Drag Of Circular Cylinders In Flow Of Dilute Polymer Solutions

Flow of Dilute Polymer Solutions about Circular Cylinders

Flow of aqueous solutions of Polyox WSR-301, with concentrations of 1.0 to 200 wppm, past circular cylinders was investigated in the drag-transition region of Reynolds numbers. Drag force, pressure distribution, and separation angle were measured on cylinders with diameters from 1/4 to 1-1/2 inch. Lift and drag forces acting on a NACA-0024 hydrofoil-model were also measured. The polymer additive was found to alter only those force coefficients which have a Reynolds-number transition region. Two distinct types of cylinder drag transition were observed: (1) At high concentrations, transition from sub-critical to a transcritical flow occurred at the same free-stream velocity independent of body diameter; and (2) at low concentrations and/or molecular weights, tripping from a sub-critical to a super-critical flow occurred at a well defined flow condition which was a function of free-stream velocity, body diameter, and turbulent pipe-flow friction reduction. In all cases, transition occurred earlier than that in the pure solvent. The polymer had a de-stabilizing effect on the boundary-layer flow.

Drag of Circular Cylinders in Flow of Dilute Polymer Solutions

Drag on Circular Cylinders in Laminar Flow of Dilute Polymer Solutions