TURBULENT-DIFFUSION AND DEGRADATION OF POLYMER-MOLECULES IN A PIPE AND BOUNDARY-LAYER

Results from a series of pipe-flow experiments using a range of water-soluble drag-reducing polymers are presented. Degradation has been investigated by means of multiple passes of the solutions through a pipe. A theory predicting drag reduction in pipe flow has been devised which agrees with the experimental results. Changes in polymer molecular weight due to degradation are taken into account. The analysis is then applied to a turbulent boundary layer with polymer injection. © 1979, Cambridge University Press