Effect of Viscoelasticity on the Turbulence Kinetic Energy Budget of the Non-Newtonian Fluid Turbulent Flow Accompanied by Drag Reduction

For the purpose of elucidating the mechanism of drag reduction by additives and finding a way to judge optimum drag-reducing additives through a simple rheological test, we performed DNS analysis of viscoelastic fluid turbulent flow in a two-dimensional channel. In this calculation, we employed the Giesekus constitutive equation to model the interaction between water-soluble polymer, or the elastic micellar network structure, and solvent. We calculated the fluid flow by varying the rheological parameters of the model. We examined the turbulent kinetic energy budget and studied the “viscoelastic contribution” term in the budget equation for turbulent intensity, which is not apparent in normal Newtonian fluid turbulence. Viscoelastic contribution has a characteristic effect on viscoelastic fluid turbulence. We concluded that the viscoelastic contribution plays a major role in turbulent frictional drag reduction. Dissipation and viscoelastic contribution serve as a key factor of turbulent kinetic energy loss in most areas of the channel. From the visualization of local and instantaneous eddy behavior, we discussed the relationship between viscoelastic contribution, elastic energy and turbulent production. We found that viscoelastic contribution serves as a direct local source of turbulent production, and that energy is stored in the elasticity.