TABLE OF CONTENTS

Content page number

Introduction

Aim
 Introduction

Introduction

Liquids do not always flow in a perfect, smooth stream. Once velocity increases past a certain
threshold (determined by the diameter of the pipe, density and viscosity of the liquid, and
velocity), puffs begin to develop in the liquid and produce turbulence. A smooth flow of liquid is
called laminar while an uneven flow is called turbulent.

In order to observe and study these types of flow, an engineer, by the name of G.H.L Lagen in
1839, carried out experiments and deduced an equation with an unknown constant in relation
to the viscosity of a liquid. In 1883, however, an engineering professor, Osborne Reynolds,
discovered the identity (equation) of the unknown number in Lagen’s equation.

This is the equation we now call the Reynolds number. This laboratory, based on the concept of
Reynolds number and its application, entails the duplication of the experiment he used to
generate results presented in this report.
The significance of the Reynolds number is that it relates given values (density, velocity,
length/diameter, and viscosity) to the type of flow that the liquid will experience. The larger the
Reynolds number, the more turbulent the flow. The accepted Reynolds number for transition
from laminar to turbulent flow in a smooth, circular pipe is 2300 (White 352).
 AIM
To observe the different types of fluid flow and to determine the Reynolds number of each type
of flow.
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 ρ = the fluid density, V = the velocity of the fluid, d = to the diameter of the tube, μ = 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.
 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

 Table 1.0 Materials used in laboratory experiment

Type/ Name Source Nature of Dimensions Factors affecting

Material (cm) behaviour of
equipment
Dye Concrete/ Civil Liquid Temperature
Engineering
Laboratory

Water Concrete/ Civil Liquid Temperature

Engineering
Laboratory

EQUIPMENT

Table 2.0 Equipment used in laboratory experiment

Type/ Name Manufacturer Model Capacity Accuracy

Graduated Jar JAYTEC B.S 1000 1000 mL ±0.5 mL

Stop Watch- SAMSUNG SAMSUNG- 16 GB _

Phone SM-G900A
REYNOLDS
NUMBER
MACHINE
 EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE

1. The water was turned on and the discharge valve at the base of the apparatus was partially
opened.
2. The dye injector valve was opened and adjusted to obtain a fine filament of dye in the flow
down the glass tube. The discharge and dye injector valves were adjusted simultaneously until a
laminar flow condition was achieved.
3. The temperature of the water was recorded using a thermometer and the corresponding
kinematic viscosity was obtained from a table.
4. The flow rate was measured by timing the collection of a known volume of water from the
discharge pipe.
5. The flow rate was slowly increased by opening the discharge valve until disturbances of the
dye filament were noted. This indicated the starting point of transition or turbulent flow.
6. The flow rate was increased until the disturbances increased such that the dye filament became
rapidly diffused.
7. The dye injector valve was closed in order to finalize the experiment
 Results

Initial temperature of water 34°C

Diameter of tube 12mm = 0.012m

Length of tube 90cm = 0.9m

Dynamic viscosity 0.723 x 10−3 kg/ms

Discharge Time Volume Flow Velocity Type of Flow Reynolds

(seconds) (ml) rate (m/s) Number,
(m3/s) Re
First 30.7 300 7.0 0.062 Laminar 1435.6
× 10−6
Second 35.63 300 8.42 0.075 Laminar 1244.8
× 10−6
Third 17.03 300 17.6 0.155 Transitional 2572.6
× 10−6
Fourth 19.10 300 15.7 0.138 Transitional 2290.5
× 10−6
Fifth 11.4 300 26.3 0.232 Turbulent 3862.9
× 10−6
Sixth 8 300 37.5 0.331 Turbulent 5508
× 10−6
 Calculations
Conversions:
1mL = 10−6 m3
300mL = 300 × 10−6 m3 = 0.0003m3

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

1000mm = 1m
1
1mm = m
1000
12
12mm = m = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟏𝟐𝐦
1000

πD2 π((0.012m)2 )
A= = = 𝟏. 𝟏𝟑 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟒 𝐦𝟐
4 4
 Laminar flow

V1 = 0.0003m3
t = 30.7 seconds
V1 0.0003m3
Q1 = = = 7.0 × 10−6 m3 ⁄s
t 30.7s

Q1 7.0 × 10−6 m3 ⁄s
v1 = = = 0.062 m⁄s
A 1.13 × 10−4 m2

ρ = 1000 kg/m3
µ = 0.723 x 10−3 kg/ms
v1 = 0.062 m⁄s

𝛒𝐯𝟏 𝐝 1000 kg⁄m3 × 0.062 m⁄s × 0.012m

𝐑𝐞 = = = 𝟏𝟒𝟑𝟓. 𝟔
𝛍 0.723 x 10−3 kg/ms

ρ = 1000 kg/m3
µ = 0.723 x 10−3 kg/ms
t = 35.63 seconds
d = 0.012 m
V1 = 0.0003m3

V2 0.0003m3
Q2 = = = 8.42 × 10−6 m3 ⁄s
t 35.63

Q2 8.42 × 10−6 m3 ⁄s
v2 = = = 0.075 m⁄s
A 1.13 × 10−4 m2

ρv2 d 1000 kg⁄m3 × 0.028 m⁄s × 0.0175m

Re = = = 𝟏𝟐𝟒𝟒. 𝟖
μ 0.723 x 10−3 kg/ms
 Transitional flow

ρ = 1000 kg/m3
µ = 0.723 x 10−3 kg/ms
d = 0.012 m
v3 = 0.155 m⁄s
V1 = 0.0003m3
V3 0.0003m3
Q3 = = = 17.6 × 10−6 m3 ⁄s
t 17.03s

Q3 17.6 × 10−6 m3 ⁄s
v3 = = = 0.155 m⁄s
A 1.13 × 10−4 m2

ρv3 d 1000 kg⁄m3 × 0.155 m⁄s × 0.012m

Re = = = 𝟐𝟓𝟕𝟐. 𝟔
μ 0.723 x 10−3 kg/ms

ρ = 1000 kg/m3
µ = 0.723 x 10−3 kg/ms
d = 0.012 m
v4 = 0.138 m⁄s

V4 0.0003m3
Q4 = = = 15.7 × 10−6 m3 ⁄s
t 19.1s

Q4 15.7 × 10−6 m3 ⁄s
v4 = = = 0.138 m⁄s
A 1.13 × 10−4 m2

ρv4 d 1000 kg⁄m3 × 0.138 m⁄s × 0.012m

Re = = = 𝟐𝟐𝟗𝟎. 𝟒𝟓
μ 0.723 x 10−3 kg/ms
 Turbulent flow
ρ = 1000 kg/m 3

µ = 0.723 x 10−3 kg/ms

d= 0.012 m
v5 = 0.232 m⁄s
V1 = 0.0003m3
V5 0.0003m3
Q5 = = = 26.3 × 10−6 m3 ⁄s
t 11.4s

Q5 26.3 × 10−6 m3 ⁄s
v5 = = = 0.232 m⁄s
A 1.13 × 10−4 m2

ρv5 d 1000 kg⁄m3 × 0.232 m⁄s × 0.012m

Re = = = 𝟑𝟖𝟔𝟐. 𝟗
μ 0.723 x 10−3 kg/ms

ρ = 1000 kg/m3
µ = 0.723 x 10−3 kg/
d = 0.012 m
v6 = 0331. m⁄s
V6 0.0003m3
Q5 = = = 37.5 × 10−6 m3 ⁄s
t 8s

Q6 37.5 × 10−6 m3 ⁄s
v5 = = = 0.331 m⁄s
A 1.13 × 10−4 m2

ρv6 L 1000 kg⁄m3 × 0.331 m⁄s × 0.012m

Re = = = 𝟓𝟓𝟎𝟖
μ 0.723 x 10−3 kg/ms
 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 at 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.
 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
APPENDIX
 REFERENCE
 Nave, R. (2005). "Laminar Flow". HyperPhysics. Georgia State University.
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/pfric.html. Retrieved 7th November 2017.

 Rogers, D.F. (1992). Laminar flow analysis. Cambridge U. Press. ISBN 0-521-44152-1.
http://books.google.com/books?isbn=0521411521
 "Reynolds Number Calculator". 2017. Airfoiltools.Com.
http://airfoiltools.com/calculator/reynoldsnumber. Retrieved 6th November
 Puebe, Jean-Laurent. Fluid mechanics. New York: Wiley-Liss, 2013