As part of Donald’s research doctorate, he developed a novel rheological model (“yield plastic”) to describe the flow behavior of aggregating fine suspensions. He then derived the basic pipe flow equations using this model (i.e., laminar flow pressure drop, turbulent flow pressure drop, and transition velocity). A new dimensionless group (the “stress number”) was developed that makes non-Newtonian pipe flow conceptually easier than using the friction factor.
During his consulting engineering experience, he developed a novel method for the simultaneous hydraulic design for the distribution systems for hydraulic (i.e., sand slurry) and cemented paste backfill systems.