Laminar Vs Turbulent Flow: The Major Differences

Are you searching to know about the differences between laminar and turbulent flow?

Then you landed on the right place, here you know the same down the road. So, without further delays, Let’s get into the mainstream.

Let’s get into the basics first where you will get an overview of Laminar flow and Turbulent flow.

What is Laminar Flow?

The flowing of fluid in a straight line direction or in a regular path without crossing each other is called laminar flow.

Laminar flow

What is Turbulent Flow?

The flowing of fluid in a zig-zag direction by crossing each other is called turbulent flow.

turbulant flow

Now, let’s move into the mainstream where you will know similarities between laminar and turbulent flow. Let’s get started…

Differences between Laminar and Turbulent flow-

Here are some side-by-side comparisons of Laminar vs Turbulent flow

Laminar FlowTurbulent Flow
Fluid layers do not cross each other and move parallel.The fluid layer crosses each other and does not move parallel.
Laminar flow is characterized by the regular movement of fluid particles.Turbulent flow is characterized by the irregular movement of fluid particles.
Lateral mixing is very less.Lateral mixing is very high.
Shear stress in laminar flow depends only on the viscosity of the fluid and is independent of the density.Shear stress in the turbulent flow depends upon the density of the fluid.
The fluid flow is very orderly and there is no mixing of adjacent layers of the fluid and they move parallel to each other and also with the walls of the pipe.The fluid is not orderly and there is a mixing of adjacent layers of fluid with each other and they do not move parallel to each and also with the walls of the pipe.
Flow is regular and smooth.Flow is irregular and disturbed.
The value of the Reynolds number is less than 2000.The value of the Reynolds number is less than 4000.
It occurs in a small diameter and flows at low velocity.It occurs in large diameter and flows at high velocity.
All fluid layers move parallel.All fluid layers don’t move parallel.
Example- Flow through the pipe of uniform cross action.Example- Flow in the river at the time of the flood.

 

Wrapping Up-

That’s it for now. I hope you liked the Differences between Laminar and Turbulent Flow. If so, share with your near and dear ones. Bookmark Engineers Rail for further convenient readings.

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