Direct determination of the onset of transition to turbulence in flow passages

Journal Article · Sun Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1991 · Journal of Fluids Engineering; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2926522· OSTI ID:7305149

Obot, N T ^[1]; Jendrzejczyk, J A; Wambsganss, M W ^[2]

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1. Fluid Mechanics, Heat and Mass Transfer Lab., Dept. of Chemical Engineering, Clarkson Univ., Potsdam, NY (US)
2. Materials and Components Technology Div., Argonne National Lab., Argonne, IL (US)

In this paper, easily applied methods are proposed, based on tests with air and water, for direct determination of the onset of transition in flow passages using static and dynamic wall pressure data. With increasing Reynolds number from laminar flow, the characteristic feature of transition is the change from steady to oscillating pressure readings. It is established that the power spectral density (psd) representations exhibit a distinctive change in profile at transition. Further, it is shown that the root-mean-square (rms) values of the wall pressure fluctuations rise sharply at transition. The critical Reynolds numbers recorded via the change from steady to unsteady pressure readings are almost the same as those deduced from the psd and rms pressure data or from the familiar friction factor-Reynolds number plots.

• OSTI ID: 7305149
• Journal Information: Journal of Fluids Engineering; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Fluids Engineering; (United States) Vol. 113:4; ISSN JFEGA; ISSN 0098-2202
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420400* -- Engineering-- Heat Transfer & Fluid Flow
AIR
DATA
FLUCTUATIONS
FLUID FLOW
FLUIDS
FRICTION
GASES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
LAMINAR FLOW
MEASURING METHODS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PRESSURE GRADIENTS
REYNOLDS NUMBER
STEADY-STATE CONDITIONS
TESTING
TURBULENCE
VARIATIONS
WALLS
WATER