Turbulence is caused by excessive kinetic energy in parts of a fluid flow, which overcomes the damping effect of the fluid’s viscosity. For this reason turbulence is commonly realized in low viscosity fluids. This increases the energy needed to pump fluid through a pipe.

When the velocity was low, the dyed layer remained distinct through the entire length of the large tube. When the velocity was increased, the layer broke up at a given point and diffused throughout the fluid’s cross-section. The point at which this happened was the transition point from laminar to turbulent flow.

Laminar flow occurs at lower velocities, below a threshold at which the flow becomes turbulent. Turbulent flow is a less orderly flow regime that is characterized by eddies or small packets of fluid particles, which result in lateral mixing.

object immersed in fluid experience greater drag than compared to turbulent flow. slow velocity.

Can be used to measure low flow rates. Ability to measure the flow of high viscous liquid. Linear relationship between flow rate and pressure drop.

A turbulent flow can be either an advantage or disadvantage. A turbulent flow increases the amount of air resistance and noise; however, a turbulent flow also accelerates heat conduction and thermal mixing. Therefore, understanding, handling, and controlling turbulent flows can be crucial for successful product design.

The disadvantages of turbulent flow depends on how turbulent the flow is. Cavitation, pecking on the casing, head losses are usual problems. Design modifications can be helpful to reduce its effects.

Turbulence increases the energy required to drive blood flow because turbulence increases the loss of energy in the form of friction, which generates heat. When plotting a pressure-flow relationship (see figure to right), turbulence increases the perfusion pressure required to drive a given flow.

Turbulent flow is all around us. It can be beneficial in some cases and not in others. When the airflow around a vehicle becomes turbulent, air resistance increases. When the flow of a liquid transported in a tube such as a water pipe is turbulent, more force (energy) is required to transport the liquid.

As a result, at a given Reynolds number, the drag of a turbulent flow is higher than the drag of a laminar flow.

Friction drag can be reduced by delaying the point at which laminar flow becomes turbulent.

The heat transfer coefficient increases when the fluid velocity increases (better mixing in the turbulent boundary layer, thinner laminar su-blayer). A turbulent flow increases the amount of air resistance and noise; however, a turbulent flow also accelerates heat conduction and thermal mixing.

Under turbulent flow conditions, the increase in heat transfer rate is more significant than that under laminar flow conditions. This is due to the increase in the Reynolds number of the flowing fluid in turbulent flow. The turbulent effects become a dominant factor over secondary flow at higher Reynolds number.

The effect of the mass flow rate at constant velocity on the convective heat transfer coefficient of an incompressible fluid in a turbulent flow regime is presented with the help of dimensional analysis. Doubling the mass flow rate will result in a 92% increase in the heat transfer coefficient.

Turbulent flow, type of fluid (gas or liquid) flow in which the fluid undergoes irregular fluctuations, or mixing, in contrast to laminar flow, in which the fluid moves in smooth paths or layers. In turbulent flow the speed of the fluid at a point is continuously undergoing changes in both magnitude and direction.

Laminar flow or streamline flow in pipes (or tubes) occurs when a fluid flows in parallel layers, with no disruption between the layers. Turbulent flow is a flow regime characterized by chaotic property changes. This includes rapid variation of pressure and flow velocity in space and time.

Whenever the Reynolds number is less than about 2,000, flow in a pipe is generally laminar, whereas, at values greater than 2,000, flow is usually turbulent.

Reynolds Number Definition

1. Re = (Velocity x Diameter) ÷ Kinematic Viscosity = (V x D)/γ
2. Velocity = Speed of fluid in the pipe.
3. Diameter = the inside diameter of the flow passage.

The higher the Reynolds number, the lesser the viscosity plays a role in the flow around the airfoil. With increasing Reynolds number the boundary layer gets thinner, which results in a lower drag.

Pressure drag is more significant than skin friction drag on large bodies – like your fuselage and nacelles. And since a turbulent boundary layer has more energy to oppose an adverse pressure gradient, engineers often force the boundary layer to turn turbulent over fuselages to reduce overall drag.

First, any obstruction or sharp corner, such as in a faucet, creates turbulence by imparting velocities perpendicular to the flow. Second, high speeds cause turbulence. The drag between adjacent layers of fluid and between the fluid and its surroundings can form swirls and eddies if the speed is great enough.

The critical angle of attack is the angle of attack which produces the maximum lift coefficient. This is also called the “stall angle of attack”. At the critical angle of attack, upper surface flow is more separated and the airfoil or wing is producing its maximum lift coefficient.

The angle of attack (AOA) is the angle at which the chord of an aircraft’s wing meets the relative wind. The critical AOA is an aerodynamic constant for a given airfoil in a given configuration. The velocity of the relative wind does not matter; the airfoil will ALWAYS stall when the critical AOA is reached.