CHAPTER 2: FLUID FLOW

Lecture2: Different types of fluids

flow
objectives
 To differentiate types of fluids flow

 To learn advantages of Reynolds number

 To know processes of developing fully developed flow

Two types of fluid flow
 LAMINAR AND TURBULENT FLOWS
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The flow appears to be smooth and

steady. The stream has a fairly uniform
diameter and there is little or no
evidence of mixing of the various parts
of the stream.
The flow has very low velocity –
highly ordered motion
The flow has a rather high
velocity – highly disordered
motion. The elements of fluid
appear to be mixing chaotically
within the stream.
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Types of fluid flow: 1. Laminar(streamline) flow

 Particles of a continuous fluid can be considered to travel along

smooth continuous paths which are given the name streamlines

 These streamlines can be curved or straight, depending on the flow

of the fluid. This type of motion is also called laminar flow
Laminar flow
Types of fluid flow: Laminar Flow
 This continuous substance can be regarded as being made up of
bundles or tubes of streamlines (flow tubes).
 The tubes have elastic properties:
 A tensile strength which means that the parts of the fluid along a particular
streamline stick together and do not separate from one another.
 Zero shear modulus, which means that each streamline moves
independently of any other
 Where the fluid moves slowly in layers in a pipe, without much
mixing among the layers
Types of fluid flow: Laminar Flow

Streamlines for fluid

passing obstacle
Velocity of particle
-tangent to streamline
Types of fluid flow: Laminar flow…….

 The flow separates into "layers" that slide relative to one

another without mixing. If we introduce a colored stream
into the laminar flow, the color will stay in the stream. The
flow is called steady.
 Laminar flow can be represented by a set of lines known as
streamlines (flow lines). An individual particle will follow
a streamline.
 The flow pattern does not change with time. All particles
starting on a streamline will continue to move on that
streamline. A set of streamlines is called a flow tube.
 Types of fluid flow: Laminar Flow…..

Where the fluid moves slowly in layers in a pipe, without much

mixing among the layers.

Typically occurs when the velocity is low or the fluid is very viscous.
 Types of fluid flow :Laminar flow

• Streamlines can't cross nor intersect the "walls" of the flow

tube. The instantaneous velocity of the particle is in the
direction of the tangent to the streamline.
• Density of streamlines proportional to the velocity:
• streamlines close together ⇒ high velocity,
• streamline far apart ⇒ low velocity.
• For an ideal fluid, no kinetic energy of the particles is lost.

velocity profile for the laminar flow of a non viscous liquid

 Types of fluid flow :2 Turbulent flow

• When the motion becomes too violent, vortices and eddies occur, the
motion becomes turbulent.
• A vigorous mixing (stirring) of the fluid occurs. A complex flow pattern
changes continuously with time.
• The velocity of the particles at each given point varies chaotically with time.
• The erratic motion of the fluid often shows small whirlpool-like circles called
eddies (eddy currents) or vortices. Eddies absorb a great deal of energy
due their rotational kinetic energy.
• A colored dye added to a stream will readily disperse.
• A transition from laminar flow to turbulent flow occurs very suddenly as the
flow rate increases. The flow becomes unstable at some critical speed.
 Types of fluid flow: Turbulent flow

Opposite of laminar, where considerable mixing occurs,

velocities are high.
 Types of fluid flow: Turbulent flow…..

Turbulent flow occurs when there are abrupt changes in boundary

surfaces. The flow of blood through a normal artery is laminar.
However, when irregularities occur the flow becomes turbulent.
The noise generated by the turbulent flow can be heard with a
stethoscope.
When the flow becomes turbulent there is a dramatic decrease in the
volume flow rate. When a fluid flows around an object the shape of
the object is a very important parameter in determining the type of
flow.
Types of fluid flow: Turbulent flow….

Figure. Turbulent flow indicted by the swirls – eddies and vortices

Turbulent flow
 Types of fluid flow: Turbulent flow…..

 Turbulence is important because it is a means whereby energy

gets dissipated.
 The shape of a body will, to some extent, decide whether it
will move through a fluid in streamline or turbulent motion.
 This is very important in aeronautical engineering.
 Air turbulence means increased fuel consumption in aircraft,
and many cunning and intricate devices are used to reduce
turbulence.
 Shapes of marine animals, flying birds, racing cars are
important to avoid turbulent flow around them.
Types of fluid flow: Turbulent Flow….

 What factors determine whether a fluid will flow in laminar or

turbulent motion?

 Reynolds Number (Re)

 Reynolds number (Re)

 The Reynolds number is a dimensionless parameter named after

Professor Reynolds. The number is defined as
Re= ρVD/μ
Where, ρ=fluid density in kg/m3
V=fluid velocity in m/s
D=pipe diameter in m
μ =fluid viscosity in Ns/m 2
 Unless otherwise specified, this V will be considered to be the
average velocity across the pipe cross section.
 Physically, the Reynolds number represents the ratio of inertial
forces to viscous forces.
 Reynolds number….

 The Reynolds number helps us to predict the transition between laminar

and turbulent flows. Laminar flow is highly organized flow along
streamlines.
 As velocity increases, flow can become disorganized and chaotic with a
random 3-D motion superimposed on the average flow velocity.
 This is known as turbulent flow.
 Laminar flow occurs in flow environments where Re<2000. Turbulent
flow is present in circumstances under which Re>4000.
 For 2000 < Re< 4000 – transition region or critical region–flow can
either be laminar or turbulent – difficult to pin down exactly.
Entrance length prediction

  
Examples
 Determine whether the flow is laminar or turbulent if glycerine at
25°C flows in a pipe with a 150-mm inside diameter. The average
velocity of flow is 3.6 m/s. dynamic viscosity is 0.96Pa.s.
Solution
 We must first evaluate the Reynolds number

Re= ρVD/μ= (3.6)(0.15)(1258) = 708

0.96
The flow is laminar since, 708<2000
 Laminar and Turbulent in Human Blood
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 Most of human blood flow is laminar, having Re of 300 or less.

However, it is possible for turbulence to occur at very high flow rates
in the descending aorta, for example in highly conditioned athletes.
Sometimes it is also common in pathological conditions; narrowed
(stenotic) arteries and across stenotic heart valves. 

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 TURBULENT AND ITS EFFECT
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 Hemodynamic studies have shown that diseased cardiac valves, whether

stenosed or incompetent, create regions of increased turbulence and shear
stresses that are large enough to damage the vascular endothelium leading
to endothelial dysfunction.

 Endothelial cells line the entire circulatory system, from the heart to the
smallest capillary. These cells reduce friction of the flow of blood allowing
the fluid to be pumped further and control of blood pressure

 A key feature of endothelial dysfunction is the inability of arteries and

arterioles to dilate fully in response to an appropriate stimuli.
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 Laminar and Turbulent in the lungs
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 In the lungs, fully developed laminar flow probably occurs only in

very small airways with low Re.

 When air flow at higher rates in larger diameter tubes, like Trachea,
the flow is often turbulent.

 Much of the flow in intermediate sized airways will be transitional

flow.

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 ENTRANCE REGION
FLOW ENTERING CIRCULAR PIPE
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 Boundary layer region - Viscous effects and the velocity changes are significance
 The inviscid flow region – Frictional effects are negligible and velocity in radial directions
is constant.
 The region from the pipe inlet to the point at which the boundary layer merges at the
centerline is called the Hydrodynamic Entrance Region, and the length is
Hydrodynamic Entry Length, XE.
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 ENTRY LENGTH (LENGTH OF ENTRANCE REGION), XE

Laminar flow,
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Turbulent flow,

For a pipe length over 10D, entrance effect is negligible and thus,

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Home activity
 

•Turn on a water tap such that the flow is smooth and glassy.
This is streamline flow.
•Increase the flow rate and observe as the flow becomes

turbulent, irregular and ropey.

•See if you can identify a flow where water leaves the tap in

streamline flow but transits to turbulent flow before hitting the

sink.
Question(s) ?