Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Early turbulence and drag reduction phenomena in larger pipes

Nature volume 252, page 690 (1974)Cite this article

Abstract

SOLUTIONS of certain high molecular weight polymers have been shown to exhibit the phenomena of both early turbulence1–7 and drag reduction4,5,8 depending on whether the measurements were made under laminar flow conditions for the former case or under turbulent flow conditions for the latter. In general, early turbulence has been observed only in capillary tube flows while drag reduction has been observed in a variety of flow geometries, the only requirement being a developing or developed turbulent flow field.

Access through your institution
Buy or subscribe

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Access through your institution

Buy this article

  • Purchase on SpringerLink
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Ram, A., and Tamir, A., J. appl. polym. Sci., 8, 2751 (1964).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Little, R. C., NRL Memo Rep. 1957, (Clearinghouse, Defense Documentation Center Report No. AD-684770, January 1969).

  3. Jones, W. M., and Maddock, J. L., J. Phys. D., 2, 797 (1969).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. Little, R. C., and Wiegard, M., J. appl. polym. Sci., 14, 409 (1970).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Little, R. C., J. appl. polym. Sci., 15, 3117 (1971).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Forame, P. C., Hansen, R. J., and Little, R. C., AIChE J., 18, 213 (1972).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Hansen, R. J., Little, R. C., and Forame, P. C., chem. Engng, Japan, 6, 310 (1973).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Hansen, R. J., and Little, R. C., Chem. Engng Prog. Symp., 67, 93 (1971).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Fabula, A. G., Lumley, J. L., and Taylor, W. D., Modern Developments in the Mechanics of Continua, 145 (Academic Press, New York, 1966).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, 20375

    R. J. HANSEN & R. C. LITTLE

Authors
  1. R. J. HANSEN
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R. C. LITTLE
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

HANSEN, R., LITTLE, R. Early turbulence and drag reduction phenomena in larger pipes. Nature 252, 690 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1038/252690a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/252690a0

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing