Objectives

• To demonstrate laminar, transition and turbulent flow.

• To verify that the Reynolds Number (Re) represents an indicator of flow nature.

Learning Outcomes
It is expected by completing the experiment, the students will be able:
i) To describe laminar, transition and turbulent flow.
ii) To determine critical Reynolds Number for laminar, transition and turbulent
flow.

Theoretical overview
In fluid mechanics, the Reynolds number (Re) is a dimensionless quantity that is
used to help predict similar flow patterns in different fluid flow situations. The
concept was introduced by George Gabriel Stokes in 1851, but the Reynolds
number is named after Osborne Reynolds (1842—1912), who popularized its use
in 1883.
The Reynolds number is defined as the ratio of inertial forces to viscous forces
and consequently quantifies the relative importance of these 0.' /0 types of forces
for given flow conditions. They are also used to characterize different flow
regimes within a similar fluid, such as laminar or turbulent flow:
• Laminar flow occurs at low Reynolds numbers, where viscous forces are
dominant, and is characterized by smooth, constant fluid motion. The fluid flows
in the form of layers sliding on each other.
• Turbulent flow occurs at high Reynolds numbers and is dominated by inertial
forces, which tend to produce chaotic eddies, vortices and Other flow instabilities.

1


Reynold found that the ratio of inertia force to viscous force (which is known as
Reynold’s Number) can be taken as a criterion for determining the flow regime
which can be summarized as:

𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑎 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒
𝑅𝑒 =
𝑣𝑖𝑠𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑠 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒

!"# "#
𝑅𝑒 = =
µ "

He found that for flow in a pipe in a diameter d, experimental observations show
that for “fully developed” flow:

Re ≤ 2000 Laminar Flow

Re ≥ 4000 Turbulent Flow

2000 < Re < 4000 Transient Flow

2


Apparatus
The rig consists of the below units:
1) Reynold’s tank is a transparent quadrilateral tank.
2) The supply pipe is connected to the tank and fitted with a certain cap to
prevent wave formulation in the tank, the water flows through a perforated
barrier for the same reason.
3) The overflow pipe used to drain the surplus water and to obtain a constant
head of water in the tank.
4) Dye container which is attached to a small diameter tube, controlled by a
syringe and the tube is opened at the entrance of experimental pipe.
5) The experimental transparent pipe is held horizontally in the tank with a
control valve at the end, having a (2.8 cm diameter).
6) Supply pump.
7) Water gathering tank.
8) Stopwatch and a thermometer.

3


Procedures

1. Switch (ON) the electric switch and open the supply valve until water flows
from the overflow pipe.
2. Open the control valve for a minimum flow of water and wait for a while.
3. Open the dye valve letting the dye to flow in the experimental pipe and watch
dye behavior. If the dye is preserved as a filament at a certain layer, the flow is
laminar. If the dye diffuses in the water after a short distance the flow is
transient, while a sudden scatter of the dye represents turbulent flow.
4. Measure the discharge by gathering the water in a graduated cylinder at a
certain time.
5. Measure water temperature in order to obtain its viscosity.
6. Repeat the procedure (open the control valve in small increments) so that you
have at least two sets of data for laminar, transitional and turbulent flow.

Calculation
Q= vol/t (m3 /s) v= Q/A (m/s) Re= vd/ν
Symbols:
v v = Q/A = Mean flow velocity (m/s).
d Diameter of the experimental pipe (m), (0.028m) vol Volume of
connected water (m3)
A Pipe cross sectional area (m2)
μ Dynamic viscosity of the fluid (Pa∗s) or (N∗s/m2)
ν Kinematic viscosity of the fluid (m2/s) ρ Density of the fluid (kg/m3)

4


 True type
# Volume Time Velocity Reynold’s Type of of
(m3) (s) (m/s) Number Reynold’s Reynold’s

1 660*10-6 6.94 0.1544 3309.85 Transient Transient

2 760*10-6 4.42 0.2791 5981.5 Transient Turbulent

3 660*10-6 1.77 0.6055 12978 Turbulent Turbulent
4 690*10-6 5.73 0.1955 4189.82 Transient Turbulent

Re (1):
!!
Q = vol/t → Q = 660x10-6/6.94 = 9.51x10-5
"

!
V = Q/A → v = (9.51*105)/(𝜋*0.0282/4) = 0.1544
"

Re = vd/ν → (0.1112) (0.028)/(1.3065*10-6) = 3309.85

Re (2):
!!
Q = vol/t → Q = 760x10-6/4.42 = 1.719x10-4
"

!
V = Q/A → v= (1.719x10-4)/(𝜋*0.0282/4) = 0.2791
"

Re = vd/ν → (0.2791)(0.028)/(1.3065*106) = 5981.5

5


 0.7

0.6 0.6055

0.5

0.4

0.3
0.2791

0.2 0.1955
0.1544
0.1

0
3309.85 5981.5 12978 4189.82


Discussion
The lower critical value of Reynold's number is 2383.1 If the diameter is cut in
half, Reynold's number will be halved. Assume d= d/2, and we can see that
Reynold's number has been cut in half. However, because the discharge (Q) is
dictated by volume and time rather than diameter, it is unaffected.

To prevent overflowing, the water level in the tank is maintained at a consistent

level, and two emergency overflow pipelines have been built to assist.