Quantitative measurement of the lifetime of localized turbulence in pipe flow

2010 ◽  
Vol 645 ◽  
pp. 529-539 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. KUIK ◽  
C. POELMA ◽  
J. WESTERWEEL

Transition to turbulence in a pipe is characterized by the increase of the characteristic lifetimes of localized turbulent spots (‘puffs’) with increasing Reynolds number (Re). Previous experiments are based on visualization or indirect measurements of the lifetime probability. Here we report quantitative direct measurements of the lifetimes based on accurate pressure measurements combined with laser Doppler anemometry (LDA). The characteristic lifetime is determined directly from the lifetime probability. It is shown that the characteristic lifetime does not diverge at finite Re, and follows an exponential scaling for the observed range 1725 ≤ Re ≤ 1955. Over this small Re range the lifetime increases over four orders of magnitude. The results show that the puff velocity is not constant, and the rapid disintegration of puffs occurs within 20–70 pipe diameters.

1984 ◽  
Vol 148 ◽  
pp. 193-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. R. Akylas ◽  
J.-P. Demurger

A theoretical study is made of the stability of pipe flow with superimposed rigid rotation to finite-amplitude disturbances at high Reynolds number. The non-axisymmetric mode that requires the least amount of rotation for linear instability is considered. An amplitude expansion is developed close to the corresponding neutral stability curve; the appropriate Landau constant is calculated. It is demonstrated that the flow exhibits nonlinear subcritical instability, the nonlinear effects being particularly strong owing to the large magnitude of the Landau constant. These findings support the view that a small amount of extraneous rotation could play a significant role in the transition to turbulence of pipe flow.


Author(s):  
M J Crompton ◽  
R V Barrett

Detailed measurements of the separation bubble formed behind the sharp leading edge of a flat plate at low speeds and incidence are reported. The Reynolds number based on chord length ranged from 0.1 × 105 to 5.5 × 105. Extensive use of laser Doppler anemometry allowed detailed velocity measurements throughout the bubble. The particular advantages of laser Doppler anemometry in this application were its ability to define flow direction without ambiguity and its non-intrusiveness. It allowed the mean reattachment point to be accurately determined. The static pressure distribution along the plate was also measured. The length of the separation bubble was primarily determined by the plate incidence, although small variations occurred with Reynolds number because of its influence on the rate of entrainment and growth of the shear layer. Above about 105, the Reynolds number effect was no longer evident. The reverse flow boundary layer in the bubble exhibited signs of periodic stabilization before separating close to the leading edge, forming a small secondary bubble rotating in the opposite sense to the main bubble.


1976 ◽  
Vol 75 (2) ◽  
pp. 193-207 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mikio Hino ◽  
Masaki Sawamoto ◽  
Shuji Takasu

Experiments on transition to turbulence in a purely oscillatory pipe flow were performed for values of the Reynolds number Rδ, defined using the Stokes-layer thickness δ = (2ν/ω)½ and the cross-sectional mean velocity amplitude Û, from 19 to 1530 (or for values of the Reynolds number Re, defined using the pipe diameter d and Û, from 105 to 5830) and for values of the Stokes parameter λ = ½d(ω/2ν)½ (ν = kinematic viscosity and ω = angular frequency) from 1·35 to 6·19. Three types of turbulent flow regime have been detected: weakly turbulent flow, conditionally turbulent flow and fully turbulent flow. Demarcation of the flow regimes is possible on Rλ, λ or Re, λ diagrams. The critical Reynolds number of the first transition decreases as the Stokes parameter increases. In the conditionally turbulent flow, turbulence is generated suddenly in the decelerating phase and the profile of the velocity distribution changes drastically. In the accelerating phase, the flow recovers to laminar. This type of partially turbulent flow persists even at Reynolds numbers as high as Re = 5830 if the value of the Stokes parameter is high.


2013 ◽  
Vol 67 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Halina Murasiewicz ◽  
Zdzislaw Jaworski

AbstractThe main purpose of the present paper was to apply the Laser Doppler Anemometry (LDA) technique to measure turbulent liquid flow in a Kenics static mixer. The LDA set-up was a one-channel backscatter system with argon-ion laser. Measurements in the static mixer were carried out for three values of the Reynolds number: 5000, 10000, and 18000. Water was used as the process liquid. Values of the axial and tangential components of the local, mean, and root mean square velocities were measured inside the static mixer. It was observed that the shape of the velocity profile depends strongly on the Reynolds number, Re, as well as on the axial, h, and radial, α, position of the measurement point. Strong dependence of the velocity fluctuations on the Reynolds number was found in the investigated range of Re and the measurement point position. Furthermore, one-dimensional energy spectra of the velocity fluctuations were also obtained by means of the Fast Fourier Transform. Fluctuation spectra of the axial and tangential velocities provided information about the energy density of velocity fluctuations in the observed range of Reynolds numbers. A study of the energy spectra led to the conclusion that the energy density increases with the increasing radial distance from the mixer walls at constant values of h, Re, and α. Minor variations in the mean value of the energy density, E, were observed together with variations of the measurement point angular position, α. In addition, it was observed that an increase of the Reynolds number causes significant increase of the power spectral density.


2010 ◽  
Vol 132 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles W. Knisely ◽  
Kazuyoshi Nishihara ◽  
Manabu Iguchi

The transition to turbulence in a constant-acceleration pipe flow from an initial laminar state was investigated in a custom-made apparatus permitting visual access to the water flow in the pipe. The apparatus allowed both laser Doppler velocimetry measurements and flow visualization using a tracer. The experiment was carried out by accelerating the flow from a steady laminar state to a steady turbulent state. The relation between the critical Reynolds number for transition to turbulence and the acceleration was found to be similar to that in a constant-acceleration pipe flow started from rest. In addition, with increased acceleration, the turbulent transition was found to be delayed to higher Reynolds numbers using flow visualization with simultaneous laser Doppler velocimetry measurements.


2017 ◽  
Vol 818 ◽  
pp. 595-622
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Plaut ◽  
Nicolas Roland ◽  
Chérif Nouar

In order to model the transition to turbulence in pipe flow of non-Newtonian fluids, the influence of a strongly shear-thinning rheology on the travelling waves with a threefold rotational symmetry of Faisst & Eckhardt (Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 91, 2003, 224502) and Wedin & Kerswell (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 508, 2004, pp. 333–371) is analysed. The rheological model is Carreau’s law. Besides the shear-thinning index $n_{C}$, the dimensionless characteristic time $\unicode[STIX]{x1D706}$ of the fluid is considered as the main non-Newtonian control parameter. If $\unicode[STIX]{x1D706}=0$, the fluid is Newtonian. In the relevant limit $\unicode[STIX]{x1D706}\rightarrow +\infty$, the fluid approaches a power-law behaviour. The laminar base flows are first characterized. To compute the nonlinear waves, a Petrov–Galerkin code is used, with continuation methods, starting from the Newtonian case. The axial wavenumber is optimized and the critical waves appearing at minimal values of the Reynolds number $\mathit{Re}_{w}$ based on the mean velocity and wall viscosity are characterized. As $\unicode[STIX]{x1D706}$ increases, these correspond to a constant value of the Reynolds number based on the mean velocity and viscosity. This viscosity, close to the one of the laminar flow, can be estimated analytically. Therefore the experimentally relevant critical Reynolds number $\mathit{Re}_{wc}$ can also be estimated analytically. This Reynolds number may be viewed as a lower estimate of the Reynolds number for the transition to developed turbulence. This demonstrates a quantified stabilizing effect of the shear-thinning rheology. Finally, the increase of the pressure gradient in waves, as compared to the one in the laminar flow with the same mass flux, is calculated, and a kind of ‘drag reduction effect’ is found.


2010 ◽  
Vol 132 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Manabu Iguchi ◽  
Kazuyoshi Nishihara ◽  
Yusuke Nakahata ◽  
Charles W. Knisely

Experimental investigation is carried out on the transition to turbulence in a transient circular pipe flow. The flow is accelerated from rest at a constant acceleration until its cross-sectional mean velocity reaches a constant value. Accordingly, the history of the flow thus generated consists of the initial stage of constant acceleration and the following stage of constant cross-sectional mean velocity. The final Reynolds number based on the constant cross-sectional mean velocity and the pipe diameter is chosen to be much greater than the transition Reynolds number of a steady pipe flow of about 3000. The transition to turbulence is judged from the output signal of the axial velocity component and its root-mean-square value measured with a hot-wire anemometer. A turbulent slug appears after the cross-sectional mean velocity of the flow reaches the predetermined constant value under every experimental condition. Turbulence production therefore is suppressed, while the flow is accelerated. The time lag for the appearance of the turbulent slug after the cross-sectional mean velocity of the flow reaches the constant value decreases with an increase in the constant acceleration value. An empirical equation is proposed for estimating the time lag. The propagation velocity of the leading edge of the turbulent slug is independent of the constant acceleration value under the present experimental conditions.


2015 ◽  
Vol 771 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kamal Selvam ◽  
Jorge Peixinho ◽  
Ashley P. Willis

We report the results of three-dimensional direct numerical simulations for incompressible viscous fluid in a circular pipe flow with a gradual expansion. At the inlet, a parabolic velocity profile is applied together with a constant finite-amplitude perturbation to represent experimental imperfections. Initially, at low Reynolds number, the solution is steady. As the Reynolds number is increased, the length of the recirculation region near the wall grows linearly. Then, at a critical Reynolds number, a symmetry-breaking bifurcation occurs, where linear growth of asymmetry is observed. Near the point of transition to turbulence, the flow experiences oscillations due to a shear layer instability for a narrow range of Reynolds numbers. At higher Reynolds numbers, the recirculation region breaks into a turbulent state which remains spatially localised and unchanged when the perturbation is removed from the flow. Spatial correlation analysis suggests that the localised turbulence in the gradual expansion possesses a different flow structure from the turbulent puff of uniform pipe flow.


2003 ◽  
Vol 125 (6) ◽  
pp. 1072-1075 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Greenblatt ◽  
Edward A. Moss

Rapid transition to turbulence in a pipe flow, initially at rest, was achieved by temporally accelerating the flow and then sharply decelerating it to its final Reynolds number. The acceleration phase was characterized by the growth of a laminar boundary layer close to the wall. The subsequent rapid deceleration resulted in inflectional velocity profiles near the wall, followed immediately by transition to turbulence. The time taken to transition was significantly less than the time to transition in a pipe flow monotonically accelerated to the same Reynolds number. Transition is intrinsically different to that observed in oscillatory pipe flows, but is qualitatively similar to pipe flows decelerated to rest.


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