Development of Accelerating Pipe Flow Starting From Rest

Abstract

A uniformly accelerated laminar flow in a pipe, initially at rest, is analyzed. One-dimensional unsteady flow equations for start-up flow were derived from the Navier–Stokes and continuity equations. The dynamical boundary layer in a pipe is described theoretically with the Laplace transformation method for small values of time. A mathematical model describing the development of the velocity profile for accelerating flow starting from rest up to the point of transition to turbulence is given. The theoretical results are compared with experimental findings gained in a large-scale pipeline. Particle image velocimetry (PIV) technique is used to deduce the development of accelerating pipe flow starting from rest. The measured values of the axial velocity component are found to be in a good agreement with the analytical values.