In a turbulent flow in a pipe, the shear stress isa)maximum at the cen...

shear stress variation where y is distance from pipe wall, so, the shear stress varies linearly with the distance from the boundary to become zero at the center.
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In a turbulent flow in a pipe, the shear stress isa)maximum at the cen...
Understanding Shear Stress in Turbulent Pipe Flow
In turbulent flow within a pipe, the distribution of shear stress is a critical aspect to understand. The correct answer to the question is option 'D', which states that shear stress is maximum at the wall and decreases to zero at the centerline of the pipe. Here’s a detailed explanation:
Shear Stress Profile
- **Maximum at the Wall**: In turbulent flow, the viscosity of the fluid creates a shear stress that is highest at the pipe walls due to the no-slip condition. This means the fluid in contact with the wall has zero velocity relative to the wall.
- **Decreases Towards the Center**: As you move away from the wall towards the centerline of the pipe, the velocity of the fluid increases. The shear stress, which is a function of the velocity gradient, decreases significantly and approaches zero at the center.
Flow Characteristics
- **Turbulent Flow Dynamics**: In turbulent flow, the fluid exhibits chaotic and irregular movement. This leads to a more complex velocity profile than in laminar flow, where shear stress varies linearly.
- **Velocity Profile**: The velocity profile in turbulent flow is not parabolic like that in laminar flow; instead, it is flatter in the center and steep near the walls, which contributes to the shear stress profile.
Conclusion
In summary, the maximum shear stress occurs at the wall due to the no-slip condition, and it decreases to zero at the centerline. Understanding this concept is crucial in mechanical engineering applications involving fluid dynamics and pipe flow.