A Turbulent Energy Model for Flows With Drag Reduction

A simple turbulent energy model, based on an improved version of Wolfshtein’s model for Newtonian flows, with a variable damping parameter, is used to describe the effect of linear polymers on the velocity profile and the turbulent energy distribution in channel and pipe flows. Measured mean velocity profiles seem to be in good agreement with the model, which predicts as well the observed increase in turbulent energy near the wall in flows with drag reduction.