Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-mlc7c Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-07T01:46:52.978Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The flow due to an oscillating piston in a cylindrical tube: a comparison between experiment and a simple entrance flow theory

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 March 2006

J. H. Gerrard
Affiliation:
Department of the Mechanics of Fluids, University of Manchester
M. D. Hughes
Affiliation:
Department of the Mechanics of Fluids, University of Manchester

Abstract

The velocity on the axis of a circular tube was measured over a range of distances from a piston reciprocating in simple harmonic motion. These velocities become independent of axial distance sufficiently far from the piston. The method of calculating the developing flow is based on a comparison with steady laminar flow which, in the entry region of a circular tube, approaches the fully developed state exponentially with distance x from the entry. The steady flow is a function of xν/R2u0 where ν is the kinematic viscosity, R is the tube radius and u0 is the entry velocity. It is shown that within the limits of experimental error, an oscillating flow follows the steady flow development if u0 is the instantaneous entry velocity and if the characteristic length is changed from R to the oscillating boundary-layer thickness in the established flow.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 1971 Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Atabek, H. B. & Chang, C. C. 1961 Oscillating flow near the entry of a circular tube Z. angew. Math. Phys. 12, 185.Google Scholar
Atabek, H. B., Chang, C. C. & Fingerson, L. M. 1964 Measurement of laminar oscillatory flow in the inlet length of a circular tube. Physics in Med. & Biol. 9, 219.Google Scholar
Avula, X. J. R. 1969a A combined method for determining the velocity of starting flow in a long circular tube. J. Phys. Soc. Japan, 21, 497.
Avula, X. J. R. 1969b Analysis of suddenly started laminar flow in the entrance region of a circular tube. Appl. Sci. Res. 21, 248.
Baker, D. J. 1966 A technique for the precise measurement of small fluid velocities. J. Fluid Mech. 26, 573.Google Scholar
Campbell, W. D. & Slattery, J. C. 1963 Flow in the entrance of a tube. Trans. A.S.M.E. J. Basic Engng. 85, 41.Google Scholar
Cerny, L. C. & Walawender, W. P. 1966 The flow of a viscous liquid in a converging tube. Bull. Math. Biophys. 28, 11.Google Scholar
Davis, W. & Fox, R. W. 1967 An evaluation of the hydrogen bubble technique for the quantitative determination of fluid velocities within clear tubes. Trans. A.S.M.E. J. Basic Engng 89, 771.Google Scholar
Florio, P. J. & Mueller, W. K. 1968 Development of a periodic flow in a rigid tube. Trans A.S.M.E. J. Basic Engng 90, 395.Google Scholar
Gerrard, J. H. 1971a An experimental investigation of pulsating turbulent water flow in a tube. J. Fluid Mech. 46, 43.
Gerrard, J. H. 1971b Velocity measurement in water using flow visualisation by tracers shed from a wire. To be published.
Harris, J., Peer, G. & Wilkinson, W. L. 1969 Velocity profiles in laminar oscillating flow in tubes. J. Phys. E. J. Sci. Instrum. 2, 913.Google Scholar
Linford, R. G. & Ryan, N. W. 1965 Pulsatile flow in rigid tubes. J. Appl. Physiol. 20, 1078.Google Scholar
Mcdonald, D. A. 1960 Blood flow in arteries. London: Edward Arnold.
Schlichting, H. 1968 Boundary Layer Theory, 6th edn. Pergamon.
Schraub, F. A., Kline, S. J., Henry, J., Runstadler, P. W. & Littell, A. 1965 Use of hydrogen bubbles for quantitative determination of time-dependent velocity fields in low speed water flows. Trans A.S.M.E. J. Basic Engng 87, 429.Google Scholar
Sparrow, E. M., Lin, S. H. & Lundgren, T. S. 1964 Flow development in the hydrodynamic entrance region of tubes and ducts. Phys. Fluids, 7, 338.Google Scholar
Tabacynski, R. J., Hoult, D. P. & Keck, J. C. 1970 High Reynolds number flow in a moving corner. J. Fluid Mech. 42, 249.Google Scholar
Uchida, S. 1956 The pulsating viscous flow superposed on the steady laminar motion of incompressible fluid in a circular pipe. Z. angew Math. Phys. 7, 403.Google Scholar
Womersley, J. R. 1955 Method for the calculation of velocity, rate of flow and viscous drag in arteries when the pressure gradient is known. J. Physiol. 127, 553.Google Scholar