Open AccessA study by a double-refraction method of the development of turbulence in a long circular tube
Author(s) -
A. M. Binnie,
Joanna S. Fowler
Publication year - 1947
Publication title -
proceedings of the royal society of london. series a, mathematical and physical sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.814
H-Index - 135
eISSN - 2053-9169
pISSN - 0080-4630
DOI - 10.1098/rspa.1947.0137
Subject(s) - laminar flow , turbulence , tube (container) , reynolds number , mechanics , cross section (physics) , refraction , inlet , flow (mathematics) , physics , materials science , optics , engineering , mechanical engineering , composite material , quantum mechanics
A streaming double-refraction method was employed to examine the flow in a long glass tube of a very weak solution of benzopurpurin in water. Two kinds of turbulent entry were used: with one, laminar flow at a Reynolds number of about 1900 was observed at cross-sections more than 120 diameters from the entry; with the other the corresponding distance was 90 diameters. The nature of the breakdown of laminar flow at a cross-section was found to depend upon the kind of entry and upon the distance of the cross-section from the inlet. The development of complete turbulence at various cross-sections was also investigated.