The onset of turbulence in pulsating flows in smooth pipes

Abstract

Experimental study examines the structure of nominally laminar flows subjected to sinusoidal variation of flow rate in smooth pipes. An experimental setup employed for this purpose provides high stability of flow rate variation pattern and is able to reproduce flow reversal during a fraction of pulsation period. The Reynolds number based on the highest cross-section average velocity over the pulsation period is 1200. SIV technique is used to measure the instantaneous vector fields of velocity in two regimes of pulsating flow. While there is no flow reversal in the first regime, it occupies approximately 0.4 of the pulsation period in the second regime. The increase in the amplitude of high-frequency fluctuation of velocity is documented in both regimes near the pipe wall within the Stokes layer. Evolution of the shape of velocity profiles and fluctuation amplitude profiles depending on the pulsation phase is presented. Our analysis suggests that forced sinusoidal pulsation of flow rate at the considered parameters results in the onset of instability and signs of transition to turbulence in the near-wall flow in the smooth pipe. We describe possible mechanism of turbulization of the near-wall flow under the impact of forced flow rate pulsation.