Laminar Flow

Steady flow with steady boundary conditions is referred to as laminar flow. One of the most common example of laminar flow is the steady flow of water through a pipe. The velocity of the water through the pipe is determined by the flux of water coming into the pipe, and the boundary condition that requires that the thin layer of water immediately next to the edge of the pipe must be stationary.

Laminar flow occurs when the flow is slow and steady enough that no instabilities develop. As flow passes through a pipe, the flow towards the edge of the pipe will move very slowly. The water in the center of the pipe will move more quickly. This leads to streams of water next to each other moving at different velocities. If this differential velocity becomes very large, instabilities will develop, and flow will no longer be laminar.
Quick Quiz: Which of the following is an example of laminar flow?
Breaking waves.
Steady flow from a faucet.
White water rapids.
The wake of an airplane.

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