K-1205 Viscoelastic Flow in Hemispherical Gap

Abstract

Flow of viscoelastic fluid contained between a stationary outer sphere and a rotating inner hemisphere is studied experimentally. In the present investigation, relatively low-concentration polyacrylamide-water solutions are used as viscoelastic fluid, and for sake of comparison glycerin-water solutions are used as the Newtonian fluid. In experiments, measurements of the rotational torque and thrust are carried out. Various transition phenomena of flow modes that are unique to viscoelastic fluids are investigated by flow visualization for a wide range of rotational Reynolds numbers.