Laminar flow, type of fluid (gas or liquid) flow in which the fluid travels

smoothly or in regular paths, in contrast to turbulent flow, in which the fluid

undergoes irregular fluctuations and mixing. In laminar flow, sometimes
called streamline flow, the velocity, pressure, and other flow properties at each
point in the fluid remain constant. Laminar flow over a horizontal surface may be
thought of as consisting of thin layers, or laminae, all parallel to each other. The
fluid in contact with the horizontal surface is stationary, but all the other layers
slide over each other. A deck of new cards, as a rough analogy, may be made to
“flow” laminarly.

Laminar flow in a straight pipe may be considered as the relative motion of a set
of concentric cylinders of fluid, the outside one fixed at the pipe wall and the
others moving at increasing speeds as the centre of the pipe is approached.
Smoke rising in a straight path from a cigarette is undergoing laminar flow. After
rising a small distance, the smoke usually changes to turbulent flow, as it eddies
and swirls from its regular path.

Laminar flow is common only in cases in which the flow channel is relatively
small, the fluid is moving slowly, and its viscosity is relatively high. Oil flow
through a thin tube or blood flow through capillaries is laminar.

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