Abrupt or gradual? Pipe expansions in Physical Review Fluids

Jibu Tom Jose, Gal Friedmann, Dvir Feld and Omri Ram compared turbulent pipe flow through abrupt and gradual expansions in the refractive-index-matched round channel, using stereo and tomographic PIV. The two geometries produce nearly the same mean flow but organise their turbulence very differently, with consequences for pressure losses and for how solid particles are carried downstream.

“Effect of expansion geometry on turbulence in axisymmetric pipe flows” is published in Physical Review Fluids 11, 034607 (doi).