Turbulence Intensity and the Friction Factor for Smooth- and Rough-Wall Pipe Flow

Abstract

Turbulence intensity profiles are compared for smooth- and rough-wall pipe flow measurements made in the Princeton Superpipe. The profile development in the transition from hydraulically smooth to fully rough flow displays a propagating sequence from the pipe wall towards the pipe axis. The scaling of turbulence intensity with Reynolds number shows that the smooth- and rough-wall level deviates with increasing Reynolds number. We quantify the correspondence between turbulence intensity and the friction factor.

Keywords

• turbulence intensity
• Princeton Superpipe measurements
• flow in smooth- and rough-wall pipes
• friction factor