymmetric rounded-corner 4:1:4 contraction–expansion flows for the benchmark solvent-fraction of β  = 1/9 and moderate hardening characteristics ( e  = 0.25). In practice, this work has relevance to industrial and healthcare applications, such as enhanced oil-reservoir recovery and microfluidics. Simulations have been performed via a hybrid finite element/finite volume algorithm, based around an incremental pressure-correction time-stepping structure. To obtain high- We solutions, both micellar and PTT constitutive equation f -functionals have been amended by (i) adopting their absolute values appealing to physical arguments (ABS-correction); (ii) through a change of stress variable, Π  =  τ p  + ( η p 0 / λ 1 ) I , that aims to prevent the loss of evolution in the underlying initial value problem; and finally, (iii) through an improved realisation of velocity gradient boundary conditions imposed at the centreline (VGR-correction). On the centreline, the eigenvalues of Π are identified with its Π -stress-components, and discontinuities in Π -components are located and associated with the f -functional-poles in simple uniaxial extension. Quality of solution is described through τ rz , N 1 and N 2 (signature of vortex dynamics) stress fields, and Π -eigenvalues. With {micellar, EPTT} fluids, the critical Weissenberg number is shifted from critical states of We crit  = {4.9, 220} without correction, to We crit  = {O(10 2 ), O(10 3 )} with ABS–VGR-correction. Furthermore, such constitutive equation correction has been found to have general applicability.