TITLE

Osborne Reynolds Experiment – Laminar and Turbulent Flow

OBJECTIVES

 Observation of the characteristics of a fluid flow in a pipe, which can be categorized as laminar,
transitional, or turbulent flow as well as determining under which conditions these types of flow
occur.
 Calculating and identifying Reynolds number (Re) for the above certain flow types.

INTRODUCTION

Determination of Laws of Resistance in pipes helps to classify the types of flow. Reynolds number
‘Re’ is the ratio of inertia force to the viscous force where the viscous force is shear stress multiplied
by area and the inertia force is known as mass multiplied by acceleration. As Reynolds found out the
transition from laminar to turbulent flow occurs at a definite value of the dimensionally property,
called Reynolds number.

THEORY

Reynolds number for any type of fluid flow can be derived using the following expression:

𝑉𝑑
𝑅𝑒 =
𝜐
where;

𝑉 = flow velocity (m/s)

d = inside diameter of pipe section (m)

𝜐 = kinematic viscosity (m2/s)

The limits for the Reynold’s number obtained, based on experiments conducted by Reynolds in order
to decide whether the flow is laminar or turbulent are as given below:

 Laminar when Re < 2300

 Transition when 2300 < Re < 4000

 Turbulent when Re > 4000

At critical velocities, flow in the pipe changes from one type of motion to the other.
APPARATUS

1. Hydraulic bench
2. Osborn Reynolds Demonstration Apparatus
3. Stop watch
4. Dye
5. Thermometer
6. Measuring cylinder

Figure 1: Osborn Reynolds Demonstration Apparatus

1. Base plate
2. Water reservoir
3. Overflow section
4. Aluminum well
5. Metering tap
6. Brass inflow tip
7. Flow-optimized inflow
8. Test pipe section
9. Ball block
10. Waste water discharge
11. Connections water supply
12. Drain valve
13. Control valve
PROCEDURE

1. The apparatus was set up and noted down the inside diameter of the pipe as well as the room
temperature. The Aluminum reservoir was filled with dye while metering tap and drain value had
been remained closed.
2. Pump of the hydraulic bench was switched on and carefully opened the control valve above the
pump to adjust the tap to produce a constant water level in the reservoir.
3. Drain valve was opened slightly to produce a low rate of flow into the test pipe section.
4. Metering tap was opened and dye was allowed to flow from the nozzle at the entrance of the
channel until a colored stream was visible along the test pipe section.
5. Water flow was adjusted until the laminar flow pattern which is a straight thin line or streamline
of dye was able to be seen along the whole test pipe section.
6. Time taken to collect 10 liters of colored waste water was recorded in seconds. The volume flow
rate was calculated from the volume and a known time.
7. Steps 5-6 were repeated with an increasing rate of flow by opening the drain valve and the flow
pattern of the fluid was observed as the flow changed from laminar to transition and turbulent. Six
readings were taken till the dye stream in the test pipe section was broke up and got diffused in
water.
8. Apparatus was cleaned after the experiment was done.

Table 1: Kinematic Viscosity of Water at Atmospheric Pressure

RESULTS

Table2: Experimental Results

Run No Volume Time, t (s) Flow rate, Velocity Reynolds Type of

V (m3) Q (m3/s) V(m/s) Number Flow
(Re)
1 2 x 10-4 84 2.381 x 10-6 0.03 390.12 Laminar
2 2 x 10-4 48 4.167 x 10-6 0.053 689.21 Laminar
3 2 x 10-4 12 1.667 x 10-5 0.212 2756.83 Transitional
4 2 x 10-4 7 2.857 x 10-5 0.364 4733.42 Turbulent
5 7 x 10-4 9 7.778 x 10-5 0.990 12873.86 Turbulent
6 7 x 10-4 4 1.75 x 10-4 2.228 28972.69 Turbulent

Inside diameter of pipe section (d) = 0.010 m

Cross sectional area of the pipe, A = 0.07854 m2

Density of water, Ρ = 1000 kg/m3

Average room temperature (θ) = 32o C

Kinematic viscosity of water at room temperature, 𝜐 = 0.769 x 10-6 m2/s (Table 1)

REFERENCES

Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT) 2016,CE2711, Osborne Reynolds

Experiment: study guide.

Douglas, J, Gasiorek, J, Swaffield, Jack, L, 2005, Fluid Mechanics, Pearson Education Limited,
Essex.

White, F, 2011, Fluid Mechanics, McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc, New York.