Laminar Flow and Turbulent Flow

A fluid flowing through a closed channel such as pipe or between two flat plates is either laminar flow or
turbulent flow, depending on the velocity, pipe size (or on the Reynolds number), and fluid viscosity.

Laminar Flow

Laminar flow is the movement of fluid particles along well-defined paths or streamlines, where all the
streamlines are straight and parallel. Hence, the particles move in laminar or layers gliding smoothly
over the adjacent layer.

Laminar flow occurs in small diameter pipes in which fluid flows at lower velocities and high viscosity.
This type of flow is also called streamline flow or viscous Flow.

Laminar flow is subdivided into:

- Unidirectional laminar flow

- Pulsatile laminar flow

- Oscillatory laminar flow

The typical examples of laminar flow are oil flow through a thin tube, blood flow through capillaries, and
smoke rising in a straight path from the incense stick. However, the smoke changes into the turbulent
flow after rising to a small height as it eddies from its regular path.

Graph representing flow vs pressure difference for laminar and turbulent flow

Turbulent Flow

Turbulent flow is defined as the flow in which the fluid particles move in a zigzag way. Due to the
movement of fluid particles in a zigzag way, the formation of eddies takes place, which is responsible for
high energy loss.
In turbulent flow, the speed of the fluid at a point continuously changes in both magnitude and
direction. Turbulent flow tends to occur in large diameter pipes in which fluid flows with high velocity.

The type of flow is determined by a non-dimensional number called the Reynolds number for a pipe
flow.

Re = (VD/v)

Where,

D = Diameter of pipe

V = Mean velocity of the flow in pipe

v = Kinematic viscosity of fluid

Difference between Laminar and Turbulent Flow

The laminar flow can be visualized by an experiment using ink in a cylindrical tube. The ink is injected
into the middle of a glass tube through which water flows. When the speed of the water is still slow, the
ink does not appear to mix with water; the streamlines are parallel and are called laminar flow.

A sudden change will occur when the speed of the water increases. Then, the flow completely disrupts,
and the water turns homogenous through the ink. Thus, the streamlines are chaotic, not linear, and are
called turbulent flow.