Actually, I believe the significance of Reynolds number extends beyond aerodynamics. If I remember from when I was a real chemical engineer instead of an executive, it is also used in the petrochemical industry to describe flow conditions inside a pipe, which affects heat transfer, pump horsepower and how to install meters to accurately measure flow.
Regards,
Jerry Moos
Jim Foreman wrote:
> Message text written by INTERNET:rfitzger@emeraldis.com
> >Now I'm intrigued. How does one accurately compute one's Reynolds number?
>
> Addition? Multiplication? Present machines only? Is it a current thing,
> or a cumulative effect? How does one arrive at the number when different
> Reynolds tubes are used in the same frame set?<
>
> Actually, it's just a joke. There is no connection between Reynolds
> Number and Reynolds tubing numbers used in bicycle frames.
> Reynolds Number is a way of expressing the density of a fluid (air)
> and the time it takes for a slug of air to travel the chord of a wing. It's
> used in computing stall speeds, flutter speed and efficiency of the
> airfoil.
> Reynolds tubing is numberd as the alloy of steel it is made from.
> The higher the number the later it was developed and the type of welding it
> was designed to do best, not necessarily better.
> The only thing that the two have in common is a name.
>
> Jim
>
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