ME 351, Fluid Mechanics

Spring 2014

Practice Midterm Exam 2 - Solutions

Conceptual Questions (3 points each, 36 points total):
1. A table tennis ball is hit at a horizontal velocity U with a counterclockwise spin of angular
velocity . If the ball were to travel along a horizontal path without spin, the counterclockwise spin makes the ball travel a downward curving path instead, as shown in the figure
below. The underlined statement above is
(a) True;

(b) False.

2. Consider the fluid transport between two large tanks as shown in the figure below. In the
near-wall regions indicated by A, both inertial and viscous effects are significant and must
be considered simultaneously.
(a) True;

(b) False.

ME 351, Fluid Mechanics

Spring 2014

where i, j, and k are
~ = 3x2 + 2yt i (6xy) j + 4k,
3. Consider a flow with a velocity field V
the x-, y-, and z-directional unit vectors of a Cartesian coordinate, respectively. The flow
can be represented by stream functions.
(a) True;

(b) False.

4. The flow of two different fluids over identical thin flat plates is shown in the figure below
as two cases, (a) and (b). The boundary layer thickness is higher in case (a) than in case
(b). Which of the following statements is true?
(a) The Reynolds number in case (a) is lower than that in case (b);
(b) The Reynolds number in case (a) is higher than that in case (b);
(c) The Reynolds number in case (a) is equal to that in case (b);
(d) There is insufficient infomration provided to determine the relation between the Reynolds
numbers of the two cases.

~ = 0, where V
~ is the velocity field, which of the
5. If a flow satisfies the condition that V
following statements must also be true?
(a) The flow is irrotational;
(b) The flow is invicid;
(c) The flow is incompressible;
(d) The fluid is Newtonian;
(e) All of the above.
6. Which of the following statments about a creeping flow (Re  1) is true?
(a) Only reversible motion of a solid object can create propulsion;
(b) Because it is impossible to create flow separation behind an immersed body, there is no drag
nor lift on the immersed body;
(c) Viscous forces will damp out any flow disturbance, making it impossible to create turbulent
mixing;
(d) All of the above;
(e) None of the above.

ME 351, Fluid Mechanics

Spring 2014

7. The figure below shows the streamline patterns of flow over four different cylinders. Write
down their order in terms of descending Reynolds number. (e.g. D > C > B > A).
.

D>A>C>B

8. Which is the following statements about external flow is TRUE?

(a) the drag force is always perpendicular to the flow direction;
(b) a drag force can exist in inviscid flow;
(c) for a fluid flow over a thin flat plate, there exists a drag force due to pressure difference on the
top and the bottom of the plate;
(e) none of the above.

(d) all of the above;

9. Which of the following information about a fluid flow can be obtained only from a differential analysis but not from a control volume analysis?
(a) velocity field;

(b) mass flow rate;

(c) volume flow rate;

(d) head loss;

(e) none of the above.

10. Which of the following can induce a fluid flow?
A. a gauge pressure
B. a pressure gradient
C. gravity
D. motion of a solid boundary
(a) A, B & C;

(b) A, C, & D;

(c) B & D;

(d) B, C & D;

(e) C only.

11. A well-rounded pipe inlet has a lower loss coefficient due to less flow separation at the
entrance region.
(a) True;

(b) False.

ME 351, Fluid Mechanics

Spring 2014

12. Which is the following statements about an airfoil is TRUE?

(a) when calculating the lift of an airfoil, the frontal area should be used;
(b) to maximize lift and minimize drag, a large angle of attack should be used as much as possible
during a flight;
(c) flaps are used to decrease the drag generated by an airfoil at a given flying speed;
(d) an airfoil loses significant lift when stalling at a large angle of attack due to large flow
separation;
(e) none of the above.

Analytical Problems (15 points each, 60 points total):

Additional Information:
Water: = 1000 kg/m3 , = 1.003 103 kg/ms.
Air: = 1.269 kg/m3 , = 1.754 105 kg/ms.
Gravitational acceleration: g = 9.81 m/s2 .

1. A turbine extracts energy from water stored in a 40-m deep reservoir, as shown in the
figure below. The flow out of the reservoir is through a cast iron pipe (length L = 125 m,
diameter D = 5 cm, surface roughness  = 0.26 mm) with a sharp-edged pipe entrance (loss
coefficient 0.5), a turbine (assume no loss) and a fully open globe valve (loss coefficient
10). If the resulting flow rate is 0.004 m3 /s, what power is extracted by the turbine?

Analysis: The minor losses involved in the problem includes a sharp entrance to the pipe and a
fully open globe valve. From the table in the equation sheet, the loss coefficient for a fully open
globe valve is KL,v = 10. For a sharp entrance, the loss coefficient is KL,e = 0.5. The flow energy
equation is
P1 V12
P2 V22
+
+ z1 + hpump =
+
+ z2 + hturb + hL .
g
2g
g
2g

ME 351, Fluid Mechanics

Spring 2014

Here we take point 1 to be the free surface in the reservoir and point 2 to be the outlet of the pipe.
Since they are both open to the atmosphere, P1 = P2 . Also, V1 = 0 and hpump = 0. Thus
hturb = (z1 z2 )

V22
hL .
2g

The velocity in the pipe is V2 = Q/A

= 2.04 m/s. The Reynolds number of the flow inside the pipe
is


3
1000
kg/m
(2.04 m/s) (0.05 m)
V D
ReD =
=
= 1.02 105 > Recr = 4000

1.003 10 3 kg/m s
Therefore the flow is turbulent. The total head loss is
V2
V2
L V22
hL = f
+ KL,v 2 + KL,e 2 =
D 2g
2g
2g

 2

V2
L
f + KL,v + KL,e
D
2g

The only unknown now is the friction factor. Since the surface roughness of the pipe is given and
we know the flow is turbulent, we can use the Haaland equation,
"

 #
1
6.9
/D 1.1
= 1.8 log
.
+
ReD
3.7
f
With /D = 0.00026 m/0.05 m = 0.0052, we get f = 0.0321. Now,


125 m
(2.04 m/s)2

 = 19.27 m.
hL = (0.0321)
+ 10 + 0.5
0.05 m
2 9.81 m/s2
(2.04 m/s)2
 19.27 m = 20.52 m.
hturb = (40 m) 
2 9.81 m/s2
Finally, the power extracted by the turbine,





turb = Qgh
turb = 1000 kg/m3 0.004 m3 /s 9.81 m/s2 (20.52 m) = 804 W
W

2. A square, smooth, flat plate of side length l = 0.4 m shown in figure (a) below is cut into
four equal-sized pieces and re-arranged into the configuration shown in figure (b). In both
configurations the plate is subjected to an air flow of free-stream velocity U = 0.5 m/s.
Estimate the ratio of the drag force on the square plate of case (a) to the drag force on the
rectangular plate of case (b).
Analysis: In case (a),

Rea =

U La
U l
=
=


1.269 kg/m3 (0.5 m/s) (0.4 m)
1.754 105 kg/m s

= 14, 469 < 5 105 .

Therefore the boundary layer on the surface of the plate in case (a) would be laminar. In case
(b),


3
1.269
kg/m
(0.5 m/s) (4 0.4 m)
U Lb
U (4l)
Reb =
=
=
= 57, 879 < 5 105 .

1.754 105 kg/m s

ME 351, Fluid Mechanics

Spring 2014

Therefore the boundary layer on the surface of the plate in case (b) would be also be laminar.
For laminar boundary layers,
1
U 2 ACD,a
FD,a
= 21 2
FDb
2 U ACD,b

CD,a
CD,b
1/2

1.328Rea

1/2

1.328Reb


Rea 1/2
=
Reb


14, 469 1/2
=
57, 879
= 2.

3. A 2-m-high, 4-m-wide rectangular advertisement panel is attached to a concrete block

by two 6-cm-diameter, 4-m-high poles, as shown in the figure below. The assembly is
supposed to withstand 150 km/h winds from any direction. Assuming that the rectangular
panel has the drag force characteristic of a thin disk, determine the maximum total drag
force that the panel and the poles must be able to withstand together.
Analysis: The total drag would be equal to the drag force on the panel and the two poles summed
up together. For the poles, the drag force is the same regardless of the wind direction, since they
can be modeled circular cylinders. The panel, on the other hand, would have the largest drag if
the wind direction is normal to the panel surface. Therefore, this is the direction of the wind that
we will use to obtain the maximum drag. First, convert the velocity into SI units: Vmax = 150 km/h
= 41.67 m/s. The Reynolds number for the panel at this velocity is


3
1.269
kg/m
(41.67 m/s) (4 m)
Vmax L
=
= 1.21 107  103 .
Remax =

1.754 105 kg/m s

ME 351, Fluid Mechanics

Spring 2014

According to the drag coefficient table given, as long as Re > 103 , a thin disk (which panel is said
to share the drag force characteristics with) has CD = 1.1. Therefore, the maximum drag force
on the panel is

1 2
1
FD,panel = Vmax
ACD =
1.269 kg/m3 (41.67 m/s)2 (4 m 2 m) (1.1) = 9, 695 N.
2
2
For the poles,

Re =

Vmax D
=


1.269 kg/m3 (41.67 m/s) (0.06 m)
1.754 105 kg/m s

= 1.81 105 .

Using the drag coefficient plot for smooth cylinders and spheres, we find that at Re = 1.81 105 ,
CD 1.2. Therefore the total drag force on two poles is

1
1 2
ACD = 2
1.269 kg/m3 (41.67 m/s)2 (4 m 0.06 m) (1.2) = 635 N.
FD,poles = 2 Vmax
2
2
Finally, FD,total = 9,695 N + 635 N = 10,330 N.

4. Consider steady, incompressible, laminar flow of a Newtonian fluid in an infinitely long

round pipe annulus of inner radius Ri and outer radius Ro , as shown in the figure below.
The pipe remains stationary at all times. Ignore the effects of gravity. A constant negative
pressure gradient P/x is applied in the x-direction. The velocity of the fluid flow are
represented by ~u = (ur , u , ux ), which correspond to the r, , and x-directions, respectively.
(a) State the boundary conditions of the problem.
(b) Write down the continuity and Navier-Stokes equations involved in this problem. Simplify these equations by clearly indicating which terms are zero given the problem
conditions. Do not solve the partial differential equations.

ME 351, Fluid Mechanics

Spring 2014

(c) The solution to the partial differential equations is

 
 

r
r
2 ln
2 ln

R
R
o
i
Ro
Ri
1 P 2
.
 
ux (r) =
r +
Ro
4 x
ln
Ri

If the flow fluid is air and the applied pressure gradient is -140 kPa/m, and Ri = 3 cm
and Ro = 5 cm, estimate the shear stress applied to the inner pipe wall.