Eur. Phys. J. Plus (2017) 132: 110
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/i2017-11378-y

Regular Article

Nanostructures study of CNT nanofluids transport with temperature-dependent variable viscosity in a muscular tube

¹ DBS&H, CEME, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan
² Mathematics & Statistics Department, Riphah International University I-14, Islamabad, Pakistan
³ Department of Mechanical Engineering, Manipal University, 303007, Jaipur, India

^* e-mail: aaripha2016@gmail.com

Received: 20 August 2016
Accepted: 29 January 2017
Published online: 2 March 2017

Abstract

The transport of single-wall carbon nanotube (CNT) nanofluids with temperature-dependent variable viscosity is analyzed by peristaltically driven flow. The main flow problem has been modeled using cylindrical coordinates and flow equations are simplified to ordinary differential equations using long wavelength and low Reynolds' number approximation. Analytical solutions have been obtained for axial velocity, pressure gradient and temperature. Results acquired are discussed graphically for better understanding. It is observed that with an increment in the Grashof number the velocity of the governing fluids starts to decrease significantly and the pressure gradient is higher for pure water as compared to single-walled carbon nanotubes due to low density. As the specific heat is very high for pure water as compared to the multi-wall carbon nanotubes, it raises temperature of the muscles, in the case of pure water, as compared to the multi-walled carbon nanotubes. Furthermore, it is noticed that the trapped bolus starts decreasing in size as the buoyancy forces are dominant as compared to viscous forces. This model may be applicable in biomedical engineering and nanotechnology to design the biomedical devices.