Intermittency and hibernation in elasto-inertial Taylor–Couette flow at moderate Reynolds number
Abstract
We investigate the presence of intermittency, a well-known phenomenon in Newtonian turbulence, in viscoelastic Taylor–Couette flow at fixed inertia, (Reynolds number, Re=120). Using particle image velocimetry measurements in the r-z plane for a broad range of elasticities, El=0-0.64, we reveal a dual role of viscoelasticity, even at moderate Re: it can destabilise the flow and trigger turbulence at moderate elasticity but suppress turbulence intensity at higher values. Gradual turbulence suppression is evident through reduced velocity fluctuations, longer integral time scales proportional to the polymer relaxation time and weakened coherent structures as the flow approaches elasto-inertial turbulence. Higher-order statistics indicate that elasticity increases spatial and temporal intermittency while altering the dynamics: spatially, through a reduced viscous range and enhanced large-scale decorrelation; temporally, via a characteristic time scale consistent with polymer-driven state switching rather than a classical cascade. This spatio-temporal intermittency manifests as alternating active/hibernating turbulence cycles. During hibernation, the flow reorganises into a state distinct from active turbulence, characterised by low velocity fluctuations and Reynolds stresses, suppressing not only turbulence but also linearly unstable Newtonian states such as Taylor vortices. Rather than being featureless, this state exhibits weakened coherent structures in the bulk of the flow and sustained near-wall dynamics, where elastic stresses are likely generated. The present results demonstrate that hibernation is not exclusive to Newtonian turbulence, but also emerges in viscoelastic flows under conditions where inertia alone is insufficient to trigger or sustain turbulent motion.
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BibTeX
@article{boulafentis2026intermittency,
title = {{Intermittency and hibernation in elasto-inertial Taylor–Couette flow at moderate Reynolds number}},
author = {Theofilos Boulafentis and Tom Lacassagne and Neil Cagney and Stavroula Balabani},
journal = {Journal of Fluid Mechanics},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1017/jfm.2026.12127},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05836428v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Intermittency and hibernation in elasto-inertial Taylor–Couette flow at moderate Reynolds number
AU - Theofilos Boulafentis
AU - Tom Lacassagne
AU - Neil Cagney
AU - Stavroula Balabani
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/25
JO - Journal of Fluid Mechanics
DO - 10.1017/jfm.2026.12127
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05836428v1
AB - We investigate the presence of intermittency, a well-known phenomenon in Newtonian turbulence, in viscoelastic Taylor–Couette flow at fixed inertia, (Reynolds number, Re=120). Using particle image velocimetry measurements in the r-z plane for a broad range of elasticities, El=0-0.64, we reveal a dual role of viscoelasticity, even at moderate Re: it can destabilise the flow and trigger turbulence at moderate elasticity but suppress turbulence intensity at higher values. Gradual turbulence suppression is evident through reduced velocity fluctuations, longer integral time scales proportional to the polymer relaxation time and weakened coherent structures as the flow approaches elasto-inertial turbulence. Higher-order statistics indicate that elasticity increases spatial and temporal intermittency while altering the dynamics: spatially, through a reduced viscous range and enhanced large-scale decorrelation; temporally, via a characteristic time scale consistent with polymer-driven state switching rather than a classical cascade. This spatio-temporal intermittency manifests as alternating active/hibernating turbulence cycles. During hibernation, the flow reorganises into a state distinct from active turbulence, characterised by low velocity fluctuations and Reynolds stresses, suppressing not only turbulence but also linearly unstable Newtonian states such as Taylor vortices. Rather than being featureless, this state exhibits weakened coherent structures in the bulk of the flow and sustained near-wall dynamics, where elastic stresses are likely generated. The present results demonstrate that hibernation is not exclusive to Newtonian turbulence, but also emerges in viscoelastic flows under conditions where inertia alone is insufficient to trigger or sustain turbulent motion.
SN - 0022-1120
SN - 1469-7645
ER -