Peristaltic Pumping
Abstract Peristaltic pumping in a cylindrical tube is simulated. The unsteady, three-dimensional, incompressible Navier-Stokes equations are solved numerically. A flow solver written for parallel architecture and capable of dealing with moving boundaries and moving grids is used. The solver uses a second-order in time and third-order upwind finite volume method for solving time-accurate incompressible flows utilizing pseudo-compressibility technique. In this study, the flow of an axisymmetric “Wine-glass” shaped, single, peristaltic wave is analyzed. The wall wave, quickly, establishes a pressure wave in the flow which pumps fluid in the tube as it moves down the tube. The pressure wave, established by the contracting geometric wall wave, grows and diffuses into the upstream and downstream direction in time due to the action of viscosity.