Observation on Velocity Difference - 1.3 | 22. Turbulent Pipe Flow | Hydraulic Engineering - Vol 1
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Understanding Average Velocity and Frictional Velocity

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Teacher
Teacher

Today, we're exploring the concepts of average velocity and frictional velocity in turbulent pipe flow. Can anyone explain what the average velocity represents?

Student 1
Student 1

Isn't it the total flow rate divided by the cross-sectional area?

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! And frictional velocity, often denoted as 'u star' or 'V star', is linked to the drag that the flow experiences due to pipe roughness. Now, when we observe the difference between the velocity 'u' at any specific point and the average velocity 'V average', we can express that difference as a function of the frictional velocity. Can anyone recall how we represent this relationship mathematically?

Student 2
Student 2

I remember you said it involves logarithmic equations!

Teacher
Teacher

Yes! The equation we derive shows it as \( u - V_{avg} = 5.75 \log_{10}\left(\frac{y}{R}\right) + 3.75 \), where 'y' is the distance from the wall, and 'R' is the radius of the pipe. Now, what do you think this indicates for smooth versus rough pipes?

Student 3
Student 3

That the difference remains the same, right?

Teacher
Teacher

Correct! This consistency is crucial to understanding how flow behaves in different pipe conditions.

Power Law Velocity Profile

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Teacher
Teacher

Let’s delve into the power law velocity profile, which is expressed as \( \frac{u}{u_{max}} = \left(\frac{y}{R}\right)^{\frac{1}{n}} \). Can anyone tell me how 'n' affects the profile?

Student 2
Student 2

Higher 'n' means a steeper curve, right?

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! As 'n' increases with Reynolds number, the profile steepens. However, there's a limitation: it cannot provide a zero slope at the center and it fails to calculate wall shear stress accurately. Why do you think that’s significant?

Student 4
Student 4

Because shear stress is important for understanding how fluids interact with surfaces!

Teacher
Teacher

Absolutely! Now, let’s practice calculating average velocity using this profile. Who can outline the steps?

Student 1
Student 1

We need to set up the integration to find the average, using the formula for the area under the curve.

Teacher
Teacher

Right, let’s do that together next!

Calculating Average Velocity

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Teacher
Teacher

To calculate the average velocity for a profile like \( u(r) = u_{max} \times (1 - \left(\frac{r}{R}\right)^{\frac{1}{7}}) \), we first setup our area integral. Can someone write down the formula we'll use?

Student 3
Student 3

It's \( \bar{V} = \frac{1}{A} \int u(r) dA \), where A is the area.

Teacher
Teacher

Great! Let’s assume A is a circle with radius R. We can substitute and simplify. How do we move forward?

Student 2
Student 2

We can use polar coordinates to rewrite the integral.

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! Let's compute that step by step, so we achieve the average velocity.

Revisiting Concepts and Practical Problems

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Teacher
Teacher

To conclude, let's summarize what we've discussed. The equations for smooth and rough pipes yield the same velocity difference. Why is this crucial in real-world applications?

Student 4
Student 4

It means we can predict flow behavior uniformly despite surface roughness.

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! And the power law profile helps us model various turbulent flows. Let’s discuss the implications of wrong assumptions in these calculations.

Student 1
Student 1

It could lead to miscalculations in systems design!

Teacher
Teacher

Spot on! This emphasizes the need for precise calculations in hydraulic engineering. Any last questions before we wrap up?

Introduction & Overview

Read a summary of the section's main ideas. Choose from Basic, Medium, or Detailed.

Quick Overview

This section discusses the relationship between average velocity and frictional velocity in turbulent pipe flow, illustrating key equations for smooth and rough pipes.

Standard

In this section, we examine how the difference between the velocity at any point in turbulent flow and the average velocity behaves in both smooth and rough pipes. Important equations are derived for both cases, revealing that the difference remains consistent across pipe types. Additionally, we explore the power law velocity profile and demonstrate how to calculate average velocity using a specific velocity profile.

Detailed

Observation on Velocity Difference

This section elaborates on the characteristics of turbulent flow in pipes, specifically focusing on the difference between the velocity at any point, denoted as 'u', and the average velocity, 'V average'. The equations discussed derive a relationship involving average velocity divided by frictional velocity, denoted as 'u star'.

For smooth pipes, the equation derived shows that the difference, normalized by the frictional velocity, can be expressed as:

\[ u - V_{avg} = 5.75 \log_{10}\left(\frac{y}{R}\right) + 3.75 \]

The crucial finding is that this difference remains consistent for both smooth and rough pipes. In addition to this, the section delves into the power law velocity profile, where the velocity can be represented as:\
u
\[ \frac{u}{u_{max}} = \left(\frac{y}{R}\right)^{\frac{1}{n}} \]

This power law depends on the Reynolds number, and importantly, it cannot provide zero slope at the pipe center or calculate wall shear stresses. Lastly, the section demonstrates a step-by-step method to compute average velocity for a given velocity profile using integral calculus, emphasizing the importance of this methodology for various velocity profiles in fluid dynamics.

Audio Book

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Average Velocity and Frictional Velocity

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So, what is this? This is the average velocity divided by the frictional velocity for the turbulent pipe flow case.

Detailed Explanation

This statement introduces the concept of average velocity in turbulent flow. The average velocity is a measure of how fast the fluid flows through a pipe, while frictional velocity is a normalization value that accounts for the effects of friction in the flow. It's crucial to understand that these two velocities are related and can help characterize the flow regime.

Examples & Analogies

Think of a crowded highway where cars are moving at different speeds. The average speed of the cars is akin to the average velocity in the fluid flow. However, if some cars are stuck in traffic (like friction in fluid flow), their speed will be significantly lower than the average, which shows how friction can affect overall flow performance.

Difference Between Point Velocity and Average Velocity for Smooth Pipes

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Now, the difference of the velocity at any point and the average velocity for smooth pipes. For smooth pipes, we have seen that the u by u star we had, we derived this equation, correct. And we also just now we saw that V average by u star is going is this equation and therefore, from the above equation we can simply subtract these two equation and we are able to find u minus V average by u star. So, we do this equation, this minus this, this minus this.

Detailed Explanation

Here, the text explains how to compute the difference between the velocity at a specific point in the pipe (u) and the average velocity (V average) for smooth pipes. To find this difference, we can derive equations based on previous work. The result of the operation ultimately shows that knowing how the point velocity varies at different points in the flow becomes crucial for understanding complete fluid behavior.

Examples & Analogies

Imagine measuring how fast a swimmer is at one point in a pool versus their average speed for the entire distance. The swimmer could be speeding up or slowing down at different points. Understanding the difference helps in assessing their overall performance, similar to evaluating fluid flow dynamics.

Equations for Velocity Difference

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So, it will be u star is common, so, it will be u minus V average by u star is equal to 5.75 log to the base 10 u star y by nu u star R by nu. So, nu and nu can get cancelled, it will be y by R or we can say, u minus V average by u star is equal to 5.75 log y by R plus 3.75. So, this is an important equation again.

Detailed Explanation

This segment presents a derivation leading to a crucial equation that describes the velocity difference. It shows how the difference is expressed in terms of logarithmic scales. The formulation involves parameters related to the flow conditions, such as the ratio of distance from the wall (y) to the pipe radius (R), which helps engineers and scientists understand both the velocity profile and the impact of viscosity on the fluid behavior.

Examples & Analogies

Consider the difference in sound volume at various distances from a speaker. A formula can relate the sound’s loudness at a particular distance compared to its loudness at the source. Similarly, understanding how fluid velocity changes as you move away from a pipe wall can help in analyzing performance.

Observations for Rough Pipes

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Now, we did it for smooth pipes. Now, for rough pipes, we have an equation and we also obtained V average by u star. We do the same procedure, we subtract this equation, we subtract this equation from this equation. So, this minus this and utilizing the above equation, we get u minus V average by u star.

Detailed Explanation

This part discusses how the same methodology applies to rough pipes. It demonstrates that regardless of the pipe smoothness, the velocity difference at any point from the average velocity remains consistent. This property is critical in applications where pipes may have varying textures or materials—maintaining predictability in fluid behavior.

Examples & Analogies

Think of different road surfaces—smooth asphalt versus rough gravel. No matter the surface, if you measure how fast a car goes at various points, the average difference in speed for both surfaces can still yield consistent results. Understanding this helps engineers design more efficient systems.

Power Law Velocity Profile Overview

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Now, about the power law velocity profile, a little bit on that. So, the power law velocity profile for smooth pipes can be expressed as, it is, u by u max can be written as y by R to the power 1 by n.

Detailed Explanation

In this section, the discussion shifts to the power law velocity profile, a mathematical representation that accounts for varying flow characteristics within the pipe. This expression indicates how the velocity of the fluid changes concerning its distance from the wall. This profile is significant because it provides a way to analyze how changes in Reynolds numbers can impact flow behaviors.

Examples & Analogies

Imagine squeezing a tube of toothpaste. The way the paste moves from the bottom to the top of the tube can be likened to the power law velocity profile. The closer you are to the squeeze point (the wall), the more pressure and velocity of the paste flow, similar to how fluid behaves in pipes.

Limitations of Power Law Profiles

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The value of n will increase with increasing Reynolds number. Power law velocity profiles cannot give 0 slope at the pipe center. So, power law of velocity profiles also cannot calculate the wall shear stress.

Detailed Explanation

This paragraph highlights the limitations of the power law velocity profile, particularly how its parameters shift with changes in flow conditions. It points out that at the center of the pipe, the model fails to accurately represent certain key variables, including wall shear stress, which is essential for understanding friction forces acting on the pipe walls.

Examples & Analogies

Consider trying to predict the height of waves at sea based on wind speed—while you can make general predictions, there will be unique scenarios where standard models may fall short. Similarly, understanding the limitations of the power law helps mechanical engineers to apply the right methods for specific fluid flow cases.

Calculating Average Velocity

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Now, we are going to solve one of the problems. So, the velocity profile for incompressible turbulent fluid in a pipe of radius R is given by u of r as u max into 1 minus r by R to the power 1 by 7.

Detailed Explanation

This segment begins to outline a practical problem-solving scenario using a specific velocity profile for a turbulent fluid. The formula presented allows students to measure average velocity based on the unique conditions of the flow. Through understanding this calculation process, students can engage with real-world engineering problems effectively.

Examples & Analogies

Think of measuring how much lemonade comes out of a pitcher when you pour it versus how full it is. The initial conditions, just like the turbulence in a fluid, will dictate how quickly and how much flows out, underscoring the need for precise calculations to ensure the right outcomes.

Definitions & Key Concepts

Learn essential terms and foundational ideas that form the basis of the topic.

Key Concepts

  • Velocity Difference: The difference between the instantaneous velocity at a point and the average velocity of flowing fluid.

  • Frictional Velocity: A key parameter in turbulent flow representing the velocity scale associated with shear stress.

  • Power Law Profile: A mathematical representation of velocity distribution based on the radial distance from the pipe center.

Examples & Real-Life Applications

See how the concepts apply in real-world scenarios to understand their practical implications.

Examples

  • In turbulent pipe flow, the difference in velocity observed at various distances from the centerline helps in analyzing flow behavior and shear stress.

  • Using the power law profile, engineers can predict the average velocity in complex pipe systems.

Memory Aids

Use mnemonics, acronyms, or visual cues to help remember key information more easily.

🎵 Rhymes Time

  • In pipes where waters flow, friction and averages we must know!

📖 Fascinating Stories

  • Imagine a busy river with different spots. At the center, water swirls fast (u max), but as you move closer to the shore, it slows down to the average pace. The difference in velocity tells us about the flow dynamics!

🧠 Other Memory Gems

  • FASP - Friction, Average, Shear, Profile: Remembering the key factors in turbulent flow.

🎯 Super Acronyms

PAVE - Power law, Average velocity, Velocity difference, Engineering applications.

Flash Cards

Review key concepts with flashcards.

Glossary of Terms

Review the Definitions for terms.

  • Term: Average Velocity

    Definition:

    The mean velocity of the fluid flow across a given cross-sectional area.

  • Term: Frictional Velocity

    Definition:

    A velocity concept used to express shear stress in turbulent flow.

  • Term: Power Law Velocity Profile

    Definition:

    A mathematical model that relates velocity to radial distance in turbulent flows.

  • Term: Reynolds Number

    Definition:

    A dimensionless number used to predict flow patterns in different fluid flow situations.

  • Term: Turbulent Flow

    Definition:

    A flow regime characterized by chaotic property changes, typically occurring at high velocities.