Flow in Rotating Straight Pipes of Circular Cross Section

Abstract

The friction factor for fully developed flow in smooth wall straight pipes of circular cross section rotating at a constant angular velocity about an axis perpendicular to its own has been measured in the Reynolds number range from 20 to 60,000. Empirical equations for friction factors for small values of RΩ/R were presented for both laminar and turbulent flow. In the case of laminar flow, an approximate analysis based on the assumption that the flow consists of a frictionless central core surrounded by a boundary layer was presented. The results were in good qualitative agreement with experimental results in regard to the friction factor, velocity distribution in the plane of symmetry and pressure distribution along the circumferential wall of the pipe.