Abstract

In flows with polymer additives, elasto-inertial turbulence describes a global or local state of flow where polymer dynamics is competing with or overwhelming the dynamics of the flow without polymers. It is still too early to conclude if EIT is the manifestation of fundamental elastic instabilities, possibly connected with elastic turbulence (ET) in inertialess flows, or its own turbulence distinct to ET. Similarly, much work is needed to understand the role of EIT with respect to maximum drag reduction (MDR), the asymptotic state of drag reduction in supercritical wall-bounded flows. In the quest to resolve these gaps in our understanding of polymer flows, distinct regimes have been identified, including a first coherent structure in 2D, periodic, simulated channel flows. This talk discusses the insights gained by these regimes and their possible connections to phenomena observed in 3D flows with polymer additives.