The lower critical Reynold number for a pipe flow is:a)Different for d...
Ans. (a) The Reynolds number at which the turbulent flow changes to laminar flow
is known as lower critical Reynolds number. The lower critical Reynolds number
for a pipe flow is different for different fluids.
View all questions of this test
The lower critical Reynold number for a pipe flow is:a)Different for d...
Explanation:
Lower critical Reynold number is defined as the minimum value of Reynolds number at which the fluid flow changes from laminar to turbulent flow. However, for a pipe flow, the lower critical Reynolds number is different for different fluids.
Reasons:
- Nature of the fluid: The flow behavior of a fluid is primarily dependent on its viscosity and density. The lower critical Reynolds number is directly proportional to the viscosity of the fluid. Thus, fluids with higher viscosity will have a lower critical Reynolds number than fluids with lower viscosity.
- Pipe diameter: The lower critical Reynolds number also depends on the diameter of the pipe. For smaller pipe diameters, the viscous forces are dominant, and the fluid flow is more likely to be laminar. On the other hand, for larger pipe diameters, the inertial forces dominate, and the fluid flow is more likely to be turbulent.
- Surface roughness: The lower critical Reynolds number is also affected by the surface roughness of the pipe. A rougher surface will create more turbulence, and thus, the transition from laminar to turbulent flow will occur at a lower Reynolds number.
Conclusion:
Hence, it can be concluded that the lower critical Reynolds number for a pipe flow is different for different fluids and depends on various factors such as nature of the fluid, pipe diameter, and surface roughness.
To make sure you are not studying endlessly, EduRev has designed Mechanical Engineering study material, with Structured Courses, Videos, & Test Series. Plus get personalized analysis, doubt solving and improvement plans to achieve a great score in Mechanical Engineering.