LDA measurements of steady streaming flows of Newtonian and viscoelastic fluids

LDA experiments have been conducted in a two-dimensional steady streaming flow field in order to determine the secondary velocity profiles. We describe here an LDA system developed to resolve small secondary-flow velocities and to detect flow reversals due to viscoelasticity. Results compare well with theoretical predictions. A detailed analysis of the errors and uncertainties involved in the measurements confirms the reliability and reproducibility of the measurements. Although the method has been applied here to a specific flow field, the technique should be applicable to a number of secondary flows, such as those which can occur in curved pipes and in oscillating pipe flows.The authors have benefited from discussions with Professor Bruce Chehroudi, from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago. This work was supported by the Office of Naval Research through Contract Number N00015-85-K-0201.