In this chapter, we present a brief description of existing viscoelastic models, starting with the classical differential and integral models, and then focusing our attention on new models that take advantage of the enhanced properties of the Mittag-Leffler function (a generalization of the exponential function). The generalized models considered in this work are the fractional Kaye-Bernstein, Kearsley, Zapas (K-BKZ) integral model and the differential generalized exponential Phan-Thien and Tanner (PTT) model recently proposed by our research group. The integral model makes use of the relaxation function obtained from a step-strain applied to the fractional Maxwell model, and the differential model generalizes the familiar exponential Phan-Thien and Tanner constitutive equation by substituting the exponential function of the trace of the stress tensor by the Mittag-Leffler function. Since the differential model is based on local operators, it reduces the computational time needed to predict the flow behavior, and, it also allows a simpler description of complex fluids. Therefore, we explore the rheometric properties of this model and its ability (or limitations) in describing complex flows.

In this work, we present the implementation and verification of HiGTree-HiGFlow solver (see for numerical simulation of the KBKZ integral constitutive equation. The numerical method proposed herein is a finite difference technique using tree-based grids. The advantage of using hierarchical grids is that they allow us to achieve great accuracy in local mesh refinements. A moving least squares (MLS) interpolation technique is used to adapt the discretization stencil near the interfaces between grid elements of different sizes. The momentum and mass conservation equations are solved by an implicit method and the Chorin projection method is used for decoupling the velocity and pressure. The Finger tensor is calculated using the deformation fields method and a three-node quadrature formula is used to derive an expression for the integral tensor. The results of velocity and stress fields in channel and contraction-flow problems obtained in our simulations show good agreement with numerical and experimental results found in the literature.

In this work, we present a numerical study on the development length (the length from the channel inlet required for the velocity to reach 99% of its fully-developed value) of a pressure-driven viscoelastic fluid flow (between parallel plates) modelled by the generalised Phan–Thien and Tanner (gPTT) constitutive equation. The governing equations are solved using the finite-difference method, and, a thorough analysis on the effect of the model parameters α and β is presented. The numerical results showed that in the creeping flow limit (Re=0), the development length for the velocity exhibits a non-monotonic behaviour. The development length increases with Wi. For low values of Wi, the highest value of the development length is obtained for α=β=0.5; for high values of Wi, the highest value of the development length is obtained for α=β=1.5. This work also considers the influence of the elasticity number.