Introduction

The flow of real fluids can basically occur under two very different regimes namely laminar and
turbulent flow. The laminar flow is characterized by fluid particles moving in the form of lamina
sliding over each other, such that at any instant the velocity at all the points in particular lamina
is the same. The lamina near the flow boundary move at a slower rate as compared to those near
the center of the flow passage. This type of flow occurs in viscous fluids, fluids moving at slow
velocity and fluids flowing through narrow passages.

The turbulent flow is characterized by constant agitation and intermixing of fluid particles such
that their velocity changes from point to point and even at the same point from time to time; this
type of flow occurs in low density. Transitional flow is a mixture of laminar and turbulent flow,
with turbulence, and laminar flow. Each of these flows behaves in different manners in terms of
their frictional energy loss while flowing. This laboratory exercise was carried out observe the
different types of fluid flows and to determine their Reynolds number.

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Title: Reynolds Number

Aim: To observe the different types of fluid flow and to determine the Reynolds number of
each type of flow.

Apparatus and Materials

H215 Reynolds number and transitional flow demonstration apparatus.
Water
Dye

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 Theoretical information
Fluid flow can be characterized as laminar, turbulent, or transitional. The dimensionless
Reynolds number (Re) can be used to determine the fluid flow condition. The Reynolds number
can be calculated mathematically using:

Where = the fluid density, V = the velocity of the fluid, d = to the diameter of the tube, = the
dynamic viscosity of the fluid a given temperature .

Re- Reynolds number can be interpreted as the ratio of the flow's inertial forces to its viscous
forces. For large viscous forces (low Re, normally Re < 2000 for pipe flows), viscous effects are
great enough to damp any disturbances or perturbations in the flow and the flow remains
laminar. Any combination of low velocity, small diameter, or high kinematic viscosity which
results in Re < 2000 for pipe flow will produce laminar flow. The flow is called "laminar"
because the flow takes place in layers. The only mixing that occurs is molecular mixing between
the layers or between different parts of the flow.
For large inertial forces (large Re, normally Re > 4000 for pipe flows), there is not enough
viscous damping to remove any disturbances in the flow. Again, any combination of V and D
giving Re > 4000 will produce turbulent flow. As Re increases, the viscous damping of flow
disturbances or perturbations decreases relative to the inertial effects. Because of a lack of
viscous damping, disturbances are amplified until the entire flow breaks down into in irregular
motion. There is still a definite flow direction, but there is an irregular motion superimposed on
the average motion. Thus, for turbulent flow in a pipe, the fluid is flowing in the downstream
direction, but fluid particles have an irregular motion in addition to the average motion. The
turbulent fluctuations are inherently unsteady and three dimensional. As a result, particles which
pass through a given point in the flow do not follow the same path in turbulent flow even though
they all are flowing generally downstream.

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 Figure 1 path lines in turbulent flow

Since the velocities of all fluid particles are continually changing, the Eulerian velocities at a
point or at several points are also changing.

Figure 2 - Eulerian velocity distributions at different times

Figure 6: Turbulent Flow Figure 4: Laminar Flow

Figure 5: Transitional Flow

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 Procedure

The head tank was filled with water and the overflow tube maintained a constant head of
water.
The liquid was then allowed to flow through the transparent tube at a very low flow rate.
The lower valve controlled the flow of dye; it was opened and dye was released into the
pipe with the water.
Laminar flow was established by starting with a very low flow rate of water and of dye.
The dye flowed downstream in a threadlike pattern for very low flow rates.
Once steady state was achieved, the rotameter valve was opened slightly to increase the
water flow rate.
Flow rates were increased throughout the experiment.
Laminar flow was established in the tube, and the flow rate was slowly increased. The
pattern of the dye changed, yet the flow still appeared to be laminar and this was the
beginning of transition flow.
The flow rate was continually increased and again the behavior of the dye was observed.
Eventually, the dye was mixed with the water in a way that it was recognized as turbulent
flow. This point was the end of transitional flow and the beginning of turbulent flow.

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 Results

Initial temperature of water 34C

Diameter of tube 12mm = 0.012m
Length of tube 90cm = 0.9m
Dynamic viscosity 0.723 x 103 kg/ms

Discharge Time (seconds) Volume (ml) Type of Flow Reynolds

Number, Re
First 30.7 300 Laminar 1435.6

Second 35.63 300 Laminar 1244.8

Third 17.03 300 Transitional 2572.6

Fourth 19.10 300 Transitional 2290.5

Fifth 11.4 300 Turbulent 3862.9

Sixth 8 300 Turbulent 5508

Calculations

Conversions:
6 3
1mL = 10 m
300mL = 300 106 m3 = 0.0003m3

100cm = 1m
1
1cm = 100 m
90
90cm = 100 m = 0.9m

1000mm = 1m
1
1mm = m
1000
12
12mm = m = .
1000

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 D2 ((0.012m)2 )
A= = = .
4 4

Laminar flow

V1 = 0.0003m3
t = 30.7 seconds
V1 0.0003m3
Q1 = = = 7.0 106 m3 s
t 30.7s

Q1 7.0 106 m3 s
v1 = = = 0.062 ms
A 1.13 104 m2

= 1000 kg/m3
= 0.723 x 103 kg/ms
v1 = 0.062 ms

1000 kgm3 0.062 ms 0.012m

= = = .
0.723 x 103 kg/ms

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 = 1000 kg/m3
= 0.723 x 103 kg/ms
t = 35.63 seconds
d = 0.012 m
V1 = 0.0003m3

V2 0.0003m3
Q2 = = = 8.42 106 m3 s
t 35.63

Q2 8.42 106 m3 s
v2 = = = 0.075 ms
A 1.13 104 m2

v2 d 1000 kgm3 0.028 ms 0.0175m

Re = = = .
0.723 x 103 kg/ms

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 Transitional flow

= 1000 kg/m3
= 0.723 x 103 kg/ms
d = 0.012 m
v3 = 0.155 ms
V1 = 0.0003m3
V3 0.0003m3
Q3 = = = 17.6 106 m3 s
t 17.03s

Q3 17.6 106 m3 s
v3 = = = 0.155 ms
A 1.13 104 m2

v3 d 1000 kgm3 0.155 ms 0.012m

Re = = = .
0.723 x 103 kg/ms

= 1000 kg/m3
= 0.723 x 103 kg/ms
d = 0.012 m
v4 = 0.138 ms

V4 0.0003m3
Q4 = = = 15.7 106 m3 s
t 19.1s

Q4 15.7 106 m3 s
v4 = = = 0.138 ms
A 1.13 104 m2

v4 d 1000 kgm3 0.138 ms 0.012m

Re = = = .
0.723 x 103 kg/ms

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 Turbulent flow
= 1000 kg/m 3

= 0.723 x 103 kg/ms

d= 0.012 m
v5 = 0.232 ms
V1 = 0.0003m3
V5 0.0003m3
Q5 = = = 26.3 106 m3 s
t 11.4s

Q5 26.3 106 m3 s
v5 = = = 0.232 ms
A 1.13 104 m2

v5 d 1000 kgm3 0.232 ms 0.012m

Re = = = .
0.723 x 103 kg/ms

= 1000 kg/m3
= 0.723 x 103 kg/ms
d = 0.012 m
v6 = 0331. ms
V6 0.0003m3
Q5 = = = 37.5 106 m3 s
t 8s

Q6 37.5 106 m3 s
v5 = = = 0.331 ms
A 1.13 104 m2

v6 L 1000 kgm3 0.331 ms 0.012m

Re = = =
0.723 x 103 kg/ms

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 Discussion

Laminar flow highly ordered fluid motion with smooth streamlines. Transition flow a flow that
contains both laminar and turbulent regions. Turbulent flow a highly disordered fluid motion
characterized by velocity and fluctuations and eddies.

According to the Reynolds`s experiment, laminar flow will occur when a thin
filament of dye injected into laminar flow appears as a single line. There is no dispersion of
dye throughout the flow, except the slow dispersion due to molecular motion. While for
turbulent flow, if a dye filament injected into a turbulent flow, it disperse quickly
throughout the flow field, the lines of dye breaks into myriad entangled threads of
dye.

For the laminar flow pattern, the fluid was observed to move at a very low velocity with slight
twisting of the dye filaments but no disturbances. The calculated Reynolds number value of
1435.6 and 1244.8, coincides with the required range of Re < 2000.

For the transitional flow, the fluid appears to be moving at a faster rate than that of the laminar
flow and the dye streams wavers in the water mixing slightly with intermittent pulses of
disturbances. The flow can be unstable and switches back and forth between turbulent and
laminar conditions. The computed Reynolds number was 2572.6 and 2290.45 which lies in the
required range of 2000 < Re < 4000.

For the turbulent flow the fluid moves a t a very high velocity as the dye mixes rapidly and
completely in the water. In addition the particle paths are completely irregular which the average
motion assumed in the direction of flow. However for the turbulent flow the Re computed was
5508 and 3862.9. in this case the Re 5508 was in the required range of >4000 but the Re of
3862.9 was not in the standard required range; this may be accounted for poor reaction times
when stopping the timers when filling the 300ml container.

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 Conclusion

After conducting the research, it can be concluded that the three types of flow ( laminar,
transitional and turbulent) was successfully observed and the Reynolds number for each flow
type were calculated. The computation revealed that five (5) out of six (6) of the Re values
computed fell between the standard range for their respective flow. It was also proved that the
Reynolds equation is dimensionless, no units left after the calculation.

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 References

Books
1. Nave, R. (2005). "Laminar Flow". HyperPhysics. Georgia State University.
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/pfric.html. Retrieved 23 November 2010.

2. Anderson, J.D. (1997). A history of aerodynamics and its impact on flying machines.
Cambridge U. Press. ISBN 0-521-66955-3.
http://books.google.com/books?isbn=0521669553.

3. Rogers, D.F. (1992). Laminar flow analysis. Cambridge U. Press. ISBN 0-521-44152-1.
http://books.google.com/books?isbn=0521411521.

Websites
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluid_dynamics, ( accessed on the 25th March 2013 at 8:00

pm.)

www.physics.udel.edu/.../Fluid%20Dynamics/Fluid%20Dynamics2. ( accessed on

the 25th March 2013 at 8:00 pm.)

books.google.com Science Mechanics Fluids ( accessed on the 25th March

2013 at 8:00 pm.)

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 Appendix

Mark Ramdihal Regulating the colouring valve The Renolds Number machine

Terbulant flow Transitional flow

(Picture was taken by T. Haripersaud on 26/03/2013.)

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