Studies of the Interaction Between Drag-Reducing Polymers and a Turbulent Flow Field Using Pulsed Image Velocimetry and FENE Bead-Spring Model

An understanding of polymer drag-reduction, discovered by Toms (1948), has remained a challenge to researchers in turbulence and polymer fluid mechanics. The intriguing aspect of this phenomenon is that the addition of high molecular weight, long chain polymer molecules in amounts as small as 1 ppm can reduce the drag of a turbulent flow on a wall by as much as 25%. A popular argument is that drag-reduction is associated with the unraveling of polymer molecules by the turbulent velocity fluctuations causing an increase in the viscosity in the buffer zone but not in the viscous sublayer. This increase in the viscosity results in damping of small eddies and an increase in the thickness of the buffer layer and reducing the drag.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Civil Engineering

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2014

Author dc:creator

• Massah Bavani, Heshmatollah

Contributors dc:contributor

• Hanratty, Thomas J.

• Applied Mechanics
• Engineering, Chemical
• Engineering, Mechanical

Identifier

(UMI)AAI9411709

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/72208