title: On the flow of a non-Newtonian liquid induced by intestine-like contractions.
abstract: This paper considers the flow of an inelastic liquid which is generated by contractions like those of the intestine. Unlike regular peristaltic motion, these contractions occur locally over a finite length and have a finite amplitude. We adopt a contraction model due to Macagno and Christensen and repeat their analysis for an inelastic liquid. Our analysis, which is based on a Boundary Element Method, indicates that the net flow rate depends very weakly on the power-law index. The pumping action is therefore similar to that of a positive displacement pump.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Sydney, N.S.W., Australia.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Phan-Thien
authors.forename: H T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Low
mesh_terms: D004548:Elasticity; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility; D008433:Mathematics; D008954:Models, Biological; D010528:Peristalsis; D011673:Pulsatile Flow; D012212:Rheology