Control of particle clustering in turbulence by polymer additives

TL;DR

This paper investigates how polymer additives influence the clustering behavior of inertial particles in turbulent viscoelastic fluids using direct numerical simulations, revealing that polymers can both enhance or suppress clustering depending on conditions.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the dual role of polymers in modulating particle clustering in turbulence, based on detailed numerical simulations.

Findings

Polymers can increase particle clustering under certain conditions.

Polymers can decrease clustering depending on flow parameters.

The effects depend on particle and flow characteristics.

Abstract

We study the clustering properties of inertial particles in a turbulent viscoelastic fluid. The investigation is carried out by means of direct numerical simulations of turbulence in the Oldroyd-B model. The effects of polymers on the small scale properties of homogeneous turbulence are considered in relation with their consequences on clustering of particles, both lighter and heavier than the carrying fluid. We show that, depending on particle and flow parameters, polymers can either increase or decrease clustering.