Elastic turbulence in straight confined geometries

Abstract

Elastic turbulence (ET) in straight geometries has been extensively studied in idealised configurations such as periodic shear and planar channel flow, yet experiments are typically restricted to confined systems like ducts and pipes. While chaotic elastic fluctuations are observed in ducts, their onset in pipes is debated due to geometric constraints. Here we report sustained chaotic dynamics in both geometries and show they correspond to the same ET state identified in idealised setups. Our results establish ET as a geometry-independent attractor and point to a distinct transition mechanism in pipes.