Reynolds Number:

Ratio between Inertial and Viscous Forces

Outline
Brief introduction to the historical context
Who and why?

Concenptual idea
Generalizations.

Mathematical derivation
Simple spherical example.

Applications/Example Problems
Capillary blood flow.

Extension to interface properties

Boussinesq number

Historical Context
Originiates from Fluid Mechanics
The concept was introduced by George Gabriel Stokes
(famous Navier-Stokes equation, Stokes theorem)
Was heavily used by Osborne Reynolds
Reylonds looked at the conditioned that controlled the
transition from laminar to turbulent flow in pipes
Deterimined that it was a ratio between inertial and viscous
forces

10/2/2016

Reynolds Number

Motivation: Difference between Systems

We wish to talk about frictional effects of objects traveling
through fluids
Usually the frictional effects in water seem negligible
But, what about for mircometer organisms traveling in water?
What is the difference between thick and thin fluids? How can
we quantify what seems a relative term?

We think of a critical force.

10/2/2016

Reynolds Number

Conceptual Idea (spherical example)

Critical force comparison to the objects force is inadequate. We
want more inclusive term.
Suppose we have a small a fluid element (l) moving into a sphere
of radius a with speed v. We want to know the relationship
between the momentum and frictional forces.

Re = Interia Force/Viscous Force

Re = Reynolds Number (dimensionless)

10/2/2016

Reynolds Number

Mathematical Elaboration (spherical)

10/2/2016

Reynolds Number

Types of Flow (spherical)

Reynolds Number
Regime

Laminar Flow:
Low Reynolds
number (R<100)

Turbulent Flow:
High Reynolds
number (R>100)

Question: Give an situation where the Reynolds is important? Is our

mathematical model valid for this situation?
10/2/2016

Reynolds Number

Questions:
1. Calculate the Reynolds number for a spherical submarine of radius
15 m, moving at 5 m/s?
2. Calculate the Reynolds number for a bacterium of radius 1 m
swimming at 20 m/s?
3. Do both of these systems expeirence the same type of behavior?
What would happen if each system were to come to a halt?
Assume in all cases the fluid to be water.

10/2/2016

Reynolds Number

Application: Flow in capillary

Blood fow through capillary is
a important because it gives
example of Laminar flow.
Question: Given the figure on
the right, derive the
expression for the velocity as
a function of radius?

Reference.

Assume the non-slip boundary

condition and velocity as center
is finite.

Reference: Tu, Zhanchun. Lecture 12. Life in the low Reynolds-number world.
10/2/2016

Reynolds Number

Extensions to interfacial rheology

- Suppose that we are intrested in separating behavior that
occurs at a air-fluid interface
- How can we determine another dimensionless number that
relates the interface from the rest of system (subphase)?
- We define the Boussinesq number:

- Depending on the ratio between the surface and subphase

viscosities, we can say if the subphase will affect
measurements regarding the interface.

10/2/2016

Reynolds Number

10