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FM Lab Report 7

The lab report details an experiment using the Osborn-Reynolds demonstration to visualize the transition between laminar, transitional, and turbulent flow through dye injection. It outlines the objectives, apparatus, theory of Reynolds number, procedure, and results, confirming theoretical predictions about flow behavior. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of understanding flow dynamics in engineering applications.

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Zoraiz Abbas
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16 views7 pages

FM Lab Report 7

The lab report details an experiment using the Osborn-Reynolds demonstration to visualize the transition between laminar, transitional, and turbulent flow through dye injection. It outlines the objectives, apparatus, theory of Reynolds number, procedure, and results, confirming theoretical predictions about flow behavior. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of understanding flow dynamics in engineering applications.

Uploaded by

Zoraiz Abbas
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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National University of Science and Technology

School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Fluid Mechanics – II Lab


Lab Report 7

OSBORN-REYNOLDS DEMONSTRATION

Course Instructor:
Dr. Emad Uddin

Lab Instructor:
Muhammad jasir

Introduction:
Name:
Zoraiz Abbas

CMS ID:
454752

Section:
ME-15B
Date: 11-04-2025
Table of Contents
OSBORN-REYNOLDS DEMONSTRATION .............................................................................. 1
Objectives ....................................................................................................................................... 3
Apparatus: ....................................................................................................................................... 3
Theory ............................................................................................................................................. 3
Reynolds Number and Its Significance....................................................................................... 3
Procedure ........................................................................................................................................ 4
Data Table: ...................................................................................................................................... 5
Graph: ............................................................................................................................................. 6
Results and Discussion: .................................................................................................................. 6
CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................................... 7
Conceptual Question ....................................................................................................................... 7
OSBORN-REYNOLDS DEMONSTRATION
Objectives
The objectives of this experiment are as follows:

 To visualize the transition between laminar, transitional, and turbulent flow using dye
injection.
 To understand the effect of flow velocity on different flow regimes in a pipe.
 To demonstrate the concept of Reynolds number (Re) and its role in classifying fluid
flow.
 To observe how fluid motion changes from a smooth, orderly state to chaotic turbulence.

Apparatus:

1. The Hydraulics Bench


2. The Reynolds’ Apparatus
3. Stopwatch

Theory
Reynolds Number and Its Significance
The Reynolds number (Re) is a dimensionless quantity used to predict the flow behavior of a fluid
in a pipe or channel. It is given by the equation:
⍴𝒗𝑫
Re = µ

Where:
• Re = Reynolds number (dimensionless)
• ρ = Fluid density (kg/m³)
• V = Flow velocity (m/s)
• D = Characteristic length (pipe diameter in this case) (m)
• μ = Dynamic viscosity of the fluid (Pa·s)
The Reynolds number determines whether the flow is laminar, transitional, or turbulent:
1. Laminar Flow (Re<2000Re < 2000Re<2000): The dye stream remains smooth and
undisturbed, indicating parallel fluid motion with minimal mixing.
2. Transitional Flow (2000<Re<40002000 < Re < 40002000<Re<4000): The dye begins to
fluctuate, showing instability as flow shifts between laminar and turbulent states.
3. Turbulent Flow (Re>4000Re > 4000Re>4000): The dye disperses irregularly,
representing chaotic fluid motion with significant mixing and eddies.

Procedure
1. Set the Osborne Reynold’s apparatus on the table and connect hose to the apparatus inflow,
outflow, and overflow.
2. Fill the dye reservoir with blue ink.
3. Connect the inlet hose with the water supply and outlet hose to the hydraulic bench. Open
the inlet valve to fill the stilling tank and open the outlet valve to see if the apparatus is
working fine.
4. Lower the dye injector such that it can be seen in the observation tube.
5. Open the inlet valve and fill the stilling tank to a point where small overflow spillage
occurs. This helps maintain the constant water level in the tank.
6. Let the water settle for a few minutes.
7. Open the flow control valve slowly so that the water starts to flow in the observation tube.
8. Open the dye control needle valve so that a small amount of dye flow in the observation
tube is achieved.
9. Control the water inlet and outlet valve until a straight line of dye in achieved in the
observation tube. The flow will be laminar.
10. Measure the flow rate using the volumetric method which is by filling a volumetric flask
and noting the time taken to fill that specific volume in the flask.
11. Repeat steps 9 and 10 to have a dye line representing the transitional flow (straight dye
line near edges and small missing in the center of the pipe) and turbulent flow (Dye mixed
with water and unidentifiable streamline is observed).

Data Table:
Table 1 Final Results

Flow Volume Time Flow Rate Area Velocity Reynolds Interpretation


Regime (𝒎𝟑 ) (sec) (𝒎𝟐 ) (m𝒔−𝟏 ) Number
(𝒎−𝟑 𝒔−𝟏) (Re)
Laminar 0.001 90 1.11 7.85 0.141 1410 Laminar (Re <
× 10−5 × 10−5 2000)
Transitional 0.001 55 1.82 7.85 0.232 2320 Transitional
× 10−5 × 10−5 (2000 ≤ Re ≤
4000)
Turbulent 0.001 25 4 × 10−5 7.85 0.51 5100 Turbulent (Re >
× 10−5 4000)
Graph:

Explanation:

Reynolds Number vs. Velocity: This graph shows how Reynolds number increases with
velocity, clearly indicating the transition from laminar to turbulent flow.

Results and Discussion:


This experiment demonstrates the transition between different flow regimes by injecting dye into
a fluid stream and observing its behavior at varying velocities. The results from the table indicate
distinct flow characteristics based on Reynolds number calculations. In laminar flow (Re = 1410),
the dye stream remained smooth and undisturbed, signifying a stable and orderly motion of the
fluid. As the Reynolds number increased to 2320 (transitional flow), the dye stream began to
fluctuate, showing signs of instability as the flow started shifting toward turbulence. Finally, in
turbulent flow (Re = 5100), the dye dispersed chaotically, mixing rapidly with the surrounding
water, confirming the presence of turbulence. These observations align with theoretical
expectations, where laminar flow occurs at Re < 2000, transitional flow exists between 2000 and
4000, and turbulent flow is observed beyond 4000. The experimental values closely match these
predictions, reinforcing the reliability of the Reynolds number in determining flow behavior.
Sources of Error and Improvements
Possible errors affecting experimental accuracy include:
• Inconsistent dye injection: Variations in dye release could impact the visualization of
flow regimes. Using a precise injector can improve consistency.
• Human error in flow rate measurements: Small timing errors when measuring flow rate
may affect Reynolds number calculations. Automating data collection could enhance
precision.
• Temperature fluctuations: Variations in water temperature affect viscosity, influencing
Reynolds number calculations. Maintaining a controlled environment would reduce
discrepancies.

CONCLUSION
This experiment successfully demonstrated the transition between laminar, transitional, and
turbulent flow using the Osborn-Reynolds demonstration. The calculated Reynolds numbers
confirmed theoretical predictions, illustrating that flow behavior is governed by velocity, fluid
properties, and pipe dimensions.
The Reynolds number is crucial in fluid mechanics as it determines the nature of flow in
engineering applications, such as pipeline design, aerodynamics, and hydraulic systems.
Understanding flow behavior helps engineers optimize efficiency and minimize energy losses in
real-world applications.

Conceptual Question
If the ink in a Reynolds number experiment is replaced with a denser ink, explain how will
the flow visualization be affected and what factors contribute to these under 50 words.
A denser ink has higher inertia, making it less responsive to flow changes, potentially delaying
transition visualization. The density affects Reynolds number leading to higher values for the
same velocity. Increased dye diffusion and gravity effects may also alter visualization accuracy.

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