Abstract
Viscoelastic branching and merging flows in a Y-shaped channel is observed by means of flow visualization technique and numerically simulated by the finite difference method. Influences of parameters, such as rheological constants, flow rate and branching angle, on flow patterns are discussed.
(1) In a branching flow of viscoelastic liquid, streamlines swell near the wall just upstream of the acute angle turn.
(2) Deviation of viscoelastic flow from Newtonian flow becomes more pronounced as viscosity decreases due to shear thinning.
(3) In a merging flow the secondary flow just upstream of the acute angle turn grows larger as the flow rate ratio
