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Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION

Viscosity is an important fluid property when analyzing liquid behavior and fluid motion

near solid boundaries. The viscosity of a fluid is a measure of its resistance to gradual deformation

by shear stress or tensile stress. The existence of two distinct types of viscous flow is a universally

accepted phenomenon.

The first type of flow, where at low velocities the layers move smoothly over one another

without eddies or swirls is called laminar flow. The well-ordered type of flow occurs when adjacent

fluid layers slide smoothly over one another with mixing between layers or lamina occurring only

on a molecular level. At any instant, the velocity at all 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 second type on the other hand, in which if the velocities are increased, small

disturbances cause eddies which mix-up the layers of the fluid producing a different kind of flow

is termed as turbulent flow. Small packets of fluid particles are transferred between layers, giving

it a fluctuating nature. The velocity changes from point to point and even at the same point from

time to time. This type of flow occurs in low density fluids, flow through wide passage and in high

velocity flows.

The existence of laminar and turbulent flow, although recognized earlier, was first

described quantitatively by Reynolds in 1883. Water was allowed to flow through a transparent
pipe, as shown, at a rate controlled by a valve. A dye having the same specific gravity as water

was introduced at the pipe opening and its pattern observed for progressively larger flow rates of

water. At low rates of flow, the dye pattern was regular and formed a single line of color. At high

flow rates, however, the dye became dispersed throughout the pipe cross section because of the

very irregular fluid motion.

After conducting his experiment with pipes of different diameters and with water at

different temperatures, Reynolds concluded that the various parameters on which the regimes of

flow depend can be grouped together in a single dimensionless parameter called Reynolds number.

It is defined as the ratio of inertial forces and viscous forces. Mathematically, it is expressed as

𝐷𝑣𝜌
𝑅𝑒 =
𝜇

where Re is the Reynolds Number, D is the diameter (m), v is the fluid’s velocity (m/s),

𝜌 is the fluid’s density and 𝜇 is the fluid’s dynamic viscosity (Pa-s).

Generally, the pipe flow of fluids can be identified as laminar, transition or turbulent by

the behavior of the fluid flow. Reynolds observed that in case of flow through pipe for values of

Re<2000 the flow is laminar while Re>40000 it is turbulent and for 2000<Re<4000 it is transition

flow.

The objective of this experiment is to reproduce the classical experiment conducted by

Osborne Reynolds concerning fluid flow conditions. It also aims to observe the laminar, transition

and turbulent velocity profiles as related to Reynolds Number. This study is significant for the the

chemical engineering students to give them the experience of operating the Osborne Reynolds

apparatus. It will also help them visualize the regimes of fluid flow.
References:

Welty, J. R., J. E. Wicks, R. E. Wilson and G. L. Rorrer (2008). Fundamentals of Momentum,

Heat, and Mass Transfer, 5th ed, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., USA.

Reynolds Number. (n.d.). Retrieved January 29, 2018, from

https://www.academia.edu/31580118/Experiment_4_REYNOLDS_NUMBER

What is the Reynolds Number?. (n.d.). Retrieved January 29, 2018, from

https://www.simscale.com/docs/content/simwiki/numerics/what-is-the-reynolds-

number.html

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