ME231: Tutorial 03

1. Viscous liquid, at volume flow rate Q, is pumped through the central opening
into the narrow gap between the parallel disks shown. The flow rate is low, so
the flow is laminar, and the pressure gradient due to convective acceleration in
the gap is negligible compared with the gradient caused by viscous forces (this is
termed creepingf low). Obtain a general expression for the variation of average
velocity in the gap between the disks. For creeping flow, the velocity profile
at any cross section in the gap is the same as for fully developed flow between
stationary parallel plates. Evaluate the pressure gradient, dp/dr, as a function
of radius. Obtain an expression for p(r). Show that the net force required to
hold the upper plate in the position shown is
"  2 #
3µQR2 R0
F = 3
1−
h R

Figure 1: Problem 1

2. Consider steady, fully developed laminar flow of a viscous liquid down an

inclined surface. The liquid layer is of constant thickness, h. Use a suitably
chosen differential control volume to obtain the velocity profile. Develop an
expression for the volume flow rate.

3. A continuous belt, passing upward through a chemical bath at speed U0 ,

picks up a liquid film of thickness h, density ρ, and viscosity µ. Gravity tends

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to make the liquid drain down, but the movement of the belt keeps the liquid
from running off completely. Assume that the flow is fully developed and laminar
with zero pressure gradient, and that the atmosphere produces no shear stress
at the outer surface of the film. State clearly the boundary conditions to be
satisfied by the velocity at y = 0 and y = h. Obtain an expression for the
velocity profile.

Figure 2: Problem 3

4. Water is pumped at the rate of 0.075 m3 /s from a reservoir 20 m above a

pump to a free discharge 35 m above the pump. The pressure on the intake side
of the pump is 150 kP a and the pressure on the discharge side is 450 kP a. All
pipes are commercial steel of 15 cm diameter. Determine (a) the head supplied
by the pump and (b) the total head loss between the pump and point of free
discharge.

Figure 3: Problem 4

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5. Air flows out of a clean room test chamber through a 150 − mm − diameter
duct of length L. The original duct had a square edged entrance, but this has
been replaced with a well-rounded one. The pressure in the chamber is 2.5 mm
of water above ambient. Losses from friction are negligible compared with the
entrance and exit losses. Estimate the increase in volume flow rate that results
from the change in entrance contour.

6. Water from a pump flows through a 9 − inch − diameter commercial steel

pipe for a distance of 4 miles from the pump discharge to a reservoir open to
the atmosphere. The level of the water in the reservoir is 50 f t above the pump
discharge, and the average speed of the water in the pipe is 10 f t/s. Calculate
the pressure at the pump discharge.

Figure 4: Problem 6

7. In atmospheric studies the motion of the earth’s atmosphere can sometimes

be modeled with the equation:

⃗
DV ⃗ = − 1 ∇p
⃗ ×V
+ 2Ω
Dt ρ

where V⃗ is the large-scale velocity of the atmosphere across the Earth’s surface,
∇p is the climatic pressure gradient, and Ω⃗ is the Earth’s angular velocity. What
⃗ ⃗
is the meaning of the term Ω× V? Use the pressure difference , ∆p , and typical
length scale, L (which could, for example, be the magnitude of, and distance
between, an atmospheric high and low, respectively) to nondimensionalize this
equation. Obtain the dimensionless groups that characterize this flow.

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8. A two-dimensional steady flow in a viscous liquid is described by the equation:

∂h µ ∂ 2 u ∂ 2 u
 
∂u
u = −g + + 2
∂x ∂x ρ ∂x2 ∂y
Use a length scale L and a velocity scale, V0 , to nondimensionalize this equation.
Obtain the dimensionless groups that characterize this flow.

9. At relatively high speeds, the drag on an object is independent of fluid

viscosity. Thus the aerodynamic drag force ,F ,on an automobile, is a function
only of speed ,V , air density ρ, and vehicle size, characterized by its frontal area
A. Use dimensional analysis to determine how the drag force F depends on the
speed V .

10. The water pipe system shown is constructed from galvanized iron pipe.
Minor losses may be neglected. The inlet is at 400 kPa (gauge), and all exits
are at atmospheric pressure. Find the flow rates Q0 , Q1 , Q2 , Q3 , and Q4 .

Figure 5: Problem 10

11. You recently bought a house and want to improve the flow rate of water
on your top floor. The poor flow rate is due to three reasons: The city water
pressure at the water meter is poor (p = 200 kPa gauge); the piping has a small
diameter (D = 12.7 cm) and has been crudded up, increasing its roughness

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(e/D = 0.05); and the top floor of the house is 15 m higher than the water
meter. You are considering two options to improve the flow rate: Option 1 is
replaceing all the piping after the water meter with new smooth piping with
a diameter of 19 cm; Option 2 is installing a booster pump while keeping the
original pipes. The booster pump has an outlet pressure of 300 kPa. Which
option would be more effective? Neglect minor losses.

Figure 6: Problem 11

12. A pump is located 4.5 m to one side of, and 35 m above a reservoir.
The pump is designed for a flow rate of 6 L/s. For satisfactory operation,
the static pressure at the pump inlet must not be lower than −6 m of water
gauge. Determine the smallest standard commercial steel pipe that will give the
required performance.

Figure 7: Problem 12

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13. The boundary-layer thickness, δ, on a smooth flat plate in an incompressible
flow without pressure gradients depends on the freestream speed, U , the fluid
density, ρ, the fluid viscosity, µ, and the distance from the leading edge of the
plate, x. Express these variables in dimensionless form.

14. The mean velocity, ū, for turbulent flow in a pipe or a boundary layer may
be correlated using the wall shear stress, τw , distance from the wall, y, and the
fluid properties, ρ and µ. Using dimensional analysis to find one dimensionless
parameter containing ū and one containing y that are suitable for organizing
experimental data. Show that the result may be written as
ū  yu∗ 
=f
u∗ ν
q
where u∗ = τρw is the friction velocity.

15. A continuous belt moving vertically through a bath of viscous liquid drags
a layer of liquid, of thickness h, along with it. The volume flow rate of liquid,
Q, is assumed to depend on µ, ρ, g, h, and V , where V is the belt speed.
Apply dimensional analysis to predict the form of dependence of Q on the other
variables.

16. The fluid dynamic characteristics of a golf ball are to be tested using a
model in a wind tunnel. Dependent parameters are the drag force, FD , and
lift force, FL , on the ball. The independent parameters should include angular
speed, ω, and dimple depth, d. Determine suitable dimensionless parameters
and express the functional dependence among them. A golf pro can hit a ball
at V = 75 m/s and ω = 8100 rpm. To model these conditions in a wind tunnel
with a maximum speed of 25 m/s, what diameter model should be used? How
fast must the model rotate? (The diameter of a U.S. golf ball is 4.27 cm.)

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17. A 10 -scale model of a tractor-trailer rig is tested in a wind tunnel. The
model frontal area is Am = 0.1 m2 . When tested at Vm = 75 m/s in standard
air, the measured drag force is FD = 350 N. Evaluate the drag coefficient for
the model conditions given. Assuming that the drag coefficient is the same for
model and prototype, calculate the drag force on a prototype rig at a highway
speed of 90 km/hr. Determine the air speed at which a model should be tested
to ensure dynamically similar results if the prototype speed is 90 km/hr. Is this
air speed practical? Why or why not?

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18. An axial-flow pump is required to deliver 0.75 m3 /s of water at a head of
15 J/kg. The diameter of the rotor is 0.25 m, and it is to be driven at 500 rpm.
The prototype is to be modeled on a small test apparatus having a 2.25 kW,
1000 rpm power supply. For similar performance between the prototype and
the model, calculate the head, volume flow rate, and diameter of the model.