It is well known that adding even small amounts of long chain polymers (e.g. few parts per million) to Newtonian solvents can drastically change the flow behaviour by introducing elasticity. In particular, two decades ago, experiments in curved geometries demonstrated that polymer flows can be chaotic even at vanishingly small Reynolds numbers. The situation in `straight’ flows such as pressure-driven flow down a channel is less clear and hence an area of current focus. I will discuss recent progress.
Further Information
Rich Kerswell is a professor in the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics (DAMTP) at the University of Cambridge. His research focuses on fluid dynamics, particularly in the transition to turbulence, geophysical fluid flows, and nonlinear dynamics. Kerswell is known for studying how simple fluid systems can exhibit complex, chaotic behavior and has contributed to understanding turbulence's onset and sustainment in various contexts, including pipes and planetary atmospheres. His work integrates mathematical modeling, theoretical analysis, and computational simulations to explore instabilities and the fundamental mechanisms governing fluid behavior in nature and industry.