JADAVPUR UNIVERSITY

Faculty of Engineering & Technology

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
HYDRAULICS & FLUID MECHANICS LABORATORY

Name……MANISH DAS………..Class…BME II…Section…B1……Roll…001911201119…

EXPERIMENT: CHARACTERISTICS OF PIPE FLOW

OBJECTIVES OF THE EXPERIMENT:
(i) To study the characteristics of laminar and turbulent flow
(ii) To determine experimentally the coefficient of viscosity
(iii) To determine the friction factor of pipes
APPARATUS USED: Reynolds apparatus, Measuring cylinder, Stopwatch, Thermometer
THEORY:
(A) Reynolds Experiment: Incompressible fluid flow is usually characterized as laminar or turbulent. In laminar
flow, fluid particles move systematically in layers. In turbulent flow, the particles move randomly in both time
and space. If a dye is injected at a point in a straight flow passage, a laminar flow forms a straight line called
streak line by the dye particles. A turbulent flow gives rise to a diffused downstream colored flow smeared
over a large volume with random and rapid change in the appearance and in certain cases occasional
propagating bursts. These two flow regimes are separated by what is termed as transition flow characterized
by intermittently diffusing wavy jets reuniting again. Visualization of these flow features is important in many
experiments for making use of the associated measurements in a proper manner.
Whether a flow is laminar or turbulent is classified by a non-dimensional number called Reynolds number
ρVD
expressed as Re = ( ) involving a representative geometric size of the flow passage like the pipe or tube
μ
diameter D, average flow velocity V and the viscosity μ and density ρ of the fluid. Below a lower critical
Reynolds number and above an upper critical Reynolds number, the flow evolves as laminar and turbulent
respectively. Capturing these numbers in an experiment is time consuming. In a simpler experiment, it is
customary to determine a crtical Reynolds number Recrit corresponding to laminar to turbulent changeover.
In a general equation of flow expressed as i=kV n , the value of the exponent n is about 1 for laminar flow
and about 2 for turbulent flow. These values emerge respectively from Hagen-Poiseuille equation arising from
fully developed laminar flow and Darcy equation with constant friction factor arising in highly turbulent flow
through rough pipes.
(B) Calculation of viscosity: The coefficient of viscosity of fluid can obtained from Hagen-Poiseuille equation
iγπD4 πD2 V h
rewritten as µ= 128Q , where γ is the specific weight of the liquid, Q (= 4
) is the discharge and i (= Lf) is the
hydraulic gradient defined as the loss of head hf over the pipe length L.
(C) Calculation of friction factor: Darcy equation is an empirical relation for loss of head in incompressible flow
h
through tubes or pipes from which the friction factor is expressed as f= L fV2 .
( )( )
D 2g
64
Using Hagen-Poiseuille equation for laminar flow with Darcy equation, it can be obtained that f=Re. In case of
turbulent flow, f depends on both Re and relative roughness ɛ/D, where ɛ is the average height of roughness
elements that are characteristic of a pipe material. For hydraulically smooth pipes like glass, Blasius equation valid
0.3164
for a certain range of turbulent flow gives f= 1/4 yielding the flow characterizing index n as equal to 1.75.
Re

PROCEDURE: The steps are described with respect to the schematic drawing of the set up.
(i) Fill up the set up with water by keeping the vent line (1) open and close it when water is seen to come out of it.
(ii) Open the valve (2) connected to the water line to a constant head tank (3). The valve should always be
adjusted before taking any reading to ensure continuous but low drainage from the constant head tank.
(iii) Open the regulating cock (4) in the water line slightly that is fitted on a flexible tube at the end of the glass
tube. The regulating cock (5) on the flexible line connecting the dye bottle (6) and the settling chamber (7) is
adjusted so as to create smooth color jet in the observation section (8) downstream of the nozzle (9) protruding
into a bell-mouthed tube (10) within the settling chamber.
(iv) The volume of water flowing through the tube over a certain period of time noted by a stop watch is collected
in measuring cylinder (11). The corresponding readings in the manometer (12) limbs are noted to measure the
head loss between the tapping points on the tube at the observation section. The appearance of the jet
characteristic within the tube in the observation section is noted.
(v) Execute the above step by increasing the discharge to cover both laminar and turbulent regions of the flow.
(vi) Measure the temperature water once by a thermometer by dipping it in the measuring cylinder after collection.
 From
supply 6
3

12

hw
R
L

2
13 14
5

D
8 V 10 1
× ×
r l 9 7
L

4
1: Vent tube 2: Valve in supply line for water;
3: Constant head tank; 4: Regulating cock in water line; To
5: Regulating cock in dye line; 6: Dye bottle; drain
7: Settling chamber; 8: Observation section;
11 9: Nozzle; 10: Bell-mouthed tube;
11: Measuring cylinder; 12: Inverted U-tube manometer
13: Valve in supply line to settling chamber; 14: Valve in drain line

Schematic of Reynolds Apparatus

Constant Head Tank 3 has one inner partition with a clearing from the roof, thereby dividing the tank in two
compartments. When Valve 1 is opened, the left compartment receives the supply water, which is fed to the
apparatus when Valve 13 is opened. With Regulating Cock 3 closed, the water fills up the set up and eventually
leaves through Vent Tube 1. Then the vent line is closed. Valve 14 must be kept open to allow continuous draining
of water at a low rate from the other compartment inside Tank 3. This ensures a constant head at the compartment
feeding the apparatus, since low rate of draining implies negligible height of water spilling over the partition. Thus,
a steady flow through the apparatus pat Valve 13 is maintained and low oscillation in Limbs L and R of Manometer
12 is achieved for each fixed setting of Cock 4.
During laminar flow characterized by straight jet, the difference between the readings in the limbs turns out to be
quite low. Besides the wall roughness, the oscillation arises from locally non-uniform flow in bends and cross
sectional changes along the dominant flow direction. The high inertia of the water mass within Chamber 7 absorbs
such upstream effects resulting in a more settled flow towards its outlet. A reasonable distance between the
chamber outlet and Observation Section 8 is necessary to have fully developed flow in the latter section. Hagen-
Poiseuille equation that can be used for determination of liquid viscosity is applicable for fully developed, steady
and laminar flow.
Near the exit from the settling chamber having well-behaved settled flow, the nozzle and bell-mouthed tube
arrangement is placed for injecting the dye. The dye is fed from a bottle kept at a slightly higher level than the
constant head tank to ensure marginally higher pressure of the dye necessary for its injection into the water stream.
Too much higher elevation of the dye bottle would have made the dye velocity significantly higher than water.
An inverted U-tube manometer is used with air of density a acting as the manometer fluid. Thus, the pressure drop
in head of water between Points r and l at the same horizontal level in Observation Section 8 is given by
(pr − pl)/(g) = ( − a)ghw/(g) = (1 − a/)hw ≈ hw in view negligible ratio of the densities in the expression.
OBSEVATION & RESULTS:
Internal diameter glass tube, D = 7mm; Cross-sectional area of the pipe, A =3.85 * 10-5 m2
Distances between manometer tapings, L= 99cm; Temperature of water 300C
Density of water, ρ = 995.62 kg/m3 ; Kinematic viscosity of water ν (μ/ρ)= 8.015 * 10-7

TABLE – 1: Calculation of Reynolds number

Amount of water Manometer
collected reading, hf

Ω
T
(cm)

Avg. Velocity,
Flow rate, Q=
Appearance
of colored

V=𝐴 (m/s)
hf = R−L

ρVD
Time, T

jet
Run no.

µ
Vol. Ω

(m3/s)

hf
L

𝑄
(m3)
(ml)

Re=
i=
(s)

R
L
1 Straight line 15 20 2* 1.33 25.4 25.5 0.1 1.01* 0.035 558.1
10-5 *10-6 10-3
2 Straight line 15 25 2.5 * 1.67 * 25.4 25.6 0.2 2.02* 0.043 430.46
10-5 10-6 10-3
3 Straight line 15 36 3.6 * 2.4 * 25.3 25.6 0.3 3.03* 0.062 594.64
10-6 10-3
10-5
4 Straight line 15 50 5* 3.33 * 25.2 25.6 0.4 4.04* 0.086 858.34
10-5 10-3
10-6
5 Straight line 15 72 7.2 * 4.8 * 25.1 25.7 0.6 6.061* 0.125 1198.68
10-5 10-6 10-3
6 Wavy 15 88 8.8 * 5.86 * 25.0 25.8 0.8 8.081* 0.152 1334.67
10-3
10-5 10-6
7 Wavy 15 96 9.6 * 6.4 * 24.9 25.9 1.0 10.1* 0.166 1273.69
10-6 10-3
10-5
8 Wavy 15 146 1.46 * 9.73 * 24.6 26.0 1.4 14.14* 0.253 2108.05
10-4 10-6 10-3
9 Diffused 15 170 1.70* 1.13 * 24.5 26.1 1.6 16.16* 0.294 2489.32
10-4 10-3
10-5
10 Diffused 15 250 2.50 * 1.66 * 24.2 26.2 2.0 20.2* 0.431 4288.75
10-3
10-4 10-5
11 Diffused 15 290 2.90 * 1.93 * 24.0 26.2 2.2 22.22* 0.502 5279.76
10-4 10-5 10-3
12 Diffused 15 315 3.15 * 2.1 * 23.9 26.4 2.5 25.25* 0.546 5498.54
10-4 10-5 10-3
13 Diffused 15 350 3.50 * 2.33 * 23.2 26.4 3.2 32.32* 0.605 5281.25
10-3
10-4 10-5
14 Diffused 15 410 4.10* 2.73 * 22.9 26.9 4.0 40.4* 0.709 5801.29
10-3
10-4 10-5

To D0 :

Plot: (i) i vs V on log –log scale, (ii) i vs Q an ordinary graph for laminar region only.
Calculate the value of n & k for laminar and turbulent flow in equation, i=k𝐕 𝐧 .
Determine the value of the Critical Reynolds Number.
Determine viscosity experimentally and compare the value from standard table as stated next.
From the best-fit straight line of i vs Q (in m3/s) plot over the laminar region, note a pair of i-Q values and use Then
find µ and γ from Hagen- equation and compare the result with the value obtained from standard Table
 • i vs V on log – log scale

• i vs Q an ordinary graph for laminar region only

For circular pipe flow, the range of Reynolds number beyond which the flow becomes turbulent
is fond experimentally as, Re = {2040-2060}. So from table 1 it is number 5 where Reynolds
number 1198.68

So Reynolda Number is 1198.68

TABLE – 2: Calculation of coefficient of viscosity
Viscosity value Viscosity
Noted i from Noted Q (in from plot as value from
plot m3/s)from plot iγπD4
µ= standard table
128Q

0.006061 0.0000048 0.000727 0.000798

Here, the value of viscosity from plot and from standard table is almost same. Very small difference between
those came due to error in experimental tools, temperature determining and observational error.

To Do: Prepare the plot below on an ordinary graph paper by using the corresponding data of Table 1 involving
straight-line colored jet rows.

• i vs V graph

i vs V
0.14

0.12

0.1

0.08
V

0.06

0.04

0.02

0
0 0.001 0.002 0.003 0.004 0.005 0.006 0.007

We know, 𝑖 = 𝑘𝑉 𝑛

For laminar flow:

when, i= 4.04 * 10-3 = 0.00404 ; V = 0.086 When, i = 6.061 * 10-3 = 0.006061 ; V = 0.125

0.00404 = k ( 0.086 )n………….(1) 0.006061 = k ( 0.125)n…………..(2)

Now, Dividing equation (2) by equation (1) we get

( 0.006061 / 0.00404 ) = ( 0.125/0.086)ⁿ

 n = 1.084669817 ; So , k = 0.057822749

Similarly, for turbulent flow,

When i = 22.22 * 10-3= 0.02222 ; V = 0.502 When i = 32.32 * 10-3 = 0.03232 ; V = 0.605

0.02222 = k ( 0.502 )n……………..(3) 0.03232 = k ( 0.605 )n…………….(4) Now,

Dividing equation (4) by equation (3) we get

(0.03232 / 0.02222 ) = (0.605 / 0.502 )ⁿ

 n = 2.01 ; So, k = 0.088642250

 TABLE – 3: Calculation of friction factor (for Laminar and Turbulent flow only)

[for Turbulent
hf (m) [from Table 1]

f= [for Laminar
Re (from Table 1)
V (from Table 1)

f= L V2 [exp.]
D
Type of flow

L
Run No.

0.3164
Re1/4
D 2g

flow]
hf
D 2g
L V2

Re
64

flow]
.
.

f=
1 0.00 141. 0.0 0.00 0.11 558. 0.115 Laminar flow
1 42 35 883 325 1
2 0.00 141. 0.0 0.01 0.15 430. 0.149 Laminar flow
2 42 43 333 0037 46
3 0.00 141. 0.0 0.02 0.10 594. 0.108 Laminar flow
3 42 62 771 826 64
4 0.00 141. 0.0 0.05 0.07 858. 0.075 Laminar flow
4 42 86 331 5032 34
5 0.00 141. 0.1 0.11 0.05 1198 0.053 Laminar flow
6 42 25 262 327 .68
6 0.00 141. 0.1 0.16 0.04 1334 Transitional
8 42 52 653 8039 .67
7 0.01 141. 0.1 0.19 0.05 1273 Transitional
42 66 862 035 .69

8 0.01 141. 0.2 0.46 0.03 2108 Transitional

4 42 53 137 0344 .05
9 0.01 141. 0.2 0.62 0.02 2489 0.045 Turbulent flow
6 42 94 303 568 .32
10 0.02 141. 0.4 1.33 0.01 4288 0.039 Turbulent flow
42 31 896 494 .75
11 0.02 141. 0.5 1.81 0.01 5279 0.037 Turbulent flow
2 42 02 643 2112 .76
12 0.02 141. 0.5 2.14 0.01 5498 0.036 Turbulent flow
5 42 46 881 1634 .54 7
13 0.03 141. 0.6 2.63 0.01 5281 0.037 Turbulent flow
2 42 05 829 2129 .25 1
14 0.04 141. 0.7 3.62 0.01 5801 0.036 Turbulent flow
42 09 330 103 .29

To Do:
64 0.3164
Plot: f vs Re in log-log graph paper. Draw the line f=Re for laminar region and f= Re1/4
for turbulent flow in
smooth pipe (Blasius equation).
• f vs Re in log-log scale

Observation made by………MANISH DAS……….

Class…BME II…Section……B1……Roll…001911201119...

Class Teacher……………………..Date…………………….
 1: Water line from constant head tank
1
3 2: Settling chamber
3: Dye line from dye bottle
9 4: Vent line
5 4
5: 5: Valve in water line to constant head tank
6: Observation section for dye character
8 7 & 8: Manometer taping for right limb R and
7 left limb L from observation section
9: Inverted U-tube manometer
6
2 Dye injection
1 details
2 1: Bell mouthed
3
tube
2: Nozzle
Set up except constant head tank and dye bottle 3: Dye
Measurements Volume (Ω) of
S Manometer: hf = R – L water collected in
L R LT: Left taping from test measuring
2
LT section to cylinder (1) over a
manometer chosen time (T)
S: Manometer scale recorded by stop
V
V: Average water watch (2)
velocity = Ω/T 1

Straight-line laminar jet

Diffused turbulent jet

Three snaps in quick succession revealing wavy die diffusing and reuniting in transitional flow regime

Four snaps in quick succession exhibiting dye diffusion in turbulent flow regime

In case of power-law relations y=mxc like i vs V and f vs Re, a log-log scale is preferred that renders a straight line
character to the trend in view of having log10y = log10m + c log10x. Hence, by choosing Points 1 and 2 from the i vs
V straight line segment for the laminar part and Points 3 and 4 in the turbulent part, the indices n for the laminar
and turbulent flows are obtained respectively as
nL= (log10i2 – log10i1) / (log10V2 – log10V1) and nT= (log10i4 – log10i3) / (log10V4 – log10V3).
Of course, plotting V=10x against i=10y on a log-log paper is equivalent to plotting x= log10V against y = log10i on
an ordinary paper. Hence, the values against the axes that are shown for the variables V and i on an ordinary graph
paper correspond to the variations of the power of 10 along the respective axis. A 10 fold increase of any value
shown along each axis involves equal number of divisions on the ordinary graph paper. Against each pair of
labeled values, their log values indicated near the arrow of each axis should be plotted on an ordinary graph paper.
Hence by preparing a table of log10i against log10V, an ordinary graph paper can be used to prepare the plot.
 Prepare the best-fit plot below on an ordinary graph paper by using the log of corresponding
data of Table 1. The best-fit plot removes measurement inaccuracy and uncertainty.

y= log10i

100
nL= ; Recrit= ; nT=

4×

×
10 -1 T
3×
i
×
×
×
×
2×
-2
10
L ×
×
1 ×
×
x=log10V
10-3
10-2 10-1 Vcrit 100 101
V (in m/s)
Laminar- Turbulent (L-T) Flow Characterization

Prepare the plot below on an ordinary graph paper by using the corresponding
data of Table 1 involving straight-line colored jet rows.

Laminar region only

V ×
(m3/s)

× μ=

×
×

i
Determination of Viscosity
 Prepare this plot below on an ordinary graph paper by using the log of corresponding data
of Table 3. The labeled values against each axis are only representative.
While filling the last column, write Laminar, Transitional and Turbulent respectively
corresponding to jet appearances entered in Table 1 as Straight line, Wavy and Diffused
respectively. Use f=64/Re to calculate f under both laminar and transitional regimes and use
f=0.3164/Re0.25 under both transitional and turbulent regimes.

y= log10f

10-1

×
f
f=64/Re
×
×
10-2
×
×
1 ×
° ×°°× ° f=0.3164/Re0.25
°° x=log10Re
°
10-3
102 103 104 105
Re
Determination of Friction Factor for Flow through Glass Tube