International Symposium on Multiphase Flow and Transport Phenomena
DOI: 10.1615/ICHMT.1997.IntSymLiqTwoPhaseFlowTranspPhen
ISBN Print: 1-56700-162-9
DRAG REDUCTION BY POLYMER ADDITIVES IN A TURBULENT PIPE FLOW
page 6
SINOPSIS
In this paper is made an attempt to understand the phenomenon of drag reduction by polymer additives in turbulent pipe flow. An explanation in terms of hydrodynamic stability of the mechanism of drag reduction of Maxwell fluids is provided, but it can hardly be imagined that one single mechanism exist for the phenomenon. We present a model, which takes into consideration to find optimal perturbations during the turbulent regime in pipe flow of fluids containing polymer additives. This model is based on ideas in classical hydrodynamic stability. Some experimental observations of drag reducing by additives in pipe are also presented.