Hydraulic Engineering

Prof. Mohammad Saud Afzal

Department of Civil Engineering

Laminar and Turbulent Flows

Introduction
• Have you ever observed a candle smoke plume?

 Smoke rises smoothly for initial few

centimeters.
 With continuing rise, the plume starts
fluctuating randomly in all directions.

Adapted from Çengel, Y. A., & Cimbala, J. M.

(2006). Fluid mechanics: Fundamentals and
applications. McGraw-Hill Higher Education.
• Flow regime in the first case is called LAMINAR (Smooth
streamlines and highly ordered motion).

• Flow regime in the second case is TURBULENT (Velocity

fluctuations and highly disordered motion).

• Fluid flow in a pipe is LAMINAR at low velocities.

• As the velocity increases the flow becomes

TURBULENT.
• Practically, most of the flows are turbulent in nature.

• Laminar flow occurs when highly viscous fluids (such as oils)

flow through narrow pipes or passages.

• Flow regime depends on the Reynolds Number (Re).

𝑰𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝑽𝒂𝒗𝒈 𝑫
Re = 𝑽𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒔
=
𝝑
where
𝒎
 𝑽𝒂𝒗𝒈 = 𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒇𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒊𝒕𝒚
𝒔

 𝑫 = 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒄 𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒕𝒉 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒆𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒓𝒚 𝒎

𝒎𝟐
 𝝑 = 𝑲𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒄 𝒗𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒍𝒖𝒊𝒅
𝒔
• For flow through pipes

 𝑹𝒆 ≤ 𝟐𝟑𝟎𝟎 LAMINAR FLOW

 𝟐𝟑𝟎𝟎 ≤ 𝑹𝒆 ≤ 𝟒𝟎𝟎𝟎 TRANSITIONAL FLOW

 𝑹𝒆 ≥ 𝟒𝟎𝟎𝟎 TURBULENT FLOW

Laminar Flow in Circular Pipes
Assumptions
• Steady flow

• Laminar flow

• Incompressible fluid

• Flow is fully developed

• Consider a coaxial ring-shaped fluid element of radius ‘r’,
thickness ‘dr’ and length ‘dx’. (The flow is from left to right)

Adapted from Çengel, Y. A., & Cimbala, J. M.

(2006). Fluid mechanics: Fundamentals and
applications. McGraw-Hill Higher Education.
• The force balance on the fluid element yields
𝟐𝝅𝒓𝒅𝒓𝑷 𝒙 − 𝟐𝝅𝒓𝒅𝒓𝑷 𝒙+𝒅𝒙 + 𝟐𝝅𝒓𝒅𝒙𝝉 𝒓
− 𝟐𝝅𝒓𝒅𝒙𝝉 𝒓+𝒅𝒓 = 𝟎 (Eq. 1)

• Rearranging Eq. 1, after dividing both the sides by

𝟐𝝅𝒓𝒅𝒓𝒅𝒙, gives

𝑷𝒙+𝒅𝒙 −𝑷𝒙 𝒓𝝉 𝒓+𝒅𝒓 − 𝒓𝝉 𝒓

𝒓 + =𝟎 (Eq. 2)
𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒓
• Eq. 2 can be written as

𝒅𝑷 𝒅 𝒓𝝉
𝒓 + =𝟎 (Eq. 3)
𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒓

𝒅𝒖
• Using 𝝉 = −𝝁 , dividing by r and assuming a constant 𝝁,
𝒅𝒓
gives

𝝁 𝒅 𝒅𝒖 𝒅𝑷
𝒓 = (Eq. 4)
𝒓 𝒅𝒓 𝒅𝒓 𝒅𝒙
 𝒅𝑷
=? ? ?
𝒅𝒙
• Consider the force balance on a fluid element of radius R
𝝅𝑹𝟐 𝑷 − 𝝅𝑹𝟐 𝑷 + 𝒅𝑷 − 𝟐𝝅𝑹𝒅𝒙𝝉𝒘 = 𝟎
or
𝒅𝑷 𝟐𝝉𝒘
=− = 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕
𝒅𝒙 𝑹

Adapted from Çengel, Y. A., & Cimbala, J. M.

(2006). Fluid mechanics: Fundamentals and
applications. McGraw-Hill Higher Education.
• Integration of Eq. 4 twice after rearrangement yields
𝒓𝟐 𝒅𝑷
𝒖 𝒓 = + 𝑪𝟏 𝒍𝒏 𝒓 + 𝑪𝟐 (Eq. 5)
𝟒𝝁 𝒅𝒙

• Boundary Conditions :
 𝒖 𝒓 = 𝑹 = 𝟎 (No-slip condition at the pipe wall)
 𝒖′ 𝒓 = 𝟎 = 𝟎 (symmetry about the centerline)
• Utilizing the above boundary conditions, Eq. 5 takes the
following form:
𝑹𝟐 𝒅𝑷 𝒓𝟐
𝒖 𝒓 = − 𝟏 − 𝟐 (Eq.6)
𝟒𝝁 𝒅𝒙 𝑹

Velocity
profile is
parabolic
Average Velocity, Maximum Velocity and
Discharge
𝑹
‫𝑨𝒅 𝒓 𝒖 ׭‬ ‫𝒓𝒅𝒓𝝅𝟐 𝒓 𝒖 𝟎׬‬ 𝑹𝟐 𝒅𝑷
• 𝑽𝒂𝒗𝒈 = = = −
𝑨 𝝅𝑹𝟐 𝟖𝝁 𝒅𝒙
∴ 𝒖𝒎𝒂𝒙 = 𝟐𝑽𝒂𝒗𝒈
𝑹𝟐 𝒅𝑷
• Putting r = 0 in Eq. 6, 𝒖𝒎𝒂𝒙 = −
𝟒𝝁 𝒅𝒙

𝝅 𝒅𝑷
• 𝑸 = 𝑽𝒂𝒗𝒈 𝑨 = − 𝑹𝟒
𝟖𝝁 𝒅𝒙
Problem- 1
• Liquid X is flowing through a 4 cm diameter, horizontal and
circular pipe at 40oC. The flow velocity at the centreline of
the pipe is measured to be 6 m/s. Determine the flow
velocity profile. The density and dynamic viscosity of the
liquid X at 40oC are 1252 kg/m3 and 0.3073 Pa-s,
respectively.
 Problem- 2
• A crude oil of viscosity 0.9 poise and specific gravity 0.8 is
flowing through a horizontal circular pipe of diameter 80
mm and length 15 m. Calculate the difference of pressure at
the two ends of the pipe, if 50 kg of the oil is collected in a
tank in 15 seconds.
Laminar Flow between Parallel
Plates Assumptions made
𝒚
for laminar flow in
Flow Direction 𝒙
pipes are valid here
also. Both the
𝝉+
𝒅𝝉
∆y ∆𝒙 plates are fixed
𝒅𝒚

t
∆𝒚 𝒅𝑷
𝑷+ ∆𝒙 ∆𝒚
𝑷∆𝒚 𝒅𝒙

𝝉∆𝒙
𝒚=𝟎

∆𝒙
• Force balance along the flow direction gives
𝒅𝑷 𝒅𝝉
𝑷∆𝒚 − 𝑷 + ∆𝒙 ∆𝒚 − 𝝉∆𝒙 + 𝝉 + ∆𝒚 ∆𝒙 = 𝟎
𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒚
• Dividing both the sides by ∆𝒙∆𝒚 results in
𝒅𝑷 𝒅𝝉
= (Eq. 7)
𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒚
𝒅𝒖
• Substituting 𝝉 = 𝝁 (assuming a constant 𝝁) in Eq. 7
𝒅𝒚
𝒅𝟐 𝒖 𝟏 𝒅𝑷
= (Eq. 8)
𝒅𝒚𝟐 𝝁 𝒅𝒙
• Twice integrating Eq. 8, we get Velocity
𝟏 𝒅𝑷 𝒚𝟐
distribution
𝒖= + 𝑪𝟏 𝒚 + 𝑪𝟐 (Eq. 9) is Parabolic
𝝁 𝒅𝒙 𝟐
• The boundary conditions are
𝒖 𝒚 = 𝟎 = 𝟎
𝒖 𝒚 = 𝒕 = 𝟎
• Using the boundary conditions, Eq. 9 becomes
𝟏 𝒅𝑷
𝒖= − 𝒕𝒚 − 𝒚𝟐 (Eq. 10)
𝟐𝝁 𝒅𝒙
Average Velocity, Maximum Velocity and
Discharge
𝒕
‫𝒚𝒅𝒖 𝟎׬‬ 𝟏 𝒅𝑷
• 𝑽𝒂𝒗𝒈 = = − 𝒕𝟐
𝒕 𝟏𝟐𝝁 𝒅𝒙
∴ 𝒖𝒎𝒂𝒙 = 𝟏. 𝟓𝑽𝒂𝒗𝒈
𝒕 𝟏 𝒅𝑷
• Putting 𝒚 = in Eq. 10, 𝒖𝒎𝒂𝒙 = − 𝒕𝟐
𝟐 𝟖𝝁 𝒅𝒙

𝟏 𝒅𝑷
• 𝑸 = 𝑽𝒂𝒗𝒈 𝑨 = − 𝒕𝟑
𝟏𝟐𝝁 𝒅𝒙
Problem- 3
• Determine (i) the pressure gradient, (ii) the shear stress at
the two horizontal parallel plates and (iii) the discharge per
unit width for the laminar flow of a liquid with a maximum
velocity of 2 m/s between the two horizontal parallel fixed
plates which are 100 mm apart. Assume 𝝁 = 𝟐. 𝟒𝟓𝟐𝟓 𝑷𝒂 −
𝒔.
Problem- 4
• Water is flowing between two large parallel plates which
are 2 mm apart. Determine (i) maximum velocity, (ii) the
pressure drop per unit length, and (iii) the shear stress at
the walls of the plate if the average velocity is 0.4 m/s.
(Given: Viscosity of water is 0.01 poise)
 Problem- 5
• The velocity profile for the fully developed laminar flow of
a Newtonian Fluid between two large parallel plates is
𝟑𝒖𝟎 𝒚 𝟐
given by 𝒖 𝒚 = 𝟏− , where 2h is the distance
𝟐 𝒉
between the two plates, 𝒖𝟎 is the velocity at the center
plane, and y is the vertical coordinate from the center
plane. For plates of width b, obtain a relation for the flow
rate through the plates.
Stokes Law
• Consider the flow of a viscous fluid past a sphere. Creeping
Flow

𝝆𝑽𝑫
When 𝑹𝒆 = is very
𝝁
small ≪ 𝟏 , the viscous
forces are dominant over
the inertial forces.
Adapted from Çengel, Y. A., & Cimbala, J. M.
(2006). Fluid mechanics: Fundamentals and
applications. McGraw-Hill Higher Education.
• Stokes derived an equation for the DRAG FORCE on a
sphere in Creeping Flow.

𝑭𝑫 = 𝟑𝝅𝝁𝑽𝑫
𝟐
• 𝑭𝑫 = 𝟐𝝅𝝁𝑽𝑫 is due to viscous forces.
𝟑

𝟏
• 𝑭𝑫 = 𝝅𝝁𝑽𝑫 is due to pressure forces.
𝟑
Terminal Fall Velocity

Adapted from Çengel, Y. A., & Cimbala, J. M.

(2006). Fluid mechanics: Fundamentals and
applications. McGraw-Hill Higher
Education.
• It is the maximum velocity that can be attained by an object
as it falls through a fluid.

• It occurs when the sum of the drag force and the buoyant
force on the particle is equal to the weight of the particle.

• Net force on the object is zero.

• Thus, the object has zero acceleration.

• Hence, the object falls with a constant speed known as

terminal velocity.

• Downward Force (Weight of the particle)

𝑫𝟑
𝑾= 𝝅 𝝆𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒍𝒆 𝒈
𝟔
• Upward Forces (Drag Force and the Force due to Buoyancy)
𝑫𝟑
𝑭𝑫 + 𝑭𝒃𝒖𝒐𝒚𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒚 = 𝟑𝝅𝝁𝑽𝑫 + 𝝅 𝝆𝒇𝒍𝒖𝒊𝒅 𝒈
𝟔

• For equilibrium of the particle

𝑫𝟑 𝑫𝟑
𝟑𝝅𝝁𝑽𝑫 + 𝝅 𝝆𝒇𝒍𝒖𝒊𝒅 𝒈 = 𝝅 𝝆𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒍𝒆 𝒈
𝟔 𝟔
• From the equilibrium equation

𝑫𝟐
𝑽= 𝝆𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒍𝒆 − 𝝆𝒇𝒍𝒖𝒊𝒅 𝒈
𝟏𝟖𝝁

Terminal Fall Velocity

 Problem- 6
• Determine the fall velocity of a 0.06 mm sand particle
(Specific gravity = 2.65) in water. Take viscosity of water as
𝟏𝟎−𝟑 Pa-s.
Turbulent Flow
• Turbulent motion is an irregular motion associated with
random fluctuations of swirling regions of fluid called eddies.

• Fluctuations are caused due to disturbances like roughness

of solid surfaces.

• Irregularities can be described by the laws of

probability.
• When 𝑹𝒆 < 𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 , the kinetic energy of the flow cannot
sustain the random fluctuations. Laminar Flow

• When 𝑹𝒆 > 𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 , the kinetic energy of the flow

supports the growth of the fluctuations. Transition to turbulence
Reynolds Experiment
• Osborne Reynolds (1842- 1912) verified the existence of
laminar and turbulent flow regimes by injecting dye streaks
into the flow in a glass pipe.
Adapted from Çengel, Y. A., & Cimbala,
J. M. (2006). Fluid mechanics:
Fundamentals and applications.
McGraw-Hill Higher Education.
Reynolds Decomposition
• It is the decomposition of an instantaneous value of a
hydrodynamic quantity into time-averaged value and its
fluctuations.

• For the instantaneous velocities (u, v, w) and pressure (p):

𝒖=𝒖 ഥ + 𝒖′ , 𝒗 = 𝒗
ഥ + 𝒗′ , 𝒘 = 𝒘ഥ + 𝒘′
𝒑=𝒑 ഥ + 𝒑′
 𝟏 𝒕𝟎 +𝑻
• Time – averaged value ഥ= න
𝒖 𝒖𝒅𝒕
𝑻 𝒕𝟎

Adapted from Som, S.K., Biswas, G., &

Chakraborty, S. (2012). Introduction to
Fluid Mechanics and Fluid Machines.
McGraw-Hill Education (India)
• If 𝒇′ and 𝒈′ are any two general fluctuating parameters, then
the following results hold true
 𝒇ഥ′ = 𝒈′ = 𝟎

 𝒇′ 𝒈′ ≠ 𝟎 Reynolds Conditions

𝝏𝒇′ 𝝏𝟐 𝒇′
 = =𝟎
𝝏𝒔 𝝏𝒔𝟐

𝝏𝒇′ 𝒈′
 ≠𝟎
𝝏𝒔
Shear Stress in Turbulent Flow
Boussinesq’s Model Eddy Viscosity
• 𝝉𝒕𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 = 𝝉𝒗𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒔 + 𝝉𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒃𝒖𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒕
𝜼
𝝐= = Kinematic Eddy
𝝆
𝒅𝒖 𝒅ഥ
𝒖 Viscosity
• 𝝉𝒗𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒔 = 𝝁 and 𝝉𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒃𝒖𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒕 = 𝜼
𝒅𝒚 𝒅𝒚

• 𝜼 for laminar flow =? ? ? 𝜼=𝟎

• Unlike dynamic viscosity 𝝁 and kinematic viscosity 𝝂 , 𝜼
and 𝝐 are NOT fluid properties.

• The values of 𝜼 and 𝝐 depend on the flow conditions.

• 𝝐 decreases towards the wall, becoming zero at

at the wall.
Reynolds Shear Stress
• Reynolds (1886) gave expression for turbulent shear stress
between two fluid layers separated by a small distance as:
𝝉𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒃𝒖𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 = −𝝆𝒖′ 𝒗′ Fluctuating component of velocity in y-direction

Fluctuating component of velocity in x-direction

• Experiments have shown that 𝒖′ 𝒗′ is usually

a negative quantity.
Prandtl Mixing Length Theory
• Turbulent shear stress can be calculated if 𝒖′ 𝒗′ is known.

• Accurate determination of 𝒖′ 𝒗′ is difficult.

• L. Prandtl (1925) introduced the concept of

MIXING LENGTH which can be utilized to
express shear stress in terms of
measurable quantities.
• Mixing length lm is the distance between two fluid layers in
the vertical direction (y-direction) such that the bundles of
fluid particles from one layer could reach the other layer
and mix in the new layer in such a way that the momentum
of the particles along the flow direction (x-direction) is
same.
Adapted from Som, S.K.,
Biswas, G., & Chakraborty,
S. (2012). Introduction to
Fluid Mechanics and Fluid
Machines. McGraw-Hill
Education (India)
• Prandtl related 𝒖′ to the mixing length 𝒍𝒎 as:
𝒅ഥ
𝒖
𝒖′ = 𝒍𝒎 (Eq. 11)
𝒅𝒚
• 𝒗′ is of the same order of magnitude as 𝒖′ .
𝒅ഥ
𝒖
∴ 𝒗′ = 𝒍𝒎 (Eq. 12)
𝒅𝒚
• Substitution of Eq. 11 and 12 in Reynolds Stress Model
yields
𝒖 𝟐
𝟐 𝒅ഥ
𝝉𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒃𝒖𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 = 𝝆𝒍𝒎 (Eq. 13)
𝒅𝒚
• Prandtl assumed that mixing length lm is a linear function
of distance y from the wall/ soild boundary.

∴ 𝒍𝒎 = 𝜿𝒚 (Eq. 14)

• 𝜿 is known as von Karman constant and is equal to 0.4.

Turbulent Flow in Pipes
• In turbulent flow, the viscous shear stresses exist only near
to the boundaries.

• Hence, the total shear stress 𝝉 can be approximately

obtained from Eq. 13 as: 𝒖 is the time-
averaged velocity; the
overbar on 𝒖 has
been dropped for
𝟐
𝟐 𝒅𝒖 simplicity
𝝉= 𝝆𝒍𝒎 (Eq. 15)
𝒅𝒚
• Using Eq. 14 in Eq. 15, we get
𝟐
𝝉 = 𝝆 𝜿𝒚 𝟐 𝒅𝒖
𝒅𝒚
or
𝒅𝒖 𝟏 𝝉
= (Eq. 16)
𝒅𝒚 𝜿𝒚 𝝆
• For small values of y, it can be assumed
that 𝝉 = 𝝉𝟎 (where 𝝉𝟎 is the shear stress
at the pipe wall and can be assumed to
be a constant)
• Substituting 𝝉 = 𝝉𝟎 in Eq. 16, we obtain
𝒅𝒖 𝟏 𝝉𝟎 𝝉𝟎
= 𝒖∗ = = Shear
𝒅𝒚 𝜿𝒚 𝝆 𝝆

or velocity (This
quantity has the
𝒅𝒖 𝟏
= 𝒖 (Eq. 17) dimensions of
𝒅𝒚 𝜿𝒚 ∗
velocity)
• Integration of Eq. 17 yields,
𝒖∗
𝒖= 𝒍𝒏 𝒚 +𝑪 (Eq. 18)
𝜿
• Using the boundary condition, 𝒖 𝒚 = 𝑹 = 𝒖𝒎𝒂𝒙 (where R
is the radius of the pipe) in Eq. 18
𝒖∗
𝒖= 𝒖𝒎𝒂𝒙 + 𝒍𝒏 𝒚 − 𝒍𝒏 𝑹
𝜿 Logarithmic velocity
or profile
𝒖∗ 𝒚
𝒖 = 𝒖𝒎𝒂𝒙 + 𝒍𝒏 (Eq. 19)
𝜿 𝑹
• Substituting 𝜿 = 𝟎. 𝟒 in Eq. 19
𝒚
𝒖 = 𝒖𝒎𝒂𝒙 + 𝟐. 𝟓𝒖∗ 𝒍𝒏 (Eq. 20)
𝑹
• Eq. 20 can be expressed as:
𝑹
𝒖𝒎𝒂𝒙 − 𝒖 = 𝟐. 𝟓𝒖∗ 𝒍𝒏 “𝒖𝒎𝒂𝒙 − 𝒖” is
𝒚
called Velocity
or defect
𝒖𝒎𝒂𝒙 −𝒖 𝑹
= 𝟐. 𝟓𝒍𝒏
𝒖∗ 𝒚
𝑹 𝑹
• Substituting 𝒍𝒏 = 𝟐. 𝟑𝒍𝒐𝒈𝟏𝟎
𝒚 𝒚
𝒖𝒎𝒂𝒙 −𝒖 𝑹
= 𝟓. 𝟕𝟓𝒍𝒐𝒈𝟏𝟎 (Eq. 21)
𝒖∗ 𝒚
 Problem- 7
• The velocities of water through a pipe of diameter 10 cm
are 4 m/s and 3.5 m/s at the center of the pipe and 2 cm
from the pipe center, respectively. Considering turbulent
flow in the pipe, determine the shear stress at the wall.
 Turbulent velocity profile is much fuller
compared to the parabolic profile of
laminar flow case.

Adapted from Çengel, Y. A., & Cimbala, J. M. (2006). Fluid mechanics:

Fundamentals and applications. McGraw-Hill Higher Education.
• Turbulent flow along a wall consist of 4 regions:

 Viscous sublayer– Thin layer next to the wall where

viscous effects are dominant; The velocity profile is
almost linear.

 Buffer layer– Though turbulent effects are

becoming significant, the viscous effects
are still dominating.
 Overlap layer– Turbulent effects are much more
significant but still not dominant.

 Turbulent layer– Turbulent effects dominate

over viscous effects.
Hydrodynamically Rough and
Smooth Boundaries

• 𝒌 is the mean height of the surface irregularities.

• 𝜹′ is the height of the viscous/ laminar

sublayer.
• Outside the laminar sublayer, the flow is turbulent.

• Eddies present in the turbulent zone try to penetrate the

laminar sublayer and interact with the boundary.

• When 𝒌 ≪ 𝜹′ , the eddies are unable to reach the surface

irregularities. Smooth Boundary
• When 𝒌 ≫ 𝜹′ , the irregularities are above the laminar
sublayer leading to the interaction of the eddies with the
surface irregularities. Rough Boundary

• From Nikuradse’s experiments:

𝒌
 If < 𝟎. 𝟐𝟓, the boundary is smooth.
𝜹′

𝒌
 If > 𝟔, the boundary is rough.
𝜹′
 𝒌
 If 𝟎. 𝟐𝟓 < < 𝟔, the boundary is in transition.
𝜹′

𝒖∗ 𝒌
• In terms of roughness Reynolds number
𝝂
𝒖∗ 𝒌
 If < 𝟒, the boundary is smooth.
𝝂

𝒖∗ 𝒌
 If > 𝟏𝟎𝟎, the boundary is rough.
𝝂

𝒖∗ 𝒌
 If 𝟒 < < 𝟏𝟎𝟎, the boundary is in transition.
𝝂
Problem- 8
• A pipeline carrying water has average height of
irregularities projecting from the surface of the boundary of
the pipe as 0.15 mm. What type of boundary is it? The
shear stress at the pipe wall is 4.9 N/m2 and the kinematic
viscosity of water is 0.01 stokes.
Turbulent Flow in Smooth Pipes
• Referring Eq. 18
𝒖∗
𝒖 = 𝒍𝒏 𝒚 + 𝑪
𝜿

• From the above equation, the velocity at the wall i.e.,

𝒖 𝒚 = 𝟎 = −∞.

• 𝒖 is positive at some distance far away

from the wall.
• Hence, 𝒖 is zero at some finite distance 𝒚′ from the wall i.e.,
𝒖 𝒚 = 𝒚′ = 𝟎.

• Hence, from Eq. 18

𝒖∗
𝑪=− 𝒍𝒏 𝒚′
𝜿

• Using the above equation of C in Eq. 18 and substituting

𝜿 = 𝟎. 𝟒 , we get
𝒚
𝒖 = 𝟐. 𝟓𝒖∗ 𝒍𝒏 (Eq. 22)
𝒚′
• Eq. 22 can be expressed in terms of common logarithm as:
𝒖 𝒚
= 𝟓. 𝟕𝟓𝒍𝒐𝒈𝟏𝟎 ′ (Eq. 23)
𝒖∗ 𝒚

• From Nikuradse’s experiment

′ 𝜹′
𝒚 =
𝟏𝟎𝟕
where
′ 𝟏𝟏.𝟔𝝂
𝜹 = , 𝝂 is the kinematic viscosity.
𝒖∗
• Hence, we can write Velocity Distribution for
𝟎.𝟏𝟎𝟖𝝂 turbulent flow in smooth
𝒚′ =
𝒖∗ pipes

• Using the above expression for 𝒚′ in Eq. 23, we obtain

𝒖 𝒖∗ 𝒚
= 𝟓. 𝟕𝟓𝒍𝒐𝒈𝟏𝟎 + 𝟓. 𝟓𝟓 (Eq. 24)
𝒖∗ 𝝂
Turbulent Flow in Rough Pipes
𝒖 𝒚
• Eq. 23 i.e., = 𝟓. 𝟕𝟓𝒍𝒐𝒈𝟏𝟎 ′ is valid for rough surfaces as
𝒖∗ 𝒚
well.

• For rough pipes, Nikuradse obtained the value of 𝒚′ as:

𝒌
𝒚′ = .
𝟑𝟎

• Using the above value of 𝒚′ in Eq. 23, we get

𝒖 𝒚
= 𝟓. 𝟕𝟓𝒍𝒐𝒈𝟏𝟎 𝒌ൗ Velocity Distribution for
𝒖∗ 𝟑𝟎
turbulent flow in rough pipes

or

𝒖 𝒚
= 𝟓. 𝟕𝟓𝒍𝒐𝒈𝟏𝟎 + 𝟖. 𝟓 (Eq. 25)
𝒖∗ 𝒌
 Problem- 9
• Determine the average height of roughness for a rough pipe
of diameter 10 cm when the velocity at a point 4 cm away
from the wall is 40 % more than the velocity at a point 1 cm
from the wall.
Turbulent Velocity Distribution
in terms of Average Velocity

• An elementary circular ring of radius r

and thickness dr is considered.
• Discharge Q is given by
𝑹
𝑸 = ‫𝒓𝒅𝒓𝝅𝟐𝒖 𝟎׬‬ (Eq. 26)

For Smooth Pipes

• Since 𝒚 = 𝑹 − 𝒓, we can write Eq. 24 as:

𝒖 𝒖∗ 𝑹−𝒓
= 𝟓. 𝟕𝟓𝒍𝒐𝒈𝟏𝟎 + 𝟓. 𝟓𝟓
𝒖∗ 𝝂
or
 𝒖∗ 𝑹−𝒓
𝒖 = 𝟓. 𝟕𝟓𝒍𝒐𝒈𝟏𝟎 + 𝟓. 𝟓𝟓 𝒖∗ (Eq. 27)
𝝂

• Substituting Eq. 27 in Eq. 26

𝑹 𝒖∗ 𝑹−𝒓
𝑸= ‫𝟎׬‬ 𝟓. 𝟕𝟓𝒍𝒐𝒈𝟏𝟎 + 𝟓. 𝟓𝟓 𝒖∗ 𝟐𝝅𝒓𝒅𝒓 (Eq. 28)
𝝂

• Also
𝑸
𝑽𝒂𝒗𝒈 = (Eq. 29)
𝝅𝑹𝟐
• On integrating Eq. 28 and using the result in Eq. 29:
𝑽𝒂𝒗𝒈 𝒖∗ 𝑹
= 𝟓. 𝟕𝟓𝒍𝒐𝒈𝟏𝟎 + 𝟏. 𝟕𝟓 (Eq. 30)
𝒖∗ 𝝂

For Rough Pipes

• Using 𝒚 = 𝑹 − 𝒓, Eq. 25 becomes:
𝒖 𝑹−𝒓
= 𝟓. 𝟕𝟓𝒍𝒐𝒈𝟏𝟎 + 𝟖. 𝟓
𝒖∗ 𝒌
 or
𝑹−𝒓
𝒖 = 𝟓. 𝟕𝟓𝒍𝒐𝒈𝟏𝟎 + 𝟖. 𝟓 𝒖∗ (Eq. 31)
𝒌

• From Eq. 26, we get

𝑹 𝑹−𝒓
𝑸 = ‫𝟓 𝟎׬‬. 𝟕𝟓𝒍𝒐𝒈𝟏𝟎 + 𝟖. 𝟓 𝒖∗ 𝟐𝝅𝒓𝒅𝒓 (Eq. 32)
𝒌
• From Eq. 29 and Eq. 32, we get

𝑽𝒂𝒗𝒈 𝑹
= 𝟓. 𝟕𝟓𝒍𝒐𝒈𝟏𝟎 + 𝟒. 𝟕𝟓 (Eq. 33)
𝒖∗ 𝒌
Difference of the velocity at any point and
average velocity
For Smooth Pipes
• For smooth pipes, we have seen
𝒖 𝒖∗ 𝒚
= 𝟓. 𝟕𝟓𝒍𝒐𝒈𝟏𝟎 + 𝟓. 𝟓
𝒖∗ 𝝂

and

𝑽𝒂𝒗𝒈 𝒖∗ 𝑹
= 𝟓. 𝟕𝟓𝒍𝒐𝒈𝟏𝟎 + 𝟏. 𝟕𝟓
𝒖∗ 𝝂
• From the above equations, we can write
𝒖∗ 𝒚
𝒖−𝑽𝒂𝒗𝒈 𝝂
= 𝟓. 𝟕𝟓𝒍𝒐𝒈𝟏𝟎 𝒖∗ 𝑹 + 𝟓. 𝟓 − 𝟏. 𝟕𝟓
𝒖∗
𝝂
or

𝒖−𝑽𝒂𝒗𝒈 𝒚
= 𝟓. 𝟕𝟓𝒍𝒐𝒈𝟏𝟎 + 𝟑. 𝟕𝟓 (Eq. 34)
𝒖∗ 𝑹
For Rough Pipes
• For rough pipes
𝒖 𝒚
= 𝟓. 𝟕𝟓𝒍𝒐𝒈𝟏𝟎 + 𝟖. 𝟓
𝒖∗ 𝒌
and
𝑽𝒂𝒗𝒈 𝑹
= 𝟓. 𝟕𝟓𝒍𝒐𝒈𝟏𝟎 + 𝟒. 𝟕𝟓
𝒖∗ 𝒌
• Utilizing the above equations:
𝒚
𝒖−𝑽𝒂𝒗𝒈 ൗ𝒌
= 𝟓. 𝟕𝟓𝒍𝒐𝒈𝟏𝟎 𝑹ൗ + 𝟖. 𝟓 − 𝟒. 𝟕𝟓
𝒖∗ 𝒌
or
𝒖−𝑽𝒂𝒗𝒈 𝒚
= 𝟓. 𝟕𝟓𝒍𝒐𝒈𝟏𝟎 + 𝟑. 𝟕𝟓 (Eq. 35)
𝒖∗ 𝑹

ANY OBSERVATIONS???
Difference of velocity at
any point and average
velocity is same for both
smooth and rough pipes.
Power Law Velocity Profile
• Power law velocity profile for smooth pipes can be
expressed as: Depends on Reynolds
Number
𝟏Τ 𝟏Τ
𝒖 𝒚 𝒏 𝒖 𝒓 𝒏
= or = 𝟏 −
𝒖𝒎𝒂𝒙 𝑹 𝒖𝒎𝒂𝒙 𝑹

• Putting 𝒏 = 𝟕 in the above equation gives

One- Seventh Power- Law velocity profile.
• The value of n increases with increasing Reynolds Number.

• Power- law profiles cannot give zero slope at the pipe

center.

• Power- law velocity profiles cannot calculate wall shear

stress. WHY???
Because the power-law profiles
gives a velocity gradient of infinity
at the walls.
 Problem- 10
• The velocity profile for incompressible turbulent flow in a
𝟏ൗ
𝒓 𝟕
pipe of radius R is given by 𝒖 𝒓 = 𝒖𝒎𝒂𝒙 𝟏 − . Obtain
𝑹
an expression for the average velocity in the pipe.
References:
 Munson, B. R., Young, D. F., & Okiishi, T. H. (2006). Fundamentals of
fluid mechanics. J. Wiley & Sons.

 Çengel, Y. A., & Cimbala, J. M. (2006). Fluid mechanics: Fundamentals

and applications. McGraw-Hill Higher Education.

 Som, S.K., Biswas, G., & Chakraborty, S. (2012). Introduction to Fluid

Mechanics and Fluid Machines. McGraw-Hill Education (India).

 Sundar, V. (2016). Ocean Wave Mechanics: Applications in Marine

Structures. J. Wiley & Sons.