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I am confuse understanding between unsteady and turbulent flow. If I look the fluid simulation in Youtube, they both look the same. What is the difference between them? Please explain for a beginner.
Why does laminar include in "based on turbulence" when there are no turbulences?FEAnalyst said:We can divide fluid flows into several types, in this case based on:
- time dependence:
* steady (stationary) flow - fluid properties at any selected point in a system do not change in time
* unsteady (transient) flow - this one is time-dependent
- turbulence:
* laminar - there are no turbulences
* turbulent - turbulations are present in the system
Turbulent flow is generally always unsteady because turbulence is a time-dependent phenomenon. Such flow can be statistically stationary though.
Laminar flow can be either steady or unsteady.
Unsteady flow refers to a flow pattern in which the velocity and other flow properties vary with time. Turbulent flow, on the other hand, is a type of flow in which the fluid particles move in a chaotic manner, with irregular fluctuations in velocity and pressure.
Yes, a flow can be both unsteady and turbulent. In fact, most turbulent flows are also unsteady, as the chaotic nature of turbulence causes fluctuations in flow properties over time.
The main reason for confusion between unsteady and turbulent flow is that both types of flow involve fluctuations in flow properties. However, the key difference is that unsteady flow is primarily caused by changes in the external conditions, while turbulent flow is a result of the inherent nature of the fluid.
One way to differentiate between unsteady and turbulent flow is by analyzing the frequency of fluctuations in flow properties. Unsteady flow typically has low frequency fluctuations, while turbulent flow has high frequency fluctuations. Additionally, the presence of eddies and vortices is a characteristic of turbulent flow.
Unsteady flow can be observed in natural phenomena such as ocean waves, wind gusts, and river currents. Turbulent flow is commonly seen in industrial applications, such as in pipes, jets, and pumps, as well as in natural phenomena like waterfalls and tornadoes.