Direct numerical simulation of elastic turbulence and its mixing-enhancement effect in a straight channel flow

In this paper, we present a direct numerical simulation (DNS) of elastic turbulence of viscoelastic fluid at vanishingly low Reynolds number (Re=1) in a three-dimensional straight channel flow for the first time, using the Giesekus constitutive model for the fluid. In order to generate and maintain the turbulent fluid motion in the straight channel, a sinusoidal force term is added to the momentum equation, and then the elastic turbulence is numerically realized with an initialized chaotic velocity field and a stretched conformation field. Statistical and structural characteristics of the elastic turbulence therein are analyzed based on the detailed information obtained from the DNS. The fluid mixing enhancement effect of elastic turbulence is also demonstrated for the potential applications of this phenomenon.