| where V and D are a fluid
characteristic velocity and distance. For example, for fluid flowing
in a pipe,
V could be the average fluid velocity, and D would be
the pipe diameter.
Typically, viscous stresses within a fluid tend to stabilize and
organize the flow, whereas excessive fluid inertia tends to disrupt
organized flow leading to chaotic turbulent behavior.
Fluid flows are laminar for Reynolds Numbers up to 2000. Beyond a
Reynolds Number of 4000, the flow is completely turbulent. Between
2000 and 4000, the flow is in transition between laminar and
turbulent, and it is possible to find subregions of both flow types
within a given flow field. |