THEORY:

The concept was introduced by George Gabriel Stokes in 1851, but the Reynold's number
named after Osborne Reynold (1842-1912), who popularized its use in 1883. Reynolds
observed that if the flow of water through pipe for values of Re < 2000 is laminar flow
while offer Re > 4000 is turbulent flow and for 2000 < Re < 4000 is transitional flow.

Re < 2000
Laminar flow denotes a steady condition due to viscous forces where all stream lines
follow parallel paths. Under this condition, the dye will remain easily identifiable as a
solid core.

2000 < Re < 4000

As the velocity is increased the dye filament becomes wavy throughout indicating
transition flow.

Re < 4000

Turbulent flow denotes an unsteady condition due to inertial forces where stream lines
interact causing shear plane collapse fluid. Under this condition the dye will become
dispersed as mixing occurs.

Where:
Re = Reynolds number
V = Fluid velocity

(m/s)

D = Observation tube diameter

v = Kinematic viscocity

(0.01m)

(0.893 x 10-6 m2/s)

PROCEDURE:
1. Make sure the stilling tank filled with water until it can stand for sometime.
2. Open the control valves of the stilling tank and allow water to flow through the
observation tube.

3. Open the valves of the dye injector and allow the dye to move through the tube.
4. Now, control the speed of water flow until the filament of dye in the observation
tube illustrate the character of the flow. Initially the filament of dye should be
steady, narrow stream, indicating laminar flow.

5. Measure the length of dye filament from the starting point until the end point
where the flow condition is lasted. Record the length and use it in the next two
sets of data.

6. After that, collect the water from the observation tube in the graduated cylinder
for 200ml and measure the time simultaneously.

7. Record the time to the table.

8. Next, open the control valve in small increments, so that the flow speed gradually
increases. The filament of dye should be fluctuates, indicating transitional flow.

9. Record the time taken to fill the required volume of water in the graduated
cylinder to the table.

10. This time, open the control valves in quite large increments, so that water flow
speed become fast. The filament of dye should be in highly disordered motion,
indicating turbulent flow.

11. Record the time taken to fill the required volume of water in the graduated
cylinder to the table.

12. Repeat the steps 4 - 11 in the next two sets of data for laminar, transitional, and
turbulent.

INTRODUCTION:
Reynolds number is a dimensionless quantity that is used to help predict similar fluid
flow situations. It is basically occurs under three very different types namely laminar,
transitional and turbulent .
The changes of flow types depends on geometry, surface roughness, flow velocity,
surface temperature, and type of fluid. However, Osborne Reynolds discovered that the
flow type mainly depends on the ratio of inertial forces to viscous forces. This ratio is
what we call as Reynolds number.
It is important to be able to calculate the Reynold number of specific types of flow so that
appropriate models can be used when designing flow system. The length, L, is significant
in characterizing the water flow.

OBJECTIVES:
To visualize laminar, transitional and turbulent flows.
To compute Reynolds's number (Re) on fluid flow conditions.
To prove that Reynolds number is dimensionless.

DISCUSSIONS:
According to the Reynolds experiment, laminar flow is determined when the Reynolds
number less than 2000 whereas turbulent flow is determined when the Reynolds number
more than 4000. But according to our Reynolds experiment, the data that we recorded for
some flow types not in range between the actual Reynolds number. The Reynolds number
of transitional is 742.44 and turbulent is 2458 where the both flow types are not in range
between the actual Reynolds number. The reason is we did not measured the length of the
dye filament from the starting point until the end point where the flow condition is lasted
in order to maintain the length in the next two sets of data. So that, there are big
differences in time and velocity calculation if we compared to other set of data.
We assumed that the speed of water flow rate change the flow type. It is quite hard to
maintain the same speed in the second and third experiment set. So, in order to maintain
the same speed, we have to measure the length of dye filament or mark a level at the
observation tube so that the filament of dye must be follow the same condition until the
level. From that, we can prevent error calculations.
After complete preparing and setup the equipment we run this experiment. Bur firstly we
have to know the diameter of observation tube, viscosity of water, and the density of
water. The density of water is 1000 kg/m3, the viscosity of water is 0.893 x 10-6 m2/s,
while the diameter of observation tube is 0.01m.
We observed that the filament of dye change when the flow rate of water increasing. The
shape change from stream lines to slightly wavy lines and then fully swirling lines. We
can say that this change is from laminar flow to transitional flow and then to turbulent
flow.

CONCLUSIONS:
I.

High speed of water flow rate indicate that viscous forces are small and the flow

essentially negligible viscous.

II. If the water flow rate increases, then the Reynolds number calculated also
increase and the filament of dye change from streamline to swirling.
III. If the length of dye filament does not maintained in the next sets of data, then the
Reynolds number calculated of the flow type will not in range between the actual
Reynolds number.
IV. No units left after the calculation and this is proved that Reynolds number is
dimensionless.

REFERENCES:
Reynolds Number - Laminar and Turbulent Flow
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wNmtle6qkE
http://www.scribd.com/doc/106767949/Reynolds-Number

EXPERIMENT RESULT:
LAMINAR
Volume

T1
(s)

T2
(s)

T3
(s)

T(average)
(s)

200 mL

87.6

130.8

29.4

82.6

Flow rate,
Q
(m3/s)
2.4213x10-6

Velocity,
V
(m/s)
0.0308

Flow rate,
Q
(m3/s)
5.208x10-6

Velocity,
V
(m/s)
0.0663

Flow rate,
Q
(m3/s)
1.7241x10-5

Velocity,
V
(m/s)
0.2195

TRANSITIONAL
Volume

T1
(s)

T2
(s)

T3
(s)

T(average)
(s)

200 mL

70.8

22.8

21.6

38.4

TURBULENT
Volume

T1
(s)

T2
(s)

T3
(s)

T(average)
(s)

200 mL

10.8

8.4

15.6

11.6

Sample calculation:
Q = L = 0.0002 = 2.4213 x 10-6 m3/s
s

82.6

V = Q = 0.0000024 = 2.4213 x 10-6 m3/s = 0.0308 m/s

A

x (0.01)2

7.8540 x 10-5 m2

4
Re = V*D = (0.0308)(0.01) = 344.90 < 2000, Laminar flow
v

0.893 x 10-6

Safety
I. When doing experiment you must wear a fastened lab coat.
II. Long treasures or jeans must be wear that cover all your legs.
III. Keep your work area tidy and clean up any water spills on the floor.
IV. Report all accidents and all incidents to lecturer.
Health
I. Your health must be in good condition.
II. Must be ready to carrying out the experiment.
III. Foods and drinks are prohibited.
Precautions
I. Before the experiment started, make sure that all the equipment set up
correctly.
II. Check the apparatus always whether they work properly or not.
III. Keep maintain the length of dye filament for a particular flow type in the next
two sets of data.
IV. Try to record the time accurately during collect the water from the observation
tube in the graduated cylinder.

APPARATUS:

Where:
Metering tab: open and adjust the speed of the dye to move thorough observation
tube.
Overflow tube: prevent overflow water by directing the extra water into the waste
water discharge.
Glassy stones: use to make the movement of water smoothly.
Dye reservoir: source of dye supply

APPENDIX: