0The shearing process causes energy loss and heating of the fluid. This increases with mean velocity. When a certain critical velocity is exceeded, the streamlines break up and mixing of the fluid occurs. The diagram illustrates Reynolds coloured ribbon experiment. Coloured dye is injected into a horizontal flow. When the flow is laminar the dye passes along without mixing with the water. When the speed of the flow is increased turbulence sets in and the dye mixes with the surrounding water. One explanation of this transition is that it is necessary to change the pressure loss into other forms of energy such as angular kinetic energy as indicated by small eddies in the flow.
