We study the Saffman-Taylor instability of a non-Newtonian fluid in a Hele-Shaw cell. Using a fluid model with shear-rate dependent viscosity, we derive a Darcy's law whose viscosity depends upon the squared pressure gradient. This yields a natural, nonlinear boundary value problem for the pressure. A model proposed recently by Bonn et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 75, 2132 (1995)] follows from this modified law. For a shear-thinning liquid, our derivation shows strong constraints upon the fluid viscosity—strong shear-thinning does not allow the construction of a unique Darcy's law, and is related to the appearance of slip layers in the flow. For a weakly shear-thinning liquid, we calculate corrections to the Newtonian instability of an expanding bubble in a radial cell.

• Received 1 July 1996

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.54.R4536