Introduction
2. Characteristics of Turbulent Flows
Reynolds’ experiment
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Introduction
2. Characteristics of Turbulent Flows
Obsorne Reynolds
Born: 23 August 1842, Ireland
Died: 21 February 1912, England
Fields: Physics
Known for:
q Fluid Dynamics
q Reynolds Number
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Introduction
2. Characteristics of Turbulent Flows
Classification of fluid flows
q Laminar
q Transitional
q Turbulent
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Flows are classified as laminar or turbulent. For any flow geometry, there is one 1or more2 di-
mensionless parameter such that with this parameter value below a particular value the flow is
laminar, whereas with the parameter value larger than a certain value the flow is turbulent. The
[Link]
Introduction
2/22/12 5:25 PM Page 403
important parameters involved 1i.e., Reynolds number, Mach number2 and their critical values de-
pend on the specific flow situation involved. For example, flow in a pipe and flow along a flat
plate 1boundary layer flow, as is discussed in Section 9.2.42 can be laminar or turbulent, depend-
2. Characteristics of Turbulent Flows
ing on the value of the Reynolds number involved. As a general rule for pipe flow, the value of
the Reynolds number must be less than approximately 2100 for laminar flow and greater than ap-
proximately 4000 for turbulent flow. For flow along a flat plate the transition between laminar
Classification of fluid flows
and turbulent flow occurs at a Reynolds number of approximately 500,000 1see Section 9.2.42,
where the length term in the Reynolds number is the distance measured from the leading edge of
the plate. 8.1 General Characteristics of Pipe Flow 403
Consider a long section of pipe that is initially filled with a fluid at rest. As the valve is
opened
uA to start the flow, the flow velocity and, hence, the Reynolds number increase from zero 1no
flow2 to their maximum steady-state flow values, as is shown in Fig. 8.11. Assume this transient
process is slow enough so that unsteady effects Turbulent
are negligible 1quasi-steady flow2. For an initial
time period the Reynolds number is small enough for laminar flow to occur. At some time the
Q A Reynolds number reaches 2100, and the flow begins its transition to turbulent conditions. Intermit-
x tent spots or bursts of turbulence appear. As the Reynolds number is increased, the entire flow field
Transitional
becomes turbulent. The flow remains turbulent as long as the Reynolds number exceeds approxi-
mately 4000. Laminar
Turbulent flows A typical trace of the axial component of velocity measured at a given location in the flow,
involve randomly u ! u1t2, is shown in Fig. 8.12. Its irregular, random nature is the distinguishing feature of turbu-
fluctuating
lent flow. The character of many of the important properties of the flow 1pressure drop, heat trans-
parameters. t
fer,dependence
■ Figure 8.4 Time etc.2 depends strongly on the existence and nature of the turbulent fluctuations or randomness
of fluid velocity at a point.
Random,
V ! uî. For turbulent flow the predominant turbulent fluctuations
component of velocity Turbulentis also along the pipe, but it
is unsteady 1random2 and accompanied by random components normal to the pipe axis,
3
V ! uî # vĵ # wk̂. SuchTurbulent
motion in a typical flow occurs too fast for our eyes to follow. Slow-
4000
motion pictures of the flowbursts
can more clearly reveal the irregular, random, turbulent nature of the
u, ft/s
2
flow. Transitional
As was discussed in Chapter 7, we should not label dimensional quantities as being “large”
Re = VD/v
or “small,” such as “small enough flowrates” in the preceding paragraphs. Rather, 2000 the appropriate
1
dimensionless quantity should be identified and the “small” or “large” character attached to it. A
quantity is “large” or “small” only relative to aLaminar
reference quantity. The ratio of those quantities re-
sults in a dimensionless quantity. For pipe flow the most important dimensionless parameter is the
0 0
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Pipe Azadani
flow character- Reynolds number, Re—the ratio of the inertia to viscous effects in the flow. Hence, in the previ-
t, sec
Nature of Turbulence
2. Characteristics of Turbulent Flows
q Irregularity (or Randomness)
q Diffusivity
q Large Reynolds numbers
q Three-dimensional vorticity fluctuations
q Dissipation
q Continuum
q Turbulent flows are flows 24
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