What Forces Affect Liquid Flow in a Circular Pipe?

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the forces affecting liquid flow in a circular pipe, particularly when filled with an incompressible low viscosity liquid. Key forces include viscosity, axial pressure variation, and body forces from the solid container, which all contribute to momentum dissipation. The role of vorticity in degrading kinetic energy into heat is also highlighted. Additionally, the impact of wall texture on flow characteristics, particularly the differences between smooth and textured surfaces like shark skin, is emphasized as a significant factor in maintaining laminar flow.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of fluid dynamics principles, particularly in circular geometries.
  • Familiarity with concepts of viscosity and its effects on flow.
  • Knowledge of Reynolds number and its implications for flow regimes.
  • Awareness of the effects of wall texture on fluid flow behavior.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the effects of axial pressure variation in fluid dynamics.
  • Study the role of body forces in momentum dissipation in circular pipes.
  • Explore the impact of wall texture on laminar versus turbulent flow.
  • Investigate the relationship between Reynolds number and flow characteristics in circular pipes.
USEFUL FOR

Fluid dynamics engineers, mechanical engineers, and researchers studying liquid flow behavior in circular pipes, particularly those interested in optimizing flow characteristics and understanding the effects of various forces on momentum dissipation.

Carter Green
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Hi I am trying to understand what forces are at work to slow a liquid flowing in a circular pipe
1221px-Simple_Torus.svg.png


As an example the above torus pipe fully filled with an incompressible low viscosity liquid. This is rotated until the fluid achieves solid body rotation and then the pipe is suddenly stopped but the low viscosity allows the fluid to continue under its own inertia

I understand that a rotational flow pattern will be formed by the solid body rotation and the additional force of the solid container will prevent the formation of a free vortices ? is this correct ?

While I understand that viscosity works to slow the flow , are there other forces due to the circular flow geometry that work against the momentum of the fluid ?

Vorticity - degrades kinetic energy trapped in Circulation to heat ? Can it diffuse the flow momentum any other way ?

Can either

Axial Pressure Variation or -
Body Forces The additional force applied by the solid container degrade the flow (some version of Minor Losses in a pipe) effect how fast the momentum is dissipated ?

Additionally would the answer be different if the pipe wasn't fully filled with an incompressible liquid ?

Is there anything else I need to consider to how quickly the momentum would stop ?

Any readings that someone could recommend ?
 
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I think that wall texture may be significant. At sufficiently high relative velocities, turbulence increases against a smooth wall whereas some wall textures (shark skin) can maintain laminar flow. It may seem counter-intuitive.
Below that critical velocity, it's all laminar flow.

Have you noticed how extreme your toroid image is? I expect the inner wall to have significantly less drag than the outer wall.
 
Your torroid is quite extreme, with far more surface area on the outside. However, the outside of the torus also has far more volume. Have you considered whether this differential drag on the volume of water may cause large vortices?

Another consideration is the Reynolds number. That is, at sufficiently high relative velocities, turbulence is generated at the smooth wall. The outside wall is going to have a higher relative velocity than the inner wall.

Have you considered wall texture? Shark skin has the counterintuitive property of maintaining laminar flow when a smooth wall would be throwing vortices.
 

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