ABSTRACT

Osborne Reynolds experiment is used to observe the characteristic

of the liquid flow in a pipe perhaps, it is also can be used to determine the
Reynolds Number of the liquid flow. Each of the state have its own range
of Reynolds Number. Therefore, this experiment is to investigate three
type of flow which were laminar, transition and turbulent flow. To prove it,
the Reynolds Number each state of the fluid flow was calculated and must
be dimensionless by using the Reynolds Number formula.

The objectives of the experiment had been achieved as we were

proved it the characteristic of the flow and the range of its Reynolds
Number in its state. Besides, we had constant the time taken which was
10 seconds and measured the volumes of the water flow out to calculate
the volumetric flow rate of the liquid flow. The volume of the water had
been taken from the water outlet pipe by using measuring cylinder in 10
second. Hence, we can calculated the Reynolds Number.

Lastly, the observation of the flow had been made from the dye
flow. The dye shown the characteristic of the fluid flow. In short, the
laminar, transition and turbulent flow were produced based on their
characteristic and Reynolds Number.

INTRODUCTION

Fluid flow can be classified in three type which is laminar flow, transitional
flow and turbulent flow. In fluid mechanics, internal flow is defined as flow
for which a fluid is confined by a surface. We can differentiate all this
three type of fluid flow by performing the Osborne Reynolds Apparatus
experiment.

Osborne Reynolds Apparatus consist of water resource for system

supply, transparent pipe, fixed-head water input, water output unit to
measure the flow rate, and dye input by injection unit to show the flow
pattern of the fluid. To obtain laminar, transitional and turbulent we need
to control the output valve and dye injection. After getting the right
pattern of the flow (e.g. laminar), we can measure the flow rate at the
output pipe and hence calculate the Reynolds Number (Re). For laminar
flow, Re is smaller than 2100 while for transitional flow, Re is between
2100 and 4000 and for turbulent flow, Re is bigger than 4000.

AIMS / OBJECTIVE
1. To compute Reynolds numbers (Re).

2. To observed the laminar, transitional and turbulent flow.

THEORY

Fluid flow is generally broken down into three different types of flows
which are laminar flow transitional flow and turbulent flow. A flow can be
Laminar, Turbulent or Transitional in nature. This becomes a very
important classification of flows and is brought out vividly by the
experiment conducted by Osborne Reynolds (1842 - 1912). These three
flows have different pattern of flow and it can be observed throughout
Osborne Reynolds experiment. Laminar flow is fluid motion in which all the
particles in the fluid are moving in a straight line and it is dealing with
small pipes and low velocity. Occur when the fluid flows in parallel layers,
with no mixing between the layers. Where the centre part of the pipe flow
the fastest and the cylinder touching the pipe is not moving at all. As for
the transitional flow, it is a mixture of laminar and turbulent flow, with
turbulence flow in the centre of the pipe and laminar flow near the edges
of the pipe. Each of these flows behaves in different manners in terms of
their frictional energy loss while flowing and have different equations that
predict their characteristics. Lastly for the turbulent flow, this is an
irregular flow of particle. Unlike the straight line motion of laminar flow,
the particles of turbulent flow are in a state of chaos, turbulent flow
happens in general at high flow rates and with larger pipes.
 Figure 4.1: Types of flow
The Reynolds number is important in analysing any type of flow when
there is substantial velocity gradient. It indicates the relative
significance of the viscous effect compared to the inertia effect. It is
also found that a flow in a pipe is laminar if the Reynolds Number
based on diameter of the pipe is less than 2100 and is turbulent if it is
greater than 4000. Transitional Flow is in between these two limits. In
order to observe the characteristics of the flow and to prove that the
Reynolds Number is dimensionless we are using Osborne Reynolds
experiment.

Osborne 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. Into a flow through a glass tube a dye injected to observe the
nature of flow. When the speeds were small the flow seemed to follow
a straight line path. As the flow speed was increased the dye
fluctuates and one observes irregular paths. As the flow speed is
further increased the dye is blurred and seems to fill the entire pipe.
These are how Laminar, Transitional and Turbulent Flows can be
observed.
Figure 4.2: Formula of Reynolds Number

Figure 4.3: Osborne Reynolds apparatus

APPARATUS
1. Dye
2. Stopwatch
3. Measuring cylinder
4. Water
PROCEDURES
1. Lower the dye injector until it seen in the glass tube.
2. Open the inlet valve, V1 to allow the water to enter the head tank.
3. Control the over flow tube valve,V3 to ensured a small overflow
spillage while maintaining the water to get a constant level.
4. Allow the water to settle in a few minutes.
5. Let the water flow through the observation tube by open the flow
control valves.
6. The dye control valve,V4 was slowly adjusted and slow flow of dye
injection were achieved.
7. The inlet,V1 and outlet,V2 valve were regulated until straight line of
dye was observe. Therefore, the flow was laminar.
8. The flow rate at the outlet valve,V2 were measured using volumetric
method by taking a constant time in 10 seconds.
9. Repeat the experiment to produce transition and turbulent flow.
RESULT AND CALCULATIONS.

Figure 1: Laminar flow of dye inside the tube

Figure 2: Transitional flow of dye in tube
Figure 3: Turbulent flow of dye in tube
Reynold Number formula

UL
=

Where,
Re = Reynold Number
U = Fluid velocity, m/s
L = Characteristic length or diameter, m
= kinematic viscosity, m2/s

If Re < 2100, the fluid is laminar,

If Re in range between 2100 to 4000, the fluid is transitional,
If Re > 4000, the fluid is turbulent

= 0.89 x 10-6 m/s

Glass tube diameter, D = 0.0156 m
Area, A = 1.91 x 10-4 m2

Laminar flow

Time Flowrate Reynold

Trial Volume (L) 3
(s) L/s m /s number, Re
-3
1 42 x 10 10 4.2 x 10-3 4.2 x 10-6 385.43
2 42 x 10-3 10 4.2 x 10-3 4.2 x 10-6 385.43
3 44 x 10-3 10 4.4 x 10-3 4.4 x 10-6 403.79
Average 391.55

Transitional flow

Time Flowrate Reynold

Trial Volume (L)
(s) L/s m3/s number, Re
1 245 x 10-3 10 2.45 x 10-2 2.45 x 10-5 2248.73
2 260 x 10-3 10 2.60 x 10-2 2.60 x 10-5 2386.02
3 240 x 10-3 10 2.40 x 10-2 2.40 x 10-5 2202.48
Average 2280.08

Turbulent flow

Time Flowrate Reynold

Trial Volume (L) 3
(s) L/s m /s number, Re
-3
1 660 x 10 10 6.60 x 10-2 6.60 x 10-5 6056.83
2 720 x 10-3 10 7.20 x 10-2 7.20 x 10-5 6607.45
3 680 x 10-3 10 6.80 x 10-2 6.80 x 10-5 6240.37
Average 6301.55

DISCUSSION
This experiment was carried out to determine the characteristic of
laminar, turbulent and transitional flow by determining the Reynold
number. In this experiment, laminar flow can be observe where the dye
flows smoothly in a straight path constantly (see figure 1). Reynold
number for laminar flow is lesser than 2300. The characteristics for
laminar flow are such as it flow in low velocity, the motion of particles of
the fluid is very orderly with all particle moving in a straight line parallel to
the wall of the tubing. The average Reynold number calculated is 391.55
which is less than 2300 and it has flow rate between 4.2 x 10 -6 m3/s to 4.4
x 10-6 m3/s.

While for turbulent flow, the Reynold number is more than 4000. The
characteristics of the flow can be observed in Figure 3 where the dye mix
rapidly and completely with the water, and it has high velocity and the
particle path is completely irregular. The average Reynold number
calculated is 6301.55 which is more than 4000 and the flowrate is
between 6.6 x 10-5 m3/s to 7.2 x 10-5 m3/s.
Last but not least, the flow which lies between laminar and turbulent flow
are called as transitional flow. The Reynold number for transitional flow
lies between 2300 and 4000. From Figure 2, it has both laminar and
turbulent motion of particle of the dye. Where it has average velocity and
the dye stream waver in water where it mixed slightly with the water. The
average Reynold number calculated is 2280.08 and the flowrate is
between 2.4 x 10-5 m3/s to 2.6 x10-5 m3/s.

Throughout the experiment, there are some error may exist if the
procedures are not done carefully, one of them is by taking more than one
value of flowrate. This is because the volume of fluid collected may vary in
each trial. So thus it will affect the result. So, to make it easier, average
Reynold number is taken. Next is during the time where the flow is
observed, a plain white paper or an A4 paper is placed behind the tubing
to observe the flow of the dye in the tubing since it is observed by naked
eyes. By proceeding the experiment with the steps mentioned, the error
that may exists can be minimized thus leading to more exact result.

CONCLUSION.
Due to the lab result experiment based on Osborne Reynold experiment,
we have comply the characteristics of each flow by using the formula
mainly laminar flow whose Re number lesser than 2300, turbulent flow
more than 4000 and the transitional flow with Re number lies between
2300 and 4000 with the average Re number of 391.55, 6301.55 and
2280.08 respectively we got throughout the experiment. Thus the
experiment is accounted to be succeeded. We have taken the best
precaution before conducting the experiment in order to get the most
precise result with the hope exact to the Osborne Reynolds theorem.As
long the results still in range of the type flow, then our experiment is
approved and accepted.As for the picture we place the white paper behind
the flask so that we know how the fluid movement behave which either
laminar, turbulent or transitional that only be proven through calculation
and data measurement.

RECOMMENDATION.

1. Do please take data several times and make an average due to

parallax error when taking the results which mainly comes from the
way on how we conducting the steps of collecting the water, taking
the desired precision of volume within 10 seconds and the position
of eyes to the scale of the flask.

2. Do please alert with precautions just before the experiment

conducted such as the experiment not to be taken at an unstable
and easily shaken place to get the smooth laminar flow without any
interference, the clip and the valve which control the injection of red
dye must be regulated slowly and carefully and let the same person
to guard the stopwatch and the collecting the water process.

3. Do please 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 on time.

4. Do please set the water flow at steady state first so the result is
more accurate.

REFERENCE
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2. Types of fluid flow Retrieved on October 4 2016 http://ffden-
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3. Classification of flows Retrieved on October 2016 http://www-
mdp.eng.cam.ac.uk/web/library/enginfo/aerothermal_dvd_only/aero/
fprops/pipeflow/node8.html
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2016 http://www.markedbyteachers.com/university-
degree/engineering/osbourne-reynolds-apparatus-experiment.html
5. Types of flow in pipes Retrieved on October 4 2016 http://me-
mechanicalengineering.com/types-of-fluid-flow-in-pipes/
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2016 http://documents.mx/documents/osbourne-reynolds-
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7. http://www.efm.leeds.ac.uk/CIVE/CIVE1400/Section4/laminar_turbule
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