ABSTRACT
The first breakthrough in turbulence occurred when a direct correlation between the onset of turbulence and the value of a dimensionless group, the Reynolds number, was made. Table 14.1 shows the critical values of the Reynolds number indicating the transition from laminar to turbulent flow for various geometries. Since the Reynolds number represents a ratio of inertial to viscous forces in the fluid, higher Reynolds numbers mean that the inertial forces driving the flow far outweigh the viscous forces. The reliance on inertial forces for transport leads to much more efficient processes.
