Non‐isothermal flow of a polymeric liquid through rounded rectangular ducts

Abstract The 3D non‐isothermal creeping flow of nylon‐6 in a bent rectangular duct is studied numerically. A differential‐type non‐isothermal White‐Metzner constitutive equation is used for this flow simulation. Computational results are obtained by the elastic‐viscous split‐stress (EVSS) finite element method, incorporating the streamline‐upwind Petrov‐Galerkin (SUPG) scheme. The generated thermal field is entirely due to viscous heating. Essential flow characteristics, including temperature distribution in the flow field, are predicted. The resulting average Nusselt numbers along the walls and dimensionless bulk temperatures along the channel are obtained. Subsequently, the effects of flow‐rate and geometry are investigated. Polym. Compos. 25:375–383, 2004. © 2004 Society of Plastics Engineers.