Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gvvz8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-18T21:41:07.166Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Transition to turbulence in pipe flow for water and dilute solutions of polyethylene oxide

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 March 2006

R. W. Paterson  and
F. H. Abernathy
R. W. Paterson
Affiliation:
Division of Engineering and Applied Physics, Harvard University Present address: Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, United Aircraft Research Laboratories, East Hartford, Connecticut.
F. H. Abernathy
Affiliation:
Division of Engineering and Applied Physics, Harvard University
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

An experimental study of the transition from laminar to turbulent flow in a long 0·248in. I.D. pipe is reported for both water and dilute water solutions of polyethylene oxide which exhibit turbulent flow drag reduction (the Toms phenomenon). The drag-reducing solutions, ranging in effectiveness from near zero to the maximum attainable, are observed to undergo transition in a similar way to the Newtonian solvent in that the solutions exhibit intermittency and the growth rates of the turbulent patches are essentially equal to those of the pure solvent. The growth rate of turbulent patches indicates that drag reduction is associated with the small-scale structure of the turbulence near the pipe wall while patch growth is associated with the larger-scale turbulence in the outer flow. For low-disturbance pipe inlet conditions the strong drag-reducing solutions are observed to undergo transition at lower Reynolds numbers than the pure solvent.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 51 , Issue 1 , 11 January 1972 , pp. 177 - 185
Copyright
© 1972 Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Castro, W. & Squire, W. 1967 The effect of polymer additives on transition in pipe flow. Appl. Sci. Res. 18, 81–96.Google Scholar
Coles, D. 1962 Interfaces and intermittency in turbulent shear flow. Mécanique de la Turbulence, pp. 229–250. C.N.R.S.Google Scholar
Lindgren, E. R. 1957 The transition process and other phenomena in viscous flow. Arkiv for Fysik 12, no. 1.Google Scholar
Lumley, J. L. 1969 Drag reduction by additives. Annual Review of Fluid Mechanics, vol. 1, p. 367. Annual Reviews Inc.Google Scholar
Paterson, R. W. 1969 Turbulent flow drag reduction and degradation with dilute polymer solutions. Ofice of Naval Research, Harvard University. Contract N00014–67-A-0298-0002.Google Scholar
Paterson, R. W. & Abernathy, F. H. 1970 Turbulent flow drag reduction and degradation with dilute polymer solutions. J. Fluid iMech. 43, 689–710.Google Scholar
Prandtl, L. & Tietjens, O. 1934 Applied Hydro- and Aeromechanics (1957 ed.). Dover.
Reynolds, O. 1883 On the experimental investigation of the circumstances which determine whether the motion of water shall be direct or sinuous, and the law of resistance in parallel channels. Phil. Trans. 174, 935.Google Scholar
Rotta, J. 1956 Experimenteller Beitrag zur Entstehung turbulenter stromung in Rohr. Ing.-Arch. 24, 258–281.Google Scholar
Toms, B. A. 1948 Some observations on the flow of linear polymer solutions through straight tubes at large Reynolds numbers. Proc. 1st Int. Congress on Rheology, vol. II, pp. 135–41. North Holland.
Virk, P. S., Merrill, E. W., Mickley, H. S., Smith, K. A. & Mollo-Christensen, E. L. 1967 The Toms phenomenon: turbulent pipe flow of dilute polymer solutions. J. Fluid Mech. 30, 305–28.Google Scholar
White, W. D. & McEligot, D. M. 1970 Transition of mixtures of polymers in a dilute aqueous solution. J. Basic Eng., Trans. A.S.M.E.Google Scholar