This paper deals with the nature of the heterogeneous drag reduction which occurs in turbulent pipe flows when a concentrated polymer solution is injected into the pipe center. According to earlier concepts, the achieved drag reduction is due to a direct, large-scale interaction of the viscoelastic polymer thread with the turbulent flow field. The authors prove that the heterogeneous drag reduction originates exclusively from agglomerates of dissolved polymer molecules present in the flow.

Issue Section:
Research Papers
Topics:
Drag reduction, Turbulence, Pipe flow, Pipes, Elastomers, Flow (Dynamics), Polymer solutions, Polymers, Thread
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