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:

Polymer drag reduction in Taylor vortices

Nature volume 257, pages 304–305 (1975)Cite this article

Abstract

THE Toms effect1, whereby the addition of small quantities of polymer can typically produce 50% reduction in drag, occurs in turbulent flow systems. We report preliminary observations of a similar drag reduction behaviour observed in a Couette apparatus when toroidal Taylor vortices2 are generated by rotating the inner of two concentric cylinders at sufficient speed; in this case the flow field is well understood and does not vary with time.

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

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • 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. Toms, B. A., Proc. First Int. Congr. Rheology, 135–141 (Scheveningen, 1949).

  2. Taylor, G. I., Phil. Trans. R. Soc., A 223, 289–343 (1923).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  3. Peterlin, A., Pure appl. Chem., 12, 563–586 (1966).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Pennings, A. J., van der Mark, J. M. A. A., and Booij, H. C., Kolloidzeitschrift, 236, 99–111 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Rubin, H., and Elata, C., Phys. Fluids, 9, 1929–1933 (1966).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Jones, W. M., and Marshall, D. E., Br. J. appl. Phys., Series 2, 2, 809–814 (1969).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. Thomas, J. M., Evans, J. R. N., Lewis, T. J., and Seeker, P., Nature, 222, 373–374 (1969).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  8. Hayes, J. W., and Hutton, J. F., Progr. Heat and Mass Transfer, 5, 195–209 (1972).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Peterlin, A., Nature, 227, 598–599 (1970).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. G. KISS

    Present address: Polymer Science and Engineering Laboratory, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, 01002

Authors and Affiliations

  1. H. H. Wills Physics Laboratory, University of Bristol, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TL, UK

    A. KELLER, G. KISS & M. R. MACKLEY

Authors
  1. A. KELLER
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. G. KISS
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. R. MACKLEY
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

KELLER, A., KISS, G. & MACKLEY, M. Polymer drag reduction in Taylor vortices. Nature 257, 304–305 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1038/257304a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/257304a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

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