Transport in Porous Media, Vol.92, No.3, 559-572, 2012
Peristaltic Hemodynamic Flow of Couple-Stress Fluids Through a Porous Medium with Slip Effect
The present investigation deals with a theoretical study of the peristaltic hemodynamic flow of couple-stress fluids through a porous medium under the influence of wall slip condition. This study is motivated towards the physiological flow of blood in the micro-circulatory system, by taking account of the particle size effect. Reynolds number is small enough and the wavelength to diameter ratio is large enough to negate inertial effects. Analytical solutions for axial velocity, pressure gradient, frictional force, stream function and mechanical efficiency are obtained. Effects of different physical parameters reflecting couple-stress parameter, permeability parameter, slip parameter, as well as amplitude ratio on pumping characteristics and frictional force, streamlines pattern and trapping of peristaltic flow pattern are studied with particular emphasis. The computational results are presented in graphical form. This study puts forward an important observation that pressure reduces by increasing the magnitude of couple-stress parameter, permeability parameter, slip parameter, whereas it enhances by increasing the amplitude ratio.
Keywords:Peristaltic hemodynamic flow;Couple-stress fluid;Porous medium;Wall slip condition;Mechanical efficiency;Trapping