Chapter VI

Reynolds
Flow Regime Trial Time (sec) Velocity (m/s)
Number

Laminar 1 825 0.0107 126.9191

2 819 .0108 128.1053

Transition 1 47 .1881 2231.4798

2 43 .2056 2439.0593

Turbulent 1 25 .3537 4195.1820

2 22 .4019 4767.1761

DATA AND RESULTS

Table No. 1

Chapter VII
Discussion or Interpretation of Results

The experiment was carried out to reproduce the classical experiment conducted by

Osborne Reynolds concerning fluid flow conditions and to observe the laminar, transition and

turbulent velocity profile as related to Reynolds Number. Thus, these objectives were

performed well having known and learned the behavior of the flow and also calculated the range

for the laminar, transitional and turbulent flow. The experiment was carried out by using

Osborne Reynolds apparatus. Moreover, it is necessary to know the differences between laminar,

turbulent and transition flow before one is about to conduct this experiment.
 As for laminar flow, it is defined as a highly ordered fluid motion with smooth

streamlines. Under this condition, the dye will remain easily identifiable as a solid core. Then,

turbulent flow which is the type of flow in which the particles move in a zigzag pattern is known

as the turbulent flow. Turbulent flow denotes an unsteady flow condition where streamlines

interacting causing shear plane collapse thus mixing of the fluid. Because of the fast velocity,

the dye seem not to be visible. Whereas transition flow is known as a flow that contains both

laminar and turbulent regions. Under this condition, the dye streak almost immediately becomes

blurred and spreads across the entire pipe in a random fashion.

Furthermore, the Reynolds number for laminar flow is <2000 whereas for transition flow

2000< Re <2500. For turbulent flow is Reynolds number is >2500. Based on the results

obtained from conducting the experiment of two trials for each flow, a results satisfying the facts

about the three types of flow was obtained. For the Laminar flow, the 1 st reading was 126.9191

followed by 2nd reading of 128.1053. On the other hand, the 1 st reading and 2nd reading for

turbulent flow was 2231.4798 and 2439.0593, respectively. On these two flows, they were

smoothly executed and the results corresponds to the theoretical values. But the transition flow

didnt achieve the theoretical value due to some errors. We performed the trial thrice for the 1 st

reading was 2449.890 which is outside the limitation for transition. On the succeeding readings,

a more fulfilling values were obtained which are 4195.1820 and 4767.1761, respectively.

The experiment should be set up perfectly to get accurate data. The water flow, in and

out, should be controlled and remained constant. As much as possible, there must be an equal

flow going in and out the pipe. Most importantly, time should be measured accurately because it

is used to calculated flow rate of water. Because a minor error in recording the time, it will affect

the flow rate calculation. Lastly, an important precaution for everyone doing the experiment was
their observation. The observation must be correct when looking at the dye, especially on the

part of performing the transition flow. An identification of the flow correctly will avoid major

error classifying the flow pattern.