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Reynold's Number experiment report including theory and formulas used.
Typology: Study Guides, Projects, Research
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To visually demonstrate differences between laminar, transition, and turbulent flow types.
To compare visually identified flow types with its Reynold's number and determine if it is within the acceptable range.
The type of flow occurring in a fluid in a channel is important in hydraulics and fluid dynamics problems. For example, the nature of flow over an aircraft wing affects the drag and hence determines the power required to propel the aircraft afterwards. So, when fluids move through a closed channel of any cross section, either of two distinct types of flow can be observed, according to the conditions present. These two types of flow can commonly be seen in a flowing open stream or river. When the velocity of flow is slow, the flow patterns are smooth. On the other hand, when the velocity is quite high, an unstable pattern is observed, in which eddies or small packets of fluid particles are present, moving in all directions and at all angles to the normal line of flow.
The first type of flow, where at low velocities the layers move smoothly over one another without eddies or swirls is called Laminar flow. The second type on the other hand, in which if the velocities are increased, small disturbances cause eddies which mix-up the layers of the fluid producing a different kind of flow is termed as Turbulent flow. The existence of laminar and turbulent flow was most easily understood and visualized by the experiments of Reynolds. Osborne Reynolds (23 August 1832 – 21 February 1912) a British physicist, was a prominent innovator in the understanding of fluid dynamics and mechanics. He conducted an experiment for observation and determination of these regimes of flow. He first identified the variables controlling the flow and a rational means of predicting the nature of flow. This was done by introducing a fine filament of dye into the flow of water through the glass tube. At its entrance, he studied the different types of flow. At low velocities, the dye filament appeared as straight line through the length of the tube and parallel to its axis, characterizing laminar flow. As the velocity is increased the dye filament becomes wavy throughout indicating transition flow. On further increasing the velocity the filament breaks up and diffuses completely in the water in the glass tube producing an erratic pattern which indicates the turbulent flow. The velocity at which the flow changes from laminar flow to transitional flow or from transitional to turbulent flow is known as the critical velocity.
