Turbulent Flow in

Pipes
NAJAM US SAQIB FRAZ
Introduction
• Reynolds number (Re) is greater than 4000.
• In turbulent flow, the fluid particles move haphazardly, remains in a state of disorder and
develop large scale eddies (lump of particles) which causes complete mixing of the fluid.
• The velocity profile of turbulent flow is more flat than the corresponding laminar flow.
• velocity gradient near the pipe wall is very large.
• There are irregular velocity and pressure fluctuations due to which the analytical treatment of
turbulent flow is extremely complicated.
• In practical life, most of the engineering flows are turbulent, for example, flow in rivers,
channels, flow past an obstruction, the rising smoke, etc.
CHARACTERISTICS OF TURBULENT FLOW
(TURBULENCE)
• Turbulence is the disturbance that causes transfer of fluid particles from one region to the other
and it is three-dimensional in character. It can be generated by the flow of fluid layers with
different velocities over one another or by frictional forces at the solid walls. Turbulence can be
classified into the following main groups.
CHARACTERISTICS OF TURBULENT FLOW
(TURBULENCE)
• 1. Wall turbulence: The turbulence generated and affected by
stationary wall is called wall turbulence. It occurs in the boundary
layer flows and in the vicinity of solid surface.
• 2. Free turbulence: The turbulence generated by two adjacent layers
of fluid away from the solid boundary is called free turbulence. It
occurs in wakes, jets, mixing layers and in the outer part of boundary
layer flows.
CHARACTERISTICS OF TURBULENT FLOW
(TURBULENCE)
• 3. Homogeneous turbulence: Turbulence having the same structure
quantitatively in all parts of the flow field is called homogeneous
turbulence.
• 4. Isotropic and anisotropic turbulence: Turbulence in which the
statistical features have no directional preference and the gradient of
the mean velocity does not exist is called isotropic turbulence. However,
if the mean velocity has a gradient, then the turbulence is known as
anisotropic. Isotropic turbulence will always be homogeneous.
CHARACTERISTICS OF TURBULENT FLOW
(TURBULENCE)
• 5. Convective turbulence: Turbulence due to conversion of potential energy into kinetic energy
by the process of mixing is called convective turbulence. It occurs in the turbulent flow in the
annular space between the concentric rotating cylinders.
• 6. Fully developed turbulence: When the flow as a whole approaches to a certain invariant state
in terms of appropriate variables, then the turbulence is called fully developed.
• 7. Fine and large scale turbulence: When the size of eddies are small, then the turbulence is
called fine scale turbulence and when the size of eddies are large, then the turbulence is called
large scale turbulence.
Mean and Fluctuating Velocities
Mean and Fluctuating Velocities
Mean and Fluctuating Velocities
• The expression for average velocity u and the time average of the random component 𝑢−′ over a
long interval of time t is respectively given below.
Mean and Fluctuating Velocities

Thus, it can be seen that the time average of the fluctuating velocities are zero.
Degree and Intensity of Turbulence
Degree and Intensity of Turbulence
Scale of Turbulence

The scale of turbulence depends upon the boundary conditions. The energy dissipation in turbulent flow
depends upon the intensity of turbulence and the size of the eddy. Energy dissipation will be higher with high
intensity of turbulence and smaller eddy size.
Kinetic Energy of Turbulence
SHEAR STRESSES IN TURBULENT FLOW
• The velocity fluctuations in turbulent flow cause a continuous
interchange of fluid masses between the adjacent layers which is
accompanied by a momentum transfer. The momentum transport
between adjacent layers results in additional shear stresses of high
magnitude. A number of semi-empirical theories also known as
turbulence models have been developed to determine the
magnitude of the turbulent shear stress. A few of these theories are
discussed below.
Boussinesq’s Theory
Boussinesq’s Theory
Boussinesq’s Theory
Reynolds Theory
Reynolds Theory
Prandtl’s Mixing Length Theory
• Ludwig Prandtl, a German engineer in 1925 gave the mixing length
hypothesis by means of which the turbulent shear stress can be
expressed in terms of measurable quantities related to the average
flow characteristics. According to Prandtl, mixing length (l) is the
distance between two layers in transverse direction such that a
lump of fluid particles travel from one layer to the other and mixes
with the fluid particles of the adjacent layer in such a way that
their momentum in x-direction remains same
Prandtl’s Mixing Length Theory
• Ludwig Prandtl, a German engineer in 1925 gave the mixing length
hypothesis by means of which the turbulent shear stress can be
expressed in terms of measurable quantities related to the average
flow characteristics. According to Prandtl, mixing length (l) is the
distance between two layers in transverse direction such that a
lump of fluid particles travel from one layer to the other and mixes
with the fluid particles of the adjacent layer in such a way that
their momentum in x-direction remains same
Prandtl’s Mixing Length Theory
• It was also assumed that the velocity fluctuation components u’
and v’ are of the same order and are related to the mixing length
as given below.
Prandtl’s Mixing Length Theory
• It was also assumed that the velocity fluctuation components u’ and v’ are of the same order and are related to the
mixing length as given below.
Prandtl’s Mixing Length Theory
Prandtl’s Mixing Length Theory
Von Karman Similarity Concept
• Theodore von Karman extended the Prandtl’s momentum theory by considering the dependence
of mixing length on the distribution of average flow velocity. Karman proposed that the mixing
length (l) is the ratio of the first derivative of mean velocity to the second derivative of mean
velocity. The mathematical expression for mixing length is given below.
Von Karman Similarity Concept
• Theodore von Karman extended the Prandtl’s momentum theory by considering the dependence of mixing length on the distribution of average flow velocity.
Karman proposed that the mixing length (l) is the ratio of the first derivative of mean velocity to the second derivative of mean velocity. The mathematical
expression for mixing length is given below.
UNIVERSAL VELOCITY DISTRIBUTION EQUATION
• In turbulent flow through circular pipes, Prandtl assumed that the mixing length (l) is a linear
function of the distance y from the pipe wall and its mathematical expression is given below.
UNIVERSAL VELOCITY DISTRIBUTION EQUATION
For regions very close to the
boundary of the pipe, the shear
stress is constant and it is
approximately equal to , i.e.,
turbulent shear stress at the
boundary of the pipe. Thus,
Equation (13.26) is written as
follows.
UNIVERSAL VELOCITY DISTRIBUTION EQUATION
UNIVERSAL VELOCITY DISTRIBUTION EQUATION
UNIVERSAL VELOCITY DISTRIBUTION EQUATION

• Velocity distribution in turbulent flow is logarithmic in nature.

The derivation is left as a exercise for students. Please refer to section 13.3 of the chapter.
RESISTANCE TO FLOW OF FLUID IN SMOOTH
AND ROUGH PIPES
• What is Darcy-Weisbach equation ?
• How will you evaluate coefficient of friction ( f ) ?
• The coefficient of friction depends upon the Reynolds number (Re) and relative roughness (k/D).
RESISTANCE TO FLOW OF FLUID IN SMOOTH
AND ROUGH PIPES
Sometimes (k /D) is replaced by relative smoothness (R/k), here k is the average
height of pipe wall roughness protrusions, D is the diameter of the pipe and R is the
radius of the pipe. The Equation (13.42) is the general equation which is applicable
to laminar as well as turbulent flow in pipes. The general graphical relationship
between f and Re is shown in Figure in which AB represents the laminar flow, BC
represents the transition zone and CD represents the turbulent flow.
RESISTANCE TO FLOW OF FLUID IN SMOOTH
AND ROUGH PIPES
 RESISTANCE TO FLOW OF FLUID IN SMOOTH
AND ROUGH PIPES
The relationship between friction factor ( f f ), Reynolds number (Re) and relative
roughness (k /D) over a wide range can be shown by the Moody diagram (or Moody
chart) as graphically shown in Figure 13.7. The friction factor is given as f f = 4 f and it
can be known from the Moody diagram that was prepared by L. F. Moody (American
engineer) for ordinary commercial pipes. The logarithmic plot of f f versus Re for various
values of k /D is known as Stanton diagram. The Moody diagram is the best means for
predicting the values of f f for circular pipes when the value of relative roughness is
known. It can also be used for non-circular pipes by replacing the diameter by the
hydraulic diameter. The following observations can be made from the given diagram
(Figure 13.7).
RESISTANCE TO FLOW OF FLUID IN SMOOTH
AND ROUGH PIPES
RESISTANCE TO FLOW OF FLUID IN SMOOTH
AND ROUGH PIPES
RESISTANCE TO FLOW OF FLUID IN SMOOTH
AND ROUGH PIPES