  Suspended particles can alter the properties of fluids and in particular also
affect the transition from laminar to turbulent flow. In the present
experimental study, we investigate the impact of neutrally buoyant, spherical
inertial particles on transition to turbulence in a pipe flow. At low particle
concentrations, like in single phase Newtonian fluids, turbulence only sets in
when triggered by sufficiently large perturbations and, as characteristic for
this transition localized turbulent regions (puffs) co-exist with laminar flow.
In agreement with earlier studies this transition point initially moves to
lower Reynolds number (Re) as the particle concentration increases. At higher
concentrations however the nature of the transition qualitatively changes:
Laminar flow gives way to a globally fluctuating state following a continuous,
non-hysteretic transition. A further increase in Re results in a secondary
instability where localized puff-like structures arise on top of the uniformly
fluctuating background flow. At even higher concentration only the uniformly
fluctuating flow is found and signatures of Newtonian type turbulence are no
longer observed.
