Newtonian Fluid (upper picture) - Shear-thinning Fluid (lower picture)

The microstructure simulation developed at the Fraunhofer ITWM allows for, e. g., the computation of permeabilities. The existing rheology models of the Lattice-Boltzmann code ParPac , which has been developed at the institute, are therefore extended by non-Newtonian models, such as the Cross model.

The figure on the left shows two flow simulations in a carbon fiber structure. Higher speeds due to shear-thinning effects are clearly visible in case of the non-Newtonian fluid. The permeability is calculated by averaging the microscopic velocity field and can then be used in the macro model.