ABSTRACT / SUMMARY

Osbourne Reynolds experiment is used to investigate the characteristic of the flow of the
liquid in the pipe which is also used to determine the Reynolds Number for each state of the flow.
The design of the apparatus allowed studying the characteristic of the flow of the fluid in the pipe,
the behaviour of the flow and also to calculate the range for the laminar and turbulent flow where
the calculation is used to prove the Reynolds number is dimensionless by using the Reynolds
Number formula. For the first and second objectives, it involve running the Osborne Reynolds
equipment with different of water volume flow rate. In this experiment we fix the time,
which is 5 second to collect the amount of water. At the same time we also observe the
characteristic of the flow, there are laminar, transition and turbulent flow. From the data
collected we made calculation to estimate the range for laminar and turbulent flow. To
prove that the Reynolds number is dimensionless, we calculate by using the units only and
using the appropriate formula, it is proved that the Reynolds number is dimensionless
INTRODUCTION

The apparatus used here to demonstrate ‘critical velocity’ is based on that used by Professor
Reynolds who demonstrated the nature of the two modes of motion flowing in a tube,
example laminar and turbulent. The unit is designed to be mounted on P6100 hydraulic
Bench and the quantity of water flowing through it can be measured and timed using the
Hydraulic Bench Volumetric Tank and a suitable stopwatch. A bell mounted glass tube
790mm long overall by 16mm bore is mounted horizontally and concentrically in a much
larger diameter tube fitted with baffles. A uniform supply of water can then be made to flow
along the 16mm bore tube.

The unit is fitted with a constant head tank and the flow rate which can be varied by
adjustment to the head tank height, can be measured using the volumetric tank.

A dye injector is situated at the entrance to the 16 mm bore tube and thus it is possible to
detect whether the flow is streamline or turbulent.

Critical velocities and Reynolds number

Reynolds obtained the loss of pressure head in a pipe at different flow rates by measuring
the loss head (hf) over a known length of pipe (l), from this slope of the hydraulic gradient (i)
was obtained.

hf
i=
l

When Reynolds plotted the results of his investigation of how energy head loss varied with
the velocity of flow, he obtained two distinct regions separated by a transition zone. In the
laminar region the energy loss per unit length of pipe is directly proportional to the mean
velocity. In the turbulent flow region the energy loss per unit length of pipe is proportional
to the mean velocity raised to some power, ƞ. The value of ƞ being influenced by the
roughness of the pipe wall.

hf 1.7 hf 2
α v For smooth pipes in this region but α v for very rough pipes.
l l

hf 1.7 ¿
Example α v 2.¿. The dimensionless unit Reynolds number (Re) = ρvd/μ and has a value
l
below 2000 for laminar flow and above 4000 for turbulent flow (when any consistent set of
units is used) – the transition zone lying in the region of Re 2000 – 4000 (example ‘lower
critical velocity’ LCV at Reynolds number of 2000 and ‘upper critical velocity’ UCV at a
Reynolds number of 4000)

2
Note that the value of Re obtained in experiments made with ‘increasing’ rates of flow will
depend on the degree of care which has been taken to eliminate disturbance in the supply
and along the pipe. On the other hand, experiment made with ‘decreasing’ flow rates will
show a value of Re which is very much less dependent on initial disturbance .

3
AIMS

The objective of this laboratory experiment is to demonstrate the differences between

laminar, turbulent, and transitional fluid flow, and the Reynolds’s numbers at which each
occurs.

4
THEORY

Laminar and turbulent flow

Professor Osborne Reynolds (1842-1912) first realized that there was a ‘critical velocity’ at
which the law relating loss of pressure energy and velocity in pipe flow changed. He first
demonstrated this with his famous ‘Color Band’ (on the die-line) experiment. This consisted
of injecting a line jet of dye into the flow of water visible through a transparent pipe. At low
velocities the dye-line was unbroken, but as the velocity of the flow through the pipe was
increased, the dye-line broke up and eddies were seen to form. From this and further
experiments, he came to the conclusion that there are two distinct types of flow:-

1. Streamline or Laminar Flow (Latin lamina = layer of thin sheet). The fluid moves in
layers without irregular fluctuation in velocity. Laminar flow occurs at low Reynolds
Numbers. (The flow of oil in bearing is Laminar).

2. Turbulent flow. This results in the fluid particles moving in irregular patterns carrying
an exchange of momentum from one portion of the fluid to another.

Reynolds investigated these two different types of motion and concluded that the
parameters which were involved in the flow characteristics were

Ρ the density of the fluid kg/m3

v the velocity of the flow of the fluid m/s
d Diameter of pipe m
μ the coefficient of viscosity of the fluid Ns/m2

He arrived at a dimensionless constant (Reynolds number)

(Re)=ρvd/μ

5
The value of which was concerned with the fluid motion. Fluid motion was found to be
laminar for Re numbers below 2000 and turbulent flows for Re greater than 4000.

APPARATUS

1) OSBOURNE REYNOLDS APPARTUS – [Figure 1]

Consist of:-

 Dye Injection Vessel

 Water Inlet
 Dye Injector
 Clear Acrylic Tube
 Baffles
 Glass tube 16mm Boro
 P6100 Hydraulic Bench
 Feet on P6248 Base Locate on P6100
 Overflow pipe
 Discharge from Glass Tube
 Inlet to flow Apparatus
 Position Locking Collet
 Variable Height header tank (Inlet to Flow Apparatus)

2) Beaker
3) Measuring Cylinder
4) Stopwatch

6
 [Figure 1- Osbourne Reynolds Apparatus]

METHODOLOGY / PROCEDURE

Setting up the apparatus

The Hydraulic Bench (P6100) is mounted on the apparatus at the locating spigots of the
working surfaces so that the unit straddles the weir trough and the outlet feeds into
measuring tank. P6100 Hydraulic Bench at the variable height header tank is connected to
the water supply which it is mounted on its support stand. The water supply was turned on
and ensured that all the air in the systems displaced prior to proceeding with the
investigation. The water flow is regulating to give a steady flow in the system with water just
trickling out of the header tank overflow. The water level in the flow system must be above
the inner bell mouthed glass tube.

Measuring flow-rate

The flow rate of water is measured through the apparatus and achieved by using the
Hydraulic Bench volumetric measuring tank or smaller graduated vessel (not supplied),
which is used to collect the known quantity of water.

Demonstration of the difference between laminar and turbulent

This experiment demonstrated the visually laminar (streamline) flow and its transition to
turbulent flow at a particular velocity.

1. The apparatus is set up with the dye reservoir is fitted and filled, and with a steady
flow of water through the inner tube.
2. The small cock on the base of reservoir is opened to permit dye to flow from the
nozzle at the entrance to the channel. The colored dye will be visible along the
passage. If the dye accumulates around the nozzle, the velocity of the water flow in

7
 the passage has to be increased or regulate the flow from the dye reservoir. The
adjustments of the dye flow are made up by using the tube outlet tap.
3. The stream will be visible along the whole length of the passage under laminar flow
conditions. If it not so, the water flow is reduced until continuous stream of dye is
visible along the passage.
4. The water flow rate is increased by raising the height of the variable head tank and
the condition of the fluid in the channel carefully note, for example, the streamline
and turbulent. The height of head tank is increased until instability of water flow
leading to the break up of the dye system is occurred.
5. The break up position in the passage is noted and the corresponding value of the
flow rate is measured by timing the collection of known amount of water in the
volumetric measuring tank.
6. The dose is maintain and the observation of the passage is continued further
increasing the flow rate until the whole system is turbulent with no visible dye
stream at any point.

RESULTS

No. Of Rotation No. Of Reading Average Reynolds Description

(mL) Reading (m3) Number
22
1 24 2.3 x 10-5 613.3 Laminar
23
48
2 46 4.6 x 10-5 1220.56 Laminar
44
52
3 56 5.333 x 10-5 1415.06 Laminar
52
72
4 64 7.1 x 10-5 1866.14 Laminar
77
76
5 74 7.533 x 10-5 1998.81 Laminar
76
80
6 88 8.533 x 10-5 2210.10 Transition
88
92
7 76 8.2 x 10-5 2175.79 Transition
78
100
8 90 9.6 x 10-5 2547.26 Transition
98

8
 110
9 92 1 x 10-4 2653.40 Transition
98
106
10 124 1.16 x 10-4 3077.94 Transition
118
128
11 134 1.32 x 10-4 3520.49 Transition
134
124
12 138 1.3533 x 10-4 3590.05 Transition
144
138
13 148 1.4467 x 10-4 3820.9 Transition
148
174
14 156 160.67 4264.27 Turbulent
152

9
CALCULATIONS

Bell mounted glass tube (length =790 mm, diameter=16mm)

Therefore the area,A = πd²/4 = 2.01×10-4 m²
Reynolds number (dimensionless constant)

ѵ
Q= (m³/s)
s

Q = volumetric flowrate
Ѵ= volume
s= time

Q
V=
A

V=Velocity
A=Area of the pipe

ρvd
Re =
μ

Where,
ρ = density (kg/m³ )
d = diameter (m)
V = velocity (m/s)
µ = viscosity (kg/ms)

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Water density,ρ = 1000 kg/m³
Water viscosity, µ = 1.0× 10ˉ³kg/ms

NUMBER VELOCITY ρvd

Re = μ
OF (m/s) DESCRIPTION
ROTATIO
N
1 V(ml)= 23 ml 1000(0.03833)(0.016)
Re=
1.0× 10 ˉ ³ .
V(m³)= 2.3 x 10ˉ⁵ m³
= 613.33
2.3 x 10 ˉ ⁵ m ³ Laminar
Q=
3s
= 7.667 x 10ˉ⁶ m³/s
3
m
7.667 x 10 ˉ ⁶
Velocity = s
2.01 ×10 ˉ ⁴ m2
=0.03833 m/s
2 V(ml)= 46 ml 1000(0.07629)(0.016)
Re=
1.0× 10 ˉ ³ .
V(m³)= 4.6 x 10ˉ⁵ m³
= 1220.56
4.6 x 10 ˉ ⁵ m ³ Laminar
Q=
3s
= 1.533 x 10ˉ⁵ m³/s
m3
1.533 x 10ˉ ⁵
Velocity = s
2.01× 10 ˉ ⁴ m2
=0.07629 m/s
3 V(ml)= 53.33 ml 1000(0.08844)(0.016)
Re=
1.0 ×10 ˉ ³ .
V(m³)= 5.333 x 10ˉ⁵ m³
=1415.06
5.333 x 10ˉ ⁵ m ³ Laminar
Q=
3s
= 1.778 x 10ˉ⁵ m³/s
m3
1.778 x 10ˉ ⁵
Velocity = s
2.01× 10 ˉ ⁴ m2
=0.08844 m/s
4 V(ml)= 70.33 ml 1000(0.1166)(0.016)
Re=
1.0 × 10ˉ ³ .
V(m³)= 7.033 x 10ˉ⁵ m³

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 7.033 x 10ˉ ⁵ m ³ = 1866.14 Laminar
Q=
3s
= 2.344 x 10ˉ⁵ m³/s
m3
2.344 x 10 ˉ ⁵
Velocity = s
2.01 ×10 ˉ ⁴ m2
=0.1166 m/s
5 V(ml)= 75.33 ml 1000(0.1249)(0.016)
Re=
1.0× 10 ˉ ³ .
V(m³)= 7.533 x 10ˉ⁵ m³
= 1998.81
7.533 x 10ˉ ⁵ m ³ Laminar
Q=
3s
= 2.511x 10ˉ⁵ m³/s
m3
2.511 x 10 ˉ ⁵
Velocity = s
2.01×10 ˉ ⁴ m2
=0.1249 m/s
6 V(ml)= 83.67 ml 1000(0.1388)(0.016)
Re=
1.0× 10 ˉ ³ .
V(m³)= 8.367 x 10ˉ⁵ m³
= 2220.10
8.367 x 10 ˉ ⁵ m ³ Transition
Q=
3s
= 2.789 x 10ˉ⁵ m³/s
m3
2.789 x 10ˉ ⁵
Velocity = s
2.01× 10 ˉ ⁴ m2
=0.1388 m/s
7 V(ml)= 82 ml 1000(0.1360)(0.016)
Re=
1.0× 10 ˉ ³ .
V(m³)= 8.2 x 10ˉ⁵ m³
= 2175.79
8.2 x 10ˉ ⁵ m ³ Transition
Q=
3s
= 2.733 x 10ˉ⁵ m³/s
m3
2.733 x 10ˉ ⁵
Velocity = s
2.01× 10 ˉ ⁴ m2
=0.1360 m/s
8 V(ml)= 96 ml 1000(0.1592)(0.016)
Re=
1.0× 10ˉ ³ .
V(m³)= 9.6 x 10ˉ⁵ m³
= 2547.26

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 9.6 x 10 ˉ ⁵ m³ Transition
Q=
3s
= 3.2 x 10ˉ⁵ m³/s
m3
3.2 x 10 ˉ ⁵
Velocity = s
2.01× 10ˉ ⁴ m2
=0.1592 m/s
9 V(ml)= 100 ml 1000(0.1658)(0.016)
Re=
1.0× 10 ˉ ³ .
V(m³)= 1.0 x 10ˉ⁴m³
= 2653.40
1.0 x 10ˉ ⁴ m ³ Transition
Q=
3s
= 3.333 x 10ˉ⁵ m³/s
m3
2.733 x 10ˉ ⁵
Velocity = s
2.01× 10 ˉ ⁴ m2
=0.1658 m/s
10 V(ml)= 116 ml 1000(0.1924)(0.016)
Re=
1.0 ×10 ˉ ³ .
V(m³)= 1.16 x 10ˉ⁴m³
= 3077.94
1.16 x 10 ˉ ⁴ m ³ Transition
Q=
3s
= 3.867 x 10ˉ⁵ m³/s
m3
3.867 x 10 ˉ ⁵
Velocity = s
2.01 ×10 ˉ ⁴ m2
=0.1924 m/s
11 V(ml)= 132 ml 1000(0.2189)(0.016)
Re=
1.0× 10 ˉ ³ .
V(m³)= 1.32 x 10ˉ⁴m³
= 3502.49
1.32 x 10 ˉ ⁴ m ³ Transition
Q=
3s
= 4.4 x 10ˉ⁵ m³/s
m3
4.4 x 10 ˉ ⁵
Velocity = s
2.01× 10ˉ ⁴ m2
=0.2189 m/s
12 V(ml)= 135.33 ml 1000(0.2244)(0.016)
Re=
1.0 ×10 ˉ ³ .
V(m³)= 1.353 x 10ˉ⁴m³
= 3590.05

13
 1.353 x 10ˉ ⁴ m ³ Transition
Q=
3s
= 4.51 x 10ˉ⁵ m³/s
m3
4.51 x 10 ˉ ⁵
Velocity = s
2.01 ×10 ˉ ⁴ m2
=0.2244 m/s
13 V(ml)= 144 ml 1000(0.2388)(0.016)
Re=
1.0× 10 ˉ ³ .
V(m³)= 1.44 x 10ˉ⁴m³
= 3820.9
1.44 x 10 ˉ ⁴ m ³ Transition
Q=
3s
= 4.8 x 10ˉ⁵ m³/s
m3
4.8 x 10ˉ ⁵
Velocity = s
2.01× 10ˉ ⁴ m2
=0.2388 m/s
14 V(ml)= 160.67 ml 1000(0.2665)(0.016)
Re=
1.0× 10 ˉ ³ .
V(m³)= 1.607 x 10ˉ⁴m³
= 4264.27
1.607 x 10 ˉ ⁴ m ³
Q=
3s
= 5.357 x 10ˉ⁵ m³/s
m3
5.357 x 10 ˉ ⁵
Velocity = s
2.01× 10 ˉ ⁴ m2
=0.2665 m/s

DISCUSSION

 Laminar flow- highly ordered fluid motion with smooth streamlines.

 Transition flow -a flow that contains both laminar and turbulent regions.

 Turbulent flow -a highly disordered fluid motion characterized by velocity and

fluctuations and eddies.

According to the Reynolds`s experiment, laminar flow will occur when a thin filament of
dye injected into laminar flow appears as a single line. There is no dispersion of dye
throughout the flow, except the slow dispersion due to molecular motion. While for
turbulent flow, if a dye filament injected into a turbulent flow, it disperse quickly
throughout the flow field, the lines of dye breaks into myriad entangled threads of dye.
14
 In this experiment we have to firstly is to observe the characteristic of the flow of the
fluid in the pipe, which may be laminar or turbulent flow by measuring the Reynolds
number and the behaviour of the flow, secondly to calculate the range for the laminar and
turbulent flow and lastly to prove the Reynolds number is dimensionless by using the
Reynolds number formula.

After complete preparing and setup the equipment we run this experiment. But firstly
we have to calculate the area of bell mounted glass tube, the viscosity of water and the
density of water. The density of water is 1000 kg/m³, the area of glass tube is 2.01×10-4 m²,
while the viscosity of water is 1.0× 10ˉ³kg/ms, this is done for easy step by step calculation.

We observe that the red dye line change with the increasing of water flow rate. The
shape change from thin threads to slightly swirling which still contains smooth thin threads
and then fully swirling. We can say that this change is from laminar flow to transitional flow
and then to turbulent flow and it’s not occurs suddenly.

CONCLUSION

As the water flow rate increase, the Reynolds number calculated also increase and the red
dye line change from thin thread to swirling in shape.

Laminar flow occurs when the Reynolds number calculated is below than 2300; transitional
flow occurs when Reynolds number calculated is between 2300 and 4000 while turbulent
flow occurs when Reynolds number calculated is above 4000.

It is proved that the Reynolds equation is dimensionless, no units left after the calculation

15
RECOMMENDATIONS

Compare with the result diagram in the laboratory, there are bit different between the
results collected. This might be some of parallax error such as the slow response during
collecting the water, the position of eyes during taking the value of water volume, time taken for the
volume of water and regulating the valve which control the flow rate of water unstably.

During the experiment there are several precaution steps that need to be alert. The
experiment should be done at suitable and unshaken place. To get appropriate laminar smooth
stream flow, the clip and the valve which control the injection of red dye must be regulate slow
and carefully. When removing the beaker from the exit valve, we notice that some water still

16
enter the beaker because of the slow response between the person who guide the stop watch and
collecting beaker. So to avoid this parallax error, it is better to take same person who guard the stop
watch and the collecting beaker.

Lastly, do this experiment at steady place, control the clip and valve carefully to get long thin
of laminar dye flow, and remove the beaker which uses to collect the amount of water at sharp
when the time is up, to avoid error flow rate error.

REFERENCE

Online Journal

1) High-Reynolds number Rayleigh-Taylor turbulence 

Authors: D. Livescu; J. R. Ristorcelli; R. A. Gore; S. H. Deana; W. H. Cabot; A. W. Cook
DOI: 10.1080/14685240902870448
Published in:  Journal of Turbulence, Volume 10, N 13 2009
First Published on: 01 January 2009
Subjects: Aerospace Engineering; Applied Mechanics; Astrophysics; Computational
Physics; Fluid Dynamics; Fluid Mechanics; Meteorology; Oceanography; Physical
Oceanography; Plasmas & Fluids; Statistical Physics;

2) Structure of a high-Reynolds-number turbulent wake in supersonic flow

J. P.  Bonnet, V.  Jayaraman and T. Alziary De  Roquefort 

17
 Laboratoire d'Etudes Aérodynamiques et Thermiques, Laboratoire Associé au
C.N.R.S. 191, Centre d'Etudes Aérodynamiques et Thermiques, 43 Route de
l'Aérodrome, 86000 Poitiers, France.
Journal of Fluid Mechanics (1984), 143:277-304 Cambridge University Press
Copyright © 1984 Cambridge University Press
doi:10.1017/S002211208400135X

APPENDIX

18
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