A non-Newtonian model of flow in a kneading disc region of a modular intermeshing corotating twin screw extruder (Q1119075)

The flow of a non-Newtonian fluid in the kneading disc region of an intermeshing co-rotating twin screw extruder has been analyzed using hydrodynamic lubrication theory based on a power law shear viscosity model. The Tadmor FAN method is used as a numerical solution method. Three different approximation methods for introducing power law behavior into the FAN method are described. These were subsequently used to calculate velocity and pressure fields in the kneading disc region. The effects of machine throughput and tip clearance as well as power law index on the flow field were determined. The computation results for the different methods are compared.