Computational Lab 1 for ME2135E/TME2135:

Internal flow (6 marks)

Instructions: Write your answers in this WORD document; and upload your report to LumiNUS as a PDF document with the
name as MatriculationNumber_CL1.pdf (use your own matriculation number; use save as pdf in WORD). The expected word
count is 2200±50 words inclusive of references with at least five figures. If you do not have time to meet the word count, you
can aim for 1200±50 words (-3 marks), 1700±50 words (-2 marks), 2000±50 words (-1 mark).

If you are using a computational software that requires a grid in the computational domain, make sure to check that your
solutions are grid independent.

Name: QIAO YU
Matriculation number: A0230271W
Word count:

critical topic that is influenced by fluid and flow

1. Context. Write an essay on flow in a pipe (e.g., what it is parameters. Laminar flow is described as a form of flow
and where you find it; when is the flow laminar or in which fluid particles move along a well-defined
turbulent; how is the Reynolds number calculated). streamline or pathways, all of which are straight and
Remember to add a reference list for the sources you parallel to each other. Fluid particles move in laminas in
used and any figures you took. (3 marks) a laminar flow . Laminar flow layers glide easily over the
adjacent layer. T the flow is defined as laminar flow
A fluid is either a liquid or a gas. Liquid or gas flow when the Reynolds number is less than or equal to 2300.
through pipes is an important engineering problem in
fluid mechanics. The pipe flow operations are commonly
seen in our daily operations. For example, the Singapore-
Malaysia water pipelines, which enables reliable
abstraction of raw water at the Johor River Waterworks.
The Nord Stream Pipeline, which connects Russia to
Germany under the Baltic Sea and transports Russian
natural gas directly to Germany.

When it comes to predicting trends in a fluid's behaviour,

the dimensionless Reynolds number plays an important
role. The dimensionless Reynolds number (Re) expresses
the ratio of inertial forces to viscous forces. George
Gabriel Stokes first proposed the concept in 1851, and
Osborne Reynolds popularized it by proposing it as the
parameter to pinpoint the transition between laminar and
turbulent flows. Thereafter, Arnold Sommerfeld named
the dimensionless number after Osborne Reynolds in
1982. The Reynolds number is defined as the ratio of
inertial forces to viscous forces, and may be stated using
the following units and parameters:
Inertial Force ρν d
ℜ= =
Viscous Force μ Furthermore, the friction on the pipe surface caused by
 𝜌 is the density of the fluid
 𝑑 is the characteristic length (or hydraulic diameter)
 𝜇 is the dynamic viscosity of the fluid
 𝜈 is the kinematic viscosity of the fluid
There are two types of fluid flow regimes: laminar and
turbulent ( Figure. 1). Transitioning between regimes is a
Figure.1
Laminar flows have both academic and industrial
applications. Many laminar flows serve as benchmarks for
the integration of advanced simulation methods. For the
industrial applications, the laminar regime is usually
developed in flows with low velocity, low density, or high
viscosity. This is typically the case with natural convection or
low-velocity ventilation systems. 
roughness is an important characteristic to consider since it
leads the transition from laminar to turbulence and energy
losses. Lewis Ferry Moody (1944) developed the 'Moody
Chart' (Figure.2) to forecast fluid flow in pipes where
roughness was effective. It is a realistic approach for
calculating energy losses in terms of friction factor owing to
roughness on a pipe's inner surface. The chart below shows a
logarithmic scale at the bottom, a scale for the friction factor
on the left, and a scale for the relative roughness of the pipe [4] Laminar flow - Wikipedia. (2022). Retrieved 16 March
on the right. 2022, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laminar_flow

[5] Turbulence - Wikipedia. (2022). Retrieved 16 March 2022,

from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbulence

2. Simulation. Consider laminar, steady, incompressible flow

Figure. 2
A turbulent regime in fluid dynamics refers to irregular flows
including eddies, swirls, and flow instabilities. The flow can be
classified into turbulent flow when the Reynolds number
exceeds 4000. It is a form of flow in which the fluid particles
travel in a zig-zag pattern. The zig-zag movement creates
high turbulence and forms eddies which resulted
in significant energy loss. It is  governed by high momentum
convection and low momentum diffusion. As compared to
laminar flow, it arises when a fluid flows in parallel layers
with no interruption between the layers.
of air in a circular pipe with an applied pressure gradient
pushing the fluid. Ignore the effects of gravity and solve
for the flow with your computational software. Plot and
describe the computational solution. For example, what
are the pressure and velocity distributions? What is your
Reynolds number? Connect your simulation results with
what you learned in the context question. (3 marks)
Write your answer here with text and figures.
3. Optional. Verify your computational simulation with the
analytical solution for fully developed laminar flow in a
circular pipe (can be found in the lecture notes entitled
“Analytical solutions.pdf”).
Write your answer here or delete this question if you did
not do it.

Turbulence occurs commonly in both natural and human

activities. It presents in many natural phenomena such as
river flows, waterfalls, cigarette smoke and natural
convention. The turbulence regime also occurs in human
activities such as vehicle aerodynamics and numerous
industrial applications such as heat exchangers and
continuous steel casting.

A transition regimes is defined as a fluid flow in a pipe with a

Reynolds number between 2300 and 4000. it occurs over a
range of Reynolds numbers in which laminar and turbulent
regimes coexist in the same flow. 

References:

[1] What are the Types of Fluid Flow in Pipe? - The

Constructor. (2022). Retrieved 16 March 2022, from
https://theconstructor.org/fluid-mechanics/types-fluid-flow-
pipe/38078/

[2] What is Reynolds Number? | SimWiki | SimScale. (2022).

Retrieved 16 March 2022, from
https://www.simscale.com/docs/simwiki/numerics-
background/what-is-the-reynolds-number/

[3] Laminar and Turbulent Flow | Engineering Library. (2022).

Retrieved 16 March 2022, from
https://engineeringlibrary.org/reference/laminar-and-
turbulent-fluid-flow-doe-handbook