title: Mixing of non-Newtonian fluids in steadily forced systems.
abstract: We investigate mixing in a viscoelastic and shear-thinning fluid-a very common combination in polymers and suspensions. We find that competition between elastic and viscous forces generates self-similar mixing, lobe transport, and other characteristics of chaos. The mechanism by which chaos is produced is evaluated both in experiments and in a simple model. We find that chaotic flow is generated by spontaneous oscillations, the magnitude and frequency of which govern the extent of chaos and mixing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical & Biochemical Engineering, 98 Brett Road, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08855, USA.
authors.forename: Paulo E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Arratia
authors.forename: Troy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shinbrot
authors.forename: Mario M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Alvarez
authors.forename: Fernando J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Muzzio
mesh_terms: D001826:Body Fluids / Q000737:chemistry; D002266:Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium / Q000737:chemistry; D004548:Elasticity; D005990:Glycerol / Q000737:chemistry; D008954:Models, Biological; D008956:Models, Chemical; D017711:Nonlinear Dynamics; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D014783:Viscosity
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers; D002266:Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium; D005990:Glycerol