Turbulent drag reduction in polymeric solutions containing suspended fibers

Abstract

Abstract Both polymeric solutions and fiber suspensions have separately been known to exhibit drag reduction under turbulent flow conditions. It has recently been shown that the mechanisms of drag reduction differ appreciably in these two kinds of systems. The objective of this study was to show that both mechanisms may be exploited concomitantly to achieve unusually low friction factors. Drag reductions in excess of 95% have been obtained in a 2.4‐cm tube and there is no evidence that even more dramatic results could not be obtained under optimal conditions.