An iterative solution for a pulsatile flow of suspension of particles in a rigid tube (Q1093499)

Incompressible pulsatile flow of a suspension of small uniformly sized spherical particles in a rigid circular tube is studied. The flow is induced by a periodic pressure gradient. Following an iterative scheme, the solution with three significant correction terms over the classical solution is obtained. This solution is found to be valid for a certain range of values of Womersley's parameter in which the effect of the presence of the particles on the flow is significant. Unlike the solution in terms of Bessel functions with complex argument, the present iterative solution can easily be examined and the effects of various parameters occurring in each term can easily be assessed. The numerical computations of velocities (of the suspension, the particles and the clean fluid) for varying radial coordinate and for varying time, and of the wall shear stress for varying time are carried out, graphed and interpreted.