Within the present investigation, a micro-scale viscous disc pump (VDP) is utilized to induce and control elastic turbulence phenomena. Elastic turbulence occurs when elastic polymer solutions within liquids are excited by a mechanical stress, and then exhibit highly non-linear and non-Newtonian behavior. The mechanical stresses act on the polymers within the flow stretching these polymers, resulting in secondary flows which continue to interact with the polymers within the solution, further stretching them and increasing mixing and chaotic fluid motions. This flow field is created by a miniature viscous disk pump (VDP) operating at different rotational speeds and channel heights. The VDP consists of a disk that rotates above a C-shaped channel with inner and outer radii of 1.19mm, and 2.38mm, respectively. Fluid inlet and outlet ports are located at the ends of the C-shaped channel. Channel depths of 230mm and 340mm are employed to provide different ranges of shear stress distribution within the flow. An adjustable valve is additionally employed to restrict the flow rate of the pump. The resulting variability in depth, rotational speed, and flow rate (for a particular polymer concentration) allow control of highly non-linear and non-Newtonian elastic turbulence phenomena. Such phenomena are quantified using shear stress (which depends upon variations of pressure rise, as well as viscosity and shear rate), since this is the primary indicator of elastic turbulence. As such, the present viscous disc pump is well suited for alteration and management of elastic turbulence.

elastic turbulence, viscous disk pump, micro-fluidics, transition, non-Newtonian fluid, Rheology.