ABSTRACT
Laminar flow is described as the situation where fluid
particles move in smooth paths, parallel to each other.
The particles remain in the same location relative to the
cross-section of the conduit as they move lengthwise
through the conduit. Turbulent flow is described as the
situation where fluid particles move in irregular paths as
they progress through the conduit. The direction of flow
and the velocity of each individual particle vary continu-
ally with time, resulting in swirling patterns or eddies. If
the velocity of a particle of liquid would be measured at
various times, the resultant plot would look similar to
Fig. 1. Turbulence itself may be defined as the velocity
fluctuations in the flow of a fluid over time and distance.
These fluctuations may appear random. In theory, how-
ever, the fluctuations could be described mathematically if
enough were known about the characteristics of the fluid
and about the details of the physical containment of the
fluid.
