Effect of Initial Constant Acceleration on the Transition to Turbulence in Transient Circular Pipe Flow

Experimental investigation is carried out on the transition to turbulence in a transient circular pipe flow. The flow is accelerated from rest at a constant acceleration until its cross-sectional mean velocity reaches a constant value. Accordingly, the history of the flow thus generated consists of the initial stage of constant acceleration and the following stage of constant cross-sectional mean velocity. The final Reynolds number based on the constant cross-sectional mean velocity and the pipe diameter is chosen to be much greater than the transition Reynolds number of a steady pipe flow of about 3000. The transition to turbulence is judged from the output signal of the axial velocity component and its root-mean-square value measured with a hot-wire anemometer. A turbulent slug appears after the cross-sectional mean velocity of the flow reaches the predetermined constant value under every experimental condition. Turbulence production therefore is suppressed, while the flow is accelerated. The time lag for the appearance of the turbulent slug after the cross-sectional mean velocity of the flow reaches the constant value decreases with an increase in the constant acceleration value. An empirical equation is proposed for estimating the time lag. The propagation velocity of the leading edge of the turbulent slug is independent of the constant acceleration value under the present experimental conditions.