The Drag Reduction Effect of High Molecular Weight Polyacrylamide: A Part from The Book Chapter : Analytical Modelling to Improve the Predictive Capacity of Newtonian Fluid Theories on the Elastic Moduli Ratio (Ec/Em) of Particulate Composites

Experimental investigations of the drag reduction effect of high molecular weight polyacrylamide (PAM) and polyethylene oxide (PEO) polymers added to water, a Newtonian fluid, confirmed non-linear relationships between the torque (stress) and strain rate and therefore deviations from Newtonian fluid behaviour of the resulting 2-phase fluids. This deviation was observed to be higher for PAM than PEO and to increase with increasing contents of both polymers. The viscosity of the 2-phase fluids were observed to reduce/increase with increasing rotational speed and increasing content of PEO/PAM, as opposed to that of water that remained more or less constant. Clearly, the assumption of Newtonian fluid flow for dual phase fluids is not universally applicable and must be approached with care.

The aim of this work is to enhance the predictive capacity of Equations 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0 in the next section. This is done through a critical examination of the equations followed by rationalisations to guide their modification. Thereafter, graphs generated from the modified equations and the upper and lower bound Voigt and Reuss equations, respectively, are generated, their curves inspected and compared and arising discussions presented.

Author(s) Details:

Maina Maringa,
Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, Central University of Technology, Private Bag X20539, 20 President Brand Street Westdene, Bloemfontein, 9300, Free State, South Africa.

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