Computational study on interaction between rotating non-spherical particles and shear-thinning fluids

In this paper, the drag coefficient (Cd), lift coefficient (Cl), and torque coefficient (Ct) of rotating non-spherical particles in shear-thinning non-Newtonian fluids are investigated based on particle-resolved direct numerical simulation. The Carreau model is used to describe the rheological behavior of non-Newtonian fluids, and the numerical model is validated against previously published data. Then, the effects of aspect ratio (Ar), spin number (Spa), flow index (n), and Carreau number (Cu) on Cd, Cl, and Ct of rotating non-spherical particles are investigated at different Reynolds numbers (Re). The numerical results show that the closer the particles are to the spherical shape, the smaller the fluctuations of Cd, Cl, and Ct curves. The peaks and valleys of Cd, Cl, and Ct of oblate and prolate ellipsoidal particles are reversely distributed. The fluctuations of Cd and Cl curves increase with increasing Spa. Cd decreases with increasing Spa at low Re, contrary to Newtonian fluids' results. Cd and Ct decrease with increasing shear-thinning properties, Cl increases with increasing shear-thinning properties, and the effect of shear-thinning properties decreases with increasing Re. The variation of viscosity and pressure is the main reason for the variation of Cd, Cl, and Ct under different variables. Predictive correlations of Cd and Ct are established based on Re, Spa, n, Cu, and α. The findings indicate that particle rotation and shear-thinning properties must be considered when evaluating particle-fluid interactions, which provide important guidance for predicting and controlling the orientation and distribution of non-spherical particles in non-Newtonian fluids.