Module 1 :

Lecture 1 : Introduction

The lecture contains

Properties of laminar flow

Properties of turbulent flow

Module 1 :
Lecture 1 : Introduction

Laminar flows are characterized by a very high degree of orderliness.

Figure 1.1
The diffusive transport processes that occurs in laminar flows are only caused by molecular
motion.
Laminar flow solutions can generally be obtained by integration of the set of differential
equations given below:
Continuity equations ( = const.):

Momentum equation: j = 1, 2, 3

Equations for 4 unknowns U1 , U2 , U3 and P are available.

Equations to describe damping of disturbances

Let us accept the solution as

or,

Stable laminar flows posses a high degree of stability against outside disturbances.
Short wave disturbances are better damped than long wave disturbances.
If a whole spectrum of disturbances acts on a flow, the long wave disturbances are
maintained longer.
If externally introduced disturbances are not damped, the flow will not maintain laminar
character.

Module 1 :
Lecture 1 : Introduction

Properties of Laminar Flow

Laminar flows posses the following properties:
They are stable against externally introduced disturbances, especially against short wave
disturbances.
They show a high degree of orderliness and are not characterized by stochastic irregularities.
They posses a small diffusivity, only molecular diffusion is present.
can be analytically computed for simple flow geometries.
is to be computed numerically for complex flow geometries.

Module 1 :
Lecture 1 : Introduction

Properties of Turbulent Flow

Turbulent fluid flows are characterized by chaotic fluid motions. A high degree of mixing exists
and a high diffusivity is observed.

Figure 1.2
The diffusion processes that are caused by molecular motions are usually small in comparison
to those caused by turbulent fluid motions.

Figure 1.3
The velocity gradient results in a amplification of disturbances as explained above.

Damping and amplification can appear in a super imposed way.

Figure 1.4
Turbulent flows contain vorticity. Vortices of different length scales occur in the flow.
L = integral length scale

= micro scale of turbulence

Turbulent flows are mostly explained by L and .

Module 1 :
Lecture 2 : Boundary Layer

The lecture contains

Boundary Layer
Growth rate of Boundary layer for Laminar and Turbulent Flows

Module 1 :
Lecture 2 : Boundary Layer

Boundary Layer
Compared to laminar boundary layer, turbulent boundary layers produce stronger drag, grow faster
and exhibit stronger resistance to separation.

Growth Rate of Boundary Layers

Hand-waving approach
think in terms of the shear stress transmitting the influence of the no-slip
boundary condition at the wall out into the free stream
also one can think in terms of vorticity
being created at the leading edge and then diffusing out into the free stream.
At each point in the flow we define two time scales, tlong and t trans .
tlong

longitudinal time scale, time required to convect free-stream fluid.

ttrans

transverse time scale, time required to diffuse in the normal to the flow

Figure 2.1

Consider any point in the flow field and compare the time scales there:
There are three possibilities:
(i) tlong << ttrans
the flow at the point under consideration is dominated by the free stream and the point must lie
outside the boundary layer.
(ii) tlong >> ttrans
the flow at the point under consideration is strongly influenced by the presence of the wall and the
point must lie within the boundary layer.
(iii) Another possibility is tlong
which means

ttrans

or

A familiar result, valid for Laminar bounadry layer.

Module 1 :
Lecture 2 : Boundary Layer

Laminar Boundary Layer: Transverse transport of momentum and vorticity is driven by

VISCOUS SHEAR STRESS
Turbulent Boundary Layer: Transverse transport is driven by turbulence itself, (TURBULENT
FLUCTUATIONS)
Example:
Persons in two side by side vehicles (moving with different velocities) exchanging water melons. The
vehicles achieve same velocity after some time.

The estimate for the tickness of a turbulent bounadry layer is,

or,
The reasonable but rough estimates are

The maximum value of turbulent fluctuations,

Where

is the velocity scale given by wall shear stress

For a given flow,

=constant

and

Skin friction data indicate that grows slightly slower than x itself as x increases
,
One

can

derive

the

for moderately high Reynolds numbers

above

result

from

the

experimental

result

of

Blasius

Following Nikuradse's experiments, one obtains

, for high Reynolds numbers

Module 1 :
Lecture 3 : Characteristics of Turbulent Flow

The lecture contains

The Origin of Turbulence

Nature of Turbulence
Swirling Structure
Mean Motion and Fluctuations
Consequences of Turbulence
Homogeneous-Isotropic Turbulence

Module 1 :
Lecture 3 : Characteristics of Turbulent Flow

The Origin of Turbulence

Turbulence has its origins in the inherent instabilities of laminar flow
Pufs and Slugs are turbulent structures and are obtainable in transitional pipe flows
(Boundary Layer Theory by H. Schlichting)
Turbulence dies out due to viscous damping unless some mechanisms keep on pumping
energy into the velocity fluctuations
The most important mechanism for generating and maintaining turbulence is shear in the
mean flow
Other mechanisms are : Stirring and Buoyancy

Module 1 :
Lecture 3 : Characteristics of Turbulent Flow

Nature of Turbulence
Chaotic, flow velocity is sensitive to perturbations and fluctuates in time and space.

Figure 3.1

Swirling Structure
It has wide spectrum of eddies (sizes) and corresponding frequencies.
Eddies interact with each other.

Module 1 :
Lecture 3 : Characteristics of Turbulent Flow

Mean Motion and Fluctuations:

The concept of mean motion and fluctuations was first put forward by Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519).
Later, in 1883 O. Reynolds conducted his famous experiment and conjectured about the Reynolds'
decomposition.
Turbulent flow consists of superimposed streaming and fluctuating (eddying)
motion.

Figure 3.2
Reynolds' decomposition:

Hussain's decomposition:

Coherent

incoherent

To start with we shall follow Reynolds' decomposition

Instantaneous quantity = average quantity + fluctuating component

Scales:
U at a point ( x ) at an instant ( t ) has dependence on U ( x , t - t ) or U( x x , t )
As eddy passes by a point P, one observes: at a point: U varies with time for a pair of points ( a,b ):
Ua(t) Ub(t)<0
correlation

Figure 3.3
Typical distance over which correlation exists:
Length scale ( x )

Duration for which correlation exists:

Time scale ( ~ x / U )
Associated frequency: ( U / x ) Hz
Frequencies: (~

U / x Hz ) or wave numbers ( ~ 2 / x m-1 )

Turbulence is composed of a collection of frequencies, time scales and length scales.

Consequences of turbulence:
Internal flow: increased pressure drop
increased heat transfer

External flow: vibrations

increased skin friction
increased heat transfer

Module 1 :
Lecture 3 : Characteristics of Turbulent Flow

Homogeneous-Isotropic Turbulence

The term homogeneous turbulence implies that the velocity fluctuations in the system are
random.
The average turbulent characteristics are independent of the position of the fluid, i.e.,
invariant of axis translation.
In addition to its homogeneous nature, if the velocity fluctuations are independent of axis of
reference, i.e., invariant to axis rotation and reflection, then the turbulence can be termed as
homogeneous and ISOTROPIC. By definition ISOTROPIC turbulence is always
homogeneous.

Consider the root mean square velocity fluctuations

In homogeneous turbulence the rms values of the velocity components can all be different, but each
value must be constant over the entire turbulent field.
In isotropic turbulence fluctuations are independent of the direction of reference and
or