THE NUMERICAL-ANALYSIS OF CHANNEL FLOWS OF ER FLUID

A numerical analysis is performed on the flow characteristics of an el ectrorheological (ER) fluid when fully developed ER fluid flow in a ch annel is instantly subjected to electric fields. The Bingham plastic m odel is used to describe the ER fluid behavior. The flow field is assu med to be incompressible and isotropic. The SIMPLER algorithm with sta ggered grid system is employed to solve the momentum and continuity eq uations governing the steady state, laminar flow. The effects of elect ric field intensity and upper wall velocity changes on velocity profil es are investigated.