EXPERIMENT 2

REYNOLDS NUMBERS

OBJECTIVES
The objective of the experiment are:
1. To arrange work procedure accordingly
2. To execute safety and health procedure
3. To handle the given task correctly
4. To identified the data needed
5. To accomplish the task within a time frame given
6. To document the task and produce the report

THEORY/BACKGROUND
Fluid flow can be classified to three regimes which is laminar, transitional and turbulent
regime. Laminar regime is a regime where the flow is characterized by smooth streamlines
and highly ordered motion. Turbulent is a regime where flow is characterized by velocity
fluctuations and highly disordered motion. Transitional regime is where the flow fluctuates
between laminar and turbulent before it becomes fully turbulent.
The transitional from laminar to turbulent flow depends on geometry, surface roughness, flow
velocity, surface temperature and type of fluid. However, Osborne Reynolds discovered that
the flow regime mainly depends on the ratio of inertial forces to viscous forces. This ratio we
called as Reynolds number.
At small or moderate Reynolds numbers the viscous forces are large enough to suppress
theses fluctuations and to keep the fluid “in line”. Thus, the flow is streamlined and in
ordered motion. However, at large Reynolds number, the inertial forces, which are
proportional to the fluid density and the square of the fluid velocity are large relative to the
viscous force. As the results the viscous force cannot prevent the random and rapid
fluctuations of the fluid. Thus, the flow will be in disordered motion.
The boundary of Reynolds number for laminar, transitional and turbulent regime varies by
geometries and flow condition. For example, flow in a circular pipe is laminar for Reynolds
number less than 2300, turbulent for Reynolds number larger than 4000 and transitional in
between. However, we will have other boundaries if the pipe cross sectional area is square.
This experiment is to visualize the laminar, transitional and turbulent flow in a pipe and to
determine the boundary of Reynolds number for flow in the pipe.
First by controlling the flow rate establish the laminar flow. Then by slowly increase the flow
rate observes what happened to the dye streak. Record the flow pattern change and its
volumetric flow rate reading. Determine the boundary of Reynolds number for laminar,
transitional and turbulent regime.
EQUIPMENT
PROCEDURE