Flow Resistance and Structures in Viscoelastic Channel Flows at Low Re

Abstract

The flow of viscoelastic fluids in channels and pipes remain poorly understood, particularly at low Reynolds numbers. Here, we investigate the flow of polymeric solutions in straight channels using pressure measurements and particle tracking. The law of flow resistance is established by measuring the flow friction factor $f_{\eta }$ versus flow rate. Two regimes are found: a transitional regime marked by rapid increase in drag, and a turbulent-like regime characterized by a sudden decrease in drag and a weak dependence on flow rate. Lagrangian trajectories show finite transverse modulations not seen in Newtonian fluids. These curvature perturbations far downstream can generate sufficient hoop stresses to sustain the flow instabilities in the parallel shear flow.

5 pages, 5 figures

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• Weakly nonlinear analysis of the viscoelastic instability in channel flow for finite and vanishing Reynolds numbers
• Elastically driven Kelvin-Helmholtz-like instability in planar channel flow
• Coherent structures in plane channel flow of dilute polymer solutions with vanishing inertia
• Inertial enhancement of the polymer diffusive instability
• Finite-amplitude elastic waves in viscoelastic channel flow from large to zero Reynolds number
• New directions and perspectives in elastic instability and turbulence in various viscoelastic flow geometries without inertia
• Numerical Study of Viscoelastic Upstream Instability
• Linear stability analysis of purely elastic travelling wave solutions in pressure driven channel flows
• Elastic instability in a straight channel of viscoelastic flow without prearranged perturbations
• Universal coherent structures of elastic turbulence in straight channel with viscoelastic fluid flow
• Experimental observation of the origin and structure of elasto-inertial turbulence
• Pressure shifts in pulsatile shear: A microfluidic method to probe the normal stress response of complex fluids
• Coherent structures in Newtonian and viscoelastic turbulent planar jets
• Splitting of localized disturbances in viscoelastic channel flow