Flow classification from the perspective of microelements dispersed in a continuous phase

This paper examines the mechanical behavior of microelements dispersed in the bulk flow in a four-roll mill, a device conceived to control the flow type. The dispersed phase can represent a diversity of systems such as macromolecules, droplets, among others. We generalized a purely kinematic flow-type classification parameter by taking into account the material parameters that characterize the microelement. We show how the local flow type varies in particular sets of flow conditions and how the flow type is seen from the perspective of the microelement, enriching the analysis of this traditional flow. The flow is assumed to be isochoric, two-dimensional and isothermal. The numerical simulation is implemented with the finite element method to address mass and momentum conservation. The deformation of a microelement positioned at the stagnation point is analyzed from the perspective of the types of flow it perceives at this position.