Experimental study of viscoelastic effectives in a cylinder-plane lubricated contact

This experimental study is related to the flow between a stationary small diameter needle and a moving drum of much larger diameter, seen as a moving plane. Our visualisation experimental set-up adds new results regarding the flow behaviour of a polymer solution. This flow is compared to that of a Newtonian fluid used under the same kinematic conditions. Important differences between Newtonian and polymeric flows concern mainly streamlines, stagnation point positions, and reverse flow. A second experimental set-up enabled us to obtain normal stress profiles along the needle wall and the flow rate through the gap. Reslts related to Newtonian flows are compared to the well-known analytical solutions for a bidimensional laminar flow.