This paper deals with three related problems. First, we consider the effect
ive viscosity of a neutrally-buoyant concentrated Brownian suspension of id
entical hard spheres with allowance for shear-thinning of the suspension, a
nd we also formulate a set of mean normal stresses due to particle thermal
and shear-induced fluctuations. Secondly, the effect of these stresses on p
article distribution in suspension flow is modeled, the resultant model bei
ng verified by comparing its predictions with particle concentration profil
es experimentally found for rotational Couette flow. Thirdly, the model is
applied to suspension flow in plane and cylindrical where the lateral segre
gation of particles affects the hydraulic flow characteristics to quite a c
onsiderable extent by making them essentially non-Newtonian. The theoretica
l results are compared with experimental evidence available for steady flow
of non-Brownian suspensions. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights res
erved.