Mechanical Engineering Department

Fluid Mechanics Laboratory (MECH 335)

Spring 2016

Laboratory Experiment No. 3

Title: Osborne Reynolds' Experiment

Objective: - To observe laminar, transitional and turbulent pipe flow

Method: - Visualisation of flow behaviour by injection of a dye into a

steady flow in a pipe. This is a classical experiment and was
first performed by Osborne Reynolds in the late nineteenth
century

Equipment Required: - Hydraulics Bench

- Osborne Reynolds Apparatus
- Stopwatch
- Thermometer

Deliverables: On completion of the experiment, a complete Lab Report is to

be submitted, containing the following:
- experimental measurements (filled Results table in
Section 7)
- responses to questions in Section 8 (Analysis) and
Section 9 (Conclusion)
- a summary of the learning outcomes

Prepared by: Mr. Mohammad Abdul Majid Siddiqi

 Lab Experiment No. 3

1. Introduction
General Overview:
The Hydraulics Bench provides the necessary facilities to support a comprehensive range of
hydraulic models, each of which is designed to demonstrate a particular aspect of hydraulic
theory.
The specific hydraulic model that we are concerned with for this experiment is the Osborne
Reynolds Apparatus. This is a classic experiment and is a visualisation of flow behaviour by
injection of dye into a steady flow in a pipe.

Equipment Diagram:

Osborne Reynolds' Demonstration Apparatus

Equipment Description:
Positioning the Accessory
The accessory is designed to be positioned in the ridges at either side of the channel in the top
of the hydraulics bench.
Inlet Pipe
The inlet pipe is connected between the bench supply and the base of the constant head tank,
where glass marbles still the flow.
Flow Visualisation Pipe
The flow visualisation pipe is fitted with a bellmouth which promotes smooth entry to the
pipe.
Flow Control Valve
Flow through the pipe is regulated using a flow control valve. In use this valve should face
the volumetric tank. A short length of flexible piping attached to the valve will prevent
splashing.
Dye Reservoir and Dye Injection
Dye contained in a reservoir is injected into the pipe via a hypodermic tube. The flow of dye
is controlled via a valve and its position is adjusted using a screw.

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 Lab Experiment No. 3

2. Theory
A flow can behave in very different ways depending upon which forces predominate within it.
Slow flows are dominated by viscous forces, tend to be well ordered and predictable and are
described as laminar. In laminar pipe flow the fluid behaves as if concentric layers (laminae)
are sliding over each other with a maximum velocity on the axis, zero velocity at the tube
wall and a parabolic velocity distribution. Dye injected carefully at a point in a laminar pipe
flow will be stretched out by the flow to form a clear well defined line. The only mixing that
can occur is by molecular diffusion.
Increasing the flow rate substantially will alter the flow behaviour dramatically, as the inertia
of the fluid (due to its density) becomes more significant than the viscous forces; this is then a
turbulent flow. In turbulent pipe flow, dye injected at a point is rapidly mixed due to the
substantial lateral motion in the flow and the dye behaviour appears chaotic. These motions
appear random and arise from the growth of instabilities in the flow. Detailed behaviour is
impossible to predict except in statistical terms.
There is an in-between stage, transitional flow, in which a dye stream will appear to wander
about and will show intermittent bursts of mixing, followed by a more laminar behaviour.
The Reynolds number, Re, provides a useful way of characterising the flow, it is defined as:

where is the kinematic viscosity, u is the mean velocity given in terms of the volume flow
rate and d is the diameter of the pipe.
It is common practice to take a Reynolds number of 2,000 as the value which divides laminar
from turbulent flow. However, this does not take account of the transition region and it may
also be possible (with great care) to keep a flow laminar for Reynolds numbers up to 10,000
or more. Also, pipe flows with Reynolds number less than 1,800 are inherently laminar.

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 Lab Experiment No. 3

3. Experimental Data
Nomenclature:

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 Lab Experiment No. 3

Kinematic Viscosity of Water at Atmospheric Pressure

Technical Data:
The following dimensions from the equipment are used in the appropriate calculations. If
required these values may be checked as part of the experimental procedure and replaced with
your own measurements.
Diameter of Test Pipe d = 0.01 m
Cross-sectional area of Test Pipe A = 7.854 x 10-5 m2

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 Lab Experiment No. 3

4. Operation
Filling the Dye Reservoir
Check that the dye control valve is closed. Add dye to the dye reservoir until it is
approximately two thirds full.
Priming the Dye Injection System
Attach the hypodermic needle to the dye reservoir. Hold the dye assembly over a sink, and
open the valve, to check for free flow of the dye. Use the stylus provided to clean the needle,
if a steady flow of dye cannot be established.
Mounting the Dye Injection System
Mount the dye injector on the head tank and lower the injector until its outlet is just above the
bell mouth and centred on its axis.
Constant Flow Visualisation using Dye
With the apparatus flow control valve open slightly, and the bench valve adjusted to produce
a slow trickle through the overflow pipe, adjust the dye control valve until a slow flow with
clear dye indication is achieved.
Velocity Profile Visualisation Using Dye
In order to observe the velocity profile in laminar flow, close the bench valve and open the
dye control valve to deposit a drop of dye at the bell mouth entry. When the outlet control
valve is opened observe the dye as it deforms to take up a three dimensional parabolic profile.

5. Equipment Set Up
Position the Reynolds apparatus on the Hydraulics bench and ensure that the base is
horizontal, i.e. the test-section is then vertical. Attach the bell-mouth entry and carefully
add marbles to the head tank, placing them in by hand. The bell-mouth and marbles
produce an inflow to the test-section with a low level of disturbances.
Connect the bench outflow connection to the head tank inlet pipe. Connect the head tank
overflow to the hydraulic bench volumetric tank. Attach the outflow tube to the apparatus
flow control valve and clamp the end of this tube at a fixed position above the volumetric
tank, allowing enough space for insertion of the measuring cylinder.
Note: Movement of the outflow tube end during a test will cause changes in volume flow rate,
which is driven by the height difference between the head tank surface and the outflow point.
Start the pump. Slightly open the apparatus flow control valve, then open the bench valve
and allow the system to fill with water. Check particularly that the flow visualisation pipe
is properly filled. Once the water level in the head tank reaches the overflow tube, adjust
the bench control valve to produce a low overflow rate.
Check that the dye control valve is closed. Add dye to the dye reservoir until it is
approximately two thirds full. Attach the hypodermic needle. Hold the dye assembly over
a sink, and open the valve, to check for free flow of the dye. Use the stylus provided to
clean the needle, if a steady flow of dye cannot be established. Then mount the dye
injector on the head tank and lower the injector until its outlet is just above the bell mouth
and centred on its axis.
Adjust the bench valve and apparatus flow control valve to return the overflow rate to a
slow trickle (if required), then allow the apparatus to stand for at least five minutes before
proceeding.

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 Lab Experiment No. 3

6. Procedure

1. With the apparatus flow control valve open slightly, and the bench valve adjusted to
produce a slow trickle through the overflow pipe, adjust the dye control valve until a slow
flow with clear dye indication is achieved.
In order to observe the velocity profile in laminar flow, close the bench valve and open
the dye control valve to deposit a drop of dye at the bell mouth entry. When the outlet
control valve is opened observe the dye as it deforms to take up a three dimensional
parabolic profile.

2. Measure the volume flow rate by timed collection, and measure the outflow temperature
(the temperature of the water gathered in the measuring cylinder). Determine the
kinematic viscosity from the data provided in Kinematic Viscosity of Water at
Atmospheric Pressure and check the Reynolds number corresponding to this flow type.

3. Increase the flow rate by opening the apparatus flow control valve and repeat the dye
injections to visualise transitional flow and then, at the highest flow rates, turbulent flow,
as characterised by continuous and very rapid mixing of the dye.
As the test section flow rate is reduced, adjust the bench valve to keep the overflow rate at
a low level. Note that at intermediate flows, it is possible to have a laminar characteristic
in the upper part of the test-section, which develops into transitional flow lower down.
This upper section behaviour is described as an "inlet length flow", which means that the
boundary layer has not yet extended across the pipe radius.

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 Lab Experiment No. 3

7. Results

Diameter of test pipe, d = __________ m

Cross-sectional area of test pipe, A = __________ m2

Volume Type of Flow

Volume Time to Temp- Kinematic Reynolds
Flow Velocity
Collected Collect erature Viscosity Number (Laminar /
Rate (m/s) Turbulent /
(mL) (sec) 3 (C) (m2/s) (Re)
(m /s) Transitional)

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 Lab Experiment No. 3

8. Analysis

i. Describe the various Flow patterns observed in the test section for the three different
kinds of flow laminar, transitional and turbulent.

ii. What inlet and outlet flow rate settings were needed to be set in order to be able to see
laminar flow, transition flow and turbulent flow?

iii. What are typical ranges of Reynolds Numbers corresponding to the three types of flows
observed in the experiment:
a. Laminar Flow
b. Transition Flow
c. Turbulent Flow

Were the values of Reynolds Numbers for the above three flows consistent with what
was learnt in the theory?

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