Adding large polymer molecules to a liquid can lead to a substantial reduction of energy losses in the turbulent flow regime, which is characteristic of many flows in nature and technology. A similar effect arises in solutions containing certain surfactant (detergent-like) molecules. These additives give a liquid an elastic character that is absent in simple liquids like water. The phenomenon is used to improve energy efficiency in flow processes ranging from oil pipelines to geothermal district heating operations, but the mechanisms underlying it remain poorly understood. This project will reveal universal features of the flow structures underlying this drag reduction effect by using computational fluid dynamics simulations in multiple geometries. The outcome will advance the understanding of turbulence in viscoelastic fluids encompassing both polymer and surfactant solutions, enabling the design of fluids and flow processes that decrease energy consumption. The research team will partner with the UW-Madison Institute for Chemical Education to provide educational opportunities. Undergraduate engineering students will develop project-based lessons in fluid mechanics and present them at 4H, Wisconsin Science Festival, Engineering Expo (UW-Madison College of Engineering outreach event), and local science nights at schools. Recent studies have revealed two regimes of near-wall turbulence in viscoelastic polymer solutions. In the first, turbulence is sustained by quasi-stre