PULSATING FLOW OF A VISCOELASTIC LIQUID IN A CIRCULAR PIPE.

It is quite common in industry to transport non-Newtonian liquids in pipes. The pumping mechanisms which produce the flow usually give rise to a pressure gradient which fluctuates in some way about a non-zero mean. It is clearly of interest to know whether the variation in pressure will increase or decrease the mean flow rate. If the fluctuation in the pressure gradient is beneficial, it should be encouraged and the effect amplified by superposing an oscillating pressure gradient on the constant pressure gradient driven flow but if it has adverse effects it should be damped. This problem is also relevent to blood flow in large arteries, especially as blood is known to be non-Newtonian in character.