Non-Newtonian Fluids

Non-Newtonian Fluids are fluids whose viscosity depends on shear rate, time, or deformation history, unlike Newtonian fluids with constant viscosity. Examples include polymers, suspensions, gels, blood, and toothpaste. These fluids exhibit complex behavior such as shear thinning, shear thickening, viscoelasticity, and yield stress. Non-Newtonian fluid dynamics is important in industrial processing, biomedical engineering, and materials science. Modeling such fluids requires constitutive equations beyond classical Newtonian assumptions. Their flow behavior significantly affects mixing, pumping, and transport processes. Experimental rheology and computational modeling are used to characterize non-Newtonian properties. Understanding non-Newtonian fluids enables better design of manufacturing processes and biomedical devices. This field expands classical fluid mechanics to complex and realistic materials.