Experimental study of laminar-to-turbulent transition in pipe flow

Abstract

This paper describes an experimental study of the unforced laminar-to-turbulent transition in pipe flow. Two pipes with different length-to-diameter ratios are investigated, and the transition phenomenon is studied using pressure measurements and visual observations. The entropy change and force balance are examined, and the peak powers are measured through fast Fourier transform analysis at various Reynolds numbers. Visual observations show that the flow structure changes at the Reynolds numbers corresponding to the peak powers. There is no clear dependency of the transition on the ratio of pipe length to diameter. The flow conditions are classified as laminar flow, transitions I, II, and III, and turbulent flow, separated by Reynolds numbers of approximately 1200, 2300, 7000, and 12 000, respectively. The transition at a Reynolds number of 1200 is caused by the force balance between the laminar and turbulent flows. The other transitions are related to the flow condition in the development region upstream of the pipe flow region. That is, the laminar-to-turbulent transition in the development region affects the transition condition in the downstream pipe flow. The laminar and turbulent development length ratios derived from the entropy changes are in reasonable agreement with the formulas for both laminar and turbulent flows. At large Reynolds numbers, the laminar flow condition will be established through the creation of a laminar-flow velocity profile at the entrance to the pipe.