Perturbation solution for pulsatile flow of a non-newtonian fluid in a rock fracture: A logarithmic model

Abstract

The purpose of this work is to study the motion of a non-Newtonian fluid in a rock fracture, generated by a constant pressure gradient to which a pulsating component is superposed. The momentum equation is faced analytically by adopting a logarithmic constitutive law; the velocity is expressed as a power series of the amplitude of the pulsating component, up to the second order, easily usable for numerical calculations. The results obtained are compared with those provided in the past by the authors, using a three-parameter Williamson model. The comparison highlights that the value of the mean flow rate in a period differs by less than 10% even if the velocity profiles look quite different.