Reynolds Number | Laminar Flow and Turbulent Flow with respecet to Reynolds number

Reynolds Number :

It is the ratio between inertial forces and viscous forces.

It is shown by R_N.

• R_N=F_I/F_v

Where F_I is the inertial forces between the layers of the fluid.

and F_v is the Viscous Forces.

• Units:

As Reynolds number is the ratio, so it has no units.

There are two distinctly different types of fluid flow was demonstrated by Osborne Reynolds in 1883.

• Laminar Flow:

The type of flow in which Fluid particles move in smooth layers or in lamination is called laminar flow.

If Reynolds number is is less than or equal to 2000 , the Flow will be laminar.

• Turbulent Flow:

The type of flow in which fluid particles does not move in layers or lamination is called turbulent flow.

If Reynolds number is greater than 2000 then the flow will be turbulent.

• Significance of Reynolds number :

The significance of Reynolds number  is that we can estimate whether the flow is laminar or turbulent. Laminar flow occurs at low Reynolds number. By the definition R_N=F_I/F_v , We can see Reynolds number will be low if the viscous forces are dominant. And Flow will be turbulent at high Reynolds number high Reynolds number will be when the internal forces will be high.