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Technological Institute of the Philippines

Manila

CIVIL ENGINEERING
______________________________________________
EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH (DESIGNED
EXPERIMENT) in CE 402 FLUID MECHANICS

PROGRAM ___Civil Engineering__________________________ ___

SOURCE OF ASSESSMENT
COURSE CODE ___CE 402 FLUID MECHANICS _______ ______________

SECTION ___CE41FA1____________________________________

ASSESSED DOCUMENT __THE ROLE OF FLUID PROPERTIES IN_DETERMINATION

__OF LAMINAR, TRANSITIONAL, AND TURBULENT FLOW
__USING OSBORNE REYNOLDS APPARATUS__________

TIME OF DATA COLLECTION ___2ND SEMESTER S.Y 2016-2017 ___________________

PREPARED BY: ___FERNANDO, JOSEPH MATTHEW L. ________________

___ALFARO, MARIE JOY_____ ______________________
___EUSEBIO, JASON D.__________________ __________
___VENCER, KARL DANIEL C. _______________________
__ VILLAMIN, MARION______________________ ____

MARCH 2017
 Fluid Mechanics 2017
FINAL EXPERIMENT
THE ROLE OF FLUID PROPERTIES IN DETERMINATION OF LAMINAR, TRANSITIONAL, AND
TURBULENT FLOW USING OSBORNE REYNOLDS APPARATUS

Objective(s):
To determine each type of flow the liquid is subjected to using Osborne Reynolds Apparatus
To know the difference between laminar, transitional, and turbulent flows
To know what properties of the liquid that affect the flow of the liquid
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs):
At the end of this study, the students shall be able to:
Have a knowledge about the relevance and use of Osborne Reynolds Apparatus
To distinguish whether the liquid is subjected to: laminar, transitional or turbulent flow
To know the principle of Reynolds number in fluid mechanics and hydraulics

Discussion:

Fluid mechanics is the branch of physical sciences that deals with the study of properties and
behavior of liquids and gases and in it, there is a branch called hydrodynamics or hydraulics, which is
the study of liquids in motion.

In hydraulics, internal flow is defined as a flow for which the fluid is confined by a surface. There
are three types of flow which are:

1.) Laminar Flow is the type of flow in which the particles move in a straight line in the form of thin
parallel sheets. Laminar flow denotes a steady condition where all stream lines follow parallel paths.

2.) Transitional Flow is when the flow changes from laminar to turbulent or vice versa.

3.) Turbulent Flow is the type of flow in which the particles move in a zigzag pattern. Turbulent
flow denotes as unsteady condition where stream lines interacts causing shear plan collapse and
mixing occurs.

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In this experiment, the medium used is liquid, specifically water as the widely known experiment
for determining the flow of liquid is the Osborne Reynolds Demonstrator. The Osborne Reynolds
Experiment/Demonstrator is the experiment that is conducted mainly to study the criterion of laminar,
transitional and turbulent flow. Osborne Reynolds (23 August 1832 - 21 February 1912) was a
prominent innovator in the understanding of fluid dynamics and mechanics. Osborne Reynolds
Apparatus consists of water resource for the system supply, fix-head water input to big and small
transparent pipes, dye input by injection unit, and water output unit to determine water flow rate.

Figure 1. Osborne Reynolds Apparatus

The first step to determine the type of flow the water is subjected to is by visualization. The
laminar, transition and turbulent flows can be obtained by varying the water flow rate using the water
outlet control valve. The supply tank consists of glass beads to reduce flow disturbances. Flow
patterns are visualized using dye injection through a needle valve. The dye injection rate can be
controlled and adjusted to improve the quality of flow patterns. According to the laboratory manual of
Osborne Reynolds Demonstrator (HM 150.18), the diagram of three states are as follows:

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Figure 1. Diagram of the three flow states (from the left: Laminar, Transitional, Turbulent)

The second step is by computation of Reynolds number. Reynolds number is an important

dimensionless quantity in fluid mechanics used to help predict flow patterns in different flow situations.
It is the ratio of inertial forces to viscous forces within a fluid which is subjected to relative internal
movement due to different fluid velocities. The Reynolds number is defined as

= =

Where

is the density of the fluid (SI units: kg/m3)

is a characteristic velocity of the fluid with respect to the object or flow rate (m/s)
L is a characteristic linear dimension or the inside diameter of the pipe section (m)
is the dynamic viscosity of the fluid (Pas or Ns/m2 or kg/(ms))
is the kinematic viscosity of the fluid (m2/s).

The flow rate can be calculated from the volume flow, which is determine with a measuring vessel
and a stopwatch

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=

Where

V is the volume of the liquid collected (m3)

A is the cross-sectional area of the pipe which is a circle (m2)
t is the corresponding time when the certain volume is collected (s)

The three flow states as equivalent in Reynolds number are:

Laminar : Re < 2000

Transitional : 2000 < Re < 2300

Turbulent : 2300 < Re

Thus the properties of the water involved in the experiment to be inspected are:
1. Density is the mass per unit volume of a fluid. In other words, it is the ratio between mass (m)
and volume (V) of a fluid. It is denoted by the symbol . Its unit is kg/m, where m is mass
and v is volume.

2. Viscosity or the dynamic viscosity is the fluid property that determines the amount of
resistance of the fluid to shear stress. It is the property of the fluid due to which the fluid
offers resistance to flow of one layer of the fluid over another adjacent layer.

=



where is viscosity, is shearing stress, is rate of change in velocity.

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3. Kinematic Viscosity (also called "momentum diffusivity") - is the ratio of the dynamic viscosity
to the density of the fluid . It is usually denoted by the Greek letter nu (). The kinematic
viscosity for water is equal to 1 x 10-6 m2/s.

=

4. Velocity is the ratio of the displacement over a certain time frame. It refers to the speed of
the liquid or flow rate of a liquid.
Resources/Instruments Required:

HM 150.18 Osborne Reynolds Apparatus

Water Supply
Graduated Cylinder
2 or more pcs of Basin
Stopwatch
Procedure:

1. Fill the reservoir of the dye indicator with dye.

2. With the flow control valve closed, slowly fill the head tank with the water to the overflow level,
then close the inlet valve.

3. Setup the basin on to the drain valve to collect the water drained. Open and close flow control
valve to admit water to the flow visualization pipe. Allow the apparatus to stand at least ten
minutes before proceeding.

4. Open the inlet valve slightly until water trickles from the outlet pipe. Then open the control
valve for a small amount, so that a low-speed flow occurs in the pipe.

5. Turn on the valve controlling the dye injection. The traces of the dye in the flow visualization
pipe illustrate the character of the flow. Initially, the dye should remain in a steady, narrow
stream, indicating laminar flow.

6. After few seconds of visualizing laminar flow, collect water discharging from the flow
visualization pipe in the graduated cylinder for 60 seconds using a stopwatch.

7. Compute for Reynolds number from the data gathered and tabulate results.

8. Next, open the control valve in small increments, so that the flow speed gradually increases. At
a certain flow speed, the flow will become transitional and finally reach a fully turbulent state.

9. Repeat the procedure so that you have data for transitional, and turbulent flow states.

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Data Results:

By computing for Reynolds number:

Type of Flow Volume Flow rate (m/s) Reynolds Number

Collected (m3) (w) Re = L/
(V)
Laminar Flow 420 mL 0.08912676813 891.2676813
(Re<2000) m/s
Transitional Flow 970 mL 0.2058403931 2058.403931
(2000<Re<2300) m/s
Turbulent Flow 1340 mL 0.2843568317 2843.568317
(2300<Re) m/s

By visualization:

Laminar Flow Transitional Flow Turbulent Flow

Observations:

In the experiment, the setup of the Osborne Reynolds apparatus are very complex so that a
laboratory technician is needed for the demonstration of the experiment, the setup of water supply
pipe and discharge pipes and the controls of inlet valve and outlet valve.
After the familiarity of doing the experiment, the flow of experiment goes well. The desired results
are being collected. The objectives of the experiment and the intended learning outcomes are
attained.

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However, these are the points observed in the experiment that are important to discuss:
It is observed that the water coming from the supply is sometimes not enough for the
discharge on the outlet valve, thus making the dye injection not submerged.
It is observed that when the apparatus is slightly disturbed, the flow that is visualized by
the dye is easily disturbed.
It is observed that there are times that even when the outlet valve is being opened
continually and/or vice versa, the diagram for transitional flow is hard to capture.
It is observed true that as the outlet valve is being opened, the water flow changes from
laminar to transitional to turbulent, and on the other hand, when the outlet valve is closed,
the water flow changes vice versa.
It is observed that as the flow goes from laminar to turbulent; the volume of the water
collected is getting more.
It is observed that it can hold other liquid other than water provided that is clear or do not
contain color and substance that can stain the tank of the apparatus, and also the supply is
enough for the success of the experiment
It is observed that the second formula for Reynolds number because the kinematic
viscosity for water is given.
Conclusion:

It is tantamount to conclude that this experiment varies depending upon the construction of the
individual components, experimental skills, and environmental conditions. Nevertheless, the laws
can be clearly demonstrated. Furthermore, the role of fluid properties involved in the experiment is
that they provide a relationship in the changes of states of flow. The relationship is that: the lesser
the ratio of the density of the liquid and its dynamic viscosity or in short, its kinematic viscosity, and
the greater the velocity the liquid would likely to go turbulent because the movement of the particles
of the liquid becomes more unsteady or erratic for there is lesser shearing force between the
particles thus more space to move, and provided that there is greater movement of the particles
because of the velocity.
Review of Related Literature:

Fluid Flow Overview

By definition, a fluid is a material continuum that is unable to withstand a static shear stress.
Unlike an elastic solid which responds to a shear stress with a recoverable deformation, a fluid

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responds with an irrecoverable flow. Variables needed to define a fluid and its environment are given
in the table

Table 1.1 Variables necessary for the study of fluid mechanics

Examples of fluids include gases and liquids. Typically, liquids are considered to be
incompressible, whereas gases are considered to be compressible. However, there are exceptions
in everyday engineering applications.
Reynolds Experiment
During the 1800s, Osborne Reynolds conducted an experiment that would determine when
two flow situations are similar. According to Streeter (1998), two cases of flow are similar when: (1)
the geometrical aspects are the same, thus, the flow cases corresponding linear dimensions have a
constant ratio; and (2) the corresponding force polygons have the same geometrical aspects as well,
or pressures at corresponding points have a constant ratio. Reynolds inferred that dynamic similarity
may be established when the general differential equations that describing the fluid flow were
identical. By using and manipulating the units of mass, length and time in one set of equations and
determining the conditions that must be satisfied to make them identical to the original differential
equations, Reynolds discovered a dimensionless group that must be the same for both cases of
flow. This is now called the Reynolds number. There are two known flow regimes. According to
McCabe et. al (1993), Reynolds marked a distinction between the two using his classic experiment
in 1883. A glass tube held parallel to the ground was immersed in a glass walled-tank filled with
water. By opening a valve, a controlled flow of water could be drawn through the tube. A provision
was made and the entrance to the tube was flared to introduce a fine filament of colored water from

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the overhead flask into a stream at the tube entrance
Reynolds number
The nature of flow, that is whether laminar or turbulent, and its relative position along a scale
indicating the relative importance of turbulent or laminar tendencies are indicated by the Reynolds
number. Reynolds number is one of the named dimensionless groups whose magnitude is
independent of the units used, provided that the units are consistent. According to McCabe (1993),
additional observations have shown that the transition from laminar to turbulent flow actually may
occur over a wide range of Reynolds numbers. In a pipe, flow is always laminar at Reynolds number
below 2100, but laminar flow can persist up to Reynolds numbers of several thousand under special
conditions of well-rounded tube entrance and very quiet liquid in the tank. Under ordinary conditions,
the flow in a pipe or tube is turbulent at numbers above about 4000. Transition region exists at
Reynolds numbers between 2100 and 4000, wherein flow may either be laminar or turbulent,
depending upon conditions at the entrance of the tube and on the distance of the entrance.
According to Perry (1997), fluid flow, be it compressible or incompressible, may be classified by
virtue of the ratio of the forces due to inertia to the forces due to inherent viscosity. Reynolds
number, a dimensionless number, mathematically represents this ratio. Laminar flow is
characterized by low Reynolds number, whereas turbulent flow is distinguished by its high Reynolds
number. Reynolds number for flow pipes is given by the equation
NRE=pVD/
Where p is the fluid density, V is the fluid velocity, D is the pipe diameter, and is the fluid
viscosity. Reynolds number is the criterion of dynamic similarity (Brown, 1973). The derivation of this
dimensionless quantity is absolutely general for all systems which involve relative motion between
fluids and solids except in the presence of appreciable gravitational or elastic effects. Considered as
a criterion, the Reynolds number is found to be of great utility in all types of fluid flow problems and
is significant when applied to geometrically similar systems. Osborne Reynolds never fully realized
the implications of the dimensionless number he was able to develop, the Reynolds number.
Reynolds merely considered the ratio as a criterion for the critical velocity in pipe flow. It was Lord
Rayleigh who has shown that it is a non-dimensional factor governing all problems on fluid flow
frictional resistance, and that similar non-dimensional constants exist for many other natural
phenomena (http://hypertextbook.com/physics/matter/turbulence/). It is a practice in engineering
design that when a large object such as a ship, airplane, or building is to be made, a scale model is
constructed and tested so that the performance of the large object can be calculated from the test
results of the scale model. Lord Rayleigh showed that the scale model tests gave comparable

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results only when the non-dimensional factor of the model is equal to that of the large object when
working under its design conditions. By equating the non-dimensional factor of the large object to
that of the model, the test speed of the model is obtained. This is known as the corresponding speed
and the comparison of the two conditions between the large object and the test results of a scale
model at its corresponding speed is known as the principle of dynamic similarity
Flow regime
Laminar flow is defined as flow in which the fluid moves in layers, or laminas , one layer
gliding smoothly over an adjacent layer with only a molecular interchange of momentum. Any
tendencies toward instability and turbulence are damped out by viscous shear forces that resist
relative motion of adjacent fluid layers. It is also defined as an organized flow field that can be
described with streamlines. In order for laminar flow to be permissible, the viscous stresses must
dominate over the fluid inertia stresses. Turbulent flow, however, has very erratic motion of fluid
particles, with a violent transverse interchange of momentum (Streeter, et. al, 1998). It can also be
defined as a flow field that cannot be described with streamlines in the absolute sense. However,
time-averaged streamlines can be defined to describe the average behavior of the flow. In turbulent
flow, the inertia stresses dominate over the viscous stresses, leading to small-scale chaotic behavior
in the fluid motion.
Reynolds found out in his experiment that, at low rates of flow, a colored jet of water flowed
intact along with the mainstream and no cross mixing occurred. In laminar flow, the behavior of the
color band showed clearly that the water was flowing in parallel straight lines. As the flow rate was
increased and upon reaching the critical velocity, the thread of color became wavy which gradually
disappeared, as the dye was spread uniformly throughout the entire cross section of the stream of
water (McCabe, 1993). On the other hand, Brown (1973) indicated that as the rate of flow is
increased, the eddy becomes larger and more complex, which results into a rather more turbulent
flow. Flow lines around a small particle are more likely to be characterized as laminar. Meanwhile, if
the particle is large, the liquid flow is likely to be turbulent accompanied by the formation of eddies
and vortices in the fluid behind the particle in motion. Likewise, fluid viscosity is an important
determinant and factor in calculating for the resistance and in the classification of the flow. For low
Reynolds numbers the behavior of a fluid depends mostly on its viscosity and the flow is steady,
smooth, viscous, or laminar and n = 1. For high Reynolds numbers the momentum of the fluid
determines its behavior more than the viscosity and the flow is unsteady, churning, roiling, or
turbulent and n = 2. For intermediate Reynolds numbers the flow is transitional partly laminar and
partly turbulent (http://hypertextbook.com/physics/matter/turbulence/)

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ELERT, G. Flow Regimes. The Physics Hypertextbook . 2008. Date of access: 08 July
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PERRY, R.H. and GREEN, D.W. 1997. Perrys Chemical Engineering Handbook. 7th edition.
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PASIA, S.C. 2009. Retrofitting and Performance Evaluation of the Reynolds Apparatus University
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