Channel flow of Ellis fluid due to peristalsis

An analysis is carried out to investigate the peristaltic pumping of a non-Newtonian Ellis fluid in a planar channel. The coupled nonlinear partial differential equations governing the problem are simplified under the widely used assumption of long wavelength and low Reynolds number. A semi- analytical approach is adopted to obtain the expressions for stream function, longitudinal velocity, pressure gradient and pressure rise per wavelength. The important characteristics of the peristaltic motion are explained graphically for several values of the material parameter of the Ellis fluid.