Numerical study of two-dimensional peristaltic flows

Abstract
The Navier–Stokes equations are solved numerically for two-dimensional peristaltic flows by using the finite-difference technique employing the upwind SOR method, and the velocity, pressure and stress fields for various peristaltic flows are obtained. The influences of the magnitudes of wave amplitude, wavelength and Reynolds number on the flow are investigated through numerical calculations, and the results are compared with those of the perturbation analysis. The paper is mainly concerned with elucidating the characteristics of the peristaltic flow at moderate Reynolds numbers where peristaltic pumping has a possibility of engineering application. As a result, it is found that the validity of the perturbation solutions by Jaffrin (1973) and Zien & Ostrach (1970) are restricted within a narrower range than that which they predicted, and that the reflux phenomenon in the flow does change the whole situation according to Reynolds number.

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