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Mechanics of Fluids

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7.1 INTRODUCTION<br />

Flow and losses in<br />

pipes and fittings 7<br />

The main concern <strong>of</strong> this chapter will be to introduce experimental data<br />

relating to flow in pipes and fittings. We shall confine our attention to fluids<br />

<strong>of</strong> constant viscosity and constant density. The results are applicable to gases<br />

provided that density changes are small. Aspects <strong>of</strong> fluid flow through pipes<br />

are discussed elsewhere in this book. Consideration has already been given to<br />

laminar flow through straight circular pipes and annuli in Chapter 6. A more<br />

detailed analysis <strong>of</strong> turbulent flow in straight pipes requires boundary-layer<br />

theory, and some consideration will be given to this in Chapter 8. Pipes or<br />

conduits that are not completely full <strong>of</strong> flowing fluid (e.g. sewers and culverts)<br />

are in effect open channels and these are treated separately in Chapter 10.<br />

The flow <strong>of</strong> compressible fluids is discussed in Chapter 11.<br />

7.2 FLOW IN PIPES OF CIRCULAR CROSS SECTION<br />

7.2.1 Aspects <strong>of</strong> laminar and turbulent flow in pipes<br />

The differences between laminar and turbulent flow have been introduced<br />

in Chapter 1, and the theory <strong>of</strong> laminar flow in a straight pipe has been<br />

developed in Chapter 6. Here we take the opportunity to expand upon various<br />

features <strong>of</strong> laminar and turbulent pipe flow. As we have seen, the nature<br />

<strong>of</strong> the flow is determined by the magnitude <strong>of</strong> the Reynolds number. For a<br />

circular pipe it is usual to take the diameter d as the linear measurement representative<br />

<strong>of</strong> the flow pattern. Thus the Reynolds number for flow through<br />

a circular pipe may be written as ϱud/µ or ud/ν where d represents the pipe<br />

diameter, u the mean velocity (volume flow rate divided by cross-sectional<br />

area), µ the dynamic viscosity, and ν denotes the kinematic viscosity µ/ϱ.<br />

Laminar flow occurs at low velocities and therefore low values <strong>of</strong> Reynolds<br />

number, Re, whereas turbulent flow takes place at high values <strong>of</strong> Re. Thus<br />

in laminar flow the viscous forces (which exert a stabilizing influence) are<br />

predominant, but in turbulent flow it is the inertia forces that prevail.<br />

Further, the fact that when the velocity is increased eddies begin suddenly<br />

rather than gradually indicates that laminar flow is then unstable and<br />

so only a slight disturbance is sufficient to bring on fully turbulent flow.

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